Hello friends and welcome to my new story which features Oxford United of the Blue Square Premier League. As they say if you fall off the horse you should get right back on and so it is with Football Manager.
To start with a quick history of Oxford United…
Oxford United was founded in 1897 as Headington United, adopting the current name in 1956. Oxford joined the Football League in 1962 after winning the Southern Football League, reaching the Second Division in 1968. After relegation in 1976, between 1984 and 1986 the club earned successive promotions into the First Division, and also won the League Cup. Oxford was unable to enter the 1987 UEFA Cup because of the UEFA ban on English clubs in European competitions. Relegation from the top flight in 1988 began an 18-year decline which saw the club relegated to the Conference in 2006. This was the first time in the history of English football a team that had won a major trophy was relegated from the Football League.
Its home ground is the Kassam Stadium in Oxford with a capacity of 12,500, and has held the highest average attendance in the Conference for the last three years. The club moved to the stadium in 2001 after leaving the Manor Ground, which was its home for 76 years. Swindon Town are the club’s main rivals.
I had no idea when chosing Oxford that Swindon were their main rivals. How ironic, but that’s football to a tee :)
Here’s a look at the Kassam Stadium
Onto the pre-season then a the first review of the clubs finances meant that I wouldn’t be buying any players so any new additions to the team would be from loans or out of contract players. I told the board I challenge for the title but that didn’t raise any funds either.
When looking at the squad and determining their natural positions it was clear that the best shape for a tactic would be a standard 4-4-2 though I was missing a true defensive midfielder altogether as well back ups would be needed in other areas such right back, target man and perhaps another central defender. I’d also decided that I wanted to play a quicker paced game so stamina, acceleration and of course pace would all be required. Overall I was very happy with the players I already had and so Adam Murray (AMC) was the only player to find himself on the transfer list.
As of the end of July this is the transfer situation but due to injuries, Subotic, Hanson and Kupisz all returned to their clubs without playing more than one game. Replacements are already in the works though some I’ve already gotten in the form of Patterson and Eyjolfsson. The Oxford scouts recommended both Chanot and Gyan even though they didn’t quite meet my criteria but the fans were ecstatic over the pair arriving at Kassam Stadium.
Overall Transfers: July 31st
Key Individual Signings;
Pre-season friendly games went better than expected for the most part and the loss to Ipswich was a really close game and we had several chances to win it. Although we played weaker opposition in the remainder of the games we only conceded one further goal and thats a morale booster for sure.
Up next then is the season proper and massive schedule to begin with so keeping fit could be a problem? We will start the season at home to York and hopefully will get off the a great start by taking all three points
So that’s the first post on my new story. What do you think of my choice of team?
Thanks for reading.
Sears
28 февраля, 2010 at 23:29
Hey Kevin.Great news that you decicded to make a new blog and I’m very pleased!Its funny that Oxford are Swindons main rivals! You got in good player’s and should defently push for promotion or even win the title,anyway I wish you all the very best in your future!
Kevin
28 февраля, 2010 at 23:44
Hi Sears
Thanks for the early comment and I’m glad you like my choice.
Laxeyman
1 марта, 2010 at 00:05
Hi Kevin, glad to know that you will be doing another story. The new signings look pretty good, hopefully you can gain promotion this year!
TheZiggy
1 марта, 2010 at 01:44
Even all these years later, I’m a little sore about Oxford United winning the League Cup, because it was QPR they beat in the final. In football, memories run deep.
Good to see you making a new start. Was quite odd to see how badly Oxford slumped in the last few years to end up getting relegated out of the league. In real life they’re currently in a great position to win automatic promotion back to League 2. I used to live not far outside Oxford, so I know that Swindon is not far away, because my parents live there. With the signings you’ve made, you should be able to take the title.
Lye
1 марта, 2010 at 03:55
Hi Kevin, great choice on Oxford. They have a big stadium consider in lower league. They already have a bunch of good players and with those addtions in, i believe you should be in with promotion to league 2. I wish you success on a new story and new career.
Johnny Karp
1 марта, 2010 at 09:22
That’s a great choice Kevin, I’m looking forward to seeing you bring them back to the top flight. Good luck!
Martin
1 марта, 2010 at 15:00
Happy To See You Back Kevin, I Hope You Can Gain Promotion To The Football League!
Kevin
1 марта, 2010 at 15:35
Ziggy,I’ve been to Oxford a couple of times and as you know I’m orginally from Wiltshire but it never crosed my mind about the rivalry when I chose Oxford and as you point out they are pretty close to Swindon. I hope to get promoted at the first attempt.
Lye: Thanks for the well wishes and yes they seem to have quite a big stadium. I hope to fill it by playing well!
