, Oxford United’s Summer So Far…

Oxford United’s Summer So Far…

It was a roller-coaster ride of emotions for Oxford fans last season, one minute it was the end of the world and the next we were the best thing since sliced bread with crazy ambitions. In this article, I rate Oxford United’s summer so far in which Michael Appleton is looking to build the club into a more consistent side.

New signings are obviously a huge part of a football club’s summer. Getting the right squad ahead of a new season is crucial for a manager. However, pleasing the supporters with the signings is equally important. Having a fan base brimming with excitement and optimism ahead of a new campaign is a manager’s dream and can give the players a lift before the opening fixtures. Oxford United did exactly that with the addition of ex West Brom academy player Kemar Roofe on a three year deal. Roofe was a big hit with the fans after scoring six goals in sixteen appearances during a loan spell last season. The euphoria on social media when it was reported that Roofe was set to sign permanently was incredible and something I hadn’t seen at Oxford United since James Constable joined in 2009. The season that Oxford got promoted back into the Football League.

The recruitment on a whole has been excellent at the club this summer. The reason that United have fallen short of being able to challenge at the top of the table in recent years is poor recruitment, there were too many average players being signed. Last season, the main issue was the quantity of players we had over the course of the campaign. Over forty players were used, some of which only playing a handful of games. There was never any consistency in the team, which is something that Michael Appleton is trying to improve this season, insisting that he wants a squad of 22 players. The players he has added to that squad so far have been good. As well as Roofe, Oxford have brought in Liam Sercombe, Sam Slocombe and Ryan Taylor. Three players that have the potential to go and play at a much higher level. Sercombe was expected to join a third tier club at least, Taylor left a huge club in Portsmouth and Slocombe even dropped down a division to sign for the U’s. Something that proves that the club is moving forward, United would not have been able to attract a player like that a few years ago. Simply because Oxford haven’t been a particularly attractive preposition in that time. Although that is starting to change.

I believe Oxford United are only a few quality players away from a promotion challenging team in League Two. The pre-season preparations have been positive so far but Michael Appleton can’t put his feet up and relax just yet, there is plenty of work that still needs to be done. However, the last time Oxford fans were this buoyant going into a season they ended up celebrating a promotion at Wembley.

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