2017–18 Oxford United F.C. season

Oxford United
2017–18 season
Chairman Darryl Eales
(until February 2018)
Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth
(from February 2018)
Head Coach Pep Clotet
(until 22 January 2018)
Derek Fazackerley (caretaker)
(from 23 January 2018 till 22 March 2018)
Karl Robinson
(from 22 March 2018)
Stadium Kassam Stadium
League One 16th
FA Cup First round (eliminated by Port Vale)
EFL Cup First round (eliminated by Cheltenham Town)
EFL Trophy Fourth round (eliminated by Chelsea U21s)
Top goalscorer League: Wes Thomas, James Henry (10)
All: Wes Thomas, James Henry (11)
Highest home attendance 9,510 (v Portsmouth, 12 August)
Lowest home attendance 1,074 (v Brighton & Hove Albion U21s, 3 October)

The 2017–18 season was Oxford United's second consecutive season in League One and their 124th year in existence.[1] As well as competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

Before the start of the season, manager Michael Appleton resigned to become assistant manager at Leicester City.[2] His replacement Pep Clotet, formerly assistant manager at Leeds United,[3] in contrast to Appleton's policy of signing promising young British players, signed a mix of foreign players,[4] among them Dwight Tiendalli, Xemi Fernández, Ivo Pękalski, Agon Mehmeti and Ricardinho (the first Brazilian to play for Oxford), and seasoned British pros including Jonathan Obika from rivals Swindon Town, James Henry, Mike Williamson and John Mousinho. A number of influential players, among them Chey Dunkley, Liam Sercombe, top scorer Chris Maguire, captain John Lundstram and record signing Marvin Johnson, left the club. Incoming loanees included Jack Payne from Huddersfield Town and Gino van Kessel from Slavia Prague. Striker Kane Hemmings and defender Charlie Raglan were given season-long loans at Mansfield Town and Port Vale respectively. Curtis Nelson was appointed club captain following the departure of Lundstram.

Results started reasonably with an away win over Oldham Athletic (who were to be relegated at the end of the season) and a home win over Portsmouth in front of what turned out to be the club's largest home crowd of the season. After 15 games the club were in the play-off places, but form declined through the late autumn. Curtis Nelson ruptured his Achilles tendon during a home defeat to Northampton Town in November, and John Mousinho was appointed captain in his place (until Nelson's eventual return in April). Oxford suffered a record 7–0 home defeat at the hands of eventual champions Wigan Athletic on 23 December. During the January transfer window, Payne was recalled by his parent club, Xemi was released from his contract and Robert Dickie and Cameron Brannagan were signed from Reading and Liverpool respectively. Three young loanees were recruited from Premiership clubs: Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Ashley Smith-Brown from Manchester City and Todd Kane from Chelsea.

After a home defeat to bottom club Bury, Clotet was sacked with the club in 10th place. Caretaker-manager Derek Fazackerley presided over the team for two months, in which time they won only twice in eight games and dropped to 15th place.

Midway through Fazackerley's tenure, the club announced that Thai businessman Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth, formerly a member of the owning consortium at rivals Reading, had become the new owner of the club. Thanakarnjanasuth appointed Karl Robinson as the club's permanent manager on 22 March 2018. Robinson had to wait five games for his first win, but his aim of retaining the club's League One status was achieved with three wins from the last five games of the season. The club finished in 16th place on 56 points, six points above the relegation zone.

United were eliminated by lower-league opposition in the opening rounds of the League Cup and FA Cup, by Cheltenham Town and Port Vale respectively. Having been losing finalists for the previous two seasons, they reached the last 8 of the EFL Trophy but were eliminated by Chelsea U21s.

Midfielder James Henry and striker Wes Thomas were the club's leading scorers, each with 11 goals (10 in the League). For the second season running, goalkeeper Simon Eastwood played every minute of every league game, though he was rested for a couple of EFL Trophy matches. Midfielder Ryan Ledson, the subject of persistent transfer rumours, was voted the Supporters' Player of the Season.

