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Oxford United chief's rallying call

8:00am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in


Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas has urged fans to remember how far the club has come.

Thomas spoke out in an attempt to counter an air of doom and gloom among some supporters.

It comes after Oxford have seen their early-season lead at the top of the Blue Square Premier wiped out – they now trail Stevenage by a point.

Thomas issued a reminder of what has been achieved – and what still can be achieved under manager Chris Wilder.

“We’ve got to realise where we’ve come from and the impact Chris has had within that process,” he stressed.

“We’ve gone from almost going out of business to challenging for the championship in 14 months. We’ve gone from a £1m loss to virtually breaking even.

“Plus home gates have really improved. From an average of 4,728 in 2007-8 and 4,879 in 2008-9 to an average this season of 6,108.

“Our form is three wins, two draws and one defeat in six games, and it’s been often against teams who have hit form.”

United’s chairman remains confident of promotion, but agrees the team need to regain the momentum they enjoyed before Christmas, and which Stevenage now have.

In some ways, Oxford are victims of their own success earlier in the season.

“We’ve got to win games, clearly,” he said. “The key now is to get some momentum, but people have to understand it’s this manager and this group of players who have got us to where we are.

“If someone had asked me last summer, with 11 games to go, if you could be one point off the top, and still have to play that top team, would you take it? Of course I would.”

The U’s did lead the table by eight points, so despondency that this has been completely blown away is natural, especially because Oxford have squandered big leads in the past.

Thomas said: “I’d urge supporters not to be unrealistic in their expectation . . . 11 points out of 18 is not a low. Stevenage have taken 15. It’s not like York, who have taken two out of 18.

“We’re still averaging over two points a game, which is championship form.”

He added: “There is a nervousness around and yes, we know what’s happened before, but there seems to be, among a minority, this expectation it’s going to go wrong again.

“We can’t think like that, and we don’t need to think like that.”

Comments(22)

BigCrompy says...
8:05am Tue 16 Mar 10

"How far we've come...?"

Correct me if I'm wildly wrong...but I have a vague memory that we were once a top flight team, not so very long ago...

Oh, curse my hopes and expectations! I suppose I should be grateful that we can stick eleven men on the park most weeks at all...

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abijack says...
10:05am Tue 16 Mar 10

KELVIN.My only grumble is--We cannot play a 4-3-3,i think CWs idea has not bore much fruit.Please go back to 4-4-2.Thats me finished.

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Adman says...
10:10am Tue 16 Mar 10

Not so very long ago, like over 20 years. Get real, we are what we are, and at least we aren't Chester. KT is quite right, all is not lost, and 18 months ago we might have been facing administration. We were certainly facing relegation until CW took over. We are still in with a shout, and although I admit Stevenage playing well, they still have to play Oxford, Luton, Wimbledon, Kidderminster and York; All teams still in the hunt for either the championship or a play off place. It ain't over yet, not by a long chalk!

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Kent Yellow says...
10:29am Tue 16 Mar 10

Adman wrote:
Not so very long ago, like over 20 years. Get real, we are what we are, and at least we aren't Chester. KT is quite right, all is not lost, and 18 months ago we might have been facing administration. We were certainly facing relegation until CW took over. We are still in with a shout, and although I admit Stevenage playing well, they still have to play Oxford, Luton, Wimbledon, Kidderminster and York; All teams still in the hunt for either the championship or a play off place. It ain't over yet, not by a long chalk!
Well said. Overall, CW & KT have done an excellent job to date - looking at the April fixtures, we can really pick up some points. So, let's get a good run going again, build some momentum and finish the job in hand. Come on you Yellows!

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12th Man says...
11:15am Tue 16 Mar 10

Good Post Adman.
We all need to get behind the team.

COYY.

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osler road says...
12:10pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Well said Kelvin we must keep going despite all our misgivings-it's fantastic that we're not fighting relegation and fighting for the top prize

Come on Yellows1

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Open your eyes says...
12:28pm Tue 16 Mar 10

BigCrompy wrote:
"How far we've come...?" Correct me if I'm wildly wrong...but I have a vague memory that we were once a top flight team, not so very long ago... Oh, curse my hopes and expectations! I suppose I should be grateful that we can stick eleven men on the park most weeks at all...
We have come a long way in 14 months. Instead of trying to be clever, why not read the article correctly?

Kelvin Thomas came in 15 months ago when the club were about to be made bust. People don't realise how close we got to going out of business.

We were 19th/20th in the league with Darren Patterson in charge.

He made the appointment to bring in Wilder and he turned us from relegation candidates to virtually nicking a play-off place.

This season he built on that and had us at the top nearly all season. We have stumbled recently, but we have an excellent chance to mount a title challenge.

You should be grateful we can stick eleven players on the pitch or you could be supporting AFC Oxford.

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Atomic says...
1:08pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Perhaps BC you would prefer to go back to the days of Kassam, the only thing to look forward to was relegation and being ripped off.
Kelvin and Chris are right we must keep working, were all in this together.
Success is not to far away, of that Im sure.

