Totally out of the blue. United’s new manager isn’t, as widely anticipated, Chris Turner, but is instead former Argentina striker Ramon Angel Diaz, lately of Japanese outfit Yokohama F Marinos. Since leaving Japan, in 1995, Diaz had a lengthy spell as coach to River Plate, with whom he won five Argentinian championships and the Copa Libertadores.

Now 45 years old, Diaz brings with him two coaches, a doctor, a physio and two translators (one English to Spanish and one Spanish to English, perhaps?). Darren Patterson will work alongside Diaz as his number 2, which leaves David Oldfield wondering what to do.

Diaz, and presumably the rest of his entourage, have only joined initially on a 6-month deal, which takes them up to the end of this season. Presumably any extension to that would depend on how things go on the pitch (although, as Graham Rix would testify, that ain’t necessarily so). It’s certainly going to be an interesting few months, and we can only wonder what sort of football we’re going to be playing, and who he’s likely to be bringing in. It’s certainly never dull supporting Oxford (except occasionally on the pitch).