paulgard

Overall, we looked off the pace and second to every ball.

But we won, and the teams who have success at any level win games when they were second best.

My take on it, seeing as this is my first time seeing the side :

 

Crossley : 6/10

Made some excellent saves which showed that he could be a cut above at this level, but also showed he's not match fit and some crosses and high balls needed taking which he didn't do.

Giddings : 8/10

Excellent. I'd love to see this lad stay on for a while if he's not going to get into the Cov side as he was fantastic for us yesterday.

Greegan : 6/10

Not a bad start. Has developed a love for coming out off the back line to make high up the pitch tackles. There is a time and place for that no doubt - but it needs to be watch, 'cos when he got it wrong we looked under pressure.

Thompson : 7/10

Looked a little off the pace at times, but also made several good clearance headers and two which he put behind at the front post which stopped them from scoring certain goals.

Eardley : 6/10

Ran ragged by their number 18 - but that was more through the lack of protection he had from our positional play in the middle third.

Taylor : 5/10

Never threatened and looked a million miles away at times. Can't doubt his effort and he's got a long way to go to learn the game and needs to impose himself better at times.

Kalala : 6/10

Excellent in the middle at times. Suffered from the overall positional problems we had in the middle - but that was due to the formation and players playing out of place than his ability. Very excited about him being in the team.

Killkenny : 6/10

Same as JP really. Looked good at times but was not fully functioning as a unit with JP and Allott.

Allott : 5/10

Looked out of place on the right. Caused us no end of problems by not staying wide to help defend. More to do with his position than his ability but I think we need to put him back in the middle and quick.

Ricketts : 6/10

Looked strong and not match fit. So if we get him fit he could cause no end of bother at this level. Scored the Pen and that's all you ask... it was crap though.

Davis : 8/10

Our best player. And one who if he keeps fit and in form could be off in January. He's a very very talented player and he's fast, exceptionally fast. Worked and worked, caused them trouble and got in exactly the right position for the cross. That said he sometimes got out of position - coming short for crosses when there was already an option there. That will come with time and understanding.

 

Subs

Smalley (For Ricketts) : 7/10

Worked hard, ran well, caused them trouble that Ricketts hadn't with his pace and is very strong for a young lad. The cross was spot on (as was the one early that went for a throw because not a single player had attacked the box).

Liddell (For Taylor) : 7/10

Those who said he should not be in the team, hang your head. He fixed all our central problems on his own. He provided width, looked fit. Was smart with his distribution and has to be back in the team for Tuesday.

McDonald (For Eardley) : 5/10

Didn't have much time to do anything - why we brought him on is beyond me really. He made a balls up of the one tackle he had to make and they blew the chance to win the game from it.

 

Overall

I'm happy we took the 3 points, but as others have said we were lacking in many areas and were second to every single 50/50. I'd like to see Taylor dropped to the bench on Tuesday and KK on the left with Allott and JP central and Lidds on the right. It offers us much more stability and shape in the middle and corrects the defensive problems we had with them winning loose balls just outside the area.

 

KtF

 

Ack

I'd stick taylor on the right on tuesday give him the ball and let him run at em,bet you'd see a differant taylor then.ktf.

"Must admit the ref, despite giving Swansea alot of the ball deserves a bit of credit. For a change."

WTF?

thought the ref had a shocker,a stronger ref would have sent off 3 from each team.maybe the only credit he gets is he did'nt show the red card to any of our players.

true legend,was in the same bar as him and his family in playa den bossa,ibiza,about 6 years ago.the missus would'nt believe me when i told her who it was,one of my all time favourite players.she told me to go and talk to him and have a picture with him but i totally bottled it.well i could'nt i was in awe of him.a true legend.

one for me please beardy

anyone got an idea what time we get back to failsworth/oldham,as i'm supposed to be going to the casino that night with the wife,belated wedding anniversary.well gutted if i miss this bus again.ktf.

one for me please beardy

quite simple really bigfin,when the fullback bombs forward one of the holding midfielders goes across and fills in,and when teams are pinging long balls to their big man who has moved out wide surely the centrehalf who is marking him should go with him and eardley should move inside,its called "BASICS".No fullback in this division will not be sold for 1million+ just cos he can defend,he needs to have more about him.

Been told its John McGreal, the one place where we have enough cover is at centre half!! Strange signing if true.

hope not,never rated him and one old man at the back with no pace is enough imo.

I think its a good signing,

 

he has developed a lot at chesterfield.

 

When we played at Chesterfield mid season, he was my M.O.M and cut our midfield out of the game.

 

Good luck to him and I am sure he wont let anyone down.

once he puts the blue shirt on we've got to back him to the hilt,that goes with all the players.think he's going to have wellens in his back pocket when we play doncaster.ktf.

Carssy signed on the same day as David Eyres back in October 2000. Admittedly his technical ability wasn't as good as Wellens but Carss was a true box to box player, great in the tackle and a good passer of the ball. He also had a vicious shot on him. Remember his winner v Bristol Rovers on Easter Monday 2001? A screamer of a half-volley at the Chaddy End, and his equaliser at the Galpharm on the final day of 02/03 - that proved to be his last league appearance for the club (apart from v Play Offs) as despite holding on throughout the summer of hell he finally moved to Huddersfield on the same day Dux moved to Bury. If he's have waited another 3 days or so he may have been given a contract as the Jarvis/Joy transfer came into force. IMO Cartssy was just as pivotal as David Eyres in turning round a certain relegation season in 2000/01 as Andy Ritchie looked to have run out of options and ideas but yet again he pulled two rabbits out of the hat and we went on and had a decent miod-table season and at one point from Dec-Feb we threatened to break into the top 6 with Wins over Oxford, Wigan, Luton, Brentford and Wrexham. Draws v Bury, Brentford, Walsall, Peterborough, Port Vale and Colchester with the only defeats coming at Notts County and Wigan.

i'd go for carrs,you just knew what you were getting from him from the first whistle to the last.

