Oxford United kick off their Sky Bet League 1 campaign with a trip to Lincoln City on Saturday.
“I used to love the first game as a kid, going along with my dad, keeping my season ticket pristine, getting that first programme, seeing the new kit and new players” Karl Robinson told iFollow today. “We can’t have that at the moment for the fans but I am so excited to be playing a league game again. I am a football fan and can’t wait for kick off on Saturday.
“We are the away side and would love our fans to be there to give us that extra 10% or whatever, but that’s irrelevant because it’s not going to happen. There won’t be anyone there so we have to make sure our approach is right, we are fully prepared and when the wheels start to roll on the team bus on Friday we are completely ready for that first away game.
“Michael has changed Lincoln’s style and some of the stuff they have played in pre-season has been brilliant. We have had a really good pre-season ourselves. Our results have been good in some very competitiive games against so many different types of teams so we are looking forward to testing ourslves in the league again. Joel Cooper will be involved for the first time, Sean Clare is fine after a slight knock on Tuesday so we are ready.
“I have had twelve pre-seasons now and been excited in these interviews before the first game and I have also sat here doing them while quite worried about the opening few fixtures. Then five or six games down the road I’ve been surprised by the league position either way! Right now everyone’s dreams are alive and there is so much hope and optimism at every club. Every club thinks they are about to embark on their dream season and nobody truly knows what the outcome will be.
“Whatever happens, you are going to build a new season of memories and moments and you just don’t know what those will be. Right now, in the current situation we can’t plan too far ahead but there are some fantastic moments ahead of us. Who knew that the game at Shrewsbury away would create such moments. Let’s see if we can create a few more moments like that this season.”
See the full interview in iFollow right now where we also have the thoughts of Josh Ruffels and Derick Osei Yaw plus Simon Eastwood and Jack Stevens join the Preview Show.