Someone who should be shown the door is Steve Anthrobus, not for the obvious
reasons that we all see week in and week out. But for his total lack of
emotion when Steve Davis scored the equaliser at Bristol City. Having missed
the game (the first league game this season) I watched the goals on Sky.
Anthrobus was the only Oxford player on screen and the bastard didn't even
crack a smile.

based loosely on the guestimates in the latest edition of Yellow Fever my
calculations suggest the current wage bill is in the region of £45k/week
(£2.25m) - there is no doubt that this will have to shrink whichever
division we are in

This leaves the following possible scenarios:

1) FK is happy with a reduction of c10k/wk ( a saving of half a million
over the year)
- this would mean the release of Davis, Robinson, Whelan, Jemmo and Eddie
Newton. Watson could be afforded a small increase (well worth it), and
either Lundin is retained, or Knight signed in his place.

2) FK is a bit tougher - and demands a wage budget ceiling of £1.5m for the
year (£30k/wk)
- this would probably be bad news for Cook and Shepheard, and may mean that
keeping duties are left to Arendse (and Wilson)

However, Powell is almost certainly heading for bigger things this summer,
so:

3) If all of the transfer fee disappears into other areas, then the changes
in (1) above would bring the bill down to about the 30k/week that FK would
probably want. (this would however leave a back four of Folland, Mcgowan,
Watson, Weatherstone and no reserve defenders, and a full squad of 16
players)

This is unlikely, as FK seems a sensible man, so how about a scenario that
suits both his financial belt-tightening, but also gives the manager a
squad and budget to work with -
4) FK puts up a £1.5m wage budget, but the manager is allowed to keep some
or all additional funds raised through transfers:

For instance, a chunk of £500k for Powell would allow something like the
following (more in keeping with what fans have suggested on this page)
- Davis, Robbo, Whelan and Jemmo are all released (Joey, Cook, Folland,
Lundin & Shepheard are retained at current rates)
- Watson (the most likely to get snapped up) is given a new better deal
- Knight and Newton are given proper deals
- this leaves a squad of 20 players, plus around £200k, (4k/wk) to sign and
pay for new players (probably a centre back and a striker - and preferably
young, with Div 2/3 experience, and no big wage ideas)
- also,  I suspect that Arendse and Anthrobus might find themselves on the
transfer list...as either would free up a sizeable wage saving and might
even raise a small fee to enable more signings through the season.....

Any thoughts anyone ?

Beauchamp, Cook, Davis, Folland, Lundin, Newton, Watson

Not sure about Shepheard

the rest to go...

Why did you not include Dennis Smith in your list?  His contract is up at the end of the season.  He has been unimaginative in his role and took an age to split up the sterile and paceless Jemson, Russel/Lilley, Anthrobus line-up until in desperation rather than imagination shook things up at half time against Notts Co., then made a long overdue discovery that there were other options and a little creativity could pay dividends.  Fortunately Jemson has started most games on the bench since an the forwards have been shuffled around and some of the younger strikers have been able to at least introduce some pace and passion.

Joey Beauchamp - stay
Is Joey really so badly injured?  He looked dispirited & disheartened in the last few matches he played.

Jamie Cook - stay
Jamie may not have the most developed talent but he runs, chases and makes a huge effort - unlike some of his striker companions who spend too much time wailing at the ref that they have been fouled or not closing down on opposition possession.

Steve Davis - stay
In preference to Whelan

Rob Folland - stay
Why doesn't Dennis Smith play Folland?  He, like Cookie (and Ben Abbey for that matter), has not reached his full potential but has Cookie's enthusiasm and drive.  Opta marked him well.

Nigel Jemson - top of the list to GO!!
To slow, regularly beaten in the air, dives, moans and has not produced the goods - and doesn't look like he is going to. Why did Dennis Smith play him in the first line-up for so long?  Good at smiling at the crowd though (Do they smile back?).

Pal Lundin - stay
Sometimes Mr. Cool's cool is terrifying.... However his is physically big enough for the job which Arendse is not.  Richard Knight would be my first choice though.

Eddie Newton - Definitely stay
Since Eddie Newton arrived the midfield has tightened considerably and Paul Tait's game is much better.  Strikers are getting better delivery.  Eddie's game has improved with each successive game and his first touch and imaginative passing has led to some good attacking moves and goals.  He is a classy player.

Les Robinson - Stay if relegated otherwise hmmmm...
Robbo has been playing well for the past couple of games.

Jon Shepard
Pass

Mark Watson - Definitely stay
Went off the boil mid season.  Probably tired and tee'd off by some of the awful play going on around him.  Classy solid defender when on song.

Phil Whelan - go
I can't help wincing when Phil is one on one or under pressure.  Given away one to many goals by errors.

