Oxford united FC
Overhaul not needed for Matt Bloomfield’s Oxford United
Oxford were defeated 2-0 on the final day of the season at Millwall and The U’s head coach was questioned as to the state of the squad heading into the summer.
“There’s going to be work that needs to be done to make sure that we come back in August and we’re ready to go,” Bloomfield told BBC Radio Oxford.
“I don’t think there’s an overhaul needed [or] that is necessary, but there are certainly some things that we need to improve on.
“We do have the nucleus of a really good squad for League One. We’ve had a squad that have been here for a few years. We’ve also got some really good young players who the football club have invested in that we’re really pleased to have.”
And he is right.
Oxford’s core of (to our knowledge) contracted players is strong.
Jamie Cumming, a Championship-capable goalkeeper, as number one. Experience and quality in defence with the likes of Ciaron Brown, Michal Helik, Sam Long, Jack Currie, and Brodie Spencer.
There is youth and excitement in the midfield and wide areas in Stan Mills, Aidomo Emakhu, and Jamie McDonnell – amongst others – and, of course, skipper Cameron Brannagan is there to hold down the fort.
Up top, there is Mark Harris, who scored 15 goals in his last League One campaign, and Nik Prelec who has shown signs in limited minutes and who will be keen to prove himself after signing for United permanently.
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An ‘overhaul’ suggests that huge swathes of players will be turned over, but that simply is not necessary this summer.
Some players will attract interest – most likely this season’s standouts like Stan Mills, Brian De Keersmaecker and Jack Currie – which The U’s will have to make decisions on regarding price tags and importance.
There is also room for improvement in areas. The striking position is a slight unknown, for example, with the jury still out on Prelec and Harris not enjoying the most fruitful campaign last time out.
Ole Romeny also remains a slight mystery despite being at the club for near 18 months.
Moving players on is where the task lies.
Out-of-favour names like Greg Leigh and Siriki Dembele are two that The Yellows must make decisions on regarding their futures with both still under contract.
It is unlikely teams will come in with big offers considering their lack of form and minutes so there is a question of whether to keep them and play them, or some sort of agreement regarding their contracts.
Other forgotten men like Louie Sibley, Will Goodwin, and Peter Kioso can be included in that realm.
Some contracts have question marks surrounding them meaning the upcoming retained list from the club will be intriguing.
But is an overhaul necessary? As Bloomfield said, ‘I don’t think so’.
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.
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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.
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Oxford United head coach Aaron Ramsey has insisted that Stanley Mills’ departure for Preston North End was ‘the best decision’.
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