whitey1980

Didn't feel we were poor, but we had a lot of the ball without penetration. Equally, they created the better openings despite being second best throughout.

 

The key to the game was scoring when we were on top which we haven't done enough recently and the confidence flowed from that point. Cracking win that reinvigorates our season.

 

As LJ said in his interview , "proud of my club" - after the last couple of weeks its great to say and feel that!!

That will be some quarterback duel at Ohio State next year between Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller and JT Barrett.

 

They must be odds on favourites for next year already. Truly unbelievable job by Meyer to lift them from a home defeat against Virginia Tech to a national title with a 3rd string quarterback!!

 

Can't see past the 'Hawks in truth. Would love Rodgers to get the job done and upset the form book, but think that's wishful thinking. They have been flakey on the road.....and Seattle are bulletproof at home!!

 

Think the AFC game could be a cracker though. Have got a feeling the Colts might turn the Pats over - surely it will be close either way!!

 

What's the young striker Niall Sultan like, he's getting lots of praise at Chadderton FC?

I taught Niall at school and am quite surprised to even see him as a centre forward. He always had a lot of pace and was a very clean striker of the ball but was a fantastic goalkeeper, which is where he played for me!!

 

He isn't the tallest (which I suspect is why he will have moved outfield in senior football), but was always pretty fearless and had an excellent knowledge and understanding of the game.

 

Really nice lad, and great to see him doing well!!!

It didn't fit the narrative of some unfortunately.

 

That picture doesn't even show that Rachubka had been dragged down to that point by the forearm that started round his neck!!

Anybody sat in the Rochdale Road end with a view from the opposite angle to the camera could see a very clear foul. Indeed, if any more confirmation was needed, the striker didn't even bother to get up quickly as he knew it was a foul.

 

Absolutely fair to question Rachubka who was shakey....but very few dropped goalkeepers aren't when they return.

 

However that was an attempt at a clever decision by a t##t of a referee which was in keeping with his generally awful display throughout.

 

The stamp on Philliskirk was mentioned earlier in the thread, which again could only be seen from the rear of the incident. The goalkeeper didn't like being challenged and could have easily evaded DP as he didn't land on him initially. He chose exactly where his foot landed and left it in on him. He was lucky he didn't pay the same price as Mills for a rash and red misted decision.

 

Our failings are clear, but to discount the role of the officials today, is to completely warp the events of the game to suit a narrative.

 

Finally I do have a little understanding for Mills due to the complete lack of protection he has received from officials in recent weeks. He has been clattered on numerous occasions with challenges that have not been properly punished - leading to the assault he received against Yeovil. Even today he was tackled two footed and from behind in the first half.

 

That frustration has built - and eventually led to that brain explosion today!!

I rarely blame referee's, but we were cheated today.

 

Mills could have few complaints, but how he was the only card in the aftermath god only knows.

 

The striker jumped into Rachubka with his arm pulling across his throat ffs!!

 

The players deserved better. Regardless of the sending off, it was the goal that changed the flow of the game. Am furious!!

I would accept it and will still attend, but it makes me sick to my stomach that we have become the laughing stock that we currently are.

 

Also, anybody who thinks we can afford to lose 1000 off the gate (as we did the season after the infamous doggate) is in dreamland.

 

Its already a horrific decision. I for one can only see it getting worse.....and to think we have done this to ourselves, unbelievable!!

 

I am just hoping against all my instincts that we keep our manager. I suspect on a balance of time of 6 months, it is highly uncertain.

 

Whoever made or took that bloody call should be ashamed!!

I remember in a very bored moment checking John Sheridan's wikipedia page and feeling this overwhelming sadness that a bloke who had committed so much to the club - as a player, coach, manager - left the club under the cloud he did.

 

That was Lee Hughes legacy - not 20 or 30 goals - his part in the breakdown of a promising season and the breaking of 10 years of service. It was not just his responsibility, Shez himself must take his share - but it was a failure.

 

Montano, I suspect, took more than just a suspended wage with him when he hit the buffers and dragged our clubs name with him. He continues to do so today!!

