WEST BROM AFTER POWELL AGAIN
West Brom are apparently sending scouts to watch Paul Powell once more - they had him watched during Tuesday's match at Walsall (not far for the scout to travel from the Hawthorns then). Powell went off injured in that match, so this might delay their interest for a while. Let's hope so.
The Baggies reportedly made a 'mystery' £500k bid for a player recently - it is now supected that this was Powell.
[source = OUFC Info Centre / WBA Unofficial]
COURT TRANSCRIPTS
If you're very bored, here's some reading matter for you. I've downloaded some of the publically available court transcripts from Casetrack.com. They are all in Rich Text Format, which most browsers do support.
Club captain, Peter Fear, scored a goal yesterday - for the reserves. They still didn't manage their first win since November though, drawing 2-2 at home to Wycombe. Jamie Cook got the other goal. Triallist Mosiah Blake played again, as did a youth team player named Jamie Brooks, who laid on Cook's goal.
Fear's goal was reportedly a Beckham-style free kick, and it came as part of an impressive performance by the former Wimbledon player. There was a less impressive performance from keeper Hubert Busby Junior though. He was repeatedly beaten in the air, and missed a cross which led to Wycombe's first goal. Ian McGuckin made his comeback from injury, lasting the entire 90 minutes.
[source = Rage Online / OUFC forum / Oxford Mail]
GLASS OUT FOR MONTH?
Apparently Jimmy Glass' ankle injury could have ruled him out for a
month. As he is only on a monthly contract, his Oxford career could be
over even before it has begun, especially now that Busby has arrived.
[source = OUFC
Exiles]
JOEY STARS ON RETURN, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH
(WALSALL 3 OXFORD 2)
It seems that Saturday's crowd chants of "Joey Beauchamp on the wing" made up Denis Smith's mind over Joey's fitness, and the winger was handed a place in last night's starting line-up. He quickly made his point too, scoring twice in the first half to put Oxford 1-0 and then 2-1 ahead. In the end it was not enough, as Walsall's second half pressure saw them get the two goals they needed to win the match, with the winner in the last ten minutes courtesy of old hand, Brett Angell.
Matt Murphy had been dropped to the bench to make way for Joey, as Denis otherwise kept Saturday's line-up and formation. Supposedly fit again, Ian McGuckin was not even on the bench.
Worryingly both Paul Powell (knee) and Dean Whitehead (backside) went off injured in the second half. Whitehead's injury is not thought to be too bad, but Powell's looks worse ("We'll have to wait and see how bad [he] is, " according to Denis.)
Denis said of Joey's performance, "We know what he can do. He has got a fairly free role, along with Manny off Anthrobus, we basically played with three up and he made his runs and got a couple of great goals. Hopefully he will stay fit now - he looked shattered when I took him off - we have got to get him match fit now."
He emphasised the youth of his side once more - "We're very young and it showed a little bit in the second half."
[source = OUFC Info Centre / Official Site / Oxford Mail]
MINCHERY "PROGRESS"
There has been progress of a sort at the Minchery Farm ground this week,
as it appears that all of the Taylor Woodrow signs have been removed from
the site. Are they making way for Barr Construction? [source
= OUFC forum]
DENIS - I WASN'T BRAVE
Denis Smith contended that he had not been brave to face the London Road fans after Saturday's match. "Not if you come from where I come from. Where I was brought up, I consistently had to walk home at night through gangs of lads with knives and everything." Now we know.
He also said that he was as annoyed as the fans at the way the team was performing. (Unfortunately for him, it's with him that the buck rests - not us.) He said, "People must realise I've got the same feeling as they have. They must know I want the players to play well, score goals and for it to be entertaining, and when it isn't and they get on the players' backs, it's disappointing. We've got a lot of young players out there and they need a little bit of encouragement. We've got to get the fans on our side - we will try whatever we can to do that."
He also claimed that he "wasn't sure" that Joey was fit, and that he had intended to play 4-4-2 with Joey, but that he had then had to change his plans. "The system was right for the players who played today," claimed Smith.
I can't help but feel that all this formation-changing is going to confuse the players. Pick a system and stick to it, whatever the personnel. Then at least the players can get used to a certain way of playing, and certain tactics. This was one thing that Mickey Lewis had right when he was manager. He decided on his system, and stuck with it. I didn't agree with his particular system, but I agree with the ethos.
[source = Oxford Mail]
WALSALL PREVIEW
Walsall, with three league wins out of three and eleven goals scored, have no injury problems as they prepare for Oxford's visit to the Bescot Stadium. Darren Byfield, who chose Walsall ahead of Oxford after leaving Villa in the summer, tops the divisional scoring chart with three goals. He will be partnered up front by new Portuguese signing, Jorge Leitao, meaning Brett Angel will be consigned to the bench, despite scoring twice in the opening match of the season.
Oxford will probably make two changes to the side that lost on Saturday - Ian McGuckin has returned to fitness and should slot back into defence, whilst Joey Beauchamp is back after missing out on Saturday, apparently because of fitness doubts. The indications are that Denis will return to a 4-4-2 formation (please!) if Joey starts, meaning that Shepheard and Jarman will be the two players who are dropped from the side. Dean Whitehead's promising displays (Denis Smith - "Whitehead was different class") should keep club captain, Peter Fear, on the bench.
As usual though, Denis is revealing nothing, and the side may yet be unchanged, with both McGuckin and Beauchamp on the bench. denis commented, "I know what I am doing - that is a matter of opinion, but I think there won't be a great deal of change."
[source = SoccerNet / Official
Site]
WORST IN THE LEAGUE
Oh dear, with WBA having won today, we've turned into that team that every supporter in the country will be watching - the only team with nul points in the four divisions. Every patronising football fan in the country will be looking out for Oxford's result each week, muttering "poor little Oxford, they've still not got a point", whilst secretly hoping that the sequence continues.
And we've got top of the table Walsall (9 points from 3 games) tomorrow
evening. Can we be cussed enough to win that one? Some teams in our posotion
might, but Oxford? Nah.
