Manager's programme notes for Bournemouth game
Chris Wilder writes in tonight's programme:
It's a different start to the season for us all this year with the newly named Capital One Cup helping us kick off the campaign. The name may be new but the competition remains the same and is one which this club has a proud tradition in. There have been so many great League Cup nights over the years and hopefully this season will produce some more for Oxford United.
The last three years have seen us enjoy fantastic nights against Bristol Rovers and West Ham as well as pushing the eventual finalists, Cardiff City, all the way in this competition.
Tonight we welcome AFC Bournemouth, a side I expect to go well in League One this year. They are a good club with a very strong squad and will be a hard test for us tonight. Hopefully we can cause an upset. We will be looking to start on the front foot and there is no question of easing into the season. We want to win every game and will approach tonight in our usual thorough and professional matter, with our foot to the floor from the first whistle.
Pre-season has gone well and we are in good shape. We have had some decent results and excellent performances, but everything has been geared towards the competitive matches that start this week.
I have been very impressed by all of the new boys in the squad. Michael Raynes is an experienced defender, a good talker and organiser. Sean McGinty has bags of potential and a great pedigree at Manchester United. In midfield Lee Cox has looked very composed and Jake Forster-Caskey has an old head on young shoulders. Up front Sean Rigg has looked a handful for any defence and all five new players will play big parts for us.
They have all fitted in very well and there are strong partnerships and units appearing all over the park. Off the field everyone is very together, and you carry that on to the pitch with you. We are missing some experienced players in Michael Duberry, Peter Leven, Andy Whing and Liam Davis but they will have big parts to play later in the season.
To counter those absences we have Tom Craddock, Alfie Potter and Tony Capaldi fully fit after missing large chunks of last season. They are three important players and with Harry Worley not far away after a five month absence we definitely have the potential to kick off the season in fine style.
Night games are always special and we know there will be a good crowd and a great atmosphere here tonight. Just like the backroom team and players have been building up to the season, I know you will all have been looking forward to it just as much. We don't take your support for granted, we value it and know we have to earn the applause and ovations. Hopefully we can get out of the traps and start as we mean to go on tonight.
Chris