 

I fail to see how Ched Evans in the fullness of time will leave a positive imprint on Oldham Athletic football club. He might score some goals, he probably won't (but that's just an opinion). I suspect he himself has no idea what he's in for if he ever reaches the field of play again. We have (or did) volunteered to be lab rats for this experiment and it is an incompetent decision on every level.

 

Its this I just cannot believe! Have we not learned from our own recent history? Regardless as to the moral objections which are glaringly obvious....despite the thoughts of some!! (I'm a 34 year old bloke expecting my first child in March, and agreed with every word Sly!)

 

He signs...... Our fanbase is split - When he starts to receive abuse from the opposition, some will sing in support as he is now 'one of us'. This will inevitably lead to some shouting negatively towards those offering support. It could very possibly turn violent - It certainly cannot help those on the pitch!!

 

If he doesn't - look at the damage already done....for nothing!!

 

As many have said - I feel so sorry for LJ in all of this. He has been undermined and embarrassed by a club he has seemingly given his all towards. I could not blame him if he walked away.

 

Our club have put us in this position - shame on them. We look desperate, opportunistic and completely incompetent. To that you can now add spineless!!

Absolute incompetence on every conceivable level - right down to the media silence that has been our response to these (presumably) pretty accurate reports.

 

The likes of Dexter Blackstock refused to go to the Blades due to their interest, and their season stalled whilst this cloud temporarily engulphed them. I suspect there is more to our poor form than this alone, but the timing of the months due diligence and substandard performances fit.

 

Why you would voluntarily put yourself in a mess of this nature is beyond me. By splitting an already depleted fanbase, you destroy all the pride that had built in our teams early season performances under a young passionate manager.

 

I don't overly care what others think of us - I care greatly about what we think of ourselves.

 

Its a complete disgrace - Why did it have to be us????

The one I felt sorry for was James Wilson. He was the only player who ventured further than the penalty spot(ish)...he had the the balls to turn back round as he went to walk away to listen to a fan...and got roundly abused.

 

Exactly like the poster a couple above, I couldn't help but applaud LJ, who fronted up whilst clearly in as much shock as the rest of us. Wilson, who had an admittedly poor game in a superb season individually, did similar and was slated.

 

How that helps him and us move forward, god only knows!! We do have the right as fans to give the players pelters, but to give it to the one player who came across (bar Elokobi) to a close range made no sense to me at all.

Changing a winning side by bringing in another goalkeeper has totally unsettled what was a fairly solid defence. It wasn't needed and wasn't necessary. Bad, bad move. LJ should give himself a bollocking.

Totally agree.

 

Its not that Kenny has been specifically at fault for the recent capitulations, but it has unsettled a solid defensive unit.

 

It also can create a culture of 'whose next' out the door? If the manager is prepared to axe Rachubka despite solid form, who else is vulnerable?

 

They are professional - and should simply deal with it, but human nature isn't that straightforward. The issue now is the damage is done whether he changes back or not. The 'in it together' mentality disappeared when Rachubka got the chop!!

What hasn't been mentioned is the nature of the first goal after the result last week.

 

It was a horrific goal to give away that opened up the floodgates for what followed. Humiliating from that point onwards.

 

 

Over the top!!! You weren't :censored:ing there - clearly!!! Disgraceful and a completely shocking afternoon that has shafted our season.

I'm not one for a ridiculous over-reaction, but that was a disgrace to our club. I don't even think the players or management would argue.

Over the top!!! You weren't :censored:ing there - clearly!!! Disgraceful and a completely shocking afternoon that has shafted our season.

I am a big Mills fan, and think his pace and willingness to commit forwards are key whatever system LJ chooses to employ.

 

Despite this I was concerned about him on Saturday. He was very reluctant to press into the space given to him and his touch (one of the weakest elements of his game) deteriorated rapidly.

 

He has been key to many of our better performances, and we certainly need him driving the team forwards and providing the width on the left. We also need the ball to be released quicker centrally to encourage those attacking runs.

Within the various different teams and formations mentioned, how anybody can have a place for Elokobi after the last 2 weeks is beyond me.

 

Against a pacy forward line I can see him getting seriously stretched - and he has been abject in all areas both with and without the ball in the last 2 weeks.

