Rage Online

I saw it last night as being ex-pros and pundits, who know nothing of the background of what happened last season, being amazed that we would risk losing a manager who had got us promoted and to the top of the league. Looking at the bare facts like that you can understand their point of view. I would imagine CW would accept the situation as is because of what happened in the summer.

But clearly CW isn't accepting the situation as it is - he is actively looking to move clubs, the reasons given for this, although fair, have not changed and as the season goes on his contract will get even shorter. The fact he was willing to risk the ire of supporters by going to speak to a club below us in the league whose prospects are not great suggests that he will continue to look for new jobs. This will impact on player recruitment and retention of players, why would IL fork out for new players or new contracts when the manager may be off and be replaced by someone who wants money to bring his own in. As a player, would you want to sign for a club with no short/medium plan and as a manager how can you plan for the next few seasons when you're looking for another job.

IL was correct to give Wilder a year at the end of last season, however, top of the league/play off positions at Christmas and progression to the third round of the FA cup deserves another year and should end any further uncertainty. Otherwise we continue to drift as a club.

I think JoeyB is spot on, it was fairly obvious all night that the pundits and commentators hadn't done a huge amount (or any) of homework on us. Also BT were trying to make a story in order to a) make the game more interesting for any neutrals and more importantly b) encourage the large number of in-game laptop gamblers to maybe part with their cash by betting on Wrexham to cause a surprise by beating 'a club in turmoil'.

It is no secret that all of the commentary on televised lower league matches is geared specifically to encourage in-game betting (how often did you hear "he's scored two in the last two matches, can he keep that run going?" etc). Indeed, this is the only reason - sadly - these matches are shown... just look at the advertisers, programme sponsors and of course the sponsor of our league itself. (Little wonder then that the first stories of match/spot fixing are just starting to appear...

I digress. To someone who watched us for first time last night, it's madness that Wilder's only on a 12-month deal. You never know, Wilder might even have mentioned this fact to cuddly Ray Stubbs off-camera before they chatted; this kind of stuff does happen.

To anyone who knows about how's he's ballsed up the past two seasons and has frittered god-knows how much on pointless signings and loaness, they'll know actually he was very lucky to get the deal he got. In fact - seeing as we could in theory drop to eighth on Saturday with a certain set of results, it might not be long before people in the media start saying he's under-pressure etc.

I reiterate my point from elsewhere about Wilder. I think this season has been really good for him. Not being allowed to find short-term 'fixes' has done wonders for squad morale. The team are clearly pulling together, there is obviously a good spirit. We now have young lads getting good first-team experience. We have a squad of regular first-teamers now who know they're a genuine part of a squad, and not going to be dropped on a whim for some bloke who's been flown in from Slumdon on a one-month deal. Now there's a real incentive to want to be a part of a close-knit unit, so if you're injured, knowing your place hasn't been taken by the manager's latest loanee, surely encourages you to get back to playing more quickly?

We are down to the bare-bones at the moment, but because of that, we are settled. We have ground out three excellent results on the road, the much maligned Hunt and Newey have both performed heroics (bar one crazy moment just after half time, I thought Hunt was brilliant yesterday), our three strikers have all scored, and in Williams, we have unearthed a gem.

We're in a good place at the moment, and although you know that Wilder is desperate to go and bring in new faces, at present I really don't think he should be allowed to.

Wilder is of course entitled to put some pressure on IL to sort out his contract. Nothing disloyal about that - he's put in a good first half of the season and can ask the question.

Or perhaps he just fancies a new challenge? Nothing wrong with that either.

The short of it is, if you give someone a short contract, then it's a double-edged sword.

SmileyMan wrote:Wilder is of course entitled to put some pressure on IL to sort out his contract. Nothing disloyal about that - he's put in a good first half of the season and can ask the question.

Or perhaps he just fancies a new challenge? Nothing wrong with that either.

The short of it is, if you give someone a short contract, then it's a double-edged sword.

Exactly.

I think the next few weeks will be critical. IL would probably have been coming under pressure from CW to allow one or two incomers in January, and maybe the trip to the South Coast was part of a longer game by CW to increase that pressure. But there is also almost certainly the whole job uncertainty/6 months left aspect regarding his personal situation. That said, I suspect reference to the family was mere icing, given that even if we, for some reason, were not to keep him in our employ, he would not be short of offers.

My hope is that IL is responsible and professional enough to recognise the merit of opening contract negotiations now (if he has not done so already), whilst CW has certainly done enough to justify him putting a bit more pressure on IL in that direction. And everything I have seen about IL suggests he is that kind of man.

Paul Cooper wrote:

Ancient Colin wrote: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.

A number of the dev squad will come out better players as well. The system is working fine and no doubt saving the club a lot of money. Stick with it I say.

The only thing that still irks is Wilder's continued lack of confidence with the dev squad scheme. If we as supporters can detect it, then the players will too. Why not emphasise the opportunity for the younger players, and use phrases like he has worked hard and deserves a place in the squad, or we are looking toward to him showing us what he can do in a match, rather than the usual, I've got no choice but to chuck the young uns in (with the undertone of them not being good enough).