Wednesday 29th December 2004
Great Article in the telegraph and online today, click this link to see it.
Ramon Diaz tasted defeat for the first time in England yesterday as the U's went down 2-0 at Home for the last game of the Year 2004, Bottom of the league Kidderminster Harrier came to the Kassam Stadium with a lot more get up and go than the United team and had they been a little more potent in front of the goal might have won by more, Oxford had a number of chances in the first half to get on the score sheet but they were just shooting under pressure most of the time and the shots were nothing to worry Danby in the Kiddy goal, To go in 1-0 down at the break took the stuffing out of the boys and that showed when the U's fans turned on them midway through the 2nd half, they missed Tommy Mooney who was suspended and he watched the game from the Press area with Malcolm Crosby and a host of old Scum Players, Paul Bodin, Nicky Hammond and Alan McDonald,  a huge amount of cars were leaving the car park with 20 minutes to go and the 5,947 fans in the ground was down by a huge amount by the time the final whistle went, with only 292 from Kidderminster it was a good turn out by the U's fans for the last game of the year, But It was a very bad way to end the year on the pitch and  after the game Ramon Diaz apologised to the fans, saying" Our display was not good enough-All it has shown me is that we need new players and sooner rather than later, we struggle to play 2 games within 48 hours of each other", United had the new players training out on the pitch after the game and there is a possibility that there will be 6! coming in, Reportedly to be a French goal keeper and at least 1 Defender, 1 Midfielder and 1 striker, there is no reports of what the other 2 players positions are, one of the players is believed to be Ramon Diaz's son Emilano.

Chairman and Manager watch in frustration During the game yesterday


Monday 27th December 2004

To see Some Pictures from Rushden yesterday-Click this link
Oxford took just the point from lowly Rivals Rushden yesterday at Nene Park, but they should really have come away with all 3, Going 1-0 up after good work from Jamie Brooks down the left putting a great cross in to Chris Hackett almost on the edge of the 6 yard box to slot past the keeper, the younger generation of the team working well together, with Craig Davies lively up front and Bradie Clarke making some fine saves in goal it looked like the boys were going to win us the match alone, but after going 1 up the U's could not hang on to the lead and Clarke was beaten at his near post, The Nene Park Tannoy announcer getting their own goal scorer wrong was our only consolation in that situation, but the U's came back just before the break to go in at Halftime 2-1, Bradbury who had worked well in the middle was rewarded for his efforts, his shot from just inside of the area went through the packed area and beat the keeper to the delight of the 1490 Oxford fans packed in like sardines behind the goal, So Oxford won the 1st half, Rushden won the 2nd half though, they equalised and then went into the lead, again the goals seemed soft and many will say that the keeper should have taken them, but you can't really blame young Bradie, he still had an exceptional game, but not as good as he previous 2, in the end it was the hard working Davies that earned the U's a point, evading 2 challenges to clip the ball past the young Rushden keeper to send the U's fans berserk behind the goal yet again!, not long after that Tommy Mooney was sent off for getting his 2nd yellow, the first was ludicrous after being stitched up by the very selfish SAMBROOK, He has to be the most unsporting player I have seen this season, He was off the field after getting injured and after the referee allowed play to continue dragged himself back on to the pitch just over the line so that the referee had to stop play, this was right in front of the U's fans and they were baying for his blood, Rushden's physio was already near the goal approaching him when he made his disgraceful move, his actions should have been looked at in the same way as other players provoke crowd trouble, because it's actions like his that ruin great games, this was one, Sambrook was booed when he re-entered the field and then substituted to the delight of the U's fans, but Rushden nearly had the last laugh as they scored what looked like the winner to them, but the Assistant by the scoreboard corner had his flag up for off side, then Oxford had the chance to win the game up the other end but bad finishing kept the scores level, at least the U's continued their run of 3 games without defeat  and kept the Ramon Diaz camp happy, them and the River plate travellers that had come all the way from Argentina to watch this match, Fair play to them and we thank you for your support.