ROSS BAN REACTION
Kick It Out, the campaign against racism in football, has condemned the punishment of Ross Weatherstone as "meaningless", which was pretty much my own reaction yesterday. Suspending a player for two weeks is a punishment that has been used by clubs for offences as minor as on-field infringements. What's more Weatherstone is injured anyway, so effectively the punishment is a fine of two weeks' wages, plus the community work - of which we have as yet no details. What I do know is that every football player is contracted to do a certain amount of such work anyway. It would be good to know what exactly it is that Weatherstone will be doing. It would also be nice to have a public apology from the player himself.
Rage Online does however report that local communities have welcomed the new statement (presumably in comparison with the first one!) and hoped it would lead to Weatherstone's rehabilitation.
CROWD TURNS ON SMITH
(OXFORD 0 BRENTFORD 1)
The match itself was completely forgettable. One (weak) shot on target in total from Oxford - Paul Tait's if you're interested. One goal and not much else from Brentford. A total lack of tactics from those in blue and yellow.
The entertaining part was Denis Smith's sideshow. Towards the end of the match, with Oxford not looking as though they had a hope in hell of equalising, the London Road end turned on Smith. Chants of "You don't know what you're doing" echoed around the stand. The match ended to more of the same. The next thing we knew, Denis was striding towards the London Road end. He was greeted with a hail of criticism. He then proceeded to defend himself to the crowd - hardly anyone could hear what was said, but it was apparently something about Oxford being a young team, and that we don't have any money. The main body of fans bizarrely ended by clapping him.
Now perhaps they were just clapping because they felt he had been brave
in coming to face his critics. Fair enough, although I personally feel
it was more of a desperate gimmick to try to keep the crowd on his side.
It won't have any ultimate effect of course, as results will eventually
be the judge of him. Since Oxford traditonally take an age to get rid of
any manager, he will withstand many more performances like this before
he is given the boot. The sad thing is though that the complete lack of
team tactics indicates that we will get many more results like this.
He is right about a lack of money, but the fact is that this makes it even
more important that the team has a manager who can get things right tactically.
Denis Smith has shown that he cannot.
WEATHERSTONE - NEW CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT
An official statement has just been announced concerning the club's stance on Ross Weatherstone. He has been given a fine of two weeks wages (the maximum a club can impose, I believe), a two week suspension (this doesn't mean much as he is injured), and three months community work (I'd like to know more details of what this entails).
It's better than the previous statement, but is it enough? Not in my opinion. A public apology from Ross is still required to make this even vaguely palatable.
Here's the statement in full, taken from the club's Official Site -
Following the Club's statement issued on Thursday 17th August 2000 after Ross Weatherstone's conviction for racially aggravated disorderly behaviour, a further announcement on this issue can now be made.SCOUTMASTER DEFENDS ROSS
The Club expects a high standard of behaviour from its employees and procedures are applied when any player's or other member of staff's behaviour falls below that level. Among many matters, racist behaviour forms part of the 'Let's Kick Racism out of Football' campaign to which the Club subscribes.
Those disciplinary procedures have undergone their due process in relation to the Ross Weatherstone incident and tough and effective action has been taken in addition to the punishment meted out through the court. Ross will be suspended without pay for the maximum period allowed under Football League rules and ordered to undertake a substantial amount of community work over the next three months.As stated previously, while taking this action, the Club remains supportive of Ross Weatherstone while he seeks to rehabilitate himself while strongly condemning the behaviour for which he was convicted. The Club wishes to make it clear that it does not condone racist behaviour of any kind at any time.
Oxford United Chairman, Firoz Kassam, said:
"It has been made abundantly clear to all members of the playing staff and club officials that racist behaviour of any sort will not be tolerated and vigorous action will be taken if such behaviour should occur."Oxford United is a multi-racial club at all levels from the Board of Directors, through the professional playing staff to the Centre of Excellence. Strenuous efforts are made to ensure all of our community activities are inclusive of ethnic groups with some specific targeting of the Asian community which is under-represented in football across the professional game."
A front page article in the local newspaper of Henley-on-Thames, the Henley Standard, has Ross Weatherstone's former scoutmaster defending him, for what it's worth. I shall link to the story in the online edition once it's been updated with the latest news, but for now I've copied the pertinent paragraph from the OUFC forum -
Dr. Ken Groom, a former neighbour and Ross's old Scoutmaster, said "I've known Ross since he was born, he's not got a racist bone in his body. People who know him find the whole thing incomprehensible. Ross is quite devastated. He was quite convinced if he stood up in court and told the truth he would be found innocent" Dr Groom said an appeal is unlikely. "The problem with an appeal is facing six to 12 months of going through the whole thing again", he said. "He feels in himself that his conscience is clear. He just wants to get on with his life."Presumably Dr Groom has not asked Zafrad Naeem for his opinions on the affair...
BRENTFORD'S INJURY PROBLEMS
Oxford's opponents tomorrow, Brentford, have major injury problems heading into the match. Five of their first team players are out injured. Lloyd Owusu and Paul Gibbs were both injured in midweek, to add to those already out - Danny Boxall, Ijah Anderson and Jason Pearcy. This leaves Ron Noades without a recognised full back on either flank. Will Denis be tactically aware enough to take advantage? We shall see. [source = TeamTalk]
Oxford are likely to field an unchanged team, and keep the 5-3-2 line-up that beat Wolves in midweek. Denis isn't 100% sure, though - "My first reaction after Tuesday was not to keep an unchanged team because that was a side designed to play against Wolves, and put out to do a specific job. I've got to see whether they could do it with different adjustments for Saturday, and I'm just not sure at the moment. I'll look at it in training. You can talk about formations and systems until the cows come home, but it all boils down to workrate."
The players will wear black armbands in memory of Maurice Evans. A minute's silence will be held before kick-off.
[source = Oxford Mail]
WATSON TRIAL AT WOLVES
Mark Watson has reportedly been offered a two week trial at Wolves.
He has already played in a pre-season friendly for the black country club.
[source
= OUFC forum]
KICK IT OUT! REACTION IN FULL
The Kick It Out! anti-racism organisation has kindly sent me the text of last week's press release that outlines their position on the Ross Weatherstone affair -
Press Release ? 17 August 2000Still no further news from the club on this affair - a bloody disgrace, I'm sure you'll agree.Campaign criticises club over race attack player
Kick It Out, football?s anti-racism campaign, today criticised Oxford United for failing to give an
appropriate response to the conviction of Defender Ross Wetherstone for a racially motivated attack.The campaign is concerned that whilst players have been dismissed or given long term suspensions for less
serious legal offences in the past, such as recreational drug use, being found guilty of "racially
aggravating, threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour" warrants strong action from the club.The Second Division club issued a two-line statement today saying:
"Oxford United football club follows a firm policy of anti-racism and has done so for many years.