Johnny: Glad you like my choice. It took a while to finally come up with a team I felt would be a good fit. They also play in my old junior school colours too!
Laxeyman:Thanks for your support. I like the new signings too, particularly Paterson from Southampton.
Martin: Thanks. I hope to get promoted too!
Oliver
1 марта, 2010 at 18:00
Looks like a good team choice and some decent transfers-well done. 1 thing I’ve noticed-in the ‘Currently Managing’ section it still says you’re managing Swindon…
Damian Pentagon
1 марта, 2010 at 18:53
As somebody who hates to see teams keep getting relegated
(e.g. southampton, norwich, leeds, oxford, nottm forest, leicester, charlton, swindon, wimbledon, york, exeter etc etc etc.)
I hope you will be able to take them to at least League One, if not Championship.
As a Plymouth man I am shocked to see Plymouth Argyle in the relegation zone in real life and hopefully they will be your next management target.
Damian Pentagon
Barry
1 марта, 2010 at 20:06
HI
great blog there
I was just wondering if u could help me
Whenever i try to loan someone i always get asked for a fee aswell
but you seem to get them straight on loan
if you could help please reply
Barry
1 марта, 2010 at 20:08
also callum mcrobbie or mitchel megginson of aberdeen are great signings if u are looking for a striker
Kevin
1 марта, 2010 at 20:19
Oliver: I’m happy with the choice too. I suspect Johnny will fix that as this site his is. I’m a guest writer.
Damian: As a West Country man I thought about Plymouth but Oxford were in a lower league and looked interesting. I hope to do well with them.
Barry: Thanks for your comments. I find when loaning players a fee is usually asked if my team is at the same level or sometimes a league below.When there’s a big gap between clubs in terms of division I find a fee is not usually asked.At least that is my experience. Thanks for the player suggestions too.
By the way to all the new people posting I’m in Toronto,Canada so I’m 5 hours behind everyone else which means I may not reply that quick when a comment comes in as I’m generally at work .
Johnny Karp
1 марта, 2010 at 20:21
I just fixed it, thanks for the heads up Oliver.
Martin
1 марта, 2010 at 20:32
Anyone Got Ay Help?
I Download A Tactic Etc And Then Try To Extract To The Folder, But It Doesnt Come Into My Game, I Think Its A Winrar Proble Though?
Btw Kevin, I’m Quite Sad Even After Just Two Games In My Second Prem Season, Where I Lost 3-0 To Man City At Home And 1-0 To Arsenal Away,
I Think The Problem Will Be Fixed Soon Though! I Hope!
I Was Also Thinking Of Starting As Luton But Still Keeping My Notts Co. Save.
cory berman
1 марта, 2010 at 20:38
nice choice of oxford interesting the great win against oxford city big derby game !
Kevin
1 марта, 2010 at 21:04
Martin: I’d be intersted in a Luton game if you decide to start one. I think you have to right click on the WinRar>extract files»here», which puts the file on your desktop and then import into the game via the tactics screen?
Cory: Thanks for the comment.
Martin
1 марта, 2010 at 22:18
Thanks Kevin, I’ll Try That.
Btw Its My 3rs Season In The Prem Not The 2nd Lol
Kevin
1 марта, 2010 at 22:20
Martin: It’s hard to keep track of I know. LOL!
Barry
2 марта, 2010 at 18:50
Cheers for the reply kevin, good luck with your oxford season
I’m in the middle of managing aberdeen in the spl. Pretty challenging, considering their lack of transfer and wage money but i’m 4th so i guess its OK.
Kevin
2 марта, 2010 at 18:54
Hi Barry
4th is not bad. It will be hard going the break the «Glasgow Grip» on the Scottish Premier League but not impossible with the right players in your team.
Barry
2 марта, 2010 at 19:04
Hi Kevin
Yeh its going pretty well. My two big signings were winger Andy van der meyde and serbian Striker luka senicanin. The latter has made a massive impact in the europa league.
Yeah rangers and celtic are always going to be trouble but my opening game was a 3-1 win over celtic!!!
Kevin
2 марта, 2010 at 19:22
Barry: That’s encouraging winning over Celtic.
Barry
2 марта, 2010 at 20:14
Yeh it was a good result sadly i haven’t been so succesful against rangers.
My biggest flop of the season was a 5-1 away drubbing against villareal in my second last europa league game. But the following week i managed to turn it around, beating Sporting braga 1-0 thanks to a 35 yard volley from chris maguire!!!
Kevin
2 марта, 2010 at 20:54
Barry; Those 35 yarders are great when it’s our team that’s scoring!