Chapman to stake a claim (From The Oxford Times)
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Chapman to stake a claim
9:30am Tuesday 6th November 2012 in Sport
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
Adam Chapman feels the competition for places in Oxford United’s midfield can only be good for the club
Adam Chapman says the intense competition for places in Oxford United’s midfield is a great sign as the club look to climb the table.
The 22-year-old is battling with Peter Leven, Jake Forster-Caskey and Lee Cox for two places in United’s starting line-up for tonight’s npower League Two home game against Dagenham & Redbridge.
The only other time the quartet have all been available was the 5-0 win against Accrington Stanley last month.
Chapman has enjoyed playing alongside the fit-again Peter Leven recently, but knows he must shine to keep a place.
He said: “With everybody coming back it keeps you motivated on a personal level to stay in the team.
“It’s great we have competition, with four great midfielders who can play on any given day and put a performance in – that’s all positive for the club.”
The key to victory tonight could be United’s creative midfield duo finding a way to unlock a Daggers side whose game-plan may centre around stifling Chris Wilder’s men.
Patience may be a virtue, but Chapman also has faith in the supporters in the Oxford Mail stand playing their part.
He said: “I would imagine Dagenham would come and try to frustrate, hang in there and do what they have to do.
“It’s up to me and Levs and the other midfield players to look for that killer pass, but you don’t want to force it and give the ball away all the time.
“At the Kassam, even if it gets into the second half I would back us scoring every single game.
“It feels like that stand just sucks the ball in, somehow.”
Chapman was catapulted to fame ten days ago when it was revealed he almost missed the trip to Wycombe with a burnt nipple, following an accident heating up milk for his newborn son.
The former Sheffield United trainee admitted it had been an eventful few days, but sees the funny side of it.
He said: “I’d rather people were talking about the football, but I don’t mind it at all.
“It’s not been a problem, it’s just when you chest the ball it becomes a bit keen.”
DAVE Langan, one of United’s 1986 Milk Cup-winning side, will be in the club shop from 6.30-7.30pm signing copies of his autobiography Running Through Walls (DB Publishers, £12.99).
It is his second visit to the Kassam after running out of books last time.
Comments(7)
train passenger
says...
10:59am Tue 6 Nov 12
OUFC 4 EVA
says...
3:18pm Tue 6 Nov 12
oldun wrote:Did he play in as well 4-4-2 oldun?
dave langan - my fave ever united player
OUFC 4 EVA
says...
3:20pm Tue 6 Nov 12
train passenger wrote:All that you need to worry about Chappers is that he performs on the pitch as that is all i care about! He is one of our most talented players and deserves credit for his performances and not to have to worry about ridiculous comments from a moron like you.
I thought Chapman was already (in)famous prior to the nipple story for something else, but seems like that's long forgotten now.
oldun
says...
4:32pm Tue 6 Nov 12
Keeper Hardwick then Judge
Two centre backs Briggo and Shotton
Central midfield - Les Phillips and Hebberd
Front two Billy and Aldo (then Charlo)
Full backs Langy and Bobby Mac (then Trwick)
Wingers - Houghton and Brock then Rosie
442 - you knew that
Moneypenni
says...
7:51pm Tue 6 Nov 12
OUFC 4 EVA wrote:So football is obviously the most important thing, not that he took the life of a young boy because he was too arrogant, stupid, selfish and ignorant to refrain from drink driving? Now I've heard it all. It is morons who think that football is the most important thing on this earth.
train passenger wrote:All that you need to worry about Chappers is that he performs on the pitch as that is all i care about! He is one of our most talented players and deserves credit for his performances and not to have to worry about ridiculous comments from a moron like you.
I thought Chapman was already (in)famous prior to the nipple story for something else, but seems like that's long forgotten now.
Captain Yellow
says...
11:30am Wed 7 Nov 12
It wasn't a young boy, and it wasn't drink driving. If you want to throw comments like this around, it's probably a good idea to get the facts right. Libel lawyers are notoriously picky over things like that!
oldun says...
9:50am Tue 6 Nov 12