Oxford sign new player shock

Yes it’s true! After weeks of speculation and wondering Oxford have at last brought in a new player. 24 year old defender John Robertson (who has already been imaginatively nicknamed Robbo by some) has joined on a Bosman transfer from Ayr United. Robertson said that his friendship with Neil McGowan was instrumental in him choosing United over other clubs, including First Division side Barnsley. He has joined on a three year contract.

Denis Smith is also hoping to sign another defender, midfield player and a striker in the next few days, although no clues as to any of their identities have been released. Meanwhile it is thought that the club is likely to offer out-of-contract defender Rob Folland an improved contract, although this will not apply to Jamie Cook who is currently on holiday in Cyprus with Joey Beauchamp (and probably too pissed to care at the moment).

Former United goalkeeper Pål Lundin has signed for one of his former Swedish clubs, second division Umeå (hope your Swedish is up to scratch). There are unconfirmed reports that Craig Russell might be moving back to St. Johnstone on a permanent basis and former Oxford striker Dean Windass has been linked with a move to Bolton, although Bradford chairman Geoffrey Richard has said that Deano is going nowhere.

Fixtures released

Next season’s fixtures have been released today and see United start the new campaign with a home game against newly promoted Peterborough. The August bank holiday fixture is an away trip to Walsall (well, at least it’s close) and United travels to swindon on October 7th. The final game is away at Notts County so we have to hope that Oxford doesn’t need three points to avoid relegation by that time. The full fixture list can be found here.

Poll results – Where will Oxford United finish next season?

Oxford United supporters are a pessimistic bunch and no mistake. A cynicism born of experience has led 28% of voters to the opinion that United will finish next season in the bottom half of the table after flirting with relegation. Almost as many, 26%, feel that the Mighty Yellows will have an uneventful season and finish in mid-table obscurity. There still remains a surprisingly high number of fans for whom hope springs eternal, 13% thinking that United will miss out on the play-offs, but still have a top half finish. A healthy 9% don’t care where United finishes provided that we beat swindon, whilst 6% are of the opinion that bottom place of Division Two will be United’s final position.