"However, the Directors, players and officials fully support Ross Weatherstone at this difficult time."
Piara Powar, National Co-ordinator of the campaign today said,
"The two sentences of Oxford United?s statement contradict each other. If the club do indeed follow a firm
policy of anti-racism they are failing to implement it by backing someone convicted of a race attack."It is not for us to tell the club what action to take against their own employees but a statement indicating
how seriously they take this case was required, not inane comments about the player going through a difficult
time."Given the seriousness of the attack and the important role that young footballers play in their local
communities Weatherstone should be treated like any other high profile employee of a key local institution - a
long suspension or the sack."
LEISURE COMPLEX PLANNING APPLICATION
The detailed planning application for the Minchery Farm leisure complex was yesterday submitted to the City Council. This includes plans for a nine screen multiplex cinema, a bowling alley, a nightclub, a bingo hall, a health and fitness centre, and aerobic and dance studios.
These plans, which form the basis of the funding for the building of Oxford's new ground, are to be considered by councillors in September. If approved, it is very likely that building work will commence on the new ground shortly thereafter.
Friday marked the deadline for any appeal from Morrells against the High Court's lifting of their alcohol covenant. Since no appeal has been made, it seems that Morrells can be removed from our list of worries over the new ground.
[source = Oxford Mail / Rage Online]
DENIS TAKES THE CREDIT
The real reason for Oxford's out-of-the-blue success at Wolves on Tuesday has been revealed. It's all down to Denis. Not only did he ditch his usual suit in favour of a tracksuit, he also spent the match shouting instructions from the touchline. The great man himself reveals, "I changed my tactics tonight; I went down on the touchline and was shouting out instructions to try to get points across. Mickey Lewis does a good job but we are still a bit young and still a bit naive and we need a bit of direction down on the touchline at times. Perhaps people will see me more in a tracksuit than a suit from now on." [source = TeamTalk]
JARMAN GETS ANOTHER MONTH
Lee Jarman, who played well in the win at Wolves, has been handed another month-long contract. Denis was pleased with his performance, remarking, "Lee had a super game on Tuesday. He won his headers and passed the ball well and showed what he can do." Jarman's only other appearance was for the first half of the home defeat to Peterborough. [source = Oxford Mail]
RESERVES LOSE AGAIN
As I said yesterday, Oxford fielded a supposedly strong reserve side
yesterday, but lo and behold, they still lost, going down 3-0 to Swindon.
New keeper, Hubert Busby Jr, was at fault for the third Swindon goal, slipping
as he went to clear the ball. [source = Oxford
Mail]
WIN WITHOUT FEAR
(WOLVES 0 OXFORD 1)
Oxford captain, Peter Fear, was dropped for the League Cup match at first division Wolves, and his replacement Dean Whitehead made the most of his opportunity, playing really well against tough opposition. Another youngster, defender Jon Shepheard, reaplced the injured Ian McGuckin in the back three, giving the Oxford line-up an experimental look. It worked, thanks mainly to more superb keeping from Richard Knight. Wolves had most of the possession and most of the chances, but they couldn't find a way past Knight, who won't be at Oxford long if he continues to produce form like this.
Matt Murphy scored the only goal late in the first half, a simple chance on the rebound after Anthrobus' shot (yes, you read that correctly) had hit the post. Paul Tait had hit woodwork just moments before, as Wolves early domination started to fade. Wolves were all over Oxford in the second half, but Knight and the three man central defence - including stand-in captain Jon Richardson - held firm.
So ho did our captain, so unimpressive in the first two matches, feel about being left out? According to Denis, "He's been left out but his attitude has been superb, and all the lads who have been left out will now realise that I ain't bothered who they are, if they are not performing on a Saturday then I've got to see what I can do to change it."
Whitehead impressed Denis with his mature performance in central midfield - "Dean Whitehead in the centre of the field looked as though he was 28 and not 18."
Oxford host Wolves for the return leg in two weeks. More heroics could be required.
[source = OUFC Info Centre / various other sites]
MANAGERS PAY TRIBUTE TO EVANS
The League Managers' Association has paid tribute to Maurice Evans. John Barnwell, their chief executive, said, "Maurice was a great servant not only to the club but to football in general. He was solid and reliable and a very thoughtful man. Our condolences go to his family." [source = Sporting Life]
RESERVES IN ACTION
The reserves play Swindon today, hoping to improve on last season, when
they failed to win a match after early November. Hubert Busby Jr will start,
as will Folland, McGowan, Beauchamp, Fear, Cook and Lilley. It looks as
though we're taking this fixture seriously. We probably still won't win
it. [source = Official
Site]
RESULT - WOLVES 0 OXFORD 1
Matt Murphy scored the first half goal which gave Oxford this unlikely victory. It's Everton all over again - maybe. It still won't help our league form, no doubt. More details tomorrow, when I have more time.
Just a quick mention for Nick Harris, who apparently stated on local radio commentary, "Matt Murphy, United's top scorer this season, gives United the lead."
WATSON WOLVES TRIAL CONFIRMED
Mark Watson did indeed have a trial at Molineux, but it seems they did not rate him enough to offer him a contract. He played in their 2-1 pre-season defeat to Southampton on 5 August, playing the whole second half in a central defensive partnership with Steve Sedgley. Evidently unimpressed, a fan report says, "... cue a walkthrough of the Wolves' backline for 45 minutes." [source = unofficial Wolves site]
Meanwhile Wolves will be charging just £10 for admission to the League Cup match tonight. The price has been dropped because the club considers such matches to be "low-key affairs". And I though it was just Premiership clubs who weren't taking the competition seriously any more - not complaining about the price drop though! [source = Wolverhampton Central]
Oxford will do well to come away with even a narrow defeat from Molineux
tonight. New Wolves strikers, Temuri Ketsbaia and Robert Taylor, are likely
to take one look at our team's collective uncertainty and then proceed
to fill their boots. There's no telling whom Denis will start with tonight,
especially if Steve Anthrobus indicates that it's always been his ambition
to play in goal. Ian McGuckin and Jimmy Glass are both doubtful for the
match, as is Wolves midfielder Simon Osborn. [source = ZooFootball]
BBC COVERAGE
Thanks to Richard Prangle for letting me know that the BBC covered the racism story on Radio 5 Live on Thursday afternoon. On the programme, a spokesperson for "Kick It Out!" apparently condemned the club statement on Weatherstone. Presumably this is the interview in which they rightly accused Oxford of "fudging the issue".