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 2017CBRepublic of IrelandFiacre KelleherCelticFree[5]
1 July 2017CBEnglandCharlie RaglanChesterfieldFree[6]
1 July 2017GKScotlandScott ShearerMansfield TownFree[7]
6 July 2017CFEnglandJonathan ObikaSwindon TownFree[8]
12 July 2017RWEnglandJames HenryWolverhampton WanderersFree[9]
13 July 2017RBNetherlandsDwight TiendalliFree agentFree[10]
18 July 2017CMSpainXemi FernándezSpain Barcelona BFree[11]
26 July 2017CBEnglandMike WilliamsonWolverhampton WanderersFree[12]
3 August 2017LBBrazilRicardinhoAzerbaijan GabalaFree[13]
8 August 2017CMSwedenIvo PękalskiSweden HalmstadUndisclosed[14]
31 August 2017CBEnglandJohn MousinhoBurton AlbionFree[15]
7 September 2017CFAlbaniaAgon MehmetiFree agentFree[16]
1 December 2017GKEnglandMax HarrisHerefordUndisclosed[17]
4 January 2018CBEnglandRobert DickieReadingUndisclosed[18]
11 January 2018CMEnglandCameron BrannaganLiverpoolUndisclosed[19]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
1 July 2017GKLiechtensteinBenjamin BüchelFree agentReleased[20]
1 July 2017CBEnglandRobbie CundyGloucester CityReleased[20]
1 July 2017CBEnglandChey DunkleyWigan AthleticFree[21]
1 July 2017RMEnglandJonny GilesFree agentReleased[20]
1 July 2017CFEnglandJordan GrahamFree agentReleased[20]
1 July 2017CMEnglandLiam SercombeBristol RoversUndisclosed[22]
1 July 2017LBEnglandJoe SkarzBuryMutual consent[23][lower-alpha 1]
1 July 2017CBEnglandMiles Welch-HayesBath CityReleased[20][lower-alpha 2]
20 July 2017CFScotlandChris MaguireBuryFree[26]
25 July 2017CMEnglandJohn LundstramSheffield UnitedUndisclosed[27]
31 August 2017LMEnglandMarvin JohnsonMiddlesbroughUndisclosed[28]
22 November 2017RBWalesChristian RibeiroRetiredN/A[29]
30 January 2018CMSpainXemi FernándezFree agentMutual consent[30]
  1. Skarz joined Bury following his departure.[24]
  2. Welch-Hayes joined Bath City following his departure.[25]

Loans in

Start date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.
28 July 2017AMEnglandJack PayneHuddersfield Town15 January 2018[31][32]
10 August 2017FWCuraçaoGino van KesselSlavia Prague30 June 2018[33]
31 August 2017CMEnglandAlex MowattBarnsley30 June 2018[34]
12 January 2018FWEnglandIsaac Buckley-RickettsManchester City30 June 2018[35]
29 January 2018DFEnglandAshley Smith-BrownManchester City30 June 2018[36]
31 January 2018DFEnglandTodd KaneChelsea30 June 2018[37]

Loans out

Start date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.
3 August 2017CBRepublic of IrelandFiacre KelleherSolihull Moors30 June 2018[38][39]
22 August 2017FWEnglandKane HemmingsMansfield Town30 June 2018[40]
24 August 2017GKEnglandJack StevensOxford CityJanuary 2018[41]
24 August 2017MFEnglandMalachi NapaHampton & Richmond BoroughJanuary 2018[41][42]
29 August 2017GKEnglandManny AgboolaNorth LeighJanuary 2018[43]
15 December 2017FWEnglandJames RobertsGuiseley30 June 2018[44][45]
22 December 2017MFGrenadaShandon BaptisteHampton & Richmond BoroughFebruary 2018[46][47]
5 January 2018GKEnglandManny AgboolaHampton & Richmond BoroughFebruary 2018[39]
19 January 2018GKEnglandJack StevensTamworthFebruary 2018[48]
19 January 2018DFEnglandSam LongHampton & Richmond BoroughFebruary 2018[48]
30 January 2018DFEnglandCharlie RaglanPort Vale30 June 2018[49]
16 February 2018GKEnglandManny AgboolaLeatherhead30 June 2018[50]

Competitions

Friendlies

Oxford United played six pre-season friendlies, against Oxford City, Middlesbrough and Hull City[51] (in Portugal),[52] Brentford, Birmingham City[53] and Leeds United.[54] A proposed friendly against Lincoln City[55] was cancelled.[56]

