Monday 14 December 2009

Beware of the Cup - A short article published in the Oxford Mail (8/12/2009) for a debate on whether a cup run would be a distraction for OUFC.

Ask anybody connected with Oxford United what the ultimate aim of this season is and they will tell you that we must win promotion to the Football League. Whilst prolonged runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy are nice for everybody involved with the club, we must not let success in these competitions distract us from what matters most, the continuation of our outstanding league form. Understandably, Kelvin and Chris will be delighted with the financial rewards provided by the FA Cup run. However, a return to the League would also boost the club’s income substantially and must be the priority. Rather than being the face of doom and gloom, I prefer to issue a word of warning about the consequences of letting our guard down. The potential trip to Sunderland is a great reward for fans, players and staff but a loss of focus on the league over the Christmas period would far outweigh the benefits of a nice day out in the North East. We must also manage our FA Trophy campaign in a manner that utilises the depth of our squad and prevents fatigue and injuries to key players. A cup campaign should not be frowned upon but must be managed in the correct manner. I have full faith that Chris Wilder is the man to manage the situation correctly.

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