Thetownend.com

Hahaha, seriously?! This is amusing... bit of competition for Rooney.

I am not convinced by this signing, my initial thoughts are that he has been sent here by Oxford to spy on us and report back to Wilder!

How many bloody wingers do we need?  What about Gabilondo!

I thought SH said that he CAN play at Wembley which I would assume that De Vita will now have to settle for a place on the bench.

I am not convinced by this signing, my initial thoughts are that he has been sent here by Oxford to spy on us and report back to Wilder!

[url width=604 height=453]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/jamiethon/serious.jpg[/url]

You do know he isnt oxfords player right? Or are you on a wind up?

Gabilondos days are numbered imo

Come on tans, I may be stupid but I am not quite as braindead as those lot up the A420.

Just in preparation for the announcement...

http://yellowsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=oufcplayers&action=display&thread=7933&page=3

Oxford manager said: “We’ve had a chat to Lee and he’s told us he doesn’t want to go unless it’s a real big club that comes in for him.

Oxford manager said: “We’ve had a chat to Lee and he’s told us he doesn’t want to go unless it’s a real big club that comes in for him.

Great signing, and if it's in view to a permanent move (let's face it, he won't get a look in if Southampton get promoted to the Premier League, which looks very likely) and he can play in the JPT final, then even better.

Unless it is actually a player called Lee Homles, in which case, i've never heard of him.

Just seen this myself, cant believe he is leaving us for Swindon.

Exactly Benzel.I think Paolo has seen just how well Benson has profited from good crosses. With 1 eye on next season maybe he wants holmes to challenge instead of devita.

I don't think that Ritchie will leave in the summer, he has stated publically that he is here to stay and that the cluba re going places with Paolo in charge.

I think it will be between Rooney and Holmes for the left wing spot with De Vita, Gabilondo and Easyjet moving on in the summer.

Holmes is one of the best crossers of the ball I have seen at this level and Benson could well thrive off his deliveries.

looks like lee has traded up clubs and gone to Oxfords arch rivals

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17364614

I don't think that Ritchie will leave in the summer, he has stated publically that he is here to stay and that the cluba re going places with Paolo in charge.

I think it will be between Rooney and Holmes for the left wing spot with De Vita, Gabilondo and Easyjet moving on in the summer.

Holmes is one of the best crossers of the ball I have seen at this level and Benson could well thrive off his deliveries.

I reckon De Vita will stay. We could be a little short otherwise, he'd make very good cover.

Of course this could all turn in to a Lee holmes Wednesday :)

Feel for him a bit I like I do for Connell. Thought De Vita really grew into that LM role, and before Rooney arrived had been one of our most consistent performers for months. Hope there will still be a place for him in the squad next season.

I'm slightly disappointed in the Oxford fans reaction on the yellow forum .....

I was hoping for a Constable style melt down!  >:(

So it must be PdC's preferred method of signing players - play well against us and he signs them!

Hope we can afford Crewe's Nick Powell - he looks a right gem

Agreed, they've turned all reasonable, what's going on?

holmes going to the scum is another harsh wake up call of excactly where we stand.

robin you are a total nonse, boring old ****. hey if he has joined you he wouldnt get a league winners medal as would have played enough games for you before the end off the season, so statement was wrong, as for saying your league champions premiture i think as are you if you win the league then you would have paid won it fair and square although you would have won it by paying your way to win league as for our players not being disaplined umm look at your manger before you start on other teams he is like a spoilt kid spitting his dummy out ,he will be sent off more times than any of our individual players in our team just remember holmes is on loan to you not perminant as was to us, constanble has more pride and would never leave us for our rivals as for holmes has no loyalties so fair play to him hope he does well and goes to a big club although wont be you after the seasons finished , your small fish mackral comes to mind stinky fish good look for the season long way to go yet so dont count your chichens yet. just concentrait wot your doing in the league not wot were doing oxford is all i concentrate on and thats all our players concentrate . i surgest you start writing on your local rag not ours tc idiot

Oh and can someone correct the spelling of Holmes on the thread title?

Hairydean on these comments sounds like a diverse interesting sort of character?