In McDonalds on the way home between Rushden and Northampton we met a load of Scum fans who as Scum fans go looked evil on first impressions, but came over and sat near the 4 of us and proceeded to chat like they had known us all our lives, they certainly took us by surprise and left the other 3 U's fans with me totally shocked at their approach to us, talking openly about Oxford and Sw****n,  as we sat there finishing our food they said farewell and as they walked out of the door they picked up the huge Ronald McDonald in the lobby and carried it through the doors into the car park where they proceeded to give him a severe beating as we sat there laughing our heads off.
 So after the result at Rushden and Diamonds and then the hilarious confrontation's in McKee D we made the short journey home. 
Another great day in the Ramon Diaz travelling Army, now for 2 games on the bounce at home after 2 away.

Saturday 25th December 2004
Merry Christmas to you all, Hope you all have a great day today and follow it up with an even greater day tomorrow after Oxford have won at Rushden and Diamonds, we will beat the both of them.

So Julian Alsop has travelled again, leaving Northampton after his short spell since leaving Oxford, 2 months ago, He has joined up with Jefferson Louis at Forest Green Rovers, so He is closer to home now.

Alsop in Action Against Huddersfield last season

Friday 24th December 2004
Oxford look like signing a new Goalkeeper in the near future, He is French and so is the other player that has been training with the club all week with him, Bruno Rodriguez is a top player in France, but the club think he is out of their price range, which is a shame as he would have put bums on seats.

Thursday 23rd December 2004
Good luck to Jim Smith who has been appointed as Harry Redknapp's number 2 at Southampton, Smith who was top of the fans wanted list for the managers job here joins up to make the team who were at Pompey.
But Gordon Strachan has turned down the chance to do the same and join pompey, saying the time isn't right.

Sunday 19th December 2004
Friday night's anywhere are not ideal for a 1st away game in charge of Oxford United, but for the Argentine management this was the baptism of fire, or should I say frozenness, before the match they sat in the dugout wondering what they were doing there, with David Oldfield doing the jumping up and down they must have been frozen to the spot at half time, but whatever they said to the players at half time when they prized their lips apart did the trick as the boys produced one of their best 2nd half performances of the season-barring Chester, Seems like an age to the next game now on Boxing day at local Rivals Rushden and Diamonds, just hope that all the 200 U's fans that went to Grimsby on Friday tell the other 1000 that follow them to Rushden a week today just what they missed, the spirited fight back from the Oxford team and the magnificent support from the fans made it a very happy Christmas for everyone connected with the club, made our journey back all the better, how many times have we said that two games on a trot?.......Next Sunday we will.

Translator (wearing Neil Sullivan's coat)-Horacio Rodriguez and Paulo on the bench.

The Magnificent 200 at Grim Grimsby

Saturday 18th December 2004
Oxford got a great draw at Grrrrrimsby last night, yes it was very cold, I was told that it was -3 with a wind chill factor of -9, it felt like that at pitch level, at half time I wondered whether or not to leave the warmth of the press room but its a good job I did, with Mooney Scoring for the U's to cancel out Grimsby who scored in the 1st half after a slip up in defence, but the players showed great bouncebackability to take home a point for Christmas and to send the 200 travelling fans from Oxford home happy, they were superb and after the game David Oldfield and Matt Robinson were full of praise for them, to come all this way on a Friday night with Christmas looming they got behind the boys all night and they were a credit to the club.

Mooney shoots

Mooney is mobbed

This Pratt was reportedly one of three to streak
but the others chickened out, I thought I was cold!!!!.

Friday 17th December 2004
Just off to Grimsby, Billy Beechers has been added to the squad that is travelling today, Jon Ashton is still suspended and Mark E'beyer is out with a stomach injury, hope the roller coaster Ramon Diaz is on will continue to gain momentum as we stride up the table starting with a win tonight.

Wednesday 15th December 2004
Oxford prepare for the long trip to Grimsby on Friday for a match that will bring Ramon  Diaz and his team from Argentina right back down to earth after the great win over Cambridge in their first game at the club, A Friday night match is hardly the first away game you would want in charge, but in cold Grrrrimsby is a Cruel baptism on their travels.
Grimsby have missed out on signing Gary Birch from Walsall so might be lacking power up front against the U's on Friday.
More team news tomorrow.