Your latest comments are here.
BUSBY CLEARANCE
Canadian keeper, Hubert Busby Jr., has finally received his international clearance from Portugal, and is now back in Oxford. He has signed temporary forms with the U's. Busby may well take a place on the bench for the trip to Wolves tomorrow, expecially if Jimmy Glass has not yet recovered from injury. Busby does not require a work permit as he has a Dutch passport to go with his Canadian one. [source = Official Site]
ANTHROBUS EXPLANATION
Denis proffered the following "explanation" of his decision to bring on Steve Anthrobus rather than Lee Jarman in central defence. "Steve wants to play there and has been doing so in training. As McGuckin was injured, we needed a left-sided centre half and Lee's a right-sided one. At least it gave me a chance to have a look at what Steve can do in a match situation and he did OK."
I guess that's "OK" compared to his performances up front.
[source = Oxford Mail]
WATSON AT WOLVES?
There is a rumour that Mark Watson is having a trial at Wolves, coincidentally
our opponents in the League Cup tomorrow evening. Look out for him at Molineux!
[source
= OUFC forum]
GUARDIAN COVERAGE
I've been surprised and disappointed at the almost total lack of national media coverage on the Ross Weatherstone affair. (This should be contrasted with the hysteria whenever a player is found guilty of drug abuse, a far lesser offence.) I'm thus pleased that Jim White - who lives in Oxford - has written an article on the matter for The Guardian. White rightly criticises the ludicrous club statement, and the silence from other football bodies, but holds back from demanding that Weatherstone be sacked, instead calling for Weatherstone to take part in some appropriate community work. I'm not sure I agree, but at least a national newspaper is addressing the issue in an intelligent way.
Thanks to the excellent When Saturday Comes message board for originally bringing this article to my attention, and to Rage Online for reminding me of it!
Let it be noted that I am still hopeful that once Firoz Kassam leaves
hospital - where he has recently been undergoing tests - the club will
take a more positive approach to this issue. FK is a non-white immigrant,
and I suspect he must feel deeply about racism.
HORTON OUT-SMARTS SMITH
(PORT VALE 3 OXFORD 0)
Two matches played. No points. No goals. It's early days yet, but already things are looking grim. No one rated either Peterborough or Vale amongst the stronger sides in this division, so this could be a very long season.
The match seems to have been a very one-sided affair. Port Vale forced some excellent saves from Richard Knight, hit the woodwork four times, and still found room for three goals. Port Vale stalwart and long-time scourge of Oxford, Tony Naylor, got the first, and debutant Marc Bridge-Wilkinson - newly moved from Derby - struck two wonder goals in two second half minutes to finish Oxford off. Worryingly, Ian McGuckin went off with a back injury in the first half.
One more thing - when McGuckin went off injured on the half hour, who should come on to replace him but Steve Anthrobus! In defence! Despite the fact that Lee Jarman was on the bench too! Did the Bus play better in defence than he does in attack? Allegedly not.
No excuses this week from Denis Smith - "It is going to be a long season if we continue to play like that. We have to do something about it and I will be doing my best to change it." Thanks Denis. He also blamed most of the side for the poor play - "You can't criticise Richardson, Knight or Manny, the other players have to look at themselves." The manager should probably look at himself too.
[source = Official Site]
MAURICE EVANS R.I.P.
I am sad to report the news that Maurice Evans has died at the age of 63. Most recently employed by Reading, Evans worked for Oxford for much of the 80s and 90s, serving as manager for most of Oxford's three year spell in the top flight. He then acted as general manager of the club, with emphasis on scouting and youth development, for over a decade, before returning to Reading, where he had been manager before joining Oxford.
I'm, sure we all would like to send our best wishes to all his family and friends.
[source = Reading official
site / Rage
Online]
ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN CRITICISES OXFORD
The football anti-racism campaign group, Kick It Out!, has condemned Oxford United's failure to take action against Ross Weatherstone. They accused the club of "fudging the issue" after failing even to suspend the player pending appeal. [source = SoccerNet]
I'm still hopeful that the club will make a better-judged statement once Firoz Kassam is available for comment. Denis Smith has reportedly said he would like to keep hold of Weatherstone. [source = OUFC forum]
Please send your comments on this case to me. Comments so far are here.
NO CHANGE
Denis Smith is expected to stick to the starting line-up and 5-3-2 formation from last week when the team takes the field at Vale Park tomorrow. There is no indication as yet whether he plans to switch to 4-4-2 halfway through again. The only possible change to the squad is that Jimmy Glass is unfit to take his place on the bench - he will be replaced by youth keeper, Phil Wilson. (Canadian trialist keeper, Hubert Busby Jr, now has international clearance, but is still in Portugal, and won't be back in time.) Cook and McGowan are added to the squad.
Denis showed his great insights into football, banalely stating, "What I'm looking for on Saturday is not only the right result, but also an improvement in the performance. If you continually perform well over the course of the season, you're going to get results."
[source = Oxford Mail]
SCARBOROUGH IN CRISIS
Conference club, Scarborough,
have given assurances to the Conference that their fixture at Stevenage
tomorrow will go ahead. The Yorkshire club have debts of £2 million,
and a meeting of the club's creditors is scheduled for August 25. This
meeting could result in the closure of the club. Their major creditor,
Brooks Mileson, is willing to waive some of the debts he is owed in return
for 75% of the shares in the club and his becoming club chairman. Mileson
has also been linked with Carlisle United. [source = Electronic
Telegraph]
CLUB COMMENT ON WEATHERSTONE CASE
Oxford United issued the following statement on the guilty verdict in the Ross Weatherstone case:
"OUFC follows a strict policy on racial abuse and has done for many years. However, players and officials of OU support Ross Weatherstone at this difficult time"!Quite frankly, this statement manages the unlikely feat of saying almost nothing and being complete bollocks at the same time. If Ross Weatherstone is guilty (and he is, unless his conviction is quashed in any appeal), then he should be sacked by the club. That is what a "strict policy on racial abuse" should mean. So why the statement about "support"? I get the feeling the club are trying to squeeze out of this one. When are they going to tell us what action they are actually going to take? It's not as if they shouldn't have been prepared for this eventuality.