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/9588639.Holmes_snubs_Oxford_United_for_Swindon_loan/

Oh and can someone correct the spelling of Holmes on the thread title?

Thank you, it's bugging me too.

My favourite  :clap: from the Poxford mail site.

So when are we signing Pack and Jombati?

Anyone else played especially well against us this season?

Some of the coups this season have been splendid, I can think of about three chelt players that could serve as well....

Hairydean on these comments sounds like a diverse interesting sort of character?

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/9588639.Holmes_snubs_Oxford_United_for_Swindon_loan/

Jombati, Pack and who else?

Jombati, Pack and who else?

the right back, had rooney well under control I thought...

Duffy? ;)

That Shrews (?) striker PDC was hugging after the match?

I had to mentally correct so many spelling and grammatical errors in his post, I was tempted to send him an invoice for my efforts.

Thought the Shrews left back was good aswell, kept Ritchie is his pocket. When he went off injured that changed the game for me and we won.

Hairydean on these comments sounds like a diverse interesting sort of character?

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/9588639.Holmes_snubs_Oxford_United_for_Swindon_loan/

Oh and can someone correct the spelling of Holmes on the thread title?

Un fucking believable! Swindon truly are a bunch of scummy cunts!!! Lee Holmes, your a prick aswell!

Perhaps Homles is boosting his wages by selling The Big Issue

I'd like to know Eric Reads views on this  :)

Hed probably bang on about how players wouldnt dare leave Pox in the 70s and 80s for fear of being bummed by Eric and his mob. Rumour has it thats why Cuntstubble stayed...Erics boys got to him.

Apparently according to the Pox forums he was never that good in the first place, over rated, and that they have better players already at the club :D

Eric's boys didn't need to get to him. The fear alone was enough.

Lee Holmes you're a fucking wanker! Coming down from Southampton to play football and you go to our rivals? #Dick

"This stinks of the Oxford board not wantin promotion cos they no they'll have 2 dig deep in their pockets nex seaon in div 1! Shame Thomas!!

Lee Daniel Holmes (born 2 April 1987) is an English footballer who plays for Oxford United Swindon Town on loan from Southampton

Any of their delightful fuckers wish he crashes his car and dies yet? Or threatened to go round his house to sort him out?
A la Cunstable.

They are truly charmless goons

Agreed, they've turned all reasonable, what's going on?

Brilliant on so many levels.

It's getting better over there. They are now suggesting that all Yellowbellies cancel their Betfair accounts cos that's where we get our money from!

Priceless - how on earth will Betfair carry on without all their pocket money  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

@luke_oufc94
@conradmynes
As a slight aside, I find it very hard to take anybody who has both the initials of their club AND their year of birth in their username. Especially when it's 1994!

It's getting better over there. They are now suggesting that all Yellowbellies cancel their Betfair accounts cos that's where we get our money from!

Priceless - how on earth will Betfair carry on without all their pocket money  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

It is as funny as fuck, any of our rivals players that play well against us, we sign a few weeks later. Chelts must be worried as fuck :)

Now that PDC has made a good start with us, contrary to the hopes & expectations of many fans from elsewhere, and now that we're top of this league and looking good for promotion - our detractors are having to resort to the only argument left to them: that the title push has been funded from unsustainable sources and that we are storing up trouble for the future.

All of this conjecture is unsubstantiated, and runs contrary to Nick Watkins' comments from yesterday concerning the ease with which the bottom line has held up this year despite operating in Division Four.  The truth is, we don't know...but neither do the fans of Oxford or any other club.  We will find out, for sure, when the club's next set of financial statements are produced.

Of course, the cup runs and impending Wembley appearance will have boosted revenues this year, but this is never mentioned by the conspiracy theorists who have convinced themselves that it's all about to blow up.  Neither is it ever explained how players who have been signed from York City, Grimsby and Alfreton are going to be on £5,000 or £6,000 per week.

Not sure I quite understand what this poster is banging on about?