Yesterday's national press had stories of the League managers association not happy about Oxford appointing Ramon Diaz and his team, they wanted Oxford to appoint Chris Turner or Steve McMahon,  Firoz Kassam is the chairman of Oxford United, he can appoint who he likes as manager and he will, he has and there is anything any of them can do about it, as for appointing a former scum manager, forget it, the crowds are low enough in league two without him making them lower.

Monday 13th December 2004
After the match on Saturday we managed to round up 5 of the new team at the Kassam Stadium for a group photo, 2 were missing as they were still with the players, but these were happy to pose for the picture.

Ramon Diaz is the only foreign Manager in the football league now after the Cambridge manager got the sack after their defeat at Oxford, Herve Renard who was at the Swansea game on Wednesday watching the U's had his translator with him that night and speaks little if any English, that was the Main reason that he didn't get any motivation out of his players, Things will be different at the Kassam Stadium though as we have coaches that speak English that can get there views over to the players, unlike the French speaking management at Cambridge, Ramon has plenty around him to translate and even try and teach him the basics of English, So within time He will be able to say more than OK and OK...hehehe.

Ramon Diaz

Thought for the day:-after Oxford's Christmas was nearly spoilt by Easter on Saturday, we just hope that there won't be anyone called Christmas to spoil our Easter when it comes round next year.
 

Sunday 12th December 2004
So what a week it has been for the City of Oxford, 1st Oxford beat Cambridge in the Egg chasing at Twickers, then Oxford United welcome their New Management Team  from Argentina and 2 days later we beat Cambridge at Football too, I bet yesterday's game at the Kassam Stadium was an education for them all, Many changes to the starting line up, Noticeably Jamie Brooks making his first start for over 2 and a half years, what a sight to behold and he didn't disappoint either, Jamie is Back...
Craig Davies started up front with Tommy Mooney and they both got on the score sheet, Bradie Clarke replaced Chris Tardif in goal and made a fine display between the sticks, as debuts go they were all awesome, Chris Hackett frightened Cambridge down the wings and both goals were produced by him, So this win proved just how good our youth policy is and there is plenty more to come through aswell.
1st half display was by far the best we have seen this season, 2nd half display was very rugged, that seemed to appear when we took off the lively Davies, then again when Mooney went off, Oxford should have kept a clean sheet, but a mistake at the other end of the field resulted in Cambridge getting a goal back, by then though the game should have been well and truly over.
Before the game I somehow managed to get the honour of Showing Ramon Diaz and his Friend to the Directors box level, from the tunnel area as they looked totally lost, Obviously I welcomed him to the club IN SPANISH and asked him for a Fotographi, he Smiled and said Very good!, So like a cat that got the cream it was a quick pose before kick off.
After the game I met some more of his associates when they done the press conference.....IN ITALIAN just to fool us all.

Then it was off to Bowlplex for the Annual Oxford United Website boys outing, Master Bowler Daz, Chris Williams and Julian Hitchman, Ok Chris beat us at Crazy golf, even beat me at air hockey, but he met his match at Bowling, though the 2nd game I just just went easy on them:-)
Though I gave them a 60!!!! Point head start the scores ended as below:-
Daz   190
Jules 124
Chris 112
2nd game Jules won
89
139
89
Couldn't give them a whipping in both game..

More Pictures later

Friday 10th December 2004
This website is changing a few items after Oxford appointed its Argentinean manager and coaches on Thursday, unio' nosotros nos paramos(United We Stand) will try and be a Spanish friendly website to try and help Oxford fans who know absolutely no Spanish-just in case they bump in to the new boss.
United we stand would like to say bienvenido a Ramon Diaz -(Welcome to Ramon Diaz).

