The U’s are inside the League One play-off places and unbeaten at home, losing just once across their opening six games.

As football fans, we can often feel uneasy and unsure about what to expect heading into a new season, but when it came to Oxford’s return to England’s third tier this term, I don’t think that feeling will ever be matched.

And although there are arguably still more questions than answers at this stage, in my opinion, I wouldn’t describe us as an empty questionnaire anymore.

Ramsey never hid the fact he wanted his team to have control of games.

Oxford are currently averaging the fourth-highest possession figure in the league at 57.7 per cent, and only managed fewer than the opposition against Leicester, who sit top of the table for ball retention.

Oxford United midfielder Tyler Goodrham (Image: Darrell Fisher)

But simply having the majority of possession does not win you matches; you only have to hear the views of most Leicester fans towards their manager Russell Martin right now – or watch that fantastic win we had over them – to reinforce that point.

Even in the Premier League, a recent data chart showed that the average amount of possession teams have has significantly decreased over the last few seasons.

Successful teams are desperate for variety.

They want different ways to hurt opponents and add unpredictability wherever possible.

Which leads on nicely to one of the most pleasing ‘ticks’ on our questionnaire, if we’re going to continue with that analogy: Oxford under Ramsey have shown variety.

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We’ve seen slick build-up through the thirds, countless cut-backs, lightning counter-attacks and crosses into the box.

And that fills me with great encouragement.

When I heard Ramsey repeatedly talk about his desire to control games before the season, as much as I was relieved we might not have to endure watching Mark Harris try to win flick-ons against 6ft 8in centre-backs every week, I did question whether the inexperience of Ramsey – and, more broadly, the pattern of younger managers arriving to play in one particular way to suit their future jobs further up the pyramid – could come at the expense of winning as many games as possible.

But we just haven’t seen that thus far.

Oxford United winger Mo Missanga (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Ramsey and his coaching staff have shown they have the skillset and flexibility to field an Oxford side capable of hurting opponents in different ways.

Of course, as our most recent draw with Cambridge United showed us, we are by no means the finished article.

But the general consensus among Oxford fans heading into our first season away from the Championship for the first time in two years was a fear over our direction.

We can take losing games if we feel we know where we are heading and, certainly on the pitch, it seems there is light at the end of the tunnel at last.

Andrews has been selected for international duty with the Wales Under-21 team ahead of matches against Belgium and Austria, with first-team manager Craig Bellamy leaving him out of the senior side on this occasion.

The 20-year-old is one of five Yellows stars selected to represent their nations; Mark Harris joins up with the Wales senior team whilst Brodie Spencer, Ciaron Brown and Jamie McDonnell have all been chosen to play for Northern Ireland.

Unfortunately, McDonnell pulled out of the international camp on Tuesday after sustaining a hamstring injury in the U’s 1-1 draw with Cambridge United last weekend.

Andrews, who arrived on loan from Premier League outfit Coventry City last month, has previously represented the senior Welsh side on three occasions, making his debut in September 2025 in a 1-0 defeat to Canada.

United head coach Ramsey, who worked with the Coventry loanee during his time with the Dragons’ youth setup, believes the young midfielder has what it takes.

“Craig [Bellamy] has made his own decisions,” the former Arsenal midfielder said.

Oxford United midfielder Kai Andrews (Image: Oxford United)

“Kai is ready and obviously he’ll have a big part to play as well with the Under-21s so, for us, him getting those minutes in and stuff is going to be good.

“But what I’ve seen from Kai this year is that he is ready, you can see it in him.

“And he’s ready to make his mark on this team and help this team to achieve its goals this year.

“So, hopefully he gets through the games all good.”

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The current international break is Ramsey’s first as a permanent head coach.

The former Wales international represented his country 86 times and scored 21 goals.

The 35-year-old was part of the famous Dragons side, alongside legend Gareth Bale, which reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2016, bagging two assists in the famous 3-1 quarter-final upset against Belgium.

For Ramsey, an international break as a club manager is a new experience.

“It will be a little bit different for me to see it from that side of things,” he admitted.

Aaron Ramsey won 86 caps for Wales (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

“But all I can say is that representing your country is the pinnacle of the game and every time you have that opportunity to put on the shirt and wear your colours, there is no prouder moment.

“For the boys that have the opportunity to do that, we are fully behind them and support them.

“And it’s proud for us as well as a club that we have so many international players making that step.

“It will be a bit different seeing it and hopefully they all get through without any problems as well.”

This year’s edition of the game releases globally on Friday, September 25, just under two months into the new 2026/27 football season.

It includes new features like ‘The Grounds’, an open-world football hub which supports up to 100 players and is split into English, French and Argentinian-inspired street football cultures.

Ahead of the release, Oxford’s player ratings have been announced following their return to League One.

The U’s were relegated from the Championship last season, with a handful of the players seeing their ratings decrease in this year’s edition of the famous game.

The club’s highest-rated player this year is captain Cameron Brannagan who stays as a 71-rated card, joint with Brian De Keersmaecker who is out on loan at Bristol City and jumped up a rating from last season.

The duo are the joint-fifth highest rated players in League One.

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Last year’s highest rated United player, South Korean winger Jeon Jin-woo, has been downgraded from 72 to 70 and is the joint-third highest rated card at the club alongside injured summer signing Frankie Kent who saw the same decrease to his ratings.

Oxford United defender Jack Currie (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Other downgraded players include Siriki Dembele (70 to 67), Michal Helik (70 to 69), Ciaron Brown (70 to 69) and Jamie Cumming (69 to 68).

Elsewhere, academy graduate Tyler Goodrham has risen from a 66 to 68 rating and January signing Aidomo Emakhu has grown from a 64 to a 67.

This year’s senior debutant Mo Missanga, who has burst into the side under Aaron Ramsey with a goal and two assists in his first five senior appearances, is a new addition to the game and has been given a rating of 55.

In the rest of the division, Leicester City’s Wout Faes (74) is the highest rated player in the league, with the Foxes’ Wes Burns and Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan (both 72) in joint second.

Here is the full list of Oxford’s ratings:

Cameron Brannagan – 71

Brian De Keersmaecker (out on loan) – 71

Jeon Jin Woo – 70

Frankie Kent – 70

Ciaron Brown – 69

Michał Helik – 69

Greg Leigh – 68

Mark Harris – 68

Jamie Cumming – 68

Brodie Spencer – 68

Tyler Goodrham – 68

Jack Currie – 68

Oxford United striker Mark Harris (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Ole Romeny (out on loan) – 67

Louie Sibley – 67

Jamie McDonnell – 67

Aidomo Emakhu – 67

Sam Long – 67

Siriki Dembélé – 67

Ruben Roosken – 66

Peter Kioso – 66

Simon Eastwood – 63

Gatlin O’Donkor – 61

James Golding – 60

Mo Missanga – 55