 

We need pace right across the team, but a backline of Kusunga/B.Wilson - J.Wilson - Dieng - Mills is an absolute must for me.

 

We certainly need more from both fullbacks than we have had in the past couple of weeks, and despite his performance on Saturday, Kusunga would get the nod for his strength and power.

Whilst LJ will rightly take a large element of the blame for the performance, professional footballers have got to take their share for their contribution to the debacle.

 

We have stopped trying to make a progressive pass from the midfield areas - who in turn are receiving less space because our centre halves are not carrying the ball and committing opponents. We desperately missed Kelly yesterday, but how often did our centre halves split and ask for the ball? Surely we should still have had a man spare? Too often in the last month we have been forced into longer balls that make us far easier to defend against!

 

In turn the forward players must take responsibility for the lack of movement centrally. At times we had players in good crossing positions with nobody to hit. On the occasions we did, the delivery was spectacularly bad!!

 

Elokobi must go for me next week. Kasunga was awful yesterday, but at least he is mobile and willing to receive the ball. Big George is painfully one footed, slow and Wilson is clearly struggling to play with him.

 

I would also bring back Rachubka for his speed of distribution. Kenny has actually made some decent stops, but the unit has been weakened for me and communication and understanding of roles has been poor.

 

I don't understand Tidser's or Daytons absence yesterday - I would imagine the first half against Preston would be the reason, but they would at least have allowed us to keep our shape.

 

Yesterday was as bad a display as I have seen a professional team produce, but we can - and we must - bounce back next week. Back to a flat back 4, 2 holding midfielders and a rotating attacking 3 behind Ibhere for me. The players must be hurting, but they need to regain the courage to play the attacking pass - its been lacking for a good few weeks!!

Ched Evans is a Championship class striker.

 

Championship - 2009/10 36 apps 4 goals

Championship - 2010/11 35 apps 5 goals

 

Where does everyone get this idea that he's some sort of lower league Aguero?? One decent League 1 season before 2 years playing against HMP FC

 

We are good enough we don't need him or the farce that will follow in the media?? Have any of you seen the news re Sheff Utd recently??

Absolutely spot on - His lack of form and goals were one of the main reasons Sheffield United got relegated in the first place!!

 

He gets better in the eyes of some, the longer he spends out of the game. There are far better areas to spend our cash if its available.

We're damaged by association regardless of any intent to sign the player or not.

 

To even entertain the thought given the positivity around the club and unity of the fanbase is naive at best and a grave error of judgement at worst.

 

Absolutely moronic and as said by others, a public statement is required to end this matter.

 

I don't particularly care what others think of us, but I care greatly about how we see ourselves. I am not convinced many of us could look at our club with the same pride we currently do if we were to be involved with Ched Evans.

 

'No comment' is not good enough.

Why oh why does it have to be us!! Unbelievable and moronic that we have somehow even been entered into this discussion.

Oh - and loved the post warm up huddle and battle cry!!!!

I personally feel we have played much better in games and not taken 3 points - if that points to a resiliance and toughness then all the better!!

 

What we did well today was seize key moments of the game - all three goals were examples of this.

 

I felt they should have made far more of the space they created on our right hand side. We were absolutely wide open at times.....but just as we were beginning to come under real pressure we stole away and won the penalty!

 

A key three points from which to build, hope the players enjoy their well deserved xmas do!!

Police shouldn't be punching. End of.

Totally agree - Don't know what started it all, but looked very unprofessional and seemed to escalate a volatile situation.

 

He looked a very handy fella!!

Some ridiculous comments about Rachubka as stated above. He organises his back four effectively and has been part of a good unit.

 

Any change in the position is a huge gamble at present. Especially for a player whose work ethic and professionalism have been questioned very recently.

 

Will be amazed if there is a change on Saturday!!

Agree with everything said thus far about the evenings game, but wish we would retain our positivity when in front.

 

The first 15 minutes of the second half were breathtaking and we simply blew them away......and then sat deep and went long into the channels!!

 

When we have the tempo in our game that we did through that spell our movement flows and we destroy teams....slow it down and we end up with poor options and heading backwards!!