Thursday 9th December 2004
Oxford United today revealed who was to be their new manager, he is Argentine Ramon Diaz and has brought with him a completely new back room staff line-up, though Darren Patterson will work alongside him and Graham Rix is still expected to be director of football, what happens to the other staff like the physio and Dr is in the hands of the chairman, they are likely to be kept on, Diaz who managed River Plate and Monaco will be bringing in his own Dr and physio along with him, he also turned down QPR a while ago and is friend of a friend of Firoz Kassam's, along with Diaz come 2 translators as Ramon does not speak much if any English, but his appointment has shock not just English football but the footballing world.

On the field there was more misery last night as Oxford went down 1-0 to Swansea at the Kassam stadium, Jon Ashton was show the red card after receiving his 2nd yellow, the referee didn't realise that he had already booked Ashton or he would probably not have booked him, he waved the yellow at him and walked off, then turned to show him the red(below).
The cruel twist happened 1 minute later, from the free kick awarded Swansea scored as Oxford were still coming to terms with losing a man, that was on 61 minutes, though Oxford had chances to pull back, but with bad finishing and a few great save from the keeper, especially from a Jamie Brooks shot that looked destined for the goal, Brooksy received a huge ovation again when he came on midway through the 2nd period, but none of the front men could break them down.

Joey Beauchamp enters the Directors Box

Lee Bradbury approaches Ex U's Player Sam Ricketts

Ricketts and Bradbury tussle for the ball

Jon Ashton is shown the red card

Myself, Timmy Mallett and Peter (Steward)

Wednesday 8th December 2004
Speculation has been rife today about who will be the New Oxford United Manager, The Oxford Mail have said that Chris Turner will be manager with Colin West as his Number 2, Rumours from the south of the country, state that Jim Smith had turned down Harry Redknapp at St Mary's to take over at Oxford, then the other rumour was that Mickey Adams was driven to a meeting with Firoz Kassam and told his taxi driver that he thought he had got the job.
Who ever it is we need to know pretty soon, If Darren Patterson isn't getting the job he will be told tonight after the game when he has a meeting with the chairman.
On the field tonight for the visit of Swansea it should be the same as for the Chester game, unless those players that missed the training match haven't passed their fitness tests.

Monday 6th December 2004
Well Oxford can start to think about the league again this week after having a good rest whilst being out of the FA Cup, Rochdale who they lost to beat Stevenage with the help of Andy Woodman getting sent off for a professional foul late on, eventually finishing 2-0, Dale now have an away trip to Charlton in the 3rd round.
I went to Hereford vs Boston on Saturday at Edgar Street and was thoroughly entertained by that match, well worth the £10 entrance fee, still the same old run down ground, but a very good family atmosphere in the home end behind the goal with the scoreboard in it, we were made welcome wearing our Oxford United coats, though the Boston fans looked twice at us..( Me and Graham-Oxford YID).
Whilst we were at Hereford we were getting updates from all over the country from U's fans far and wide at other grounds, Amanda, Gab and John at Great Wakering Rovers!, Laurence at Bideford!, Womble at Villa, Mr Williams at Thame!!!, Michelle and friend plus Daniel at Banbury, the list goes on....
all nutcases and all of us just mad for a game of football, though some madder than others I'm afraid...lol.

The Oxford team did manage to get one game in the weekend, on Friday they played an in house match between 2 Oxford XI's, Oxford won, the other lost 6-0.......

Just managed to get in a request for what Christmas present to buy Peter Rhodes Brown on Saturday on the Radio Oxford morning show, texting in that he should be bought a laughing box, especially after that evening at Rochdale last month when he just could not stop....Well done Rosie, you always put a smile on our faces even after we have lost, top man.


Thursday 2nd December 2004
Apologies about this site, my server had problems the weekend and it seems that everything apart from this page has got back dated to February, I will try to sort out the links as soon as possible.

Oxford are still no nearer to installing a new manager, Darren Patterson looks like getting the nod to continue as Caretaker and to prove to the Chairman that he deserves the job full time, he deserves the chance and is respected by all at the club, though one duo that I would like to see is Jim Magilton  working as Patterson's number 2 as Player coach, not Magilton as manager as last quoted, Magilton back would get bums on seats for sure and he would love to come back.