opinions4u

OK, so we're out of the Carling Cup and disappointed to have lost to a Burnley side whose early league form meant a decent following headed to Turf Moor with a little more confidence than usual. Why do I think he got it right? 1) The players he rested were Liddell, Hughes, Crossley and Gregan - these guys are, in the nicest possible way, getting on a bit and keeping them fresh for a long trip to Colchester makes a lot of sense. 2) Allesandra is, for me, our prized asset. He has the most intelligent footballing brain I've seen at this level so ensuring he remains fit and available is as key to winning promotion as Hughes remaining fit and Whittaker remaining creative in midfield. Lewis Allesandra seems to know where his strike partner is, know what the nearest three defenders are thinking and can shield a ball better than any other player on the pitch. 3) Playing the 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 rather than 4-4-2 is not something that I would normally want to see. But to have the ability to have a fall-back system that players are comfortable to switch to in matches where things are not going right will give is a flexibility at key points in the season to turn dour draws in to wins and defeats in to draws. I'm not saying it necessarily went to plan at Burnley, but it does give the manager an idea of what personnel can adapt best to different formations and what he needs to do to tweak it next time he tries it. I would even go as far as suggesting he should play the same sort of formation against Morecambe and shuffle around the personnel a little to see if it can be improved on. I'd rather do this in the Carling Cup / JPT than risk losing points to a future promotion rival. What do I think the keys to success this season will be? 1) Hughes, Whittaker and Allesandra. While we have Whittaker in the middle and at least one of the other two up front I think we will win significantly more games than we lose. Hughes is simply class and Allesandra would take about 5 minutes to form a partnership with <insert name of any crap striker who has graced BP over the years> that will deliver goals. 2) Playing 4-4-2 most of the time. It is clearly a system that works best and most of the times that we have changed it in recent seasons we have looked mediocre. I still think Shez is spot on to try and have a fall-back system to switch to when our opponents are hurting us. 3) Squad depth. Despite the words of Mr Corney, I do think that he has invested heavily over the summer and has backed the manager in a way that is unheard of for most clubs at this level. Before he starts selling, he needs to give this investment a little time to pay dividends and needs to get smart with the marketing that he puts behind it. 4) Use of substitutes. Building on (3), the intelligent use of substitutes to keep key players fresh and to change games where needed is vital. It worked a miracle against Millwall and failed against Burnley, when the benefit of hindsight says it should have been done at half time. What are the key threats to success this season: 1) Injury to Danny Whittaker as we have nobody to replace him in that elusive 'creative' role. 2) Injury to Hughes and Allesandra at the same time. I'm confident that with either on the pitch we have a strong strikeforce. With neither I think we have genuine issues. From the little I've seen of Davies and O'Grady, Davies is my first choice replacement for them. I'd be comfortable with an O'Grady / Allesandra duo up fornt but thing a Davies / O'Grady duo is slightly scary. 3) Danny Whittaker losing form. Port Vale fans didn't seem worried about him leaving a relegated side because he could seem disinterested. This will be a major challenge for Shez should it happen, because replacing the guy with the likes of Maher etc could lead to a timid "let's pass the ball around the midfield without ever joining up with the strikers" kind of game that we saw way too much of last season. 4) TTA selling out the squad from underneath us before it's had a time to repay the faith they have shown in assembling it. That said, if we get offered silly money for any player I think the club should take it. With the exception of Hughes, Allesandra and Whittaker. 5) Fans getting on players backs way too easily. We have our part to play, and while we are entitled to be frustrated occasionally I do think that getting behind this team for 90 minutes a game will give us the results the club owes us. 6) Reserve players in the depths of the squad not being of the right mind-set or fitness level to step up when needed. Mr Czuczman the physio is the key man here! So what's our form at BP since we last lost a cup game (Huddersfield) there? P13 W10 D2 L1 F33 A11 This is bloody fantastic and while one or two of the performances were dire, we have seen some tremendous games too, and not just this season. While not liking the way Mr Corney has lectured us, the economic realities within his message are obvious enough. Things are looking up at Boundary Park and it's time to grab friends, family, grandads who used to go, mates back from university, kids, friends of kids and more and get them down to Boundary Park week in week out. Get the place rocking and watch this side steam to automatic promotion ahead of Leeds and Leicester!

The mighty Somerfield being taken over by the Co-op as the TTA ride in to the sunset?

My apologies for pointing that out

Always best to spell grammar correctly when correcting others ...

Perhaps Rochdale's Kingsway development will be just what we need - or will that make the Dale the side to watch?

Yuo've excluded the crowds at Kevyn's Soccer School on a Saturday morning too. At least 20 there on a dry day. That is at picking up time mind you.

So did I. It was a long time ago. We're married now.

3 for £50 packages (suggested): Hereford, Scunthorpe, Yeovil (exclude Leicester) Walsall, Brighton, Orient (I'd throw in a free kid's ticket for Orient given the proximity to Xmas) Hartlepool, Swindon, Bristol Rovers (miss out the bank holiday games and Stockport) I'd then review the need for this sort of offer based on attendances and league position. If you can improve on the idea in a way that gets more fans without costing the club significant chunks of extra income, post it!