If we stay up then I think we should retain players such as Newton, Joey and
Lundin.  If we go down we need to slash the wages bill.  Players such as Jemson,
Whelan and the youngsters (Cook and Shepheard especially) may well thrive at
division three level and as we probably won't be investing heavily in new
players (the new ground now looking like a pipe dream that will never happen) we
should be looking at retaining these.

Mark Watson and Rob Folland we should try and retain whatever (provided they
actually want to stay, of course) and likewise Robinson and Davis should both be
released.

As for Denis Smith I just don't know.  It would be nice to be able to entice Joe
Kinnear or Nigel Spackman to the Manor (definitely won't happen if we go down,
but maybe Steve Cotterill might be tempted, unless Cheltenham go up, of course)
but I can't see it, and Den hasn't done so badly this time round (attitude, if
not results).

Doubtless next season we will be without Joey, Watson, Folland, Cook, etc but
Whelan, Robinson and Davis will still be regulars....

Joey - Stay. Say what you like about his performances but he is the one
player that seems to raise the atmosphere at the Manor.

Jamie Cook - Stay, but get him on the weights over the summer.

Steve Davies - Go. Just too old and knackered.

Rob Folland - Stay, but get Denis to play him. Got to be up there for player
of the season.

Nigel Jemson - GO. Came off the pitch after the Burnley heartbreaker
laughing and joking. Wanker.

Pal Lundin - Hmmm, tough. When he is good he is great, when he is bad he
sucks.

Eddie Newton - Have not seen enough to make up my mind.

Sir Les - GO. I said we should have got rid of him at the end of last
season. I was right, just too old.

Jon Shepeard - Stay, but needs more experience.

Mark Watson - Stay, please.

Phil Whelan - The Prof is one of the most improved player of the
season...but we should still get him boiled down for glue. GO, GO, GO

Denis - Go, I've got a stiff neck from starring up in the sky for 90
minutes. But who else will take the job in Div 3 ?

Joey - Stay. Well, who's got the guts to say go?!

Cook, Shepheard, Folland - All MUST stay. How many youngsters have we let go
in recent years and then see them do well at clubs of our level? Just look at
people like Paul Wanless, Danny Cullip and Howard Forinton. Oooh, and now
Marc McGregor!

Jemmo - Bye!

Davis - As others have said, maybe coaching. Too expensive just to keep
Clinks busy!

Lundin - On balance I prefer him over AA, but not totally convincing.

Newton - Stay. Might be getting on a little, but (if we can afford him)
should bring some good experience to the midfield.

Robbo - Pass. Heart says stay. Head says go.

Watson - STAY! PLEASE!

Whelan - On balance, I'd say stay. Probably one of the most improved players
of this season. At Gillingham, I personally thought he was excellent. Trouble
is those costly mistakes. (But that seems to be an Oxford thing - other clubs
make mistakes and concede corners, we concede goals!)

Whatever happens, we need fresh blood as well. In my opinion there's too many
30+ in the squad.

and then there's watson and lundin. i can't believe watson hasn't been
offered a new contract! that should have been sorted out months ago -
without him our pathetic goals conceded column would look far, far worse.
we've proved before that without watson we have no defence - are the club
completely mad?!!

lundin is a bit trickier. i'd rather have him than arendse, but ideally i'd
like to keep hold of richard knight. but we've got to have at least two
goalies whatever, so whichevers cheapest would probably be the way the club
should go, free up some money to keep folland....

as to those to let go, harsh but increasingly apparent, les robinson can no
longer consistently do the job. and he shouldn't be either given that
folland is better. jemmo can piss off, he's shit. phil whelan, much as he
has improved in patches this season, i don't know. i suppose he might be
good enough for division three...and steve davis might have enough pace for
the basement as well...

haven't really seen enough of eddie newton to comment though it is obvious
centre midfield has been a bit of a problem this season (like the defence,
the strikeforce, the errors of goalkeeping judgements), so if he gets match
fit and injury free he could be good. and  jon shepheard, dunno. i'll leave
that one in denis's capable(!) hands...

Joey Beauchamp - must stay but if we go down will any other clubs come in for him? Obviously he would only go to a local club in a higher division. Cheltenham?!

Nigel Jemson - initial thoughts are that he has to go but when you consider the number of goals scored by Gabbiadonkey this season, perhaps the third division is the ideal place for a fat old has-been. (Sorry, presuming we go down again!)

Jamie Cook - give him a contract but insist he toughens up.

Paul Lundin - no opinion really.

Mark Watson - I think he has looked a bit ropey recently but considering he has played non-stop for two years whilst injured I suppose that is not surprising. I would be surprised if we even had the chance to keep him on but if we do, sign him up and give him a decent wage.

Steve Davis - if he can coach then maybe keep him on in a non-playing capacity.

Eddie Newton - I would like to see him stay but a) can we afford him? and b) will he want to?

Phil Whelan - a difficult one. Most of the time he is OK but when he makes a mistake it is always so costly. I understand he is one of the top-earners at the club which could well be a factor. All things considered I think he should go.

