Oxford United Team of the Decade
As the decade comes to an end, Vital Oxford have selected their best eleven players and top manager since 2010.
On the pitch, it’s been a relatively successful ten years for the U’s. Chris Wilder guided the club to promotion from the Conference in 2010 and the U’s achieved promotion to League One under Michael Appleton in 2016.
This season, Karl Robinson’s side went 18 games unbeaten before defeat at MK Dons and reached the last eight of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 1988 before losing out to holders Manchester City. The U’s end the decade 2nd in League One – their highest league position in the last ten years.
GK: Simon Eastwood
180 appearances
2010/2011 (loan) 2016-present
The first player on the list is the U’s current goalkeeper, Simon Eastwood.
The 30-year-old was originally brought in by Chris Wilder following the clubs promotion back to League Two, but the former Huddersfield Town man found game time hard to come by and failed to make an appearance, largely due to the impressive form of Ryan Clarke.
But, in 2016, Eastwood rejoined the U’s. Again, it came after a promotion season, with Michael Appleton giving the goalkeeper the number one shirt with the club now in League One.
He established himself as a key member, playing all 62 games as the U’s finished 8th in the league, before bowing out of the FA Cup at the fifth round and reaching the Football League Trophy final, losing to Coventry City.
Since then, only injury has kept the U’s number one sidelined and by the end of this season, the 30-year-old would have made over 200 appearances for Oxford.
During his time at the club, Eastwood also won the Supporters Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year.
LB: Josh Ruffels
250 appearances/14 goals
2013-present
Like Eastwood, Ruffels is a current player at Oxford United.
The 26-year-old, who was born in Oxford, actually came through the ranks at Coventry City but made just two appearances in three years for the Sky Blues.
In 2013, Ruffels joined his boyhood club and made 35 appearances for the League Two side under Wilder.
Despite not being a regular under Wilder or Appleton, the midfielder was known as a consistent and professional player. He won promotion to League One with the U’s in 2015/16.
But during the 2017/18 season, the midfielder reverted to left-back and has made the position his own. Since then, he has made over 120 appearances and has become one of the first names on the team sheet.
During his time at the club, Ruffels also won the Young Player of the Year and Supporters Player of the Year and is in the top 30 appearance holders at Oxford.
CB: Jake Wright
281 appearances/0 goals
2009/2010 (loan) 2010-2016
Next on the list is former captain, Jake Wright. The centre back is the only player in this eleven that was part of both promotion winning sides.
Wright spent his early career in non-league with Halifax and Crawley, before joining League One side, Brighton.
The defender was then loaned out in January to Oxford where he made 26 appearances as the U’s won promotion to League Two.
Wright then joined Oxford on a permanent basis and became an integral part of the U’s team. The defender was appointed club captain in 2011 and won promotion to League One under Appleton in 2016.
That same season, the U’s reached the Football League Trophy final but was dropped to the bench, thus accentuating his imminent departure from the club.
And following promotion, Wright and the club parted company with the defender having made 281 appearances for the U’s, but failed to score during his time with the club. He is also the longest-serving player of the decade.
CB: Johnny Mullins
149 appearances/9 goals
2012 (loan) 2013-2016
Johnny Mullins partners Jake Wright at the heart of the defence and was also a crucial player for the club.
Like Wright, Mullins was snapped up by Wilder on a short term loan deal from Rotherham United but was recalled after just eight games where he scored twice. Back at the Millers, he helped the club achieve promotion from League Two.
But the following summer, the defender joined the U’s permanently. He remained a key figure between the managerial changes and made over 40 appearances each season.
Mullins won promotion from League Two under Appleton and captained the U’s in their Football League Trophy final defeat against Barnsley, ending an impressive time at the club.
RB: George Baldock
47 appearances/3 goals
2015 (loan) 2015/2016 (loan)
George Baldock has the lowest number of Oxford appearances in this eleven, but the right-back played a key role during his time at the club.
Having arrived on loan from MK Dons in January 2015, the full-back became a key part as the U’s secured a mid-table finish after a poor start to the campaign.
He made twelve appearances for the U’s, scoring once before returning to MK Dons who won promotion to the Championship.
But after an impressive end to the season, Appleton snapped up the young right back on another season-long loan. He became an integral part of the team, linking up well with Alex MacDonald down the right and scored twice in 35 appearances before being recalled by MK Dons.
Despite only playing half a season, in which the U’s secured promotion to League One, Baldock was named in the 2015–16 League 2 PFA Team of the Year.
He was also named Young Player of the Year 2015/16 at The Dons end-of-season awards.
CM: John Lundstram
104 appearances/4 goals
2015-2017
Signed by Appleton, Lundstram was just one of Oxford United’s key players in the last decade to leave the dizzying heights of the Premier League to drop down the divisions.
Like many top-flight academy players, the midfielder had a few unsuccessful loan spells but made the decision to leave Everton with the aim for first-team football.
