Oxford fans: we have exceeded expectations
A bit briefer than usual due to time constraints, here are the views of two Oxford fans – who are Vale’s next opponents…
Thanks to REP for posing the questions
About the fans…
THE HORSE – My irst game was in the very early 90’s so I missed the glory days of the 80s. I was lucky enough to see some very good players in the mid to late 90’s such as Matt Elliott and Joey Beauchamp. I’m now back in the area and enjoying being able to see more of the team in what is a good period for us.
GORILLA – I’ve been an Oxford fan for 25 years, I attend all home games, and a handful of away games each season. I just started taking my 6 year-old son to a few games this season, and he’s loves it too. We are a really family friendly club.
How do you expect your team to do this season?
THE HORSE – It’s fairly easy question in where will we finish: about where we are now.
GORILLA – This season has been great, we have exceeded expectations in the league, and our recent day out at Wembley was great for the club financially, it was just a shame about the result! A lot of fans would have been happy to avoid relegation in our first season back in League One, so to have been pushing towards the play-offs up until recently was a real achievement. We also had a decent run in the FA Cup, getting to the fifth round and knocking out Newcastle Utd along the way.
What are your thoughts on the manager?
THE HORSE – I think you’d get the same response from anyone you asked, it’s nothing but positive. After a shaky start he’s managed to get the football side of things run in a very positive way both on the pitch and behind the scenes when it comes to player recruitment. The only slight criticism, and I’m sure he’s learning how to address this, is that sometimes we can be unable to cope with the more physical teams.
GORILLA – Michael Appleton is fantastic, our best manager in a long, long time. He’s got us playing attractive attacking football, and really helped to develop some of our younger players. The fans love him, and he has a really good working relationship with our chairman. I hope he stays with us for a couple more seasons, as I really think he has the ability to take us up to the Championship.
The players to watch?
THE HORSE – The two to watch out for are probably Chris Maguire, who’s always a danger from free kicks around the area and Conor Macaleny, on loan from Everton, who loves a shot from distance and has a couple of hat tricks to his name this season.That’s not forgetting Marvin Johnson either who’s dangerous whether playing left-back or in a more advanced left midfield role.
GORILLA – Marvin Johnson on the left-wing is the danger man, he’s got pace, trickery, and the ability to deliver dangerous balls into the box. Chris Maguire takes a mean free-kick, so watch out for him too.
A score prediction?
THE HORSE – In an ideal world it would 6-0 to Vale as anything that will help send Swindon to League Two next season is fine by me.In reality I expect a close game as we are now in an experimental period looking at some young lads, players who’ve not had much game time this season and looking at them in other areas. I think it could be a 1-1 draw with Oxford’s goal from Marvin Johnson.
GORILLA – I think you guys will put up a good fight, and hopefully it will be another entertaining game. I’ve got to back Oxford, so I’ll say 3-2 (Chris Maguire, and a brace for Conor McAleny for us and Hooper, Foley scoring for you).