Where Will Chris Wilder Take Oxford United in 2009?

Chris Wilder, named Oxford United manager on December 21st, has a lot of work to do at Oxford in 2009. There’s hope that Oxford can make the play-offs this season, and with the team still in the FA Trophy; there’s a chance that Oxford United can make two trips to Wembley this season.

The FA Trophy, which came into existence in 1969, seven years after Oxford’s promotion to the Football League, was last year won by Blue Square Premier side Ebbsfleet United, and having beaten AFC Sudbury in the first round; Oxford now host York City on January 10th in the second.

Oxford has an excellent home record this season and will be expected to progress through to the third round of the tournament, where they will then begin to eye up a trip to Wembley. The FA Trophy final is still a long way off yet; it would be a huge achievement for Oxford United Football Club if the trophy can be lifted though, and should the side lift the Trophy then it’ll be the first Oxford United cup win since the Milk Cup of 1986.

With the team 12th in the league, trailing the play-off places by 12 points at current; a few wins could easily see the side lifted upwards towards the top five. Chris Wilder has restored the faith at the Kassam Stadium, and after a 5-1 win over Ebbsfleet at the weekend; Oxford United Football Club is now looking forward to a bright (albeit penniless) future.

Chris Wilder reportedly has his eye on several players at current, January signings could perhaps provide the lift required for Oxford United to push for promotion this season, and the club can then once more return to the Football League.

The aim is for Oxford United to be a Football League team for the 2009/10 season; there’s work still to be done, but realistically promotion could well be on the cards for Oxford this year. The season is far from over, and if Oxford can break the play-offs this season then there’s a good chance that the team will achieve promotion.

2009 will hopefully see Oxford United return to the Football League, and if Chris Wilder can take the team to Wembley twice this season then that really will be incredibly impressive. I’m under no illusions; I know that it’s a big ask of Chris Wilder to get Oxford promoted this year, I believe in his ability to do it though, and now look forward to tomorrow’s home game against Salisbury City.

Oxford travel to Eastbourne on Saturday; two wins this week for Oxford and we’ll be well on the way to the top.

United’s Youngsters Beaten by Milton

A young Oxford United team yesterday travelled away to Milton United for a friendly. United lost the game 3-2, the two goals scored for Oxford by Alex Fisher and Chris Fower. Three times Milton United took the lead, and the third time Oxford were unable to equalise.

It’s certainly not a bad result considering the average age of the team; there are a lot of talented youngsters at Oxford United at current, and Sam Deering’s rise into the first team this season provides proof as to the strength of the Oxford United youth set-up right now. In recent years several youth players have been brought into the first team and failed to shine; James Clarke broke into the first team successfully last season though and Sam Deering is this season showing that he too can cut it at Blue Square Premier League level.

There are several players that were involved in this game against Milton that could easily break into the Oxford United first team in the next few seasons. They’re still developing, but there’s some fantastic raw talent in Oxford United’s youth system, and some real potential OUFC stars for the future.

The game may have been lost, but the experience will serve the players well, and friendly games such as these can be very helpful for grooming young talent and preparing Oxford’s youngsters for life in the first team.

New Oxford Manager Soon to be Confirmed?

Speaking with Oufc.co.uk, Oxford United Chairman Kelvin Thomas has stated that “We have now gone through all of the applications and have whittled that down to six or seven people that we would like to talk to”, so it would now seem that a decision is close to being reached and that Oxford United will soon have a new manager.

Jim Smith has done an excellent job since he’s been back; he’s won two, drawn one, and all three games have been played away from home. Oxford had won only two away games all season prior to Smith’s temporary appointment and he’s therefore done a magnificent job to double our away record in the space of three games, managing as many wins in three as what Darren Patterson took thirteen to achieve.

Despite Jim Smith’s magnificent return so far though; I certainly wouldn’t want him to take on the role on a permanent basis. It didn’t work out too well last time, and I don’t think it’d turn out particularly sweetly this time either. That’s not something to really dwell on though as he doesn't actually want the job so a new manager will therefore be brought into the club soon, and I can’t wait to see who gets chosen for the challenge.

