With the Kassam calling on Saturday, we've grabbed the nearest Oxford fan that we could, and we've given him the full interrogation treatment on his team and how they're doing.

1) Who are you, and how long have you been supporting Oxford?

My name is Scott Walkinshaw, I've been write Oxblogger; an Oxford United blog which has been going since 2006 when we were relegated to the Conference. I thought that was the pits (I was wrong, it got worse), so it seemed a good time to start something new. My first Oxford game was in 1975, although I was only 3 at the time. I've been a regular since about 1980 and a a season ticket holder since about 1993.

2) What makes supporting Oxford different from any other team in the league?

Well, we're the only club in the country to have won a major domestic trophy, the Milk Cup in 1986, and been knocked out of the FA Trophy by Tonbridge Angels in a single lifetime. We've seen both ends of the game; which teaches you a lot about life... the really really bad things about life. That said, when good things have happened to us, we've learned to enjoy them.

3) It's been a good start to the season. Is this a sign of things to come or should we not read too much into it?

The next month will tell us a lot. Last year we won the first three games and then lost the next six so we're not complacent. I don't think anyone expected to beat Portsmouth 4-1 at Fratton Park on the first day of the season, other results have gone largely as we might have predicted. We've got a few teams with promotion ambitions coming up in the next few weeks, starting with you lot, that'll tell us a lot more, I think.

4) Wilder's been your boss for nearly five years now. Is he still the right man for the job?

He is at the moment, going back to the end of last season we're now 7 games unbeaten, but he's under pressure. There's a feeling that we've stalled a bit since we got back into the Football League and it was a bit of a surprise that he had his contract renewed at the end of last season. I'm not sure he'll survive if progress hasn't been made by the end of this season, which means the play-offs or higher. Personally, I'm still a fan, he dragged us out of the Conference and I'd really like to seem him take us forward.

5) In this time where the average length of time for a manager is a season and a half, has it been beneficial for Oxford to have one man in charge for so long?

Well, we tried changing our manager every year or so for about a decade and it took us from the middle of the Championship to the foot of the Conference. So, that didn't work so well. Also, the club is a big beast to turn around - there was a big change of attitude needed - we needed the stability to turf players out, bring new ones in and then start moving forward. The challenge, I think, is that the longer your manager is in place, the trickier it is to know when to move on. You've got to know your jumping off point.

6) Oxford fans have recently applied to make the Kassam Stadium a community asset. What was the thinking behind this?

We don't own the ground, although it's an ambition to do so one day. Theoretically it can be sold from under our feet. This might leave us homeless, or more likely at the mercy of a new landlord; probably a rugby team (London Welsh play at the Kassam and have expressed an interest in buying the stadium one day). But the club is too important to many people to be at the simple mercies of market forces. Our supporters trust - OxVox applied for it so that we could have some control over our own destiny, now, if a bid to buy the ground comes in, we have 6 months grace to match the bid.

7) Given the Priory Pub has closed down, where's the best place for a drink before the game these days?

Now the Priory has gone, you're really restricted to the Holiday Inn at the Kassam, the concourse in the North Stand or one of the restaurants in the Ozone - the leisure park opposite the stadium. I'm afraid you won't get the traditional pre-match drinking atmosphere anywhere at the Kassam - I'd suggest staying in the city centre or going out to one of the local villages for a proper pub, but the Indian buffet at the Aziz restaurant comes highly recommended.

8) Who will be the biggest threats to us on Saturday?

Dean Smalley has started the season on fire, this is his third season with us but the first two years have been hampered by injury and poor form. He's only shown glimpses of what he's capable of, but he's looking much sharper this year and is the classic 'handful' of a striker.

9) Any thoughts on Rochdale?

Well, it's not much of a local derby is it? I've always thought of myself as a 'February' kind of fan, I like cold dank Saturday's, I love it when teams bring 25 away fans who sing throughout and treat it as if they were at the Nou Camp. Games when only the foolhardy are still interested. Rochdale, to us, are a kind of February team; I mean you wouldn't watch Oxford v Rochdale for the glamour and the spectacle would you? It's a fixture for proper football fans. The real aficionados of misery. And I meant that with genuine affection.

10) Predictions for the game and the season?

We're unbeaten in 7, four this season and we're top of the league. From our perspective we're reaching the edges of credibility in terms of keeping that run going. I'll go with a narrow Oxford win, but my head and my heart are not in full agreement on that.

Thanks to Scott for his time in answering our questions. You can visit his Oxblogger site by clicking here

Photo: Action Images

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