Ben Nelson

[moore_94]

Just now, MPH said:

 it’s not suddenly turned bad this season

So you believe there are teams in the league this season that are playing at the same level as Leeds, Burnley, Sheff Utd, Sunderland were last season?

[Bert]

Just now, MPH said:

and so once more, then must be something else going on then, right?

No, there’s just experienced professional footballers that play in the same position as him that are currently better than him in the managers eyes. 
 

It’s that simple. 

[MPH]

7 minutes ago, Bert said:

I have and it must just be that you’re thick and your second sentence clearly just proves that as well  because the logic really isn’t that hard to understand.
 

Yet a lot of Oxford fans attribute they wouldn’t have stayed up without Nelson, but again not good enough. 
 

Once more, there’s a difference between having players that play in your position being better than you rather than not being good enough. It’s how football works. 
 

 

 

 And unfortunately  BUrt, just because someone is a professional footballer doesn’t mean they are good enough to play in ANY team. 2nd division players would be lining up for prem teams all the time

[The Doctor]

1 hour ago, MPH said:

 

changing the parameters of the  conversation there, chap.  
 

 

but what you’ve just admitted to is that  maresca didn’t play him regularly enough  because he wasn’t good enough to play regularly and  cooper sent him on loan  because he wasn’t good enough  

not at all. it's very obvious that the discussion is around the level of player and club. Cooper sent him on loan because he wasn't good enough for the prem. We, thanks to a ****ing abysmal season, are not in the prem currently. Nelson looked more than competent at this level for Oxford last season, he's obviously good enough for where we are

[MPH]

5 minutes ago, Bert said:

No, there’s just experienced professional footballers that play in the same position as him that are currently better than him in the managers eyes. 
 

It’s that simple. 

 

I talked about player hierarchy  in the post above the one you thought was laughable.

[Bert]

4 minutes ago, MPH said:

 And unfortunately  BUrt, just because someone is a professional footballer doesn’t mean they are good enough to play in ANY team. 2nd division players would be lining up for prem teams all the time

But, there’s a reason they’re a professional footballer. It’s because they’re good enough to be so. 🤡 

[Bert]

Just now, MPH said:

 

I talked about player hierarchy  in the post above the one you thought was laughable.

Yeah, I’ve read. But you’ve yet to do anything to convince me otherwise that you have a valid point and instead are just looking more stupid with each reply. 
 

Your head must be spinning trying to be so witty and clever. 
 

[MPH]

11 minutes ago, Bert said:

Yeah, I’ve read. But you’ve yet to do anything to convince me otherwise that you have a valid point and instead are just looking more stupid with each reply. 
 

Your head must be spinning trying to be so witty and clever. 
 

 

yet again more mocking wilst adding nothing. Says more about you than me, doesn’t it?

 

 

better to put me on ignore or you’re going to end up bursting some vessels..

Edited 27 September 2025 by MPH

[Bert]

7 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

yet again more mocking wilst adding nothing. Says more about you than me, doesn’t it?

 

 

better to put me on ignore or you’re going to end up bursting some vessels..

If that’s what you want to believe then so be it.

Ignore? Nah, you continually make me feel better about myself when I read some of the stuff you come out with so I’m good without doing that. 
 

But I’ve stated numerous times why you are wrong and because you are wrong you’ve either chose to ignore it or tried to come back with some complete nonsense that just doesn’t make any sense at all. Untie yourself from the knots you’ve got yourself muddled up in and then enjoy the rest of your day. 
 

My heart rate has never been so comfortable. 

[MPH]

11 minutes ago, Bert said:

If that’s what you want to believe then so be it.

Ignore? Nah, you continually make me feel better about myself when I read some of the stuff you come out with so I’m good without doing that. 
 

But I’ve stated numerous times why you are wrong and because you are wrong you’ve either chose to ignore it or tried to come back with some complete nonsense that just doesn’t make any sense at all. Untie yourself from the knots you’ve got yourself muddled up in and then enjoy the rest of your day. 
 

My heart rate has never been so comfortable. 

 

yes, your life is so complete and comfortable that you have to get your kicks from insulting people on the internet.

 

Edited 27 September 2025 by MPH

[Adster]

24 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

yet again more mocking wilst adding nothing. Says more about you than me, doesn’t it?

 

 

better to put me on ignore or you’re going to end up bursting some vessels..

You're in way over your head my boy. Just give it up. 

[Bert]

6 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

yes, your life is so complete and comfortable that you have to get your kicks from insulting people on the internet.

