nzlatic

We have far more deep rooted problems than just this of course, but it’s a shame Green got injured a few weeks ago. He’s probably the only player on the books who attacks with pace. 

Wondering where it all went wrong with our play off bid then see Hogan, Sheron, McGahey and Sutton trying to pass it between them and set up an attack. 

Was Norwood just booed on?

We just looked desperate to get to half time. Retreated until the inevitable. 

Saved by the flag. How was there no pressure on that cross?

1 minute ago, oafc1955 said:

Kitching injured or dropped?

He went off injured on Saturday so I presume not recovered enough. Looked like he jarred his knee or something like that. 

What a cracking finish. Get in!

Good example of our issues a bit before when Dallas broke away, commentators mentioned the lack of Oldham players joining the break. 

Yet again ref lets a wild foul go. He’ll have the card out the first time any of ours do something similar. 

8 minutes ago, whittles left foot said:

Well if they don't get anything tonight then Sat is a waste of time. Utterly bizarre selection that you are trying to defend.

7 minutes ago, kowenicki said:

in normal circumstances… yes, but it’s must win ir the next match is irrelevant. 

We haven’t won in 9. Be interested to hear who should be playing to make us more likely to win. 

We play again 38 hours after the final whistle. I’m not surprised to see a bit of a shuffle. 

59 minutes ago, League one forever said:

Yeah, I agree it would help in an ideal world. As I think they’re genuine questions to he asked and understood. It would soften the blow slightly if people at the club took accountability and explained the mistakes made, and what was in place to rectify it. 
 

Having said that, I can understand why they don’t do it - because it just turns into an opportunity for fans to vent. Be a bit like turkeys voting for Christmas. 

I'm not talking about fans forums, I don't think they really do anyone any favours. Apart from the cricket club one which was gold.

The club has a captive online audience and a summer with no football being played. A comms expert would work out a way to use that to start building some sort of relationship between managers/players and fans. Speculation on my part though this, I am not a comms expert, or even a comms anything. But I think there's an opportunity to do something that can have a positive effect and build up some momentum/excitement ahead of next season.

They've had no issue increasing the number of champions league games they play over the last few years. Funny that.

42 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

 

I think the toxicity of our fanbase in the desperation for success is the reason why we've probably had the worst home record of any football league team over the past 30 years myself. Even when we had good teams.

I agree. It often gets said that we're no different than other clubs in this regard but I don't believe that. We have had a far worse time of it than pretty much any other club over the last 30 years (unless you want to count ones going bust).

So that makes it understandable that there's a more toxic element among our fans than others. What I think the club needs to do is understand that and look at ways it can try to help things. It's too passive just to say it'll be fine once results pick up. What could the club be doing over the summer to try and improve the relationship between club, players, management and fans for example?

This isn't a 'fans fault' post. It's trying to acknowledge what we've been through as a fan base and understand the anger on the terraces over things not being better than they are yet. And everyone (eg club/fans/oasf) trying to proactively do something about it rather than just wait for us to win.

52 minutes ago, Shrimperama said:

It seems that Gateshead made 8 changes to their previous game and had no sub goalkeeper so had to play a defender for the last 45 mins.

 

Nice to see they are keeping up the integrity of the league!!

 

Still hoping your boys get the win tonight 

Sounds like despite all the changes, the red card and not having a keeper in goal for the 2nd half Gateshead still could have got something out of that game. Looking at the remaining fixtures I'd say your biggest threat to getting 7th is us losing tonight! Although I'll remain hopeful we can stay in the hunt against all the odds.

34 minutes ago, AndyB2 said:

Very diplomatic.

 

he’s absolute garbage.

It’s not being diplomatic. Just stated some facts. Apart from the bit about his salary which was a guess. 

33 minutes ago, LightDN123 said:

The only one we would struggle to get rid of is Shelton, but even he had interest in January… 

He’s only 27, has played in a couple of different positions, has been promoted twice from this league, was loved by Hartlepool fans and I can’t imagine he’ll be on a massive salary. It’s not worked out for him here at all but I’d be surprised if he’s still here by August. 

23 minutes ago, LightDN123 said:

Yep he’s been absolutely crap when playing for us. 
 

Unsworth continuing to bring him on as a sub in central midfield when Harry Vaughan was an option remains the most puzzling decision by a manager. 
 

Couto could be a cheap back up, nothing more from what I have seen. 

If Couto is a cheap back up it might be an opportunity to test him tomorrow if Kitching hasn’t recovered from the injury. 

Just now, kowenicki said:

The season just won’t die will it… 

I’m coming up for my first home game since early last season on Saturday. I’m really desperate for there to be something on that game. Even if it’s the longest of longshots!

7 minutes ago, Glossop Shrimper said:

For a day at least, now Gateshead need to beat Aldershot tomorrow night.

Technically don’t need that to happen although it would be better if they did. 
 

If aldershot win tomorrow it’s still up for grabs on Saturday if they lose then. And Halifax don’t win. 

8 minutes ago, jsslatic said:

Did Mellon go to this game?

 

If so, why was he wasting his time there instead of watching Halifax when we play them on Thursday?

 

If not, why wasn't he looking at available gems playing in his doorstep?

 

I don't know the answers to these questions but I am angry about them.

I remember a story a while ago about our manager (possibly Wellens) travelling south on a Tuesday night to watch a game and getting pelters because he apparently should have been in Oldham training our players to play better. At 7.45 on a Tuesday night  

It’s quite unbelievable given how little of the season we’ve been in or near the play offs and that we haven’t won in 9 games, that there’s still a small chance of us getting in. Ridiculous really. We should be well out of it. 
 

I’m starting to think Southend have a very good shot at 7th. The biggest obstacle is probably them needing us not to lose to Halifax!

Halifax draw 0-0. Play offs still possible. 
 

I don’t understand how it’s accepted in football that clubs pay agents. They work for the players so any agents fees should come out of their pockets. 

17 minutes ago, Glossop Shrimper said:

There's still yourselves, us and Aldershot as well as Halifax for that last spot.

 

The only advantage we have is that we have one game left, Rochdale at the Hall. Halifax have 3 games in 5 days, you have 2 in 3 (and will have to beat Halifax at the Shay) whereas Aldershot have 2 games in 4 days. I think they have the hardest season end with a long away trip to Gateshead and then Dagenham.

 

Tiredness will creep in.

 

I watched us at Fylde last Saturday who had played Gatehead 2 days earlier. Second half Fylde were knackered, and their pitch was pretty badly cut up from said game. That said I thought we play extremely well.

All over for both of us if Halifax win tonight. 

4 minutes ago, Dave_Og said:

That we may recruit players that are seen as an upgrade but until they get out on the pitch and prove it the jury will be out.  There was very little criticism of any of the signings over the last 20 months, until they played...

This is where we have to trust Mellon and his "I know what good is". He should in theory know what a good team looks like having built a few. And that's not 11 great individuals. It's a blend of different skills and personalities. Maybe that's where we fell down last summer - the previous manager and recruitment team did well at finding good individuals (ie ones that had done well elsewhere) but did badly at finding players that fit well together in a team.

Whelan and Garrity are good recent examples of players who's new clubs got laughed at for signing them. They've then gone on to fit really well in those teams.