Unless Oxford United are up near the top then a lot of fans will see the team as underachieving; the fact of the matter though is that the Blue Square Premier is quite a difficult league, and it’s not actually that easy to place near the top. I’m not so sure it’s a case of underachieving, more a matter of the club not having the money to bring in players of a high enough calibre. Loan players are all well and good, but only if they’re willing to really give it their all for the club, which hasn’t always proven to the be the case this season. Let’s face it; life is always going to be tough when your stadium’s owned by a failed former chairman and you’re charged astronomical amounts to play their each season.

Let’s hope someone decent is picked to become the next manager of Oxford United, and that someone is chosen who can really get the best out of the players we have at the club at current, perhaps bringing in a few pivotal players in January also. Jamie Guy is once more beginning to show some of his pre-season form, and if the new Oxford manager can continue to get the best out of Guy and Constable then Oxford United may yet achieve greatness this season, in the league, or even in the FA Trophy.

The FA Trophy Second Round Draw

The FA Trophy Second Round Draw was made today, and Oxford United will play either Northwich Victoria or York City at home. If holders Ebbsfleet United defeat Bognor Regis Town tomorrow then they will face a home tie against either Stourbridge or Stalybridge Celtic in the second round.

The following is the full draw for the FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Round:

Lewes v Havant & Waterlooville/Bury Town
Ilkeston Town/Ossett Town v Kidderminster Harriers/Burscough
Burton Albion/Farsley Celtic v Woking/Salisbury City
Basingstoke Town/Brackley Town v Wrexham
Hednesford Town/Nantwich Town v Welling United/Weymouth
Forest Green Rovers v Alfreton Town/Redditch United
Bashley/Tiverton Town v Kettering Town
Durham City v Southport
AFC Telford United v Hayes & Yeading United/Grays Athletic
Farnborough/Wingate & Finchley v Stevenage Borough
Torquay United v Newport County/Rushden & Diamonds
Bognor Regis Town/Ebbsfleet United v Stourbridge/Stalybridge Celtic
Barrow v Workington
Uxbridge v Swindon Supermarine/Eastbourne Borough
Oxford United v Northwich Victoria/York City
Cambridge United v Chesham United/Crawley Town

These second round games will be played on January 10th, and with first round fixtures being played tonight, tomorrow, and Wednesday; specific second round ties are soon to be confirmed.

Oxford United has an excellent home record this season, and it’s therefore excellent news that Oxford will play their second round game at the Kassam. The opposition could potentially have been easier, then again though; playing a fellow Blue Square Premier side has its advantages in that at least we know what to expect, and won’t have to overcome the problem of a lesser team upping their game against us.

Whoever we face; this is a game that I really expect us to win. We’re in good form at current, could definitely do with the prize money for reaching the third round, and every game we win in the FA Trophy takes us one step closer to Wembley. 1986 was the last time Oxford went to Wembley; winning the Milk Cup with a 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers. It’d be lovely to see Oxford United return to Wembley and once more win silverware, it’s a long way off yet but I remain hopeful that we can do something this season and attain great glory in winning the FA Trophy.

Here’s to Oxford United Football Club, and here’s to defeating Northwich Victoria or York City in the second round of the FA Trophy.

Looking Forward to the FA Trophy Second Round Draw

The Second Round draw for the FA Carlsberg Trophy will be held tomorrow, and the fixtures are to be announced at 1pm. After beating Sudbury on Saturday, Oxford United will therefore be in the draw and could potentially face Swindon should they defeat Eastbourne Borough at home on Wednesday (Swindon Supermarine that is).

Swindon Supermarine would surely be the best fixture that Oxford could possibly face; it’s admittedly not quite Swindon Town, but it’s close enough anyway, so fingers cross for tomorrow and then for the game on Wednesday also.