 

“Insulting”  

 

Listen, learn how to write my name properly and then I might take you a bit more seriously and I might stop thinking these “insulting” things. 
 

Enjoy the rest of your day, Matthew. 

[MPH]

11 minutes ago, Bert said:

“Insulting”  

 

Listen, learn how to write my name properly and then I might take you a bit more seriously and I might stop thinking these “insulting” things. 
 

Enjoy the rest of your day, Matthew. 

 

You’re insecure. We get it. It’s just most of us grow out of it, that’s all.

 

Edited 27 September 2025 by MPH

[Dan]

1 hour ago, murphy said:

‘I’d love to keep him here but he will probably be in Leicesters first team next season’ ‘If he isn’t then he’ll be in the premier league. He’s outstanding he has a bright future’

Gary Rowett.  Oxford manager.

 

 

He's an idiot that Rowett. He hadn't possibly considered that we'd stick loyal to the old useless lot who've been largely crap for years. What an idiot!

[LCFCJohn]

Lots of bickering over why he isn’t playing. Does it really matter?

 

The fact is, he was closer to first team involvement under Maresca 2 years ago, when he was 19. He’s now 21 and gained experience at this level and is further away than he was then.

 

Whether if is a failing on the players part or the club/manager, it is a failing and a sign his development has stalled/started going backwards.

[Claudio Fannieri]

Here are my thoughts on it, I think Nelson is absolutely highly rated by the club and Marti and is seen as the future of our defence, however at the moment there are 3  full internationals at the club that are probably for sale at an acceptable price and costing us considerably more in wages than young Ben and the bean counters will be advising that those 3 need to be in the shop window to maximise any potential sale in January to offset risk of any under recovery of book value or the club footing the bill for a proportion of future wages. 
 

There is a reason Nelson is travelling with with the squad and it isn’t because he has been outcast I think it’s the absolute opposite. The problem with football and PSR is now it’s not just about matchday and results it’s about financial performance as well, which means decisions made about team selection is not just about the game it’s about protecting asset value as well. 

[Tommy Fresh]

Just now, Claudio Fannieri said:

Here are my thoughts on it, I think Nelson is absolutely highly rated by the club and Marti and is seen as the future of our defence, however at the moment there are 3  full internationals at the club that are probably for sale at an acceptable price and costing us considerably more in wages than young Ben and the bean counters will be advising that those 3 need to be in the shop window to maximise any potential sale in January to offset risk of any under recovery of book value or the club footing the bill for a proportion of future wages. 
 

There is a reason Nelson is travelling with with the squad and it isn’t because he has been outcast I think it’s the absolute opposite. The problem with football and PSR is now it’s not just about matchday and results it’s about financial performance as well, which means decisions made about team selection is not just about the game it’s about protecting asset value as well. 

If we're looking at PSR, surely it's actually of bigger benefit to play Nelson 

[Claudio Fannieri]

2 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

If we're looking at PSR, surely it's actually of bigger benefit to play Nelson 

It is if we are planning to sell him but in reality can we afford to lose Faes and Okoli for fees below their book value and cover wages, if we did and say had a £10m PSR hole to cover then we could be forced to sell Nelson or another gem to cover it. 
 

I honestly think we want shut of most if not all the really high earners but in a situation where we can cover off PSR liabilities and hopefully generate some profit to allow room to manoeuvre in the market to supplement the nucleus of the academy products we want to build a team around in the next 12 months. I honestly think we need to be patient come 12 months time i think 50% or more of our starting XI and matchday squad will be academy players such as Nelson, Page, Monga, Aluko, Evans, Cartwright and Hutchinson etc 

[LCFCJohn]

7 minutes ago, Claudio Fannieri said:

It is if we are planning to sell him but in reality can we afford to lose Faes and Okoli for fees below their book value and cover wages, if we did and say had a £10m PSR hole to cover then we could be forced to sell Nelson or another gem to cover it. 
 

I honestly think we want shut of most if not all the really high earners but in a situation where we can cover off PSR liabilities and hopefully generate some profit to allow room to manoeuvre in the market to supplement the nucleus of the academy products we want to build a team around in the next 12 months. I honestly think we need to be patient come 12 months time i think 50% or more of our starting XI and matchday squad will be academy players such as Nelson, Page, Monga, Aluko, Evans, Cartwright and Hutchinson etc 

Thing is, Nelson hasn’t got years left on his contract so we can’t really play the long game can we. We might well be forced to sell him in January or the summer to just get anything and avoid losing for free.