He has stated the obvious, my only problem with that is that it feels like he's having a dig at those who do go regularly, when clearly he's after getting the occasional fan to turn up more often. I will always say playing good football is the key to this and while there's never any hope of Oldham playing in a 40,000 seater stadium (certainly not a full one) week in week out, playing as we have done over the last few games will ensure crowds increase. My main challenge to Mr Corney is "what are the club doing about it?" Where's the innovation, pricing schemes etc that are needed? Earlier on this board I suggested a ten match ticket. Somebody else took this a step further and suggested the three match ticket. A "3 for £50" offer ensures that you get the fan for the next three games. Chuck in a few vouchers (e.g. 50p off a programme etc for each game) and you might be able to up your income in the ground. How many people see a good game, see a poor game and miss the next game? A 3 for £50 may just help! How easy is it to buy online these days? Do the club/agent still charge a fee for this? Does the 2% credit card surcharge lose more than 2% of potential business? There seem to be lots of little ways that an extra 50 here or 100 there could be attract to BP, paying close to full price for the opportunity. But I don't see that sort of innovation within the revered walls of Oldham Athletic 2004 Ltd.

They renamed GMR. Based on the coverage of the last 3 seasons, Bolton FM is the most appropriate name.

I agree in principle, but I've paid for a full season and have a problem with other non-concessions getting in for nowt!

My first choice out of 4 at centre back. Gregan second. Stam a close 3rd. Thompson not on the radar (although it would be interesting to see if he is actually any good when fit).

Aberdeen fans seem underwhelmed with Gary Mac after 3 games: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A40061684 The quote I like is: "I'll get behind both too but they were never signed as attacking midfielders hence the sideways two yard passes from both players, pity though as we are crying out for attacking midfield players not defensive ones." Pretty passing is pointless without that key through ball or late run in to the box.

http://www.oldhamathletic.premiumtv.co.uk/...7~37691,00.html

Fleming Lomax Lee Stam Hazell Smalley Maher Whittaker Taylor Allesandra O'Grady Maybe a bit radical, but not a bad line up!

Do they actually bother to look first before they act?

Perhaps we should have a "Bhurka Only" section of seats?

They should even get out to the market days in places like Shaw, Royton etc during the week and focus on the town centre on Friday/Saturday.

So tempted to crack the joke about building a shop every time they get a corner though ...

Get very frustrated that: 1) You cannot hear the half time / full time scores properly over the PA 2) The announcer speaks strangely when giving out these scores 3) The "full time" scores are usually based on the score at 75 minutes and aren't full time scores at all. These scores are an absolute MUST to ensure we compete with Soccer Saturday !!

Does it have to be a shop? How about a couple of scantily dressed maidens in the pedestrianised area giving out free tickets to kids accompanied by a full paying adult? Or even a free programme voucher? Or even a "Mums and Sons" ticket for £15?

On the assumption that it makes more than it costs, yes. What sort of presence did you have in mind? Hughsey in Primark's window up to 1.30pm on matchday?

I have some sympathy with TTA. It was a poor crowd, but that was a seed sowed with some pith poor performances last season. I don't see the article as a threat to sell players, merely an explanation of economic reality. Here are some ideas to deal with it: 1) Issue a discount voucher off season tickets every game (e.g. £60 off with the next home game). Keep selling season tickets through the season with big pushes when times are rosy - like now! 2) Copy the Stockport idea of a "Super 10" that allows you an unreserved seat for 10 games a season - this reduces the number of fans who stop coming to games after a couple of poor performances thus keeping them in the habit. Might have to have restrictions that exlcude certain games (e.g. Leeds) and doesn't offer the benefits of big match tickets that season ticket holders get. I reckon loads would pay £170 for 10 games. 3) Keep playing good football - this is the ultimate way to bring the crowds in. 4) Start using the press positively - no idea how much a back page advert with a £2 off voucher would cost on the Advertiser, or free car park space at BP on match day, but this could increase "on the day" visits. 5) Work with local JD Sports stores to promote matches (back of receipts, flyers with every purchase etc). 6) Work with the bus companies - is there potential demand that is stifled by a lack of a matchday bus route (or late bus home midweek?) 7) Could working with McDonalds or Pizza Hut on the retail park do anything? Voucher given out there with a couple of quid off admission - tear off slip stamped at the turnstile for "free happy meal with any extra value meal after the match" type thing? 8) Free kids admission for night matches. 9) While I don't want to sit next to them, what about a coach to bring 50 grandads from old people's homes and sit them in the main stand x several old peoples homes)? 10) Loyalty card - attend 15 games, get one free - stamped at the turnstile. 11) Get £1 off in the club shop with every match attended - no restrictions on purchase size I think what I'm saying is that perhaps there's more the club could do. WHAT CAN YOU DO? DRAG A MATE ALONG FOR THE NEXT HOME GAME, BRING A CHILD YOU DON'T USUALLY BRING, TAKE THE WIFE OR MISTRESS!! DO SOMETHING!

Bit low that one.

Having seen Allesandra form decent parterships with everybody he's played with up front, I take a view that if Hughes is injured, but Lewis is playing, we'll be okay. Hughes is clearly our best individual striker and should start the key games if fit. Our real problems would start if both these guys were out of the side.