Oxford united FC
Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey makes bold Siriki Dembele claim
Oxford lost their first competitive fixture under former Arsenal star Ramsey last weekend, two late goal seeing them suffer a 2-0 defeat away at Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup.
Dembele started the match at Brisbane Road and played 62 minutes, showing some flashes of skill on the ball.
The 29-year-old fell out of favour last season under former boss Matt Bloomfield and frustrated supporters, particularly given his reported club-record price tag.
However, with the U’s currently under a temporary transfer embargo, Dembele has a huge opportunity to reinstate himself as a mainstay in Ramsey’s team.
“He’s a quality player who we admire a lot,” the Yellows boss said after the Orient defeat.
“He’s going to be really important for us this season.
“He is a player who’s very sharp, great in 1v1 situations, and can cause confusion for defenders.
“He’s a really important player. With him, he has missed a bit of pre-season, so he’s just building him up as well.
“I’m glad what he got through today.”
Dembele has known to frustrate in his performances at Oxford, often showing signs of brilliance but struggling for consistency and end product during the club’s two-year stint in the Championship.
READ MORE: Oxford United ‘may accept’ over £2 million Stan Mills offer
READ MORE: Oxford United watch on as PFA submit challenge to EFL rules
The former AFC Bournemouth man arrived in OX4 from Birmingham City in the summer after the Yellows won promotion from League One via the play-offs in 2024.
Since his arrival, the midfielder has played 47 times for the club, scoring twice and managing one assist.
21 of those came last year as Dembele failed to produce any goal contributions.
Under Gary Rowett, the Scottish citizen scored two crucial winning goals in two 1-0 victories over Watford and Sheffield United respectively as the U’s secured Championship survival in the 2024/25 campaign.
Despite struggling so far overall at the Kassam Stadium, there is no doubt Dembele can cause damage on his day.
In his last League One campaign, the 2020/21 season, he scored 11 goals and managed 10 assists as his former side Peterborough United topped the division.
“We’re really pleased that he’s on our team and causing defenders problems because you don’t want to be predictable as an attacking player,” Ramsey continued.
“You want to keep the defenders on their toes and guessing which way they’re going to go and things like that.”
Dembele came into the side in place of Stan Mills who missed out after missing a few days of training in the week leading up to the Orient defeat.
Oxford will need every squad member to play their part this season, particularly in the first six months, as they navigate the transfer embargo.
The summer-long saga has felt more like a decade and surely head coach Aaron Ramsey has felt the same after enduring the ritual of being asked about Mills’ status on a weekly basis.
After missing the U’s first pre-season friendly, the winger scored in the second, a 2-1 win over Barnet, and featured in the following couple.
He then missed out in the first competitive game of the season, a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Leyton Orient, before a move to PNE was confirmed by Ramsey ahead of the League One opening day, but not until January.
Mills messaged his boss requesting not to play in the 2-2 opening day home draw with MK Dons before coming off the bench to assist Gatlin O’Donkor in the Yellows’ 2-1 win at Stevenage.
That would prove to be the 22-year-old’s final display in a United shirt, the young attacker showing little enthusiasm upon Oxford taking the lead in Hertfordshire, hinting that his head had certainly been turned.
“I’ve known about it all summer and from the start I’ve wanted to be here, wanted to get going as a Preston player and now it is official.”
Mills’ first words as a Lilywhites player say it all.
Considering the former Everton man has never scored more than three goals in a senior season, my personal opinion was that a January move would be ideal for all parties.
In an ideal world, Oxford would keep a star player for six months, Mills could get his numbers up as a standout player in a weaker league and PNE would get an in-form winger through the doors in the new year.
READ MORE: Ramsey says Mills departure ‘best solution’ for Oxford United
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge joins Tottenham Hotspur
But patience is a rare virtue in football these days and off goes the winger to Lancashire.
So, what now for United?
The U’s are without a recognised right-sided midfielder – young Aidan Elliott-Wheeler could be considered – and remain under a temporary transfer embargo.
Aidomo Emakhu has played on the right so far this season and has offered some outlet but he does look much more comfortable in his more natural position on the right.
Then there is 17-year-old Mo Missanga, a youngster who helped change the tide on the opening day against MK Dons and who has excited supporters and the U’s boss alike.
Ramsey has hinted that the Yellows are searching for solutions, and it is understood that a loan transfer where Oxford do not pay any share of the player’s wages could be a way of bringing a player in before Tuesday’s deadline.
Given the circumstances, it will be difficult to replace the ability of Mills but there is certainly a sense of relief that this saga is over.
Now it is time to focus on the football and maintain a strong league position heading into January.
Oxford United have signed Wales international Kai Andrews on loan from Premier League side Coventry City until January.
Source link
Oxford United head coach Aaron Ramsey has insisted that Stanley Mills’ departure for Preston North End was ‘the best decision’.
Source link
-
Oxford News3 weeks agoTrain cancellation alert amid ‘fault’ near London Paddington
-
Oxford News2 weeks agoMuseum evacuated and Oxford University closed amid incident
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoBritish Business Bank backs PhysicsX with USD $25 million
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoMuscle Food at risk of closing after entering administration
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoNuggit launches GBP £5 million fund for UK YouTubers
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoHistoric town faces series of high street shop closures
-
Student Life4 weeks agoMy year of rest and rustication
-
Student Life4 weeks agoAcademic tourism: Oxford University and its summer schools