MORE COURT DETAILS
Ross Weatherstone was fined £500 (plus £200 costs) for his crime. The maximum possible would have been £2,500, but Weatherstone is not paid enough (£150 a week gross) for him to be fined more than he was. It should be mentioned that Weatherstone protested his innocence throughout, claiming he had not used the term, "Bloody Paki", which was alleged. He said that he had used the word "Paki" only once in his life, when speaking to an officer after the incident - he claimed to have said, "All of a sudden - not being racist - we were surrounded by a lot of Paki drivers."
There is also a report that the taxi driver, Zafrad Naeem, will be taking out a private prosecution for damages.
[source = Rage Online / OUFC forum]
BROKEN GLASS (bad pun alert)
Back-up keeper, Jimmy Glass, is struggling with an ankle injury which may not clear up in time for him to be on the bench at Port Vale. If he is not fit, youth keeper, Phil Wilson, is likely to deputise for Glass. [source = TeamTalk]
ABBEY REACTION
Aldershot Town manager, George Borg, was pleased to have signed Ben Abbey on loan. He commented, "I needed a forward that I felt would do our team justice as we look to the start of the season. Ben has committed himself to the club for the next month and his record speaks for itself. He is a recognised goal scorer who I have tracked for a long time. The opportunity was there and he has chosen Aldershot over two Conference clubs. He is hungry for success and he wants to progress his career."
Abbey said, "I believe that I should be playing first team football and I know that I have the ability to make the grade. I have come to Aldershot to do well. I know George Borg because he targeted me last season and he was very fair with me and I am looking forward to working for him again."
[source = TheShots.net]
BARBADOS HAMMERED, BUT NO SIGN OF THE BUS
Barbados were thrashed
7-0 by the USA in Massachusetts last night, but it seems that Steve
Anthrobus has still not got his papers sorted out (or else he is not considered
good enough to get into a very weak side), as he did not feature in the
match at all. [source = Washington
Post]
LATEST - ROSS WEATHERSTONE FOUND GUILTY
Ross Weatherstone was today found guilty on a charge of "racial abuse and manhandling". He was one of three of the four defendants found guilty - the fourth was acquitted. Well, with the prominence and importance of the "Kick It Out" movement in football today, the club would seem to me to have little choice but to dismiss Weatherstone, with a promise of reinstatement if anyt forthcoming appeal is successful. I'm afraid there's just no other option but for the club to sack him, and perhaps put him on an FA racism awareness course (if such a thing exists). [source = OUFC forum]
EARLIER WEATHERSTONE NEWS
More details have emerged on the Ross Weatherstone case - and it doesn't involve just racist abuse. Ross Weatherstone and pals were travelling in a Reading taxi, when some of the party are alleged to have started to racially abuse the (Asian) taxi driver. The glass partition between driver and cab was then allegedly kicked out, and the driver was allegedly grabbed by his clothing, causing him to lose consciousness (presumably from a blow to the head). This unsurprisingly caused the taxi to crash. The driver was then allegedly kicked whilst on the ground.
There is no indication as yet which (if any) of the above is alleged to have been done by Ross W himself, and which by his mates.
My view is - as before - that if Ross is found guilty of racist abuse or worse, then the club should release him from his contract. Of course if he is found innocent, the whole affair should be forgotten.
[source = OUFC forum]
ALDERSHOT LOAN FOR ABBEY
Ben Abbey has gone on loan to Ryman Premier side Aldershot Town, after the player himself requested such a move in a bid to regain his goalscoring form by playing some first-team football. Abbey said, "I am always banging in the goals in training, but that's a different matter. I haven't had the chances at the higher level, so hopefully I can have a good month at Aldershot, bang some goals in and then come back to Oxford. I thought it was best to go out on loan rather than just sit around." [source = Oxford Mail]
OXFORD XI BEAT WANTAGE
Last night's testimonial match at Wantage Town ended in a 4-0 victory for an Oxford side comprising mainly reserves and trialists. Jamie Cook got two of the goals, trialist Mosiah Blake got one, and "JP Mills" - who is this guy? - got the other. [source = Oxford Mail]
BUS FOR BARBADOS?
A preview in the Washington Post, no less, claims that Steve Anthrobus is in the Barbados squad to play a World Cup qualifier against the USA in Massachusetts today. So has he finally overcome his problems with getting Barbados citizenship? [source = Washington Post]
WATSON STARTS HIS POST-OXFORD CAREER
Mark Watson, now without a club, started the post-Oxford stage of his
career in a 2-0 defeat for Canada in Mexico City. This leaves Canada extremely
unlikely to qualify for World Cup 2002. [source = Slam!
Soccer]
JARMAN BACKED AGAIN
For the second time in two days, Denis Smith has countered suggestions that Lee Jarman was subbed because of a poor display in the first half on Saturday. Smith said, "Lee Jarman was one of the better players on Saturday and the only reason he was taken off was because other people weren't doing their jobs properly."
To be honest, I couldn't tell you whether I agree or not - I hardly noticed Jarman during the first half.
Smith also once again defended his choice of system(s) : "Everybody is talking about the system, but I've said all along that if the players pass and move and do the things I want them to, I'll play a system to suit them."
[source = Oxford Mail]
NEWTON JOINS BARNET
Despite all the reports in the close season that he'd joined a Chinese club, Eddie Newton has signed for Barnet on a one month trial contract. He looked impressive enough in the second division last season, so he should go down a storm in the third. Why didn't we get first refusal on him? [source = OptaSoccer]
TESTIMONIAL TONIGHT
A number of the first team squad (including Folland and Jarman) will be taking part in a testimonial against Wantage Town tonight. The match is in aid of three long-time Wantage players, and takes place in Wantage at Alfredian Park (k.o. 7.30pm). Mike Ford and Mickey Lewis are in the Oxford squad, as is the intriguingly named "JP Mills". [source = Official Site]
ROSS IN COURT TODAY
Ross Weatherstone is apparently in court today to answer the charges of racist abuse of a taxi driver in Reading in January. Thetrial is expected to last about two days. [source = OUFC forum]
APT NICKNAME
Apparently the Peterborough fans nicknamed Steve Anthrobus Blunderbus.