And at League Two Oxford, that’s exactly what he got. The youngster arrived on a two-year deal and made an impressive 47 appearances in his first season at the club, scoring three goals.
Lundstram and Liam Sercombe formed a terrifying partnership in the centre of the park as Oxford gained promotion from League Two. Unfortunately for the youngster, he missed the 2016 Football League Trophy final through suspension.
The following season, club captain Jake Wright left the club and Appleton gave 22-year-old Lundstram the armband. He made 57 appearances – 53 as captain – as the U’s enjoyed successful cup runs and an 8th placed finish in League One.
The former Everton man skippered the side as Oxford lost the Football League Trophy final against Coventry. It was only a matter of time before a ‘bigger’ club came in for him, and he joined up with former U’s boss Chris Wilder at Sheffield United and is now enjoying life as a regular in the Premier League.
CM: Cameron Brannagan
88 appearances/13 goals
2018-present
The newest arrival to the squad, Cameron Brannagan has come on leaps and bounds since joining in January 2018.
Like Lundstram, Brannagan made the bold decision to leave Premier League football in search of regular appearances, and at just 23-years-old, he already has accumulated just under 100 appearances
Brannagan was a highly thought of prospect at Liverpool and despite manager Jurgen Klopp being an admirer, the midfielder only made nine appearances for the club.
He had a short loan spell at Fleetwood Town, but when Oxford made an offer, he joined the U’s on a permanent basis, ending his 16-year association with Liverpool.
Brannagan has had a few injuries whilst at Oxford which has limited his playing time, but he’s certainly considered a regular when fit. The youngster was named Players Player of the Year at the end of his first full season, where he made well over 50 appearances for the club.
He scored six goals in that season, but the 23-year-old has already netted seven this season and has been sidelined for just under two months with injury.
LM: Chris Maguire
79 appearances/22 goals
2015/2016 (loan) 2016/2017
Joining from Rotherham on a two-month loan, it took Chris Maguire some time to settle but when he found his rhythm, he was crucial.
Maguire set up Kemar Roofe for the U’s FA Cup third-round win against Premier League side, Swansea City before the Millers terminated his contract.
The Scot signed for the U’s permanently until the end of the season and scored four goals in the last six games as the club secured promotion to League One.
The following season, he signed another year-long contract and after Roofe left to join Leeds United, Maguire stepped up to the plate. The Scot scored an impressive 17 goals in 54 appearances as the U’s finished 8th in League One, also scoring in their FA Cup fifth-round narrow defeat at Middlesborough.
One for controversy, he excelled when the U’s faced rivals Swindon Town. He scored a brace in the home win and was integral as the U’s won at the County Ground in the reverse fixture.
Maguire also played a part in both Football League Trophy final defeats at Wembley Stadium against Barnsley and Coventry City respectively.
RM: Kemar Roofe
64 appearances/32 goals
2015 (loan) 2015/2016
Like many of the players in this eleven, Kemar Roofe also joined initially on loan from a higher league club in what was an Appleton trait.
The attacking midfielder worked under Appleton at West Brom where he was part of the Academy side but failed to make an appearance for the senior side.
Loans in Europe and at League Two clubs, it was at Oxford where he propelled his career. Despite not scoring in his first five U’s appearances, Roofe then scored six from 16 appearances for the club in League Two.
But Appleton signed the youngster for an undisclosed fee and he was to have a sensational first full season.
He netted a peach from just inside the opposition half as Oxford won 4-0 at Brentford in the League Cup, and scored a brace as the U’s knocked Premier League side Swansea City out of the FA Cup.
Roofe netted a hat trick in the 4-0 win against Dagenham and Redbridge and netted another brace against rivals Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy. Despite losing 3-2 in the final against Barnsley, Roofe assisted Danny Hylton and ended the season with promotion from League Two and scored 18 goals in 40 appearances, with 26 in all competitions. It as always going to be difficult for Oxford to keep hold of Roofe, and he joined Championship side Leeds United for a club-record sale of £3million.
AM: James Henry
128 appearances/37 goals
2017-present
30-year-old midfielder James Henry is another member of the current squad, and his role has been that of a key player since his arrival at Oxford.
Having joined in 2017 under Pep Clotet, he was the standout player in a season of turmoil. The former Wolves man netted eleven goals in 48 appearances as Clotet lost his job in January before taking two months to appoint Robinson, by which time the club had been taken over. On the pitch, the U’s had gone from just outside the playoffs to battling to avoid the drop.
It was Henry’s goals and assists that ensured the U’s League One status, and the following season was no different.
In Robinson’s first full season in charge, the U’s spent much of the campaign in the bottom four but again, and the club suffered numerous winding-up orders as the change of ownership struggled to make payments in time.
On the field, Henry provided crucial goals at crucial times as the U’s ended the season with a good run of form. The midfielder scored an impressive 15 goals in all competitions, making him the clubs top goalscorer for the second successive season.