League One

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
14 Fleetwood Town 46 16 9 21 59 68 9 57
15 Doncaster Rovers 46 13 17 16 52 52 0 56
16 Oxford United 46 15 11 20 61 66 5 56
17 Gillingham 46 13 17 16 50 55 5 56
18 AFC Wimbledon 46 13 14 19 47 58 11 53
Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Result summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 15 11 20 61 66  −5 56 9 6 8 34 32  +2 6 5 12 27 34  −7

Last updated: 5 May 2018.
Source: BBC Sport

Results by matchday

Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHA
ResultWWLDDWDLLLWWWDDLLWLDWDLDLWWLLWLLLDLWLDLDLWLWWL
Position21579681012151310667101078988101012101010101012131515161516171717171717161416

Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2018. Source: BBC Sport
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

On 21 June 2017, the league fixtures were announced.[57][58]

FA Cup

On 16 October 2017, Oxford United were drawn away to Port Vale in the first round.[59]

EFL Cup

On 16 June 2017, Oxford United were drawn at home to Cheltenham Town in the first round.[60]

EFL Trophy

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L1 Milton Keynes Dons (Q) 3 2 1 0 0 6 3 +3 8 Round 2
2 L1 Oxford United (Q) 3 1 0 1 1 11 8 +3 4
3 L2 Stevenage (E) 3 1 0 1 1 5 7 2 4
4 ACA Brighton & Hove Albion U21s (E) 3 0 1 0 2 3 7 4 2
Updated to match(es) played on 7 November 2017. Source: EFL.com
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

As of 5 May 2018
No. Pos Nat Player TotalLeague OneFA CupLeague CupFL Trophy
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK England Simon Eastwood 520460101040
2 DF Wales Christian Ribeiro 141101101020
3 DF Netherlands Dwight Tiendalli 18012+1010003+10
4 DF England Mike Williamson 17013+10100020
5 DF England Curtis Nelson 22117+21001020
6 DF England Aaron Martin 19010+200+101050
7 FW England Robert Hall 17510+320+101023
8 MF England Ryan Ledson 49336+73101040
9 FW England Wes Thomas 391131+510100+1011
10 MF England Jack Payne 34725+33100+1044
11 FW England Marvin Johnson 3120001100
11 MF England Cameron Brannagan 120120000000
13 GK Scotland Scott Shearer 2000000020
14 MF England Josh Ruffels 44532+5510104+10
15 FW England Kane Hemmings 0000000000
16 DF England Robert Dickie 151151000000
17 MF England James Henry 461132+810100+103+11
18 MF England Joe Rothwell 40625+1050+10102+11
19 MF Spain Xemi Fernández 1324+51001130
19 DF England Todd Kane 173173000000
20 FW England Jon Obika 40720+145001151
21 DF Brazil Ricardinho 38328+73000030
22 DF England Sam Long 0000000000
24 MF England Josh Ashby 100000000+10
25 DF England Charlie Raglan 1000000010
27 DF England Alex Mowatt 32319+92100031
28 FW Albania Agon Mehmeti 1613+10100001+20
29 DF England Ashley Smith-Brown 9090000000
30 DF England John Mousinho 431391100030
31 FW England James Roberts 300+1000000+20
32 FW England Isaac Buckley-Ricketts 1208+30000010
34 GK England Jack Stevens 0000000000
35 DF Republic of Ireland Canice Carroll 17110+21000+103+10
36 MF England Malachi Napa 1703+11000000+30
37 MF Grenada Shandon Baptiste 200000000+20
39 FW Curaçao Gino van Kessel 2658+153000032
40 GK England Manny Agboola 0000000000
42 FW England Owen James 100+10000000
  • Source:

Top scorers

As of 5 May 2018
Place Position Nation Number Name League One FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
1=FWEngland9Wes Thomas1000111
MFEngland17James Henry1000111
3=MFEngland10Jack Payne30047
FWEngland20Jon Obika50117
5MFEngland18Joe Rothwell50016
6=FWEngland7Robert Hall20035
MFEngland14Josh Ruffels50005
FWCuraçao39Gino van Kessel30025
9=MFEngland27Alex Mowatt20013
MFEngland8Ryan Ledson30003
DFEngland19Todd Kane30003
DFBrazil21Ricardinho30003
13MFSpain19Xemi Fernández10102
14=DFEngland2Christian Ribeiro10001
DFEngland5Curtis Nelson10001
MFEngland11Marvin Johnson00101
DFEngland15Robert Dickie10001
FWAlbania28Agon Mehmeti10001
DFEngland30John Mousinho10001
DFRepublic of Ireland35Canice Carroll10001
TOTALS 60 0 3 14 77

