• Wed. Feb 19th, 2025

U’s boss on how tactics will influence transfer window

Byoxfordnewspaper

Jan 15, 2025

GARY Rowett says Oxford United will recruit in the January transfer window with both his preferred formations in mind.

Since being appointed U’s head coach last month, Rowett has deployed a 4-2-3-1 set-up, but has switched to a back three within games, most noticeably in the draw at Preston North End.

So far in the January window, United have brought in FC Utrecht forward Ole Romeny for what is widely understood to be a club record fee, while Chelsea midfielder Alex Matos has been added on loan.

READ ALSO: U’s boss on what Chelsea loanee is set to add to midfield

Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford’s The Dub podcast: “I played 3-4-3 at Millwall for more or less four years. We had a first season with 4-2-3-1, and for six months of another season, we were as well.

“Previously to that, I’d predominantly played 4-2-3-1. That’s been my preferred system.

“I see Oxford predominantly as a 4-2-3-1 team. I think it allows us to try and create that positivity of rather than trying to be a team hanging on in this division, and trying to block games up, we have to try and take games on a little bit.

“But you saw against Preston, sometimes you have to accept where we are in that pecking order, and there are going to be some games where we don’t control the game and we don’t have that opportunity, therefore you have to be stable out of possession.

“From a recruitment perspective, both formations are in mind. My ideal is always to start a game knowing I can flip within the game without making substitutions to change to the other system, which is always a little bit of a challenge.

“Predominantly with recruitment really, the easiest way of looking at is you might have three or four players that aren’t playing regular football, and if there’s an opportunity to move those players, and bring three or four in at the top end of your squad, all of a sudden you’ve raised the level up massively.

“That’s my mindset always. Different players are available for those opportunities. We certainly want to be quite aggressive.

“There’s a risk to that because we have to change the settled squad, but I think the risk is probably worth it in the long-term.”

Rowett added: “Nobody wants to give away a good player in January, so predominately you’re trying to get players that maybe haven’t had the best of times at their clubs, or maybe aren’t match fit.

“You get an opportunity for a club like Oxford United. You want to try and build when you’re in a positive position.

“The ownership group are very keen to back us and strengthen. Some of those players will be long-term signings, some might be almost short-term stopgaps to try and get us to where we want to be this season.”