The week unwrapped

A new low or just a massive comedown? After the win at Leicester, we’ve managed two defeats, first to Birmingham on Saturday, and then to Sheffield United on Tuesday despite taking the lead. The gap to safety is back up to five points.

It’s been a frenzied week with the closing of the transfer window. Matt Phillips had his contract terminated, which was a surprise given he started against Birmingham. Jordan Thornily was also given his P45 in a shock to absolutely nobody. Filip Krastev stepovered his way out of the club after being recalled from his loan.

Incoming was Aidomo Emakhu, Christ Makosso and Ruben Roosken, breathless stuff.

Off the pitch, major news; the club have agreed a Section 106, whatever that is, and got an Engrossment draft, whatever that is. More made up steps using words that don’t exist to come, I’m sure, but it all feels like a step closer to getting spades in the ground. 

With costs increasing, the club are keen to raise their profile on a global stage. What better way than to appear in the Epstein Files? Thankfully, the club are referenced in a benign email about Ghislaine Maxwell’s business credentials. As they say, all publicity is good publicity. Apart from this publicity.

Covfacts

We’re off to “runaway leaders” Coventry City on Saturday. After seemingly cruising to promotion for most of the season, the league leaders had their lead cut completely and are equal on points with Middlesbrough. A bit like us in 1995 and 2004 and 2007 and 2010.

Recent form has been poor with six points in their last five games, compared to us with five points in five. Like us, they’re coming off the back of two defeats to QPR and Norwich. Unlike us, they’ve had a quiet transfer window with just a couple of minor incomings. It suggests they’re not concerned about the blip they’re suffering. But then, perhaps they haven’t banked on the new look Oxford United to take them to the cleaners. 

Football friend: Andy Whing

In 2011, Chris Wilder made a huge swing for glory. He went on a signing spree which looked designed for promotion. Peter Leven, Tony Capaldi, Michael Duberry, Dean Smalley and Andy Whing all signed.

Whing had spent four years at Coventry scoring two goals in 106 appearances. The one that wrote him into legend was a spectacular right footed volley which proved to be City’s last goal at Highfield Road. 

He slipped out of contention and moved to Brighton before eventually ending up at Leyton Orient. When his contract was up, Wilder pounced, wanting to add some grit to his midfield.

Whing was a combative defensive midfielder who could operate in the back-four. After a debauched and vaguely amateurish tour of the US, the season got underway. Things started averagely with two defeats and a draw, Whing played all three, but showed little of what he was capable of. 

The season really took off away at Swindon at the end of August. Two goals from James Constable saw Oxford beat their deadly rivals 2-1, the first win at the County Ground since 1973. For Swindon, it was a mere blip on the way to the League 2 title. By the end of October, Oxford were fifth with Whing spending most of the time on the bench.

Then things started to go wrong; there was a five game losing streak, including conceding ten goals in three games and an attempt by Paolo DiCanio to poach James Constable, which Beano rejected. Our fitful form left us seven points adrift of the play-offs and facing an acute injury crisis.

At the beginning of March Swindon, arrived for the return fixture, we were down to the bare bones. An injury to Jake Wright and Harry Worley meant Whing was drafted in to partner Michael Duberry in the back-four. James Constable was sent off and then, miraculously we scored twice. An epic defensive rearguard kept Swindon at bay for a famous victory. The season petered out, not winning any of our last seven games with a lack of fighting spirit blamed for the failure. All we wanted was a team of Andy Whings, who was voted player of the season.

The following season started well, including another win over Swindon in the EFL Trophy, but long winning runs were upended by long winless runs. Whing scored his first goal in a 2-2 draw with Barnet, his second would write him into folklore. Our final home game of the season was against Rochdale on the 27^th anniversary of the Milk Cup Final win. With us safely in 12th, the season was over, but eight minutes into the second half Dean Smalley crossed into the box and Whing bicycle kicked the ball into the net.

Having burnt his financial matches on a failed promotion push, that summer, Ian Lenagan, stated his desire to make Oxford a team of locally sourced players. Chris Wilder sat beside him, looking haunted. Many thought Wilder’s time was up, but Lenagan was prepared to give him one last shot. 2013/14 got its highlight out of the way early, a 4-1 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on the opening day of the season. It was as good as it got, Whing played fitfully due to injury leaving Oxford toothless. 

At the end of January, Chris Wilder resigned to go to Northampton. Oxford engaged in a tortuously long recruitment process which saw Mickey Lewis in charge for 12 games. Gary Waddock was appointed but if anything, things got worse ,the final eight games saw seven defeats and one draw during which time Whing played twice.

The summer of 2014 brought a revolution, Michael Appleton. Whing didn’t start his first game until October, by which time things were already going wrong. January saw Appleton finally get a grip of the squad and form improved. Whing was never part of the long term plan but was reliable and committed when needed. At the end of the season, he quietly retired from playing but took up a coaching role before going into management, eventually moving to Barrow in League 2.

Game: Coventry City 2 Oxford United 1 (2017)

A true sliding doors moment. In 2017, Coventry City were bottom of League One and going down, Oxford were 9th and looking up. The newly named Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, never the most glamorous tournament, had taken a further hit. A decision to allow Premier League Under 23 teams into the tournament had brought about a mass-boycott.

Oxford made the final for the second year running giving fans a dilemma, go to Wembley and endorse the controversial change, or miss the final and miss, potentially, Oxford’s third ever win at Wembley.

In the end, the crowd turned out; over 74,000 in total with Oxford hot favourites. But we never got going, conceding after eleven minutes and then again ten minutes into the second half. Michael Appleton brought Liam Sercombe on, who he’d controversially dropped for unspecified reasons. With fifteen minutes to go Sercombe pulled a goal back almost to make a point to his manager. Coventry survived a last second goalmouth scramble to lift the trophy.

The result seemed to profoundly change both teams. Afterwards, Michael Appleton looked lost, and a few months later would resign. As expected, Coventry went down, but came straight back up via the play-offs in 2018, two years later they were promoted to The Championship and now are on the verge of the Premier League.