Disciplinary record

As of 5 May 2018
Number Nation Position Name League One FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
1EnglandGKSimon Eastwood1000000010
2EnglandDFChristian Ribeiro1000000010
3NetherlandsDFDwight Tiendalli2000000020
4EnglandDFMike Williamson1000000010
5EnglandDFCurtis Nelson1000100020
6EnglandDFAaron Martin2010000030
7EnglandDFRobert Hall1000100020
8EnglandMFRyan Ledson110001010130
9EnglandFWWes Thomas3010000040
10EnglandMFJack Payne1000000010
11EnglandMFCameron Brannagan5000000050
14EnglandMFJosh Ruffels1000100020
16EnglandDFRobert Dickie4000000040
17EnglandMFJames Henry3000000030
18EnglandMFJoe Rothwell7000000070
19SpainMFXemi Fernández2000002040
19EnglandDFTodd Kane1000000010
20EnglandFWJon Obika1000000010
21BrazilDFRicardinho5100001061
25EnglandDFCharlie Raglan0000001010
27EnglandMFAlex Mowatt2100000021
30EnglandDFJohn Mousinho6000001070
35Republic of IrelandDFCanice Carroll5000002070
TOTALS 66 2 2 0 3 0 8 0 79 2

References

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  2. "Leicester City: Michael Appleton leaves Oxford United to become Foxes assistant". BBC Sport. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. "Pep Clotet: Oxford United name ex-Leeds United and Swansea City coach as manager". BBC Sport. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  4. Pritchard, David (23 January 2018). "ANALYSIS: What went wrong during Pep Clotet's time at Oxford United?". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  5. "Fiacre Kelleher Signs for the U's". Oxford United Official Site. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. "Charlie Raglan Signs For The U's". Oxford United Official Site. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  7. "Shearer set to join the U's". Oxford United Official Site. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
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  34. "Alex Mowatt Joins Oxford United". Oxford United F.C. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  35. "Man City Winger Isaac Buckley-Ricketts Joins Oxford United". Oxford United F.C. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  36. "United Sign Man City's Ashley Smith-Brown". Oxford United F.C. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  37. "United Sign Todd Kane On Loan From Chelsea". Oxford United F.C. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  38. "Kelleher Joins the Moors". Oxford United F.C. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  39. 1 2 "Agboola joins Hampton and Richmond on Loan". Oxford United F.C. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  40. "Kane Hemmings: Mansfield Town sign Oxford United striker on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  41. 1 2 Pritchard, David (24 August 2017). "Oxford United loan out Jack Stevens and Malachi Napa". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  42. "Napa Loan Extended". Oxford United F.C. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  43. "Manny Goes on Loan". Oxford United F.C. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  44. "James Roberts Joins Guiseley On Loan". Oxford United F.C. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  45. "Roberts Loan Extended". Oxford United F.C. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
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  47. "Shandon Baptiste Goes on Loan". Oxford United F.C. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  48. 1 2 "Long and Stevens Go Out On Loan". Oxford United F.C. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  49. "Charlie Raglan Joins Port Vale On Loan". Oxford United F.C. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  50. "Manny Agboola Joins Leatherhead On Loan". Oxford United F.C. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  51. "U's to Face Boro in Portugal". Oxford United Official Site. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  52. "U's to take on Hull City in Portugal". Oxford United Official Site. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  53. "U's to take on Brentford and Birmingham". Oxford United Official Site. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  54. "Oxford United To Take On Leeds United". Oxford United Official Site. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  55. "U's to take on Lincoln City". Oxford United Official Site. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  56. Pritchard, David (17 July 2017). "Oxford United cancel pre-season friendly at Lincoln City". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  57. "U's To Kick Off At Oldham". Oxford United Official Site. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  58. "Fixture List". Oxford United Official Site. June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  59. "U's Draw Port Vale Away In The FA Cup". Oxford United Official Site. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  60. "United to Face Cheltenham Town in Carabao Cup". Oxford United Official Site. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
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