THIS month marks the end of an eventful decade at Oxford United – and we need you to pick your best XI from the past ten years.
Over the next couple of weeks we will be holding a series of votes on this website, with the winning side announced over the festive period.
A shortlist by position will be put forward, with the only restriction being they must have made a minimum of 40 appearances for the U’s in this decade.
Your decision should be based on what the players have done for the club since January 1, 2010.
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First up, we’re looking for a goalkeeper – and it’s a straight shoot-out.
Only two players fulfil the criteria and they are both among the top five appearance makers for United this decade, accounting for more than three-quarters of their matches.
Ryan Clarke, 240 apps
One of Chris Wilder’s most trusted lieutenants, Clarke was United’s goalkeeper as they fought their way out of non-league.
He was the supporters’ player of the year in the promotion season, where an own goal in the Conference play-off final was thankfully not costly.
Clarke, who had a reputation for saving penalties, managed the step up to League Two without any problem, missing just four league games in the next two seasons.
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He also played every game in the 2013/14 league campaign, before leaving to join Wilder at Northampton in 2015.
Simon Eastwood, 180 apps
He had been Clarke’s understudy in 2010/11, but left without making his debut.
Eastwood returned five years later via Halifax Town, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers, with the initial reaction from supporters a little lukewarm.
It did not take long for the new No 1 to win them around, though.
Despite winning promotion the previous season, the goalkeeping position had been a problem for Michael Appleton.
Eastwood solved it emphatically as he got the regular first-team football he had craved – starting every one of United’s 62 games in 2016/17.
Only a freak finger injury at the start of his third season broke the run of league starts, but United’s fortunes turned around once he recovered.
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