I gained this little snippet from the match report in the local
Peterborough rag. Their preview section also features the following
description of the Manor Ground - "The away terrace is blocked by pillars.
The home fans often wish their end is as well." Cheeky.
EXCUSES, EXCUSES
Denis reckoned Oxford's main problem on Saturday was the number of new players in the side, rather than his display of managerial ineptitude. Denis said, "Peterborough played like a side that have played together for four or five years. I would have settled for a draw but it will take time for the defence to settle down which I am confident it will do in the next few matches." It might do if he finally decides which formation he really wants to use (preferably 4-4-2), and also realises that Powell is a winger, not a defender.
Denis added to the fans' confidence for the coming season by appearing to indicate an experimental approach to the new campaign. "You have to try things in life and today it didn't work out. I could have played safe from the start but I didn't and unfortunately in the first half people did not work hard enough and create the space we needed."
His arrogance showed through in an interview with local radio, on which he said, "I know at the end of the season I will be the one who's smiling and a few people who are moaning and groaning now will be going '...well perhaps he might have been right'".
I agree it's too early to judge the season yet, but with statements like that he's hardly going to endear himself if it all does end in tears.
[source = Football 365 / TeamTalk / OUFC InfoCentre]
JARMAN "UNLUCKY"
Denis Smith has stated that Lee Jarman was "unlucky" to be subbed at half-time, and that there was no implication that Jarman would necessarily be freed once his month-long contract expires. Denis feels Jarman is much better in a back three than as part of a two-man central defence, and thus he was sacrificed when the formation was altered to 4-4-2 at half-time.
Smith also denied that the quick reversion to 4-4-2 meant the end of his wing-back plans. "If we want to advance and go up the league, we will probably need to play that way. It wasn't the system's fault. We're not going to just abandon it. I'm sure there'll be occasions we play that way, we just need to play it better."
[source = Oxford Mail]
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE SPONSORSHIP
Oxford have announced that Spire
Telecommunications/STL, based in Witney, have agreed to sponsor the
club's Centre of Excellence (youth programme) for the 2000/1 season.
SAME OLD STORY
(OXFORD 0 PETERBOROUGH
1)
The defence may have been rebuilt, but tellingly the midfield has not. The performance was much the same as those from last season; any slight improvement in the defending - certainly McGuckin and Richardson did look the part - was undone by those in front of them. Denis bewilderingly started with 5-3-2 and then switched to 4-4-2 at half time. Every time he has attempted to introduce his wing-back system it has failed. Yet still he persists.
Moments to note included an attempt on goal from Steve Anthrobus (his header clipped the bar) - remember he managed just the five attempts last season, so this is, for him, an impressive start. Powell proved to Denis yet again that defending is not his forte - Peterborough's goal came from down his wing, as did most of their meaningful attacks. And new captain Peter Fear combined with fellow pedestrian Paul Tait in one of the least inventive midfields ever seen at the Manor. Fear's substitution in his debut as captain - to his obvious disgust - was one amusing moment in an otherwise dull match.
Peterborough will not be amongst the top sides in this division. Nor
will Oxford.
FEAR NAMED AS CAPTAIN
After all the indications were that Ian McGuckin would be the new club captain, Denis today named Peter Fear in the role. Apparently after consulting the coaching staff and the other players, Fear emerged as the favoured option. I just hope that he improves his game from last season, so that we are not once more lumbered with a player who gets into the team only because he is captain. [source = Official Site]
DENIS CALLS FOR GOALS
Denis has called for the team to score more than last season's crap totoal of 43 goals. In fact he has said that he expects new signing Manny Omoyinmi to score 20 himself. (I hope he's figured out a way of improving the midfield in order to achieve this!) Denis seemed optimistic that almost everyone in the squad would get some goals, including McGuckin, Powell, Robertson, Fear, Lilley and Beauchamp. He even said, "I know I've got to get more out of Paul Tait." Tait - still goalless after all these games...
I did note that Denis made no mention of Steve Anthrobus. Perhaps he feels that the Bus did as well as he could last season? Unfortunately there are indications that the Bus could be up front tomorrow. You never know - he may have improved! There are also indications that Denis may opt for a 5-3-2 formation. I'm feeling even more pessimistic now.
Denis isn't feeling pessimistic though. "We've got a lot of people to prove wrong," he said in response to the bookies and newspapers making Oxford relegation candidates. "There's definitely a buzz among the players and they were 'flying' in training yesterday." Drugs?
[source = Oxford Mail]
SQUAD NUMBERS CONFIRMED
The final two newcomers to the squad were handed their numbers as Oxford officially confirmed the squad numbers for the coming season. Jon Richardson was given the number 5 shirt, whilst Jimmy Glass was given 19 (and not 13, suggesting that Denis may yet have another keeper in mind). Now the questions is whether the new home kit (complete with Domino logo) will be ready in time for tomorrow's match. [source = Oxford Mail]
Interestingly, the official site has revealed that Glass himself chose
not to wear shirt number 13. "I wore number 13 at Swindon last season,
so it is a shirt with bad memories for me." Glass seems keen to mention
how much he disliked Swindon at every opportunity - no doubt he realises
that this will endear him to many of the Oxford fans. [source
= Official Site]
PETERBOROUGH PREVIEW
It has probably not escaped your notice that the league season starts on Saturday, with a home match against Peterborough. Last time Posh visited the Manor was an occasion that most of you will remember. This time a win would not be greeted with quite such celebrations, but a win on Saturday would still do something to dispell the pre-season gloom which seems to have enveloped many U's supporters.
Oxford's line-up should be fairly predictable, with the only real question being whether Matt Murphy will get a place in the team, and - if so - whether he will play up front or in midfield. Richard Knight will be in goal, behind a back four likely to be made up of Robertson, Richardson, McGuckin and McGowan. Manny Omoyinmi will make his Oxford league debut up front, with Beauchamp, Tait, Fear, Murphy, Lilley and Powell fighting over the remaining midfield and striker slots.