Rob Folland - out of the entire list I think he is the one who has the most promising future and therefore the one we should do our best to hang on to.

Les Robinson - Mansfield awaits.

Jon Shepheard - not sure. Has done OK when used. Perhaps another season to see how he progresses.

Overall it is hard to predict what will happen until we know which division we are in next season. If we go down then players such as Lilley, Tait and Fear might be the subject of offers from other clubs. It certainly looks as if Powell will move regardless of the final outcome.
Whether we stay up or go down it is clear that a major re-build is required as this will have to begin with a major clearout in the summer.

My choice:

Joey Beauchamp - Stay.
Jamie Cook  - Stay.
Steve Davis - Go. Could we afford to buy the Burnley SD?
Rob Folland - Stay.
Nigel Jemson - Go, if you had scored half a dozen or so it might have been
different.
Pål Lundin - Tricky one, my choice would be to sign RK, transfer AA and then
keep PL.
Eddie Newton  - Stay, if we can afford him.
Les Robinson - Go, thanks for all your efforts.
Jon Shepheard - Stay.
Mark Watson - Stay.
Phil Whelan - Go.
and Denis?  Stay.

Retain:

Powell:     Unlikely that will happen though.
Newton:    Different class so also unlikely to stay.
Tait:          We need more of his battling type in the middle.
Watson:    Don't forget that most of this season he has been the only central
                defender on the park, little wonder he has been found wanting occasionally.
Mcgowan: Should turn into a really good player.
Knight:     Better than the other two put together.
Lilley:       He took his time but has finally shown some fighting spirit.
Abbey:     One for the future.

Maybe:

Cook:       Needs to toughen up, but obviously has the talent.
Murphy:   You can't knock his goals, still a bit lightweight though.
Lundin:     Must sort out his consistency, he's either brilliant or awful.
Jemson:   I know he hasn't done it so far, but i still think he still has something to offer this club.

Let Go:

Robinson:    Great servant to the club, but sentiment aside, I'm afraid he is a shadow
                   of his former self.
Beauchamp: I know he won't go, i just wish he would, too lazy, not a team player, and
                   since he has been out, our performances have improved, what does that tell you.
Anthrobus:   Saw his goal at Stoke, and that was it, no pace, no control, and worse no
                   goals.
Arendse:     Just don't like him, sorry.

Anyone i haven't mentioned i have no opinion on one way or the other.
But whatever changes are eventually made by the powers that be, must be made on the
basis of building for the future and not as a quick fix for next season. So "Come on you
Yellows", wherever we might end up playing.

Steve Davis (old, slow and crocked)
Nigel Jemson (old, slow, less fat than before but generally crap)
Les Robinson (you KNOW why)
Jon Shepheard (feeble)
Joey (just joking)
Phil Whelan
Phil Whelan
Phil Whelan
Phil Whelan
Denis Smith (I hear the Columbia Manager's position is vacant)

STAYING

Joey B (an enigma)
Jamie Cook (at least he tries, sometimes)
Rob Folland (could blossom into a fine player)
Pal Lundin (inspires me more than Arendse or Knight)
Eddie Newton (as yet unproven at the Manor)
Mark Watson (very close to being put on the 'OUT' list)

Alternatively, I'd be quite happy to get rid of the whole bloody lot, Joey included.  The only exception would be Folland.  Of those who remain, only the loss of Lilley would concern me.  I suspect that if we are relegated - and I still think we're going - the only way back will be a complete rebuild...

Definately keep :    Watson & Newton + Joey
Probably :     Folland & Lundin
Not sure:     Cook (prob yes), Jemmo(prob not), Shepheard (no idea)
Definately not:  Davis, Robinson, Whelan

OF the 2001 crop, only  Tait looks a definate

Other thoughts:
GK: Must sign up Knight before he goes elsewhere, but then keeping Lundin
would mean 3 keepers (+Wilson), which is a bit extravagant, but could be
solved by offloading AA asap....

Def: Watson is perhaps the most crucial of the whole list.
The above would leave a back four of Folland, Powell, Watson, Mcgowan which
is OK, but would only leave Weatherstone to come in when Powelly leaves,
with Mcgowan to left back.   More buys needed here then (but they cant be
worse than those who would say goodbye)

Mid: Newton must stay, he looked a class above, and with Tait, Fear, Murph
and Whitehead, this area looks covered

Wide: Joey wont go anywhere else, and with Lilley on board the wide slots
are covered, plus this Ricketts bloke (who I havent seen, but sounds
reasonable)

Forwards: Keep the Bus for one more year then out, Weatherstone one more
season to prove himself. Cookie I'm not sure about , but Abbey must stay as
he's definately the type that might develop when he calms down a bit.. Had
Jemmo popped a couple in I might be more favourable, but I think he knows
it;s not going to happen...
This lot are all a bit lightweight, so another buy here I guess (if there's
any money left)