OXFORD United hit the midway point of the Sky Bet League One season with their late Boxing Day win at home to Cambridge United.
Des Buckingham’s side sit fifth in the table, two points short of the automatic promotion places.
Here, we take a look at how the squad has performed so far in our mid-season player ratings.
GOALKEEPERS
James Beadle has proven to be a brilliant signing, arriving on loan from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer.
The 19-year-old has excelled between the posts, keeping nine clean sheets in 26 games across all competitions.
His distribution has also been instrumental for the way the U’s play, with his range of passing allowing him to begin attacks from deep.
Simon Eastwood, in his role as back-up keeper, has been a steady influence both on and off the pitch, this demonstrated by the rewarding of a new contract in August.
Ed McGinty has yet to feature this season, and a loan move in January is a likely option for the 24-year-old.
Beadle: 8.5/10
Eastwood: 5.5/10
McGinty: N/A
DEFENDERS
Sam Long and Fin Stevens have enjoyed a healthy battle for the slot on the right-hand side of the defence, with the former also spending time in the centre, where he arguably played some of his better football this season.
Long scored an important late goal in the 2-1 win at home to Bristol Rovers in October, while Stevens opened the scoring in the 3-0 win against Shrewsbury Town in the previous game to the Pirates clash.
Elliott Moore has been the standout defender for the U’s though, demonstrating his worth to the team when he was suspended for the 2-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town last month.
The skipper has been a brilliant leader for the club, while his height means he is rarely beaten in the air, and he possesses the know-how to make important blocks and interceptions.
Stephan Negru and Jordan Thorniley have both had to watch from the bench for lengthy periods this campaign, such is the strength in depth that United have at centre half alongside Moore.
Negru initially came into the side when Thorniley was injured in the early stages of the season, and his displays in August were sensational. Since then, the youngster has had a more withdrawn role in the team.
Thorniley’s ankle injury meant he had to fight to get back into the side, however the form of Ciaron Brown at centre back saw the former Blackpool defender watch on from the sideline, before briefly returning to the heart of the defence when Greg Leigh got injured while on international duty.
Brown and Leigh have been the two players to feature most heavily on the left-hand side of the United defence.
When available, Leigh has been the first choice, with Brown preferred at centre half, and the Jamaica international hit the ground running in style.
Three goals in three league games, plus a red card, saw a busy first full month after arriving from Ipswich Town – and his form didn’t go unnoticed, as he was rewarded with the League One player of the month award for September.
Brown meanwhile has been a solid and reliable presence for the U’s, particularly when he’s played at the heart of the defence, while chipping in with an impressive four goals at the other end of the pitch.
Joe Bennett was signed on a short-term contract at the end of November, to negate the loss of Leigh to injury. The experienced defender has been an astute addition to the squad, making the left back slot his own in recent weeks.
Long: 6.5/10
Stevens: 7/10
Moore: 8/10
Negru: 6.5/10
Thorniley: 6/10
Brown: 8/10
Leigh: 7.5/10
Bennett: 6.5/10
MIDFIELDERS
It was virtually impossible to displace Cameron Brannagan and Marcus McGuane at the base of the U’s midfield, such has been their form this season.
Brannagan has been excellent as per usual, chipping in with five goals as he continues to be United’s all-action star.
Whether it be set piece duties, his wide passing range, or energy in the middle of the park, there is, quite simply, no replacement for Brannagan in the U’s midfield.
Alongside him, McGuane has exhibited some of his best football for the club this season, in particular during the first few months of the campaign, when he was taking games by the scruff of the neck and combining both his physical qualities and immense technical skills.
Summer signing Josh McEachran was the closest player to breaking the Brannagan-McGuane pivot, having started the first two league games and then the three matches when Brannagan was out due to sickness towards the end of October.
The Chelsea academy graduate hasn’t put a foot wrong and is often a calming influence in midfield, although arguably his displays haven’t quite matched the impressive ones put in during pre-season, when he shone for United.
Oisin Smyth has struggled to break into the starting line-up, making just nine appearances so far this season, although he demonstrated his versatility by playing at right back in the EFL Trophy win at Forest Green Rovers.
James Henry has shown flashes of the quality he possesses having put months of fitness issues behind him and returning to the matchday squad on a regular basis earlier this month.
Handed a short-term contract in October, it’s been tough for Alex Gorrin to get the run of games he needs to return to full sharpness. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with his deal when it expires next month.
Brannagan: 8/10
McGuane: 7.5/10
McEachran: 6.5/10
Smyth: 5.5/10
Henry: 5.5/10
Gorrin: 5/10
WINGERS
Only Tyler Goodrham and Stan Mills have been available, and played, for United most of the season, out of the club’s five wingers.
Goodrham has been in and out of the starting line-up, however has shown his brilliance in a number of games, not least with his match-winning brace against Charlton Athletic.
Everton loanee Mills has enjoyed regular starts on the right-hand side, showing consistency in his displays, especially for someone in their first loan spell away from their parent club.
Josh Murphy has arguably been the club’s brightest spark since Buckingham became head coach, putting behind him a topsy-turvy spell with the U’s up to this point, by giving full backs nightmares with his raw pace. More end product in terms of goals and assists is still required, but it’s been a huge upturn for the 28-year-old.
Marcus Browne and Kyle Edwards began the season on fire, but quite simply, have missed far too much football due to hamstring injuries, playing five and six games respectively.
The duo will be warmly welcomed back in the new year, hopefully with the bit between their teeth after their time on the sidelines.
Goodrham: 7.5/10
Mills: 7.5/10
Murphy: 7/10
Browne: 5.5/10
Edwards: 6/10
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
Billy Bodin and Ruben Rodrigues have been among United’s most consistent performers, that highlighted by their goal output.
It’s been another season for Bodin where he has covered out wide, in a central area, and even up front. Seven goals in all competitions is a healthy return at this stage of the campaign.
Summer signing Rodrigues needed a little bit of time to adjust having made the jump from Vanarama National League, but once that adjustment was made, he has been one of the team’s classiest operators. He needs to keep an eye on his discipline, but when on song, he’s a special talent.
Max Woltman was signed from Liverpool as a development project, and while injury has held him back a bit, he will surely be frustrated at his lack of game time, having played just twice.
Bodin: 7.5/10
Rodrigues: 8/10
Woltman: 4/10
STRIKERS
Mark Harris has been the main man for the U’s up front, despite an iffy goal return. He started the season brilliantly, with three goals in four games, but has scored just three times since then, both in the EFL Trophy.
His work rate leading the line cannot be questioned, while his hold-up play and interlinking with teammates has vastly improved, however chances are just not falling his way in front of goal.
His primary back-up has been Gatlin O’Donkor, who also started the campaign well, when used as an impact player to see out a game using his ability to hold the ball and win set pieces. When it’s the opposite and he’s been used to try and change a game, the youngster has often struggled.
Leeds United loanee Sonny Perkins will surely be heading back to Elland Road next month after what has been a disastrous loan spell. The 19-year-old has played just five minutes of League One football, and has been overlooked by two head coaches since arriving in the summer.
Harris: 6.5/10
O’Donkor: 5.5/10
Perkins: 4/10
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