[Div3North]

Oxford United

V

Accrington Stanley

2011 Prediction League – Game 10; v Oxford Utd (away)

In mid-May, Oxford manager Chris Wilder signed 24 year old ex Villa, Forest and Wycombe striker Jon-Paul Pittman; he said of him, “JP is a very positive player who has the ability to create and score goals. He has electric pace and gives us a balance to the squad. I am delighted to have beaten off stiff competition for his signature and he is definitely a signing that will excite the supporters” . On 12th September he was shipped out to Crawley on a 3 month loan ………….

Out, also, has gone striker Jack Midson, who joined in 2009 from Histon and was released, signing for AFC Wimbledon (for whom he scored yesterday); midfielder Sam Deering went to Barnet, and fellow midfielder Simon Clist has gone out on loan to Hereford (bet he’s regretting that! ). In, on loan, came Jonathan Franks from Middlesbrough, who was injured before his debut and has gone back to Ayresome Park (or wherever the hell they play now ), and Lewis Guy from MK Dons, whose loan hasn’t been extended ; to replace them, they’ve just signed Andy Haworth, a 22 year-old winger from Bury, initially on a one-month loan.

Over the summer they also acquired some other well known names, including 35 year-old Michael Duberry, released by St Johnstone after a career which included Chelseas, Leeds and Stoke, Oldham striker Deane Smalley (22), who scored 12 in 39 for Chesterfield on loan last season, ex Cobblers defender/midfielder Liam Davis, and Tony Capaldi (29), a Northern Irish international left back whose clubs include Leeds and Plymouth and, most recently, Morecambe; he joined them in September 2010, and last played at the Globe in March, his career coming to a sudden halt, possibly because he Twittered criticism of their training, and called them “rubbish” ……….. Potentially the most ‘fun’ signing is Gk Wayne Brown (34), who played for Chester, Bury, and – last season – SuperSport Utd in South Africa, where he apparently had “an error-ridden campaign” and left in April. Anyone know the Afrikaans for “Over ‘ere Son, on me ‘ead”?

They play Aldershot in the JPT 2nd Round (a bye getting them there), and lost in the Carling 3-1 at home to Cardiff. In the League they’re 7th, on 15 points from 9 games – 4 wins, 3 draws and two defeats; 12 scored, 9 conceded. At the Kassam Stadium, 3 draws – 1-1 against Aldershot and Bradford and 2-2 v Burton – and a 2-0 win over the Shrews; away, wins by 2-1 at Swindon, 1-0 over the Daggers and 2-0 over Barnet yesterday, with two defeats, 3-1 at Crewe and 1-0 at Rotherham. 13 goals in 10 games (including the Cup) – two goals four times, one goal 5 times and one blank; eight different goalscorers, with only Liam Davis (2) and midfielder Simon Heslop and striker James Constable (3 each) having more than one. Constable, despite his newly-signed three year contract, is apparently wanted by a BSP side, whose first offer was turned down…..……… Watch this space!

Last season we played out two goalless draws; make of that what you will …………… They’ll be without defender Jake Wright, sent off at Barnet yesterday; I think most of our red-carders are back now; lads? Can we all stay on the field, please?

The deadline for entries is, as ever, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3pm on Saturday 24th September. So; here’s one where the bragging rights are up for grabs! Big win? Thumping loss? 6-6 thriller? A goal for anyone? Certainly time for another Stanley win ........Your call ……………

Good luck to everyone ………… and thanks for playing!