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Kevin Squelch says...
1:22pm Tue 16 Mar 10

What Kelvin has said is right and will get my full support to both Kelvin and Chris, as you remember what Chris said at the beginning of the saeson "we not unbeatable and I building the team that capable of promotion back to Football League" We having a little blip at the moment but we will fight back strongly, so you been warned Stevenage!

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oufcad21 says...
1:30pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Well said Kelvin, i Believe, already renewed season ticket for next year!

Lets get behind the team and march up the Leagues


YELLOOOWWWWWS

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martico1 says...
4:01pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Well I'm right in there with all positive stuff! Will the doomsayers please just keep quiet?! I 'watched' the last three games on the web from Borneo, so maybe I was lucky..... Now we just have to bacl KT, CW and the team for all we're worth!! Let's Just Do It!

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Kent Yellow says...
4:12pm Tue 16 Mar 10

1) Good to see that most, if not all, are being positive about our current position. This rubs off - make no mistake about it, outside the ground, in the ground, dressing room and on the pitch.
2) The 12th man has been incredible this season. Let's take this forward even more and give our utmost backing to the boys vocally - and live up to our name.
3) We are Oxford. United.

Stick together and it WILL be done. COYYS

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BenkiuGuasu says...
5:13pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Build it up with yellow and blue....

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BenkiuGuasu says...
5:13pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Build it up with yellow and blue....

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pop up pirate says...
6:15pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Adman wrote:
Not so very long ago, like over 20 years. Get real, we are what we are, and at least we aren't Chester. KT is quite right, all is not lost, and 18 months ago we might have been facing administration. We were certainly facing relegation until CW took over. We are still in with a shout, and although I admit Stevenage playing well, they still have to play Oxford, Luton, Wimbledon, Kidderminster and York; All teams still in the hunt for either the championship or a play off place. It ain't over yet, not by a long chalk!
Well said, we need to all stick together. These times are a lot better than just a few years ago. CW and all of the people in OUFC have helped to turn this club around with a lot of support from us so that is what we need to carry on doing SUPPORT.

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Wiki Wiki Wah says...
7:43pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Come on you yellows, win or lose up the U's, I believe, We were unlucky against Hayes & Yeading, Chris Wilder's yellow and blue army, etc.....

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RocketMan says...
11:29pm Tue 16 Mar 10

I think we have every reason to believe we can make promotion this season. It is never going to be easy, Even ManU have lost a few games you would have expected them to have won.
We have thanks to CW set high standards and we have not been top of the Conference for most of the season for nothing. We have the players and the mindset to achieve. But current form needs to improve we should not rely on other teams tripping up or on goal difference.
If we can beat Stevenage at Stevenage, which is a big ask then the title is ours for the taking. But with so much at stake, we could be looking at a draw, Yemi scoring as ex-players seem to do and 4 players being sent off and a ref deciding it on penalties! We need Constable and Murray back! Anyone one know when they will be match ready??
I cannot bear the thought of Stevenage going up instead of us. No, we have to do it, we can do it!!
RocketMan

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RocketMan says...
11:29pm Tue 16 Mar 10

I think we have every reason to believe we can make promotion this season. It is never going to be easy, Even ManU have lost a few games you would have expected them to have won.
We have thanks to CW set high standards and we have not been top of the Conference for most of the season for nothing. We have the players and the mindset to achieve. But current form needs to improve we should not rely on other teams tripping up or on goal difference.
If we can beat Stevenage at Stevenage, which is a big ask then the title is ours for the taking. But with so much at stake, we could be looking at a draw, Yemi scoring as ex-players seem to do and 4 players being sent off and a ref deciding it on penalties! We need Constable and Murray back! Anyone one know when they will be match ready??
I cannot bear the thought of Stevenage going up instead of us. No, we have to do it, we can do it!!
RocketMan

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BenkiuGuasu says...
4:17am Wed 17 Mar 10

ha... too much literature......

but love the sentiment all the same...

Chimchiminy chimchininy chim chim cheroo
we are the badboys in yellow and blue

ha

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bangon says...
12:22pm Wed 17 Mar 10

Keep it possitive, the doom n gloom isnt going to help us.. This aint no longer a micky mouse league there are some quality players / Managers in it so every game is gonna be difficult, this is still our season to take the league, ..altogether now "**** on u Yellows"

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Marina Morris says...
8:10pm Wed 17 Mar 10

Thing is Kelvin, are YOU going to stick together? The rumour is you're going back to the States. Are you?

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Highworth red says...
3:52pm Thu 18 Mar 10

Wiki Wiki Wah wrote:
Come on you yellows, win or lose up the U's, I believe, We were unlucky against Hayes & Yeading, Chris Wilder's yellow and blue army, etc.....
Unlucky against Hayes & Yeading, while we are winning away at Southampton, boy you have come far.....In the wrong direction unfortunately. To be fair I know couple of Utd fans, good guy's and they both feel things will come good this season, so all the best and get yer backsides back into the football league where even I admit they should be. I do miss the derby games!!!

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