To be honest I don’t mind too much who we play; as long as we win then that’s all that really matters; it’d be £5,000 much needed in the bank for Oxford, money which would contribute nicely to the club’s survival.

So here’s to Oxford United; future winners of the FA Trophy 2009 (I live in hope).

Oxford Draw With 10-Man Weymouth

Oxford United have drawn 2-2 with 10-man Weymouth this evening, unable to overcome the team that was reduced to 10 men after just 11 minutes when Santos Gaia was shown a straight red card.

Stuart Beavon put the home side ahead after 39 minutes, the lead was short lived though as Matt Day scored a sensational equaliser for Oxford just three minutes later. Early into the second half and Beavon once more put Weymouth ahead, and the score remained at 2-1 to Weymouth until late on in the game.

In the 82nd minute an Adam Bygrave own-goal brought Oxford right back into the match though and the score was once more levelled. Oxford had outplayed Weymouth for much of the first half; the team was not so great in the second however, and did well to grind out the draw. Oxford played right to the end, and the team were rewarded for their determination with a vital league point.

Oxford’s away record has been poor this season; only two away games have been won so far in the league, this was a good draw though, and against a team that earlier in the season won at the Kassam. A win would have been better, but a draw is nothing to shrug off as Oxford have now taken 4 points from their last 2 away games. With home form so strong; if Oxford can keep on getting results away from home then a play-off position could be achieved for Oxford United come the end of the season.

There’s still a long way to go yet, Oxford remain in 13th place after this one though, and there’s only 9 points separating Oxford from 5th place Crawley Town. Oxford will travel to Crawley on January 24th, and before then have a number of games to play against teams from the bottom half of the table. By the time Oxford play Crawley in January they could be well on their way up the Blue Square Premier League; watch out play-off places, we’re coming right for you.

Tuesday’s Trip to Weymouth

On Tuesday we travel to Weymouth for another exciting league game in the Blue Square Premier. Fresh from our 3-1 Setanta win against Mansfield; perhaps we can now turn our away record around, which up until Thursday quite frankly had been terrible.

With only one away win in the league before the Mansfield game; things weren’t looking at all good for us. Our home form has been excellent, away though we’ve been absolutely dreadful, and the only away win we’d managed in the league all season was against struggling Northwich. We won away against Blue Square South side Dorchester Town in the FA Cup, even that took extra time to happen however, and despite ultimately winning 3-1; it was hardly a glorious display of football against the team from the league below.

Oxford United currently sits 13th in the league; 10 points off the play-offs, and 9 points above the relegation zone. With a game in hand that could see us move within 7 points of the play-off places however; an away win on Tuesday is absolutely crucial if we’re to make a serious go at making the play-offs this season.

Jim Smith’s yellow and blue army will really need to attack the game with all their might this coming Tuesday; it doesn’t need to be pretty, as long as we pick up all three points though then that’s all that really matters.

Who Will Be the Next Oxford Manager?

So Jim Smith has taken temporary charge of the club and the next official Oxford United manager is yet to be announced. Who would you like to see become the next Oxford Manager?

Personally, I’d like to see Andy Hessenthaler come into the club as manager. He’s at Dover Athletic right now and is doing an absolutely brilliant job there as player-manager. Hessenthaler previously managed Gillingham between 2000 and 2004, keeping the team in the second tier of English football with incredibly limited resources. I feel that he could do an excellent job at Oxford and could be just the man the club is after.

Oxford United is in its third successive season in the Blue Square Premier League right now, something needs to be done to restore the clubs league status, and with the club currently sitting 16th in the league; there’s a lot of work to be done if Oxford United is indeed to make a return to the football league.

I doubt Hessenthaler will leave his job at Dover to come manage struggling Oxford; I’d love to see it happen, but I just don’t feel that Oxford will be able to tempt him away. John Ward’s 3-1 favourite according to Victor Chandler, we shall see though; he’s also applied for the Swindon Town position this month, and if his application is not successful, does Oxford United Football Club really want the stigma of taking on a Swindon reject?