Peterborough's danger man is a striker - pacy ex-Wimbledon forward, Andy Clarke, who whilst at Barnet boasted that he would be a future captain of England. He didn't quite reach that level, but he did play in the top flight for a few years, and even at 33, he is still a danger. He usually lines up alongside the man best known for a hair-do he had whilst at Forest, namely Jason Lee. But Lee is numbered amongst Peterborough's early season injury problems, with four other players (David Lee, Drewe Broughton, Matthew Wicks and Matthew Gill) also ruled out of the match. Six others - including new midfield signing, Richard Forsyth, their only close-season addition - have knocks from which they may or may not recover in time. Former Oxford youth teamer, Howard Forinton, is unlikely to feature as he thinks over a £300,000 move to Plymouth.
[source = Oxford Mail / TeamTalk / Peterborough Evening Telegraph]
CAPTAIN PHIL
Phil Whelan has apparently been handed the captaincy at Southend United.
So when he makes a defensive blunder, he can turn around and blame the
rest of the defence - or something. [source = TeamTalk]
MILTON RUMOUR
Rumour has it that the "unspecified trouble" that nearly forced Oxford
to pull out at half-time of the reserves' friendly at Milton United was
that Denis took exception to some of the rough challenges of the Hellenic
League side. Dunno if there is any truth in this. [source
= OUFC forum]
GLASS SIGNS FOR A MONTH
Oxford has signed goalkeeper Jimmy Glass on a month's contract. Glass, 27, was released by Brentford in the summer after joining them earlier this year from Swindon. He is best known for his loan spell at Carlisle where he famously kept the Cumbrian side in the football league with a last gasp goal. At Oxford, he will act as back-up to Richard Knight.
Despite signing for just the one month, Glass is already exceited by the prospect of the match at Swindon in October. "It is always the first game you look for, against your old club." He obviously knows the way to get into the Oxford fans' good books, as he added, " Swindon and I didn't have a great time together to be honest. It was not the move I wanted."
Denis Smith commented, "It was important that we got someone in. I think Jimmy is the best one around available who can do a job."
[source = Official Site]
SLOUGH MATCH REPORT
A web search has availed me of a match report from the match at Slough on Saturday. Judging by the Slough Town websites, their fans are very impressed with Chrissy Allen. [source = Will It Ever Be Done?]
RESERVES WIN
The reserves beat Hellenic League side, Milton
United, 2-0 yesterday in a little-publicised match. Jamie Cook scored
both the goals. APparently there was some (unspecified) trouble at half-time
which almost led to Oxford pulling out of the match. In the end the match
finished without further problems. [source = OUFC forum]
DENIS IMPRESSED WITH NEW SIGNING
Denis Smith didn't have too much to be happy about after Saturday's poor performance at Slough, but - the return to fitness of Joey apart - the aspect that will have pleased him most was the composed debut of new signing, Jon Richardson. Denis has now pencilled 'Rico' in as Ian McGuckin's defensive partner for the league game against Peterborough this coming Saturday.
Smith commented, "I think people saw why I signed Richardson. He defended well, headed well, passed it well. I've known my starting 11 for some time but Mark Watson was one of those 11. Now it's going to be Richardson."
Lee Jarman did himself no favours in the quest for a full contract, with an in-and-out display that contrasted with Richardson's impressive performance.
[source = Oxford
Mail]
ANOTHER POOR PERFORMANCE
Let's hope that the old adage about a poor pre-season meaning a successful time in the season itself proves true. I wouldn't hold any breath though. Oxford got a very poor 1-1 draw at Slough Town yesterday, notable mainly for the fact that Chrissy Allen - now at Slough - looked potent against our defence. Oh good. He even scored Slough's second half equaliser, after Paul Powell had put Oxford ahead in the first from a penalty. Manny Omoyinmi had been brought down from behind. Jon Richardson impressed in his first game, forming an all-former-Exeter central defence with Lee Jarman.
Line-up (532) : Knight; Robertson, Richardson, Jarman, Shepheard, Powell;
Beauchamp, Tait, Fear; Anthrobus, Omoyinmi.
Subs used : Folland, Lilley, S Weatherstone, Whitehead, Cook,
Ricketts, Abbey.
[source = OUFC forum / Rage
Online]
MONEY CHANGED HANDS!
Jon Richardson was in fact the first player for whom Oxford paid a transfer
fee this close-season. The fee has been described as "nominal". [source
= footballtansfers.co.uk]
RICHARDSON SIGNING CONFIRMED
A centre-back has signed for Oxford today, and it's not Steve Davis, Mark Watson or even Anders Jacobsen (who yesterday signed for Notts County). It is in fact Exeter's Jon Richardson. He has made nearly 250 appearances for Exeter, where he started as a trainee, and will turn 25 at the end of this month. He has captained Exeter in recent seasons (though he lost the captaincy last season), is 6'0", and can also play at full back. Denis is reported to have been an admirer of Richardson for quite a while. He was placed on the transfer list (to the reported bemusement of Exeter fans) as part of Exeter's massive May clear-out, which saw 13 players leave St James Park, and a further seven listed.
This signing will make it unlikely that either Mark Watson or Steve Davis will re-sign for Oxford. Denis has said he would have enough for two new defenders were Watson not to sign, but the second seems likely to be Lee Jarman, who is already on a one month contract.
Richardson has signed a two year deal with the U's. Apparently Denis was first notified of Richardson by his youngest son, and he has been watching his progress at Exeter for a few years. He said of the new signing, "I built the team expecting Mark Watson to be in it, but Jon is a similar defender. He is good in the air, has pace and is a good defender, the bonus is he is six years younger than Mark - so he is a player with a future. He is not going to be a Matt Elliott, but he might be a Phil Gilchrist or a Darren Purse."
Smith is still disappointed that he has not been able to hang onto Mark Watson, but they both seem to blame each other for the breakdown in negotiations. Perhaps the truth of the matter will never be known.
