Player News The Great Annual Squad Number Watch Thread

[Steve Gilbert]

So for us sad posters who love seeing who wears what squad numbers here is what I can take so far from today’s pictures plus a few from last season who I assume will keep the same number. In brackets is the number they had in 24/15 if different.

1 Cumming
2 Long
3 Brown
4 Vaulks
5 Moore
6 Helik (47 last season)
7 Placheta
8 Brannagan
9 Harris
10 Phillips
11 Romeny
12
13 Eastwood
14
15 El Mizouni
16
17 Mills (44 last season)
18 Sibley (14 last season)
19
20 Bradshaw (50 last season)
21 Ingram
22
23 Dembele
24 Ter Avest
25
26 Currie
27
28 Ferdinan
29
30 Kioso
31 Knightbridge (33 last season)
32
33
34 Thorniley
35
36 Johnson
37
38 Goodwin (25 last season)
39 O’Donkor
40 Dale (17 last season)

 

[CaptainOx]

The players are back in pre-season, but what numbers are they wearing?
Will they change prior to the start of the season - who knows and who cares!

Spotted so far:

1 - Cumming (Same)
6 - Helik (47 last season)
13 - Eastwood (Same)
20 - Bradshaw (50 last season)
31 - Knightbridge (33 last season)
39 - O'Donkor (Same)

 

[Amarillo88]

Not sure I like 6 for Helik, feels wrong for a CB and would rather it went to a JM replacement

 

[Jster]

Lots of central defenders have had the number 6 at Oxford. I think all of Shotton, Gilchrist, Creighton and Jake Wright have worn it at one time or another.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Not sure I like 6 for Helik, feels wrong for a CB and would rather it went to a JM replacement

6 is always a centre back! Defensive midfielder is 4.

 

[Left Wing Cross]

6 is always a centre back! Defensive midfielder is 4.

Having a 6 in midfield is more of a mainland Europe thing.

For a look at the history, I recommend this:

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Not sure I like 6 for Helik, feels wrong for a CB and would rather it went to a JM replacement

Your clearly a modern football hipster who incorrectly thinks 6 is central midfielder!

5 and 6 are centre backs, 4 and 8 are central midfielders.

Over 40s back me up!

 

[Older Shotts]

Your clearly a modern football hipster who incorrectly thinks 6 is central midfielder!

5 and 6 are centre backs, 4 and 8 are central midfielders.

Over 40s back me up!

Yep, this.

Although Aldridge was 8.

 

[Jster]

Yep, from wikipedia:

"In England, in a now traditional 4–4–2 formation, the standard numbering is usually: 2 (right fullback), 5 and 6 (centre backs), 3 (left fullback); 4 (defensive midfielder), 7 (right midfielder), 8 (central/attacking midfielder), 11 (left midfielder); 10 (second/support striker), 9 (striker). This came about based on the traditional 2–3–5 system. Where the 2 fullbacks retained the numbers 2, 3. Then of the halves, 4 was kept as the central defensive midfielder, while 5 and 6 were moved backward to be in the central of defence. 7 and 11 stayed as the wide attacking players, whilst 8 dropped back a little from inside forward to a (sometimes attacking) midfield role, and 10 stayed as a second striker in support of a number 9. The 4 is generally the holding midfielder, as through the formation evolution it was often used for the sweeper or libero position. This position defended behind the central defenders, but attacked in front – feeding the midfield. It is generally not used today, and developed into the holding midfielder role."

Squad number (association football) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Oxford57]

No no no , one of the best defensive pairings were no 4 Dave roberts and no 5 Colin Clarke

 

[TobyDavis34]

Prior to squad numbers, and back when "football was football" (i.e. nobody knew a thing about tactics and we all had 4-4-2) it was:

1 - GK
2 - RB
3 - LB
4 - CM (usually the more defensive)
5 - CB
6 - CB
7 - RM
8 - CM (usually the more attacking)
9 - CF (usually the more target man esque)
10 - CF (usually the fast short poacher one)
11 - LW


Since squad numbers, it's all a bit more fluid. 12 is often a right back, 19 / 20 is often an attacking midfielder or striker, 4 is quite often a centre back now, 6 can be a centre mid, and famously, 10 is more likely to be an attacking midfielder than a striker (Maradona's fault)

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Prior to squad numbers, and back when "football was football" (i.e. nobody knew a thing about tactics and we all had 4-4-2) it was:

1 - GK
2 - RB
3 - LB
4 - CM (usually the more defensive)
5 - CB
6 - CB
7 - RM
8 - CM (usually the more attacking)
9 - CF (usually the more target man esque)
10 - CF (usually the fast short poacher one)
11 - LW


Since squad numbers, it's all a bit more fluid. 12 is often a right back, 19 / 20 is often an attacking midfielder or striker, 4 is quite often a centre back now, 6 can be a centre mid, and famously, 10 is more likely to be an attacking midfielder than a striker (Maradona's fault)

19 became fashionable for skillful, creative midfielders thanks to Gazza at Italia 90.

T. Goodrham | Oxford United Football Club https://share.google/eeoG3DBsLGQo85px5

 

[RyanioBirdio]

I remember when we played Notts County at home in August 2015, our starting lineup was a perfect 1-11 in terms of squad numbers.