Agree. He might have them top of the league and geared for promotion, but there's so many questions that go deeper than that with PDC. The influx of foreign superstars and their subsequent departures/cancelled contracts, the dealing of Medhi Kerrouche, the countless touchline bans and this bitter, dog-with-a-bone obsession to endear himself to the natives by getting one over on Oxford. He can't seem to manage it on the pitch, so he'll do it off it - by outbidding us for a player Swindon quite frankly don't need.

Losing Holmes is a real shame as he had evident talent and has clearly left for more money. You could see he enjoyed his football here and his celebrations during the Swindon game left me wondering whether we could keep him longer. No shame in being outbid by Swindon - I just hope the familiar mantra of 'financial irregularities' crops up sooner rather than later in Wiltshire in the not-too-distant future.

Read more: http://www.yellowsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=oufcplayers&action=display&thread=7933&page=5#ixzz1p69dsLqk

He really should have stopped after this sentance - 'He might have them top of the league and geared for promotion, but there's so many questions that go deeper than that with PDC'

I hate to come across as obsessed with them, but they really do have some special people over there!

I also like Pox's grasp of geography...'He came down from Southampton to play for us' - Last time i looked on a map Poxford wasnt in the solent....wish it was though.

He's referring to Di Canio's failure to beat Oxford which is sadly a valid point.

Football Forums: Where everybody is an expert on every football club.

Antarctica would be better.

Would be an excellent signing. Can't get 'Ritchie replacement' out of my head though.

How does that go?

Ah, I know it.

La la la, la la la la laaa, la la la, la la la la laaa

Would be an excellent signing. Can't get 'Ritchie replacement' out of my head though.

Even if we do go up, it should come as no surprise to anyone if Matt decided to move in the summer.  There will be a host (probably) of Championship level clubs bidding for his services, all of which (probably) will be able to offer him better terms than us.  I'm sure he does love it here, but he has his own future and career aspirations to think of as well.  I'd love him to stay - but if he doesn't, we'll replace and move forward...as we have on many occasions before.

Yeah ritchies fucking crap, never rated him

Even if we do go up, it should come as no surprise to anyone if Matt decided to move in the summer. There will be a host (probably) of Championship level clubs bidding for his services, all of which (probably) will be able to offer him better terms than us.  I'm sure he does love it here, but he has his own future and career aspirations to think of as well.  I'd love him to stay - but if he doesn't, we'll replace and move forward...as we have on many occasions before.

As far as I am concerned he has screwed us. His Yellow player interview shows him saying how much he wants to stay and see us go up and then he does this. I don't care what his reasons are; I now absolutely despise him.

I know it's difficult sometimes, when your team is doing as well as we are, but we need to remember we are playing against League 2 sides and that's who Ritchie et al are shining against.

It might be a valid point. But at the start of the season, do you think PDC pre-season objectives were to beat Oxford or get us promoted?

At the end of the day we have lost to them twice, but top the league by a large margin. They really are clinging on to flimsy glories in a futile attempt of oneupmanship.

There you go  ;D

So.... it's still no official then?

I am led to believe he's been at the club today and met the players.

Not that, that is official or concrete proof.

Agreed, but Huddersfield, Wigan, Brizzle Shitty etc etc. There's no doubt in my mind Ritchie and Caddis could play in the Championship.

Scarf above the head or a shirt :)

How many times do lower league players excel against higher placed opposition in cup competitions?

Our players? not very often!

Scarf above the head or a shirt :)

The highlight of this transfer is Chris Wilder's 'only leave for a bigger club' comment.

Welcome back Holmes.

DV saw him in the gym.

I didnt but I saw a man who had seen him!

To be fair Rooney hasn't been here long and is already being rested so i suspect his fitness is an issue at the moment.Also being honest DeVita hasn't done much since november either so i do see the logic

Well I certainly didn't see that one coming ???

I haven't trawled through the whole thread and I dare say the point has already been made but...is this paving the way for Ritchie to move on in the summer? Possibly to Southampton in a cash plus player (Lee Holmes obviously) deal?

wrong thread?

Well I certainly didn't see that one coming ???

I haven't trawled through the whole thread and I dare say the point has already been made but...is this paving the way for Ritchie to move on in the summer? Possibly to Southampton in a cash plus player (Lee Holmes obviously) deal? It would make sense to get him in now and get him used to the system, training methods etc and a full pre-season and then he hits the ground running next season. I have to say, I can't think of a better replacement.