[source = OUFC forum / City Til I Die / Official Site]
STILL NO BUSBY CLEARANCE
Canadian goalkeeper, Hubert Busby (Junior), is still awaiting international clearance, which is required to comefrom Portugal, where Busby has been playing recently (for lower division club, Caldas Sport Clube). Busby is 6'5", and Denis is torn between him and Jimmy Glass as a back-up goalkeeper for Richard Knight. He said, "I will make sure that I have [a second keeper] here for next Saturday - which is the important thing." [source = Official Site]
SQUAD NUMBERS
I must have missed the official announcement, but our new signings have indeed been allocated their squad numbers. They are as follows :
1 - Richard Knight (replaces Arendse)Other squad numbers remain unchanged.
2- John Robertson (replaces Robinson)
6 - Ian McGuckin (replaces Gilchrist)
14 - Manny Omoyinmi (replaces Davis)
SLOUGH v OXFORD
Oxford play their final pre-season friendly away to Slough Town tomorrow,
kick-off 3pm. Team news will appear here when available. New defender,
Jon Richardson, is almost certain to start.
CRAWLEY REPORT
Myles Francis has kindly sent me a match report from the Crawley Observer of the recent match at Crawley.
WATSON - I'LL ONLY MISS THREE GAMES
Mark Watson has claimed that Denis Smith and Oxford are making a mountain out of a molehill when they claim that he will be away for internationals for a large proportion of the coming season if he doesn't give up playing for Canada. He has said that he would miss just three games during the season, before playing a tournament in the summer. After that he would retire from international football.
Watson said, "I have told Denis that I would miss only three games and he wasn't very receptive to it. I was hoping he would understand that it's very difficult for me to give up playing for my country."
He is still keen to sign for Oxford. "I really want to play for Oxford. The club is going places and I want to stay here and be a part of the club's future. I'm desperate to sign for Oxford United and want to be part of something good here." There's perhaps such a thing as too much praise!
Denis remained resolute on the subject of the internationals. "If Mark Watson wants to play international football then he won't be playing for Oxford United," he said, which seems pretty final.
Examining the facts:
Canada play four more World Cup qualifying matches between now and
mid-November - these take place on 15 August (Mexico a), 3 September (Trinidad
& Tobago a), 9 October (Panama h) and 15 November (Mexico h). If they
finish in the top two of their four team group, which currently looks unlikely,
they would play further matches in the final group round. No dates as yet
for this round, so I'm not sure if this would take place during the coming
season or not.
Matches he would almost definitely miss to play in the above games : Cambridge h - 2 Sep, Wolves h LC - 5 Sep, Swindon a - 9 Oct. This is indeed three matches. Yet this assumes that he would be able to play for Oxford just 3 or 4 days before Canada's matches (Peterborough h - 12 Aug, FA Cup 1st round - 11 Nov) and also just 3 or 4 days afterwards (Port Vale - 19 Aug, Notts Co - 25 Nov). He might be being slightly disingenuous here, what with jet-lag problems, deadlines for reporting to international squads, etc. I would estimate at least five games missed, if not more, between now and mid-November. And it could be more in the second half of the season if Canada do progress.
Incidentally, the 2001 close-season tournament of which Watson speaks is the Copa America, to which Canada have been invited as reward for their winning the Gold Cup this year. This takes place from 12-29 July next year.
[source = Oxford Mail / FIFA Online]
DAVIS CONFUSION
There are now reports (emanating apparently from FOX FM) that Steve Davis will not be signing a new contract with Oxford. I'm still awaiting confirmation of this. Most fans would be pleased if Denis went for someone with a bit more promise than the now slow and error-prone Davis.
The above would appear to be confirmed by Denis' statement : "It seems likely that Steve won't be staying here. We'll possibly get somebody else in who will give us better balance."
[source = OUFC forum / Oxford
Mail]
DAVIS AND GLASS TO SIGN?
Denis Smith is in talks to sign both Steve Davis and Jimmy Glass. Davis has accepted a one year contract, and is simply waiting for his paperwork to be sorted out with Macclesfield Town, where he was playing in friendlies in a non-contract arrangement. Davis said, "Denis gave me a call on Tuesday out of the blue and asked me to join up with the lads and I'm delighted to be back." Davis' original contract offer was withdrawn after he had turned it down.
Meanwhile, Denis is set to have talks with keeper, Jimmy Glass (27), famous for his heroics on loan with Carlisle two seasons ago. Glass played in the friendly at Hereford last night. After last night's match, Denis Smith commented, "He's available and did quite well for me tonight and I'll be sitting down with him to talk about a deal." Glass has previously been on the books of Palace, Bournemouth and - most recently - Swindon.
[source = Oxford Mail]
HEREFORD DRAW
Oxford's inconsistent pre-season form continued as they struggled to a 1-1 draw with Conference side, Hereford. Ian McGuckin got the U's goal in the second half, but Hereford equalised late in the match through Ian Rodgerson, who scored from 25 yards out. Jimmy Glass did indeed play in goal, as Hubert Busby has not yet got international clearance. Also making an Oxford start was Steve Davis, who has now been rejected by Macclesfield Town.
Line-up (442) : Glass; Robertson, Davis, McGuckin, Powell; Lilley, Whitehead, Tait, Beauchamp; S Weatherstone, Omoyinmi.
Subs : Jarman (for Whitehead, 63), Anthrobus (for Weatherstone, 63), Folland (for Tait, 77), Cook (for Omoyinmi (77), McGowan (for Beauchamp, 85), Knight (not used).
Pictures of the match can be found at the Hereford fan site, You Whites.
[sources = Rage
Online / Out
of this World / You
Whites / Oxford
Mail]
GLASS IN GOAL?
There is a report that Radio Oxford announced that Jimmy Glass would be in goal for us at Hereford tonight, unless our triallist goalkeeper from the Portuguese league gets clearance in time. This keeper's name has been reported to be "Holbert Busby", but I have a feeling this might be 31 year old, 6'4" Canadian keeper, Hubert Busby, who used to play for Montreal Impact and then Toronto Lynx. [source = web searches / OUFC forum]
Peter Fear, Matt Murphy and Chris Hackett will be missing with minor problems tonight, but all should be fit for the match at Slough on Saturday. Derek Lilley and Joey Beauchamp are available after injury.
Eddie Newton trained with the U's yesterday, but Smith cannot afford the money needed to offer him a contract.
[source = Oxford
Mail]