steveecky

Is it just me who can't get a commentary - again?

Sacked - just a snake oil peddler. All talk, no walk. Remind you of someone?

This PowerPoint isn't even original. It uses ideas that are part of the curriculum to obtain the uefa coaching badges. There isn't anything that wouldn't be particular to Barnsley. It' like copying your mate's homework.

As OASIS yesterday was the first live game for a long time. My observations are these - playing Forte as a lone striker is not his forte - not strong enough to keep the ball or win it in the air. Unfortunate that left side couldn't cross left footed so always turned back. Switched off from front to back for the goal conceded which would be embarrassing for an under 12 team, Until the goal it never looked like Shrewsbury would score and after it looked like only they would win. The substitutes were asked to do the same things as the players replaced - so changed nothing from a tactic that clearly wasn't working - good managers make game changing substitutions. On top for a good part of the game, but fell away badly in the last half hour. It's going to be a long old season without a consistent attacking threat - midfield never got beyond the striker.

Anybody else struggling to get a commentary?

I had a look at released keepers - how about Jak Alnwick as a punt for the trialist . Only 22 so not old enough to be considered as no 1, released by Newcastle having played a handful of games.

Surely the club won't appoint Holden - not with the team's record under his management. Irrespective of injuries etc there has been no indication that his team organisation and tactical knowledge are sufficient to move the club forward.

Not about Lee Johnson, but if you were an ambitious young manager would you apply for a job at a self evidently unambitious club stuck in mediocracy? If you took the job and then realised a club didn't match your expectations would you look to move? Whoever comes in is going to soon find out how draining the negativity around OAFC can be.

Dickov - just useless as a manager. Might be a nice gut but I'll be surprised if he ever is a success as a manager; doesn't know how to win games.

Can't see anything changing - we seem to be round about our natural level. Players change every year. How many good players re-sign with Latics when their contract runs down. That's because they are professions doing a job for the best contract they can get within a team that's likely to be winning. No-one who plays football wants to play in a losing team, just as most of us don't want to work in a job we hate if there's the possibility of somewhere better. Each year we recruit a mixture of the desperate (released or out of contract), the ambitious who think we are a step up from non-league or reserve teams, loanees getting game time with something to prove and the ones who foolishly are taken in by promises that they are getting in on the start of a wonderful revolution. And when it starts to go wrong then in come more loanees, often untested in league one football but cheap. The only thing which has prevented falling further is that there are a lot of clubs in the lower divisions in exactly the same circumstances. We can't expect much more from the size and current status of the club - and we're unlikely to be targeted by a rich benefactor - thankfully I was around in the Royle glory years so at least I've some great memories to cling to but I'm not sure this generation of fans are going to see even modest glory.

Does seem that BP has become a strikers' graveyard. It can't be coincidental. Strikers thrive on the right delivery and support. If you don't get enough players forward the defence hasn't got much to think about. Personally, I think fans would be more satisfied watching their team giving it a go and losing 4-3 a couple of times then winning a game 4-3 than sterile tight games losing 1-0 with the odd 1-0 win. You'd also get less booing and more crowd and players in it together. (like the Royle years)

Said there was no end product from his videos when Sidney signed. Sadly proved right..

Seems strange to me - get another midfield player when what's needed above all else is a striker who can at least work the keeper rather than the ball boys.

The only thing keeping Latics up this season is the equally woeful form of the teams around them.

Strongest bench we've had for a while, so definitely no excuses not to change things if necessary.

Said it on another thread this week - if you can't keep clean sheets you're always going to be in trouble. Not a surprise that we are just above the relegation spots - home form is the key and only 3 wins never going to be good enough. I'd swap possession and statistical superiority for points any day of the week. Time to start grinding out some wins but worries me that we seem too lightweight in too many areas to do that.

The more worrying statistic is the lack of clean sheets. Home or away doesn't matter if a team has to score twice to have a chance of winning.

Thought today was going to be one of the more entertaining 0-0 draws I've seen, until the goal at the death - which you become used to as a Latics' fan.. Both sides played a lot of good football although clear scoring chances were few. The four against one was laughable - a pub player would have had more idea what to do. I was in the stand opposite the dug outs so in with the Brentford fans. They felt their team wasn't playing well, but that's because Oldham pressured so well. Bit of luck needed only, rather than radical rethink.

With so many players in the team with first team credentials, not to win a game like that seems like few were claiming a start!

Just been on Orient website and League 1 isn't available there either so must be a problem with the idiots who run the site for the clubs.

Ronnie Blair - Oldham Athletic assassin and could play a bit too! Remember him taking 10 minutes to get rid of Osvaldo Ardiles in a cup match, and the first player to try to put an opposition player over the perimeter fencing when that came in.

We were unlucