Speculation...

[Jimski]

I'm not sure I agree. It is only natural that people are interested in jobs other than their own, especially in the small world that is football management. There will always be other jobs that interest people - if Wilder doesn't get it or doesn't want it, then I can't see why he can't come back to Oxford and continue doing a decent job here.

[Boogie]

News breaking down here that Barker has apparently been selected as the favoured one.

[Mooro]

News breaking down here that Barker has apparently been selected as the favoured one.

Really? You do surprise me.....

Operation 'cover up the fact that we have no fit centre-backs/are not going to bring in any loan players by allowing all talk to be of a job the manager isn't going to take' declared a complete success.....

...and now in the words of the master "...we move on"

[Kernow Yellow]

So what's occurring? All media outlets are tipping Barker for the job, but there's not a squeak from OUFC, nor from CW himself. And with another game tonight, all the quotes in the Mail are coming from Mickey Lewis.

I'm hardly reassured that it's back to business as usual.

[ty cobb]

The man himself has spoken you're just not looking in the right place KY..................

http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/sport/108 ... ?ref=var_0

[JoeyBeauchamp]

News breaking down here that Barker has apparently been selected as the favoured one.

Really? You do surprise me.....

Operation 'cover up the fact that we have no fit centre-backs/are not going to bring in any loan players by allowing all talk to be of a job the manager isn't going to take' declared a complete success.....

...and now in the words of the master "...we move on"

Unnecessarily cynical? Surely this is simply 'club gives manager the chance to talk to another, manager sees what is on offer, and then either club or manager (or both) decide it's not for them'. I'd be a pretty elaborate way of disguising unfit centre halves. One thing the club are very bad about is updating about injuries. There must be a reason, but it leaves fans unsure about when players are coming back and leaves us relying on gossip.

[amershamwrighty]

http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/sport/108 ... ?ref=var_0

Well, that's alright, then.

Thanks for taking the trouble to explain yourself Chris, and I really don't mind what could be interpreted as a little dig at the supporters now that you are not going to Portsmouth.

I really ought to spend a bit more time thanking my lucky stars that you've led my team to the top of the table by one clear point instead of 6 or 7, after all.

[Hog]

Not sure what you're upset by Amersham Wrighty! Seems like a perfectly reasonable explanation to me: I understand you perceive a slight dig at the supporters (and 'slight' is rather over-stating the fact in my opinion!) but really can't understand why you are upset by it considering all the shit, sorry flak, that flows the other way!

[JoeyBeauchamp]

http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/sport/108 ... ?ref=var_0

Well, that's alright, then.

Thanks for taking the trouble to explain yourself Chris, and I really don't mind what could be interpreted as a little dig at the supporters now that you are not going to Portsmouth.

I really ought to spend a bit more time thanking my lucky stars that you've led my team to the top of the table by one clear point instead of 6 or 7, after all.

What a ridiculous comment. The poor bloke really can't win with some of you lot

[Ancient Colin]

I don't think it's any secret that I'm no Wilder fan, but he got it tactically spot on this evening in the second half, good adjustment of shape to change the game. Credit where credit's due.

[OUFC4eva]

Not sure what you're upset by Amersham Wrighty! Seems like a perfectly reasonable explanation to me: I understand you perceive a slight dig at the supporters (and 'slight' is rather over-stating the fact in my opinion!) but really can't understand why you are upset by it considering all the shit, sorry flak, that flows the other way!

Well said Hog - could not have put it better myself.

[Paul Cooper]

I don't think it's any secret that I'm no Wilder fan, but he got it tactically spot on this evening in the second half, good adjustment of shape to change the game. Credit where credit's due.

Yes agree with that. Also I have noticed the real bond that there seems to be in the team. I have not seen that in an Oxford team for many years. If anything the injuries have probably grown he siege mentality and brought the best out of the senior payers still fit.

I reckon that IL has done CW a real favour by stopping any of the short term loans and making him concentrate on growing the Development players. I am sure that CW will come out a better manager after what he has learned this season.

[Paul Cooper]

I don't think it's any secret that I'm no Wilder fan, but he got it tactically spot on this evening in the second half, good adjustment of shape to change the game. Credit where credit's due.

Yes agree with that. Also I have noticed the real bond that there seems to be in the team. I have not seen that in an Oxford team for many years. If anything the injuries have probably grown he siege mentality and brought the best out of the senior payers still fit.

I reckon that IL has done CW a real favour by stopping any of the short term loans and making him concentrate on growing the Development players. I am sure that CW will come out a better manager after what he has learned this season.

[Kernow Yellow]

Well, the BT Sport guys were certainly encouraging everyone (including several of our players) to speculate wildly as to why such a great manager is not on a better deal. Wilder did a decent job of deflecting questions about the situation, but I wouldn't say he looked particularly comfortable doing so. Were Stubbs et al just stirring for sake of television, or is there some unhappiness from CW and/or IL at the situation? We'll probably never know, but we could do without any further disruption to our season quite frankly.

[Mooro]

News breaking down here that Barker has apparently been selected as the favoured one.

Really? You do surprise me.....

Operation 'cover up the fact that we have no fit centre-backs/are not going to bring in any loan players by allowing all talk to be of a job the manager isn't going to take' declared a complete success.....

...and now in the words of the master "...we move on"

Unnecessarily cynical? Surely this is simply 'club gives manager the chance to talk to another, manager sees what is on offer, and then either club or manager (or both) decide it's not for them'. I'd be a pretty elaborate way of disguising unfit centre halves. One thing the club are very bad about is updating about injuries. There must be a reason, but it leaves fans unsure about when players are coming back and leaves us relying on gossip.

The cynicism comes from the fact that the word from Pompey fans as soon as Whittingham left was that that the CEO's pal Richie Barker was going to be given the job but that there would be an interview process cooked up as a smokescreen to cover up this fact. Suspicions rose further when news that Pompey couldn't pay compensation was accompanied by Barker leaving Crawley. Pompey then made a great show of contacting managers for interview before, surprise surprise, appointing Barker.

The rest was tongue in cheek, but it did prove to be a useful diversion, because if we hadnt all been discussing Wilder, then attentions would probably have turned elsewhere, most likely the squad/potential line-up, at which point news of out centre-back crisis might well have leaked out, giving Gateshead time to adjust their gameplan accordingly. As it was, they didnt find out until the day, so had not worked on tactics for testing untried full-backs and out-of-position centre-backs, meaning we were better able to get away with it.

I have no issue with the club not publicising injury news, because while it leaves us fans in the dark, it also leaves our opponents in the dark, meaning they cannot prepare specific tactics to exploit any perceived weaknesses. It is the same as when someone suddenly appears on the bench who was assumed injured, it again sows that seed of uncertainty into procedures.