Oxford’s United pre-season hasn’t been packed with transfer news, but what little has emerged seems to have caused quite a bit of controversy.
The U’s finish last season on fine form but struggled for much of the campaign. Some attributed it to the ongoing dispute over their home stadium, with the Kassam often feeling like an away ground. With one end not filled in and the issues with the owner, their home form could certainly have been better.
They did benefit from some good loan signings, but they’ve yet to be replaced in a very slow summer for Karl Robinson. Tariqe Fosu has arrived from Charlton, he’ll play on one flank, whilst Alex Gorrin will likely be the replacement for John Mousinho. He’s been told his playing time might be limited but hit back with the only goal of the game in their recent friendly with Fulham.
Chris Cadden has also arrived from Columbus Crew and that is a transfer causing a lot of controversy. Oxford wanted to sign Cadden from Motherwell but would have to have stumped up around £300,000 to do so; the 22-year-old had been at Firs Park since the age of nine.
Instead, he signed for Columbus Crew in the MLS, a side likely to pay only £30,000 for his services. Fair? It might have been unremarkable had he remained in America, but the ink hadn’t dried on the deal before he headed back to oxford on loan, a season-long loan at that meaning he won’t even return for the new season in the States. Odd? Just a bit. Underhand? It’s not for us to say.
It still leaves unanswered questions and unfilled spaces in the Oxford team. Marcus Browne is one man they’re keen to bring back in on loan, he did well during a spell away from West Ham last season and would add further weight to their attack.
Jerome Sinclair has yet to be replaced and whilst Luke Garbutt arrived as a left back last season, Fosu will have to step into the left midfield berth the Everton man occupied before he left.
Another hole that needs filling is in the back four, where Curtis Nelson opted to leave the Kassam for pastures new. He’ll be taking his place in the Cardiff City team this coming season, whilst Rob Dickie will arguably need a new partner in the heart of the back four.
There are plenty of positives though; Jamie Mackie is an experienced figure up front and he played a vital role in their climb up the table Gavin Whyte impressed last season as well, albeit by scoring nine goals in 41 outings. He’s not prolific, but the young Irishman has attracted the attention of Nottingham Forest and has been linked with Cardiff, erroneously according to Robinson.
Mark Sykes is another player expected to kick on this season. He was snatched from under the nose of League Two side Port Vale in January and he settled quickly in the English game. Certainly, the playing squad is looking strong, even if they need that elusive striker.
They’ve been linked with Ched Evans, a man who will always be deemed a controversial signing despite being fully exonerated of his previous misdemeanours by a court of law. He certainly impressed at Fleetwood last season and his goals might push the U’s further up the table than they managed last season.
For me, the real question mark has to be over the manager. Karl Robinson has a good reputation whilst at MK Dons, but eventually went stale. His Charlton spell certainly didn’t work out for him; after he left manager Lee Bowyer was able to put them in the play-offs twice, something Robinson couldn’t manage.
Last season, with a decent squad, Oxford struggled and whilst blame can be apportioned all across the board, Robinson has to shoulder some of that responsibility. He’s outspoken, brash and forthright but that doesn’t always win him friends. He stripped Curtis Nelson of the captaincy in the middle of last season and perhaps that had a bearing on the defender’s decision to walk away.
His transfer dealings have been conducted out in the open, which means missing out on the likes of Stuart Findlay has been very public. It’s believed he had £500,000 to spend on the defender, a sum it seems hard to believe he’d waste on one player when he needs two or three. They’re either very rich or he’s got his priorities a little twisted.
They start with a trip to Sunderland before encounters with Peterborough, Blackpool and Burton. They’re all tough matches and a bad start might see Robinson feeling the pressure early.
Mind you, if he pulls off the big striker capture, he’s been hinting at all summer and get’s off to a good start, they might find themselves in the promotion hunt after all. They’re a side whose success is balanced delicately on a knife-edge this summer, with a crucial ten days between now and the trip to Wearside.
