This transfer window could define the future of Karl Robinson at Oxford United. A good one, followed by results on the pitch, could see him remain at the helm for the foreseeable, but another poor month of recruitment could be the final straw in his role as manager.
The summer saw the arrivals of several players but injuries to Josh Murphy, Yanic Wildschut and Sam Baldock, along with the decline in form of Stuart Findlay, have made for a poor window. To make matters worse, Kyle Joseph has also been ruled out, while Jodi Jones has hardly had a look in.
On the flip side, Lewis Bate has become one of the more promising additions, despite a slow start to his Oxford tenure. Ciaron Brown has continued where he left off while on loan last season and Djavan Anderson has been a revelation on the right-hand side.
In October, I wrote a piece stating that the time was right for Robinson to go. This came after the defeat at Sutton United and with the U’s picking up just one win in seven. Things didn’t feel right. In parts, they still don’t and some results appear to be papering over the cracks.
Read More: The Time Is Right for Karl Robinson to Go – Here’s Why
That said, if the board didn’t back the manager, they wouldn’t let him head into another transfer window to oversee any new arrivals or departures. On the whole, Robinson has a good track record when it comes to signings, and if some of the summer arrivals weren’t injured then it could have been a different story. This window, he can’t afford to make the same mistakes.
If Robinson gets it right, then a push for the playoffs certainly isn’t out of the equation. However, he needs to address the positions that have needed cover for well over a year now.
Left-back remains a priority, despite the good form of Brown. He is still a centre-back covering as a full-back ahead of Steve Seddon, who is clearly out of favour.
With another injury to Alex Gorrin, another defensive midfielder is a must. Yes, Marcus McGuane has been superb in the role this season but the majority of U’s fans would like to see him further up the pitch with some defensive stability behind him.
The other position is in attack. Matty Taylor hasn’t hit the ground running, although that’s not to say that he is unable to. Joseph looked like a good signing but he is now sidelined and while the thought of homegrown talent Gatlin O’Donkor featuring regularly may be the dream, he isn’t ready to play week in and week out despite his mature performances. Therefore, another centre forward is needed.
If Robinson can make these additions, along with another one or two elsewhere, then it could define the season and his future. The board clearly back him to make the right decisions but if it ends in failure, it could also end for him as a manager at the club.