 

There seems to just be an assumption that he will just sign a new contract despite not playing. Why would he? 

[sm1]

Vesty is no1 in Marti's eyes, so that leaves 3 players fighting for 1 position. Okoli has had a go, so has Faes, so I expect Nelson to be given a chance too. He just seems alittle nervous when he plays for us. If he relaxes, he's got all the ability in the world.

[murphy]

36 minutes ago, Claudio Fannieri said:

Here are my thoughts on it, I think Nelson is absolutely highly rated by the club and Marti and is seen as the future of our defence, however at the moment there are 3  full internationals at the club that are probably for sale at an acceptable price and costing us considerably more in wages than young Ben and the bean counters will be advising that those 3 need to be in the shop window to maximise any potential sale in January to offset risk of any under recovery of book value or the club footing the bill for a proportion of future wages. 
 

There is a reason Nelson is travelling with with the squad and it isn’t because he has been outcast I think it’s the absolute opposite. The problem with football and PSR is now it’s not just about matchday and results it’s about financial performance as well, which means decisions made about team selection is not just about the game it’s about protecting asset value as well. 

The most valuable potential asset of the lot is Nelson himself.  Not playing him leaves us wide open to him walking next year.

 

Faes and Vestergaard might be internationals, but we've tried to get rid of them before, for years in Faes case and despite his and our best efforts, it has been met, seemingly by radio silence.  No one wants either of them and no one is coming for them in January.  Their wages alone will see to that and they will walk for free at the end of their contracts.

 

It would be spectacularly Rudkin to try to protect the values of worthless assets at the expense of a potential major one.

 

 

Edited 28 September 2025 by murphy

[Stormfox]

6 minutes ago, murphy said:

The most valuable potential asset of the lot is Nelson himself.  Not playing him leaves us wide open to him walking next year.

 

Faes and Vestergaard might be internationals, but we've tried to get rid of them before, for years in Faes case and despite his and our best efforts, it has been met, seemingly by radio silence.  No one wants either of them and no one is coming for them in January.  They will walk for free at the end of their contracts.

 

It would be spectacularly Rudkin to try to protect the values of worthless assets at the expense of a potential major one.

 

 

Wages will be the problem with selling Vesty and Faes. Nelson will either be sold or walk in 27... After a successful season at Oxford (bar QPR) to not even be on the bench and refused another loan he isn't really being developed. This situation is doing his international career no good either as he isn't even playing in the club U21s. If he is still inclined to sign another contract he will likely not do that unless he is a regular starter with a future of starting every game. 

[Dahnsouff]

14 minutes ago, murphy said:

The most valuable potential asset of the lot is Nelson himself.  Not playing him leaves us wide open to him walking next year.

 

Faes and Vestergaard might be internationals, but we've tried to get rid of them before, for years in Faes case and despite his and our best efforts, it has been met, seemingly by radio silence.  No one wants either of them and no one is coming for them in January.  Their wages alone will see to that and they will walk for free at the end of their contracts.

 

It would be spectacularly Rudkin to try to protect the values of worthless assets at the expense of a potential major one.

 

 

So you think we are deliberately undermining what would be in our best interests?

 

Seems rather unlikely no? 

[murphy]

4 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

So you think we are deliberately undermining what would be in our best interests?

 

Seems rather unlikely no? 

No, iIt is a rebuttal of the idea that team selection on this matter has been dictated by accountants.  It makes no sense.  I think the manager has gone down the tried and tested (and found wanting) route, rather than trying to develop Nelson which is a shame imo.  That or there is something else at play that we don't know about as @MPH suggests, such as refusing to sign a new contract for instance.

[Claudio Fannieri]

So here is the quick sniff test, on Tuesday against Wrexham Marti selects Nelson instead of Faes, Page comes into the 10 and Monga starts instead of Mavididi. 
 

Despite controlling and dominating the game Page and Monga struggle in attacking areas to create space and chances against wily experienced EFL defenders and both are hooked at 60 minutes as we are 2-0 down after Keiffer Moore has bullied and outmuscled Nelson twice to score headers, despite throwing the Kitchen sink at Wrexham in the final half hour we lose 2-1. 
 

it would be interesting to see if the reaction was give them time etc or whether Marti is lambasted for not bringing on more experienced players earlier on or dropping proven internationals in place of youngsters not yet ready. It really is a fine line and I think it would be more likely the latter. Which if true would demonstrate that as an overall fanbase maybe we too are too guilty in focusing on the immediate here and now rather than the bigger picture. 

Edited 28 September 2025 by Claudio Fannieri