And let's face it, no team at our level can really accommodate Ritchie and Rooney and Holmes....can they? :hmmm:

Well the only way to play them would be for one to move into the centre as a deep lying striker with 2 holding midfielders. 4/2/3/1 style.

Obviously I have no idea what Im talking about but I have played FM.

Maybe we should spread the rumour that we can afford this due to the money we received/saved from Pox in regards to Kerrouche !!!

Maybe they'd like Lanzano or Smith in goal for a few weeks out of their yellow fund.

Smithy will be on bench in the JPT....but I'll be quite happy for Lanzano to join the Pox.

I'd drive Lanzano there!

In the defence of De Vita, he's really a forward and helped us out when he couldn't get the right winger for love nor money.

United sing that song for Giggs.

The funniest thing I read on there was Championship in 5 years according to their Chairman who apparently is running their club prudently while ours is a cunt who will bankrupt us as we're shelling out shitloads and cant sustain it.

Song wise:

"Holmes... Holmes will tear you apart again" (To the tune of Joy Division, Love will tear us apart)

Simple and it describes his style of play! What you reckon TEF?

Men who see men who have seen other men in the gym.

I saw that. Whilst some of what he says has truth to it, it's ultimatley a contradictory mess. He's tried to grab the moral high ground and missed. By a long way

I don't really have much time to care about you.

Ardiles has written the perfect reply, well done sir.

Could someone post it here? don't want that cunts blog getting more hits.

An open letter to Swindon Town
Dear Swindon Town
Firstly, sorry for writing to you en masse like this but I feel it’s time we talked.

Let’s be honest, it’s been a good season for both of us. You are set to win the league and we are continuing our steady recovery from a decade of neglect with real potential for clinching a play-off spot. I guess we had hoped to be higher, but objectively, we’re pretty happy with where we are at the moment. Something you learn when you’re in the doldrums is to keep life in perspective. Who knows, this time next year we could both be in League 1? Wouldn’t that be nice?

Now, I don’t have a massive problem with you to be honest. For example, I quite like your manager. I don’t agree with his politics, but I’m assuming that he’s not actively ethnic cleansing anyone at the moment and a man is more complex than his ideological persuasion. He’s charismatic and funny. I like listening to his interviews. He plays a great villain with his sun glasses and histrionics and all that scarf waving.

I have to say, I feel uncomfortable addressing you as one, like you're all the same. You're not all bad. The Washbag, the Swindon blog, has got to be amongst the best on the web. It’s coverage of the derby was first class; intelligently partisan. You should read it, support it and encourage its progress.

And congratulations on Matt Ritchie, by the way. He’s clearly quite a good player. His performance at the Kassam was completely overshadowed by his assault on our ball boy, of course. But he was magnanimous enough to apologise after the final whistle and it was all a bit in the heat of the moment.

We’re pleased to have kept James Constable, he means a lot to us. Be honest, you wanted him. You don’t make three bids and spout lies and nonsense in the press, like your manager did, if you don't want a player. He didn’t want to go. Because if he wanted to go, he’d have gone. Footballers and clubs are very good at making deals happen if they want them to. And it didn’t happen. If you’re right, however, and Di Canio did pull out due to Constable's hesitation, you might want to ask why your manager is prepared to risk your club's money on whimsical big money bids. Believe me, that’s just not healthy; the man has a rampant ego, you might want to watch that. Please stop pretending that you didn’t want Constable and that he wanted to come. It’s just not doing you any good.

And while we’re at it, let’s just keep the Lee Holmes thing in perspective. This isn’t Mo Johnston breaching a century-old religious divide moving from Celtic to Rangers. We signed Lee briefly on loan. He did pretty well for us, including two lovely crosses for the goals in the derby. He has decided to come to you. Surely you don't believe that he's moved for anything other than business reasons. He might help you win the title but, you were already going to win that anyway. He hasn't moved to spite us, he’s moved so that he can gad around as a ‘title winner’ in May and, I suspect, because Southampton got a better financial deal out of your lot. So you're spending more money on a player you don't need. I don't know, perhaps you can afford it, but why are you stockpiling expensive players?

