Oxford eye return to glory days
Oxford United, founded in 1893, had their most successful years in the mid-eighties.
With publisher Robert Maxwell as owner, they had a brief spell in the top flight, winning the League Cup in 1986.
After relegation from Division One in 1988, they ended up in the Conference.
Under manager Karl Robinson, formerly of MK Dons and Charlton, they are now on the fringes of the promotion race in League One.
Their squad includes Jamie Mackie, who scored to put Queens Park Rangers ahead against Manchester City on the last day of the season in 2012. Two late goals for City snatched the title away from Manchester United.
through,” Robinson says. “Do not be attracted to the ball!”
In saying that Oxford will press when they can. “What is the most important part of the press?” Robinson asks. “The last 30 centimetres,” says centre-half Rob Dickie, one of the club’s most promising prospects. “Finish the f------ press!” Robinson adds with Dickie also singled out for another slide which reads: “Who has a long throw?” There is a pause before the next slide says: “Thanks for volunteering Rob.”
Again there is laughter. Dickie does have a long throw but, at 6ft 2in, he would rather be in the box. “I can put £1million on your price tag with that throw!” Robinson jokes as footage is shown of Dickie hurling the ball deep into the opposition area against the wind. Later, as Robinson watches training and the ball slips out of Dickie’s hands in the wet conditions, he says: “Whoever is doing the ball boys, get towels – but only on our right side.”
The meeting ends with Robinson adding: “Once we get out I will pick the team. Any of you want to do shooting? You will have loads of opportunities at 7.45pm tomorrow.”
As the players file onto the training pitches, Robinson says:
“This will be my highest-energy team.” It means he will not start with some of the older players – including Mousinho and Mackie, who take it well. “If we were playing Tuesday I could include them, but not Wednesday,” Robinson says with Oxford at home to top-of-the-table Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday. Included against City will be four players he believes are destined for the Premier League: Baptiste, Cameron Brannagan, Elliott Moore and Dickie, whom he is considering making captain. All are aged 23 or under.
Oxford’s head of physical performance, Chris Short, the former Notts County and Sheffield United defender, takes the warm-up, with Mousinho shouting: “We can outrun them, outjump, out-tackle them. The rest we cannot control.”
After the team is named Robinson notices that one player who is not starting is unhappy and, at the end of training, walks off alone. At lunch, the player sits and eats by himself. “He’s sulking,” Robinson says. “But if any of them think their mood swings affect me then I’m in the wrong job.”
Before training there was a punishment. Brannagan had to do five press-ups and apologise to the coaches as he was not best pleased at being subbed at the weekend, despite it being his first appearance for almost two months due to injury. It is taken in good heart, with Robinson setting the 11 who will start against City against the rest, who are lined up in the style of Guardiola’s team. Oxford wear the club’s yellow shirt colour, even in training. “Sam Allardyce taught me that – so you are passing to the shirt,” says Robinson who was a coach under Allardyce at Blackburn Rovers.
A drone is sent up to record the session, with Brown working through the defensive line-up for set-pieces and Robinson continually stopping play as he drags players into position, demands they hold their shape – and exploit the right moments to attack. “Stop!” he shouts. “In the turnover. Here is where to exploit!”
The session finishes with a reaction game, something Robinson learnt from observing coaching in Belgium. The players want to play five-a-side but he is managing their workload over a gruelling season – City will be their 30th fixture – and prefers four short, sharp games lasting just 2½ minutes each.
“We are going to use the City game to set our stall out for the rest of the season,” Robinson declares.
After lunch and a meeting with the team doctor, Robinson reviews the drone footage. The aim is – again – to see how Oxford keep their shape. At training Robinson thought his front three were too narrow, and the video confirms it. The template he is using to face City is how Manchester United set up in their recent 2-1 win at the Etihad.
“The simplicity of the Manchester City shape is the willingness of people to run