Just come back to me ... David Lee i think it was.

is that the same d lee who was at bolton?

I was thinking whilst watching the masters about ledgends who didn't play for other clubs, Andy Barlow was Latics through and through,

sorry tommy, i'm sure he went to the lashers.

I completely agree. I know people have expressed other opinions but I would actually be chuffed if we did sign Clarke

I'd be on the fence about it personally, he didn't do as well on loan as I would of liked him to, but I do feel he has bags of potential and could be a handful at our level

what about robbie fowler on a pay as you play deal say a couple a grand aweek,he does'nt need the money,and he's said nobody's made contact with him yet.

Should the club pay his wage demands and lose out on a future possible transfer windfall OR simple just say enough is enough and sling your hook ?

with the only interest coming from scotland i'd call his bluff and see if he's up for living out of a suitcase for a couple of months in a hotel,can't imagine his wife or other half would be up for that.if he does end up staying though i don't think the fans will have much if not any respect left for him.don't think you can slate the lad for keeping his options open, but they are'nt exactly knocking shezzy's door down are they.ktf.

If you could draw yourself to her face,she looks a bit rough with no slap on,so number 2 for me

oafc the girls a goddess.how many of these so called babes look good without their slap on.oh and by the way i went for the 2nd one.ktf.

Imo, it's not actually the best location for the future of the club. It's not near a railway line, and not near the M60.

 

If we were to relocate, I'd suggest somewhere just off the m60, e.g the old british aerospace site or the gas holder at hollinwood.

 

These sites would give a higher profile, easier access to a wider population, and woul not put off many of the 4-5000 hardcore of fans.

imo theres no better place than bp.it's 10 mins off the 627 and 10-15 mins off the m62.as for a wider population,if being 10-15mins further away from where they live puts them then they can go an swivvel.as for relocating how many of these new stadia produce no atmostphere,ie st mary's,soton,the emerites,arsenal and eastlands,man c..y.all great stadiums but no atmostphere unlike all of their old grounds.ktf.

Didn't Gregan sign a 2.5 year deal, in which case it would be very costly to release him as we would have to pay him up,

besides which he reads the game really well, okay he lacks pace but with Eddy at left back and a pacier centre half alongside I think he is easily good enough for League 1.

if gregan is staying and being made captain(which imo is the right chioce as he has bags of experiance)should'nt we be playing deeper instead of playing a high line with two slow centre halves and a holding type centre mid who hardly crosses the halfway line(remember Willie Donachie)allowing one of the fullbacks to bomb on,easy this managers lark innit.ktf.

We have probably reached our low point as far as Season Ticket Holders are concerned and because of how Shez has got the team playing football, I'd hope we would sell more this time around. We have got down to the real diehards.

 

My point was more about getting back those that deserted us following the Admin period, the Talbot under-achievement years and then the Ronnie Hoofball era. Given the choice, I would reckon those who are not committed totally to Latics will see a Season Ticket at The Reebok or JJB as not only cheaper than one at BP, but also better value in terms of what is on the pitch. Let's face it, that is a fact. There is also comfort; facilities; what your children would prefer etc to take into account.

 

Most people drive these days and with our Motorway Network, it is almost as easy to get to these Premiership grounds as it is BP. I think there are 7 higher flight football grounds within 20 miles of Boundary park.

 

When Bolton moved to The Reebok, I know for a fact that several Latics "fans" transferred their allegiances to The Trotters. The fact that we couldn't even sell our home allocation for a vital match last weekend shows that there are relatively few "floaters" out there.

I think that's the point Rummy and it is going to make it incredibly difficult for the lower League Clubs. I think that Utd are the only local Premiership Team who are increasing the price of tickets but let's face it, the Red Sox won't affect us.

 

The fact though that "floaters" or casuals can go and watch The Plastic Latics; Bolton; Blackburn and Citeh for around 25% less next year will make it nigh on impossible to get extra through the Boundary Park gates. To think it would be more expensive to watch Oldham v Orient than Bolton v Man Utd is a joke. Only loyal fans would choose to visit Boundary Park given the choice.

 

And if they can't be bothered to get off their backsides, then there are nearly 150 live televised Premier League games on TV next Season. Plus The Football League matches; FA Cup; League Cup; European Games etc etc.

 

There is talk of the Premier League "giving" the League Clubs some money out of their TV deal. £100m was the sum I heard but no doubt this will be over several years - and of course, the lion's share will go to The Championship Clubs. Many of whom don't really need the help that Division 1 and 2 sides desperately require.

 

The playing field is soon to get significantly more uneven.

i don't think what the local prem teams do regarding reducing their match tickets is going to affect our attendances to be honest.if the public of oldham can't be bothered to get on a bus and go to bp i don't think theres any chance of them getting on a train and going to wigan,blackburn,and bolton. and lets face it we play more attractive footy than city.

My nap...

 

2.35 Wichita Lineman

i'm off to aintree tomorrow,ladys day, cant wait.heres my pick.1st race standin obligation.2nd race wichita lineman.3rd race well chief. 4th race umbrella man. 5th race enforce. 6th race my nap reveillez. last race brook no argument.heres to a good day and a better night in scouseville.