We’ll ignore Mehdi Kerrouche, whose move has been largely inconsequential. He didn’t really ‘do it’ for us, and I suspect he’ll now rot in the reserve for you. No gain there.

Now, let’s deal with one of those portentous phrases you keep using; ‘Forever in our shadow’. Am I right to assume this is some sort of analogy to illustrate how we’re supposedly cowering from your luminous glory? Let’s be honest, neither of us can really claim any great glory in our recent history. We enjoy our clubs and what they stand for, and we enjoy our successes when they happen. But your glories are not so bright as to cast a significant shadow over anyone.

Sorry, you’re just not that important. There's nothing for us to be jealous of. In two years time, no one will remember your League 2 title. I’m sorry, they won’t. Don’t get me wrong, I would love for us to win a title, that will be very important to me and my club. But I don't expect it to cast a shadow over anyone else, including you. And just because we're not winning the title doesn’t mean I'm bothered that you are. Your self importance is a bit bewildering and somewhat overstated. You just don’t cast a shadow over us, or anyone (nor do we, but then we don't claim to). I go to games all the time and, honestly, nobody is talking about you. We're too busy talking about us. Which is just how it should be.

And then there’s this whole ‘our cup final’ thing about the actual derby games. It seems to me that you make a a lot of noise about everything to do with Oxford and Swindon except the actual games. I guess that’s because we won both of them this season. It’s still quite odd that you don’t seem to even acknowledge them. I have to say I enjoyed the games immensely this year, particularly the home game, which was epic in every sense from the setting to the nature of our win. And, of course, you played your part magnificently. You surely have to recognise that it was dramatic, even though the result wasn’t one you were looking for.

And what about your claims around our imminent financial meltdown? Where has that come from? Your insults would have more resonance if they had some credibility, perhaps some wit. Instead, you guess and lie and believe stuff that satisfies this odd fantasy that you've created in your head. It makes you a bit daft.

You see, Swindon Town, my problem is that we’ve played our games and we’ve moved on. The more you badger on about signing Lee Holmes, or your youth team victories, or beating Dagenham or the fact you’re top of the league, or the shadow you cast, or that you have four stands or the way you put #oufc in your tweets about things which are only vaguely related to us, leads me to but one thought.

I don’t care.

Really, I don’t care.

Seasons are better when we’re together; we’re good for each other because it gives us something to look forward to. Big games are really fun, much better than run-of-the-mill games against anyone else. But the excitement, our rivalry, is about the games. Nothing else. I don’t care about your grandstanding, I don’t care about your league position, I don’t care about your decidedly average achievements, I don’t care about your players, even if they’ve played for us in the past. I have children and a job and a house to renovate, and a blog to write. I don't really have much time to care about you. I just don't. And yet, there you are, going on and on and on about how wonderful you are. Your not going to convince me, and if I'm not listening, then you're talking to yourself. That way madness lies.

I do think your manager is funny, he makes me laugh and I think he's actually added to the drama this year. I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t have the mental stability, loyalty or ability to take you much beyond where you are. But he’s done well and he’s your problem.

You're going for the title, we're going for the play-offs. We have different objectives. Your only influence on us now is if you take points off teams around us. If you beat them, which I’m sure you want to, then we’d be very grateful. Perhaps you’ll deliberately lose to them to spite us, but that would be silly. Then again, given that the rivalry appears to centre on everything else BUT the actual games we play against each other, perhaps you will.

Your obsession with us is worrying, you might need help. Is your team not enough for you? Really, we’re flattered by your attention, it’s sweet, but it's getting a little creepy. You expend so much energy talking about us, I'm beginning to think, well, you really love us. If you didn't like us, you'd go and do something else, but you don't. I do suggest you find a hobby or something to fill up the time you currently spend thinking about us, because you're lovely, but you're not really my type, thanks.

So, turn around, walk away. Enjoy your season and your club. Clubs like ours don't enjoy success very often, so you should savour it while you can. I'm sure we'll meet again, and we can renew the argument about who is best on the pitch. In the meantime, I hope you're happy in all you do.