Didn’t last too long as Hoban went off injured in the first half, but I’ll never forget the satisfaction I felt as the team was read out.

1 Slocombe
2 Baldock
3 Skarz
4 Roofe
5 Mullins
6 Wright
7 Rose
8 Sercombe
9 Hoban
10 Hylton
11 MacDonald

 

[Marked Ox]

I remember when we played Notts County at home in August 2015, our starting lineup was a perfect 1-11 in terms of squad numbers.

Didn’t last too long as Hoban went off injured in the first half, but I’ll never forget the satisfaction I felt as the team was read out.

1 Slocombe
2 Baldock
3 Skarz
4 Roofe
5 Mullins
6 Wright
7 Rose
8 Sercombe
9 Hoban
10 Hylton
11 MacDonald

Interesting choice of Roofe as a defensive midfielder.

 

[RgYellows]

I remember when we played Notts County at home in August 2015, our starting lineup was a perfect 1-11 in terms of squad numbers.

Didn’t last too long as Hoban went off injured in the first half, but I’ll never forget the satisfaction I felt as the team was read out.

1 Slocombe
2 Baldock
3 Skarz
4 Roofe
5 Mullins
6 Wright
7 Rose
8 Sercombe
9 Hoban
10 Hylton
11 MacDonald

Mad how strong that team looks without Kenny, Dunkley, Lundstram, Graham, O’Dowda or Maguire. Still didn’t get over the line until the last day.

I think the Oxford team of the last 18 months has finally supplanted 15-16 in my mind, but I’m genuinely not sure if they’re more talented. Madness.

 

[BarrySpang]

The players are back in pre-season, but what numbers are they wearing?
Will they change prior to the start of the season - who knows and who cares!

Spotted so far:

1 - Cumming (Same)
6 - Helik (47 last season)
13 - Eastwood (Same)
20 - Bradshaw (50 last season)
31 - Knightbridge (33 last season)
39 - O'Donkor (Same)

2 - Long
7 - Placheta
17 - Mills
26 - Currie
28 - Marselino
36 - Johnson

 

[oldabingdonian]

2 - Long
7 - Placheta
17 - Mills
26 - Currie
28 - Marselino
36 - Johnson

As expected, not good news for Owen Dale!

 

[Jster]

Pretty sure I can make out 5 on Moore's top too (unsurprisingly).

 

[m]

Mad how strong that team looks without Kenny, Dunkley, Lundstram, Graham, O’Dowda or Maguire. Still didn’t get over the line until the last day.

I think the Oxford team of the last 18 months has finally supplanted 15-16 in my mind, but I’m genuinely not sure if they’re more talented. Madness.

It sometimes makes me question how good a coach Appleton actually was.

I mean, he deserves the plaudits for building that team, but did he have them playing to their collective ceiling?

 

[Twiggy85]

It sometimes makes me question how good a coach Appleton actually was.

I mean, he deserves the plaudits for building that team, but did he have them playing to their collective ceiling?

I have had that same thought - when you look back and the players we had, how did it go to the last day. The quality in that team was insane - granted the weak point of keeper did cost us on numerous occasions.

 

[Marked Ox]

Already a thread running.

 

[BarrySpang]

23 - Dembele

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Already a thread running.

I did have a look but couldn’t see anything?

 

[Evan9]

Owen Dale has been moved to number 40.

 

[Jster]

Mark Harris still 9 as per his instagram story.

 

[Foley]

It sometimes makes me question how good a coach Appleton actually was.

I mean, he deserves the plaudits for building that team, but did he have them playing to their collective ceiling?

MAPP suggested that we were the best team in the Division.
I am sure that we played the best football, but CW did out coach MAPP to finish ahead of us by a distance

 

[Steve Gilbert]

MAPP suggested that we were the best team in the Division.
I am sure that we played the best football, but CW did out coach MAPP to finish ahead of us by a distance

He trolled Northampton with that comment so much that they still mention it to this day when ever Oxford are mentioned!

MApp was correct, we were the best footballing team in that division that season.

 

[battman]

Prior to squad numbers, and back when "football was football" (i.e. nobody knew a thing about tactics and we all had 4-4-2) it was:

1 - GK
2 - RB
3 - LB
4 - CM (usually the more defensive)
5 - CB
6 - CB
7 - RM
8 - CM (usually the more attacking)
9 - CF (usually the more target man esque)
10 - CF (usually the fast short poacher one)
11 - LW


Since squad numbers, it's all a bit more fluid. 12 is often a right back, 19 / 20 is often an attacking midfielder or striker, 4 is quite often a centre back now, 6 can be a centre mid, and famously, 10 is more likely to be an attacking midfielder than a striker (Maradona's fault)

Personally, I like 4 being a CB and 6 being a DM, but I can appreciate the heritage of it being the other way around

 

[Steve Gilbert]

I have always seen 4 as CDM, Mickey Lewis, Martin Gray, Will Vaulks, Derek Townsley.

 

[BarrySpang]

11 - Ole Romeny
15 - Idris El Mizouni