This season couldn’t be much different for Oxford, both on and off the pitch. The U’s have secured the lease for their own training ground and relations between the board and Firoka, who own the stadium, seem at an improved level. Oxford are currently sitting in 2nd place in League One and had an 18-game unbeaten run come to an end with defeat at MK Dons – one short of equaling the club record.
The U’s also reached the Carabao Cup quarter-final, losing against Manchester City, but Henry has already provided eleven goals and five assists from just 24 games, despite missing a few weeks with an injury.
If the U’s can maintain their form and Henry can continue to find the net, he could be the first Oxford player to reach 20 goals in a single season since Kemar Roofe in 2015/16.
ST: James Constable
280 appearances/106 goals
2008/2009 (loan) 2009-2014
The final player in our top eleven needs no introduction. James Constable scored 106 goals during his time with the club, just one shy of equaling the all-time record set by Graham Atkinson in 1974.
‘Beano’ joined the U’s on-loan from Shrewsbury in 2008 and scored twice as he opened his account in a 6-3 victory over Eastbourne Borough. The striker also netted a hat trick against Chester City but after the club were expelled from the Conference, it was expunged from the records.
Nevertheless, the striker found the net 24 times and scored braces against Northwich Victoria, Forest Green Rovers, Grays Athletic, Rushden and Diamonds and Histon, but Oxford finished a disappointing 7th in the Conference.
The following season, Constable joined the U’s on a permanent basis and the goals continued to flow. The forward netted 26 goals in all competitions as the U’s secured promotion back to the Football League. Beano netted another five braces and netted the U’s second goal as they won the playoff final against York City.
In League Two, Constable continued to find the net. He scored twice in a 6-1 win over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup before securing his first and only U’s hat trick during a 4-0 win over Morecambe. Three more braces followed as he ended the season with 17 goals and the third season in succession as the top scorer as Oxford finished 12th.
The following season, Constable only managed eleven goals but his first two of the season came at Swindon as the U’s secured a first league win at the County Ground in 38 years. Beano scored in the next game – a 1-1 draw against Aldershot, before bagging doubles against Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle. His last goal of the season came in a 2-1 win at home to Barnet, and although the Wiltshire born player was dismissed early on in the reverse against Swindon, the U’s secured a 2-0 victory as Oxford finished 9th in League Two.
It took Constable 12 games to find the net in 2012/13, but he did assist Alfie Potter to score the winner against Swindon in the Football League Trophy. He was dismissed during a home defeat against Exeter City, before opening his account in the win against Cheltenham Town. He netted eight more goals before being sent off at AFC Wimbledon but ended the season top scorer again with 14 as Oxford finished 9th for the second successive season.
In his final season as an Oxford player, Constable scored twelve goals in all competitions as the U’s finished 7th. Oxford were on course for the playoffs but when Wilder left to join Northampton Town in January, it took nearly two months to appoint Gary Waddock, and the club finished the season in 8th following a run of eleven losses in their last fifteen league games. His last Oxford goal came in a 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle in April, and although he was unable to equal, or even break the clubs goalscoring record, he finished his U’s career with a second-best 106 goals for the club.
Manager: Michael Appleton
138 league games/59 wins
2014-2017
Looking back at this decade, Oxford United have had three standout managers. Chris Wilder guided the U’s to promotion from the Conference and established the U’s as a solid League Two side. Then Michael Appleton arrived and, in addition to winning promotion to League One and reaching two Football League Trophy finals, signed some exciting young players. Now, the U’s are managed by Karl Robinson and, although his start was poor, he has guided the club into 2nd in League One and pushing for promotion to the Championship.
But for us, Appleton gets the manager of the decade. He arrived at the club with a horrific C.V which included short and unsuccessful managerial stints at Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers.
Like Robinson, Appleton made a slow start to life at the club but once he began to build his squad, he never looked back.
Appleton had a philosophy of bringing in exciting, young talent from higher league clubs that sought regular football. Kemar Roofe, George Baldock and John Lundstram, who made our eleven, are a key example of this, while other players were unfortunate to miss out.
Chris Maguire, Jonjoe Kenny, Jordan Graham, Joe Rothwell, Ryan Ledson and Marvin Johnson, among others, highlighted Appleton’s transfer policy by bringing in players from top-flight clubs and giving them regular first-team football, in addition to snapping up the promising youngsters from the lower divisions like Curtis Nelson and Liam Sercombe.
On the pitch, it began to work. The U’s won promotion to League One in his first full season, reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, securing a memorable win over Premier League side Swansea City in the third round, and reaching the Football League Trophy final, losing to Barnsley.
The following season, Appleton guided the U’s to an 8th placed finish in League One and had another impressive cup run, beating Newcastle United 3-0 before narrowly losing to Middlesbrough in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The U’s reached the Football League Trophy final again but lost out to Coventry City.
At the end of the season, Appleton left to join Craig Shakespeare as Leicester City’s assistant manager, but his work at Oxford has been done. It was always going to be difficult to replace him and it took a while for the club to reestablish itself, which highlights the importance of his role while in charge.