Lots of love
Oxblogger

It's quite well written and some of it is fair comment.

However, it's fantastically ironic that someone who says 'I don’t care. Really, I don’t care,' can go on to write a 1500 word essay on the very subject which they don't care about and then make the comment 'Your obsession with us is worrying'

Some people have too much time on their hands.

Cheers JJ.I meant Ardiles response :-)

Cheers JJ.I meant Ardiles response :-)

Work must be incredibly quiet at the moment...

Trust me, it was a major disappointment here in Auckland that Pox beat STFC....not once but twice this season.  

No, not forgotten in 3 x days either      :(

Saw a post on the Gills match day topic that made reference to Holmes having been disappointing. I hadn't said anything before, but I had been wondering whether bringing him in had been a backwards step? Prior to his arrival, it sounded from matchday commentary, that we had a pretty good balance of options on the left with Rooney being creative and a bit of a handful and DeVita being workmanlike and generally effective - Although potentially missing that spark of threat.

Then, the Oxford game happened and Holmes sounded as if he tore us a new arsehole in patches. That, combined with the spell that he put in at the club a few years ago, excited most of us when he was signed on loan.

However, in the Chesterfield game, what I saw was that he looked predictable, and after the defence had worked him out he quickly lost impact and then faded from the game. What I have heard on commentary, suggests he does some pretty things or has a wayward blast or two. But he doesn't sound a great threat. Added to that is the fact that Rooney seems to have gone off the boil and also seems to have dropped down the pecking order a bit - Something happen in training? Was it a gentlemen's agreement that he wasn't involved today?

When Holmes was asked after the game whether he want to stay, he suggested that he was waiting for the club to contact him. I found myself thinking that I was glad that the club hasnt jumped too soon - Something that I wouldn't have thought I'd say when the loan was announced.

Am I way off the mark here?

I think Holmes has done better than Rooney

Agreed, does Rooney run the risk of ending up a Kentish version of Anthony McNamee?

I wouldn't sign Holmes. I think we can do better. He's got fuck all pace, waits for the ball instead of attacking it, can't shoot and his delivery isn't great. I see a footballer on his way out. He's not had a good game for us since he's been back.
We'll need better next season.

I disagree. I think he's a little predictable at times but is definitely a good league one level. He's shown glimpses of what he can do, I wasn't so sure of him at Chesterfield, but recently he seems to be doing okay. Not when he's on the right wing though.

He was fucking shite today on the left

Rooney has already contributed to this season, and will prove to be a good signing next season.  I expect Holmes will, too.  Wingers always split opinions, but to compare to McNamee?  Very unfair, imho.

I think the point was more he could end up a bit of a one trick pony, such as McNamee

McNamee is better than Rooney and Homles. In my opinion anyway.

McNamee is better than Rooney and Homles. In my opinion anyway.

No he isn't

In your opinion.

He has had a few decent games but i have to say he hasnt impressed me that much. Is it me or does he seem really slow and sluggish at times? Maybe its a fitness issue.

No it isn't just you.  He also seems completely unable to get past a defender.  If he can't get past a League 2 defender then what good will he be in League 1.

He's put in a few decent crosses, but far more that have been cleared with ease.

Personally I would have hoped we could pick somebody up who offers a bit more for next season.

Holmes has 1 goal and 1 assist in 9 starts (and 3 sub appearances). Doing better isn't he?

p.s. not slating Holmes as I think he is a decent player and has had some good moments for us but he isn't better than Rooney based on this evidence.

Rooney is a good player, no doubt. Only 21 so lets see how he develops. McNamee was 24ish when he got here.

Were top and every week someone starts a thread laying into our players, I never known so much crap people are spouting out these last few months. Get a grip people, either back our players and Di Canio or fuck off.

(oh, and Holmes will be our best player next season, and all you doubters can kiss his ass)

Were top and every week someone starts a thread laying into our players, I never known so much crap people are spouting out these last few months. Get a grip people, either back our players and Di Canio or fuck off.

(oh, and Holmes will be our best player next season, and all you doubters can kiss his ass)