Oxford united FC
Oxford United defender Helik makes Premier League remark
Matt Bloomfield’s side have enjoyed success from set pieces of late, scoring from four in their last four Championship games.
Helik bagged a goal for himself against Preston North End, latching on the end of a deep free kick into the box from Cameron Brannagan.
Ahead of a tough away trip to in-form Southampton, the Polish centre back hopes for more joy from set plays.
“I think it was our strength last season as well and I’m really glad that we’ve started to score a bit more in the last few games from set plays,” Helik said.
“As you can see in the Premier League now, it’s more and more important to have that threat from set plays.
“I really believe that that can help us in the last few games of the season because the set plays are very important, especially in the games where there is not much in the game, when both teams need to have a result and then the set plays are really massive.”
The U’s face a Saints side this weekend who are in blistering form and pushing for the play-off-placed finish after a bad start to the season.
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Since replacing Will Still, head coach Tonda Eckert has drastically turned things round on the south coast with his side on a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions, including an FA Cup upset against Premier League outfit Fulham.
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Yellows defender Helik worked under the Saints boss at Barnsley when the German was assistant coach to now-Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber.
Helik continued: “I’m looking forward to it. I know the gaffer there really well from my time at Barnsley.
“I wish him all the best and I’m glad he’s doing really well. I think he’s a great coach but obviously I will do my best to beat him. So, it’s even more for me, that game, personally.
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“We managed to beat them at home which was a really good feeling, and I hope we’re going to repeat it on Saturday.
“We’ve got young players who are showing really good hunger and the loan players are showing a desire to fight for the team and for this club which is really good because you don’t always get that from loan players.
“In our squad I feel like we’ve got a good mix to perform really well and to keep Oxford in the Championship.”
The 35-year-old was appointed into his first head coach role in June, taking over at United from Matt Bloomfield after retiring from professional football in April.
Ramsey has enjoyed a successful start to his tenure in OX4 so far, securing four wins from four pre-season fixtures, including a 2-0 victory over Premier League side Ipswich Town.
The former Gunners midfielder has also had to manage the squad amidst a temporary transfer ban which sees Oxford unable to register any new player until they prove compliance with the EFL’s Squad Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) regulations.
The ex-Wales international played under some world-renowned managers during his successful playing career in the likes of Wenger, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery and former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.
“Arsene was a huge part of the success that I had as a player,” the Yellows head coach detailed after the pre-season win over Ipswich.
“And obviously, I took so much from him as well, from the manager side of things.
“But I’ve been very lucky and blessed to have played for some really good managers over the years, which I’ve taken little bits from as well.
“So, yes, I wouldn’t just say it’s all him, but definitely he’s formed part of that.”
Similarly to Wenger, Ramsey possesses a calm demeanour on the touchline, more often than not on the edge of his technical area with the occasional instruction directed at a player or the team as a whole.
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He is visibly calm and contemplative, something which he himself acknowledges.
“I think that’s me as a player, though. I’ve always been quite calm and comfortable in situations. So for me, that’s the way that I am.
“And I want my players to feel that and to feel like they can go out there and express themselves.
“So, yes, when they play like that [against Ipswich], it does make it a lot easier for me on the side lines.
“I think we need to be confident in what we’re trying to do for us to be able to really showcase exactly what we can do.
“It’s that confidence which is important without stepping over the line, but we need to embrace that.”
The U’s begin their campaign this Saturday with a Carabao Cup clash with League One rivals Leyton Orient.
Ramsey will be hoping his side can take the confidence and impressive performances from pre-season into the competitive campaign.
League action begins a week later, with the Yellows hosting newly-promoted MK Dons at the Kassam on the opening day.
The U’s return to the third tier after a two-year stay in the Championship, suffering relegation last term with a 22nd-placed finish under Matt Bloomfield.
The club revealed their new home strip last month and have worn it twice during pre-season when they beat Crawley Town 3-1 and Ipswich Town 2-0 at the Kassam Stadium.
Oxford’s away kit was released with a video on social media titled ‘Performance Inspires’, the shirt being inspired by Oxford’s performing arts, with a ballet performance filmed at Oxford New Theatre.
The video is soundtracked by a reimagined take on Oxford band Foals’ song ‘What Went Down’.
The shirt is available to buy online and in-store.
The 32-year-old midfielder joined United in 2024 and played 88 games for the club, scoring two goals.
His last goal for the club came in the final home game of last season, a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
On 14 January 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 league draw away against Plymouth Argyle.
He will now join Tranmere who are in League Two.
The Wales international did not make any senior appearances for Tranmere in his first spell but has signed a two-year deal with the club.
The U’s are in the midst of a temporary transfer embargo and will not currently be able to replace the midfielder.
As well as his contributions on the pitch, Vaulks was also a pioneer in the Oxfordshire community, using his personal story to establish the award-winning Can We Talk? suicide prevention campaign.
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He introduced a suicide prevention check-in app for staff, delivered training to employees and supporters, and led workshops across the county, including at RAF Brize Norton.
He was nationally and internationally recognised for his campaigning, winning awards including the FIFPRO Player Voice and was recently named PFA Community Player of the Year.
Vaulks made seven appearances for Wales, his most recent coming in a 1-1 draw with Czechia in 2022.
Oxford United begin their League One campaign next week with a home clash against MK Dons after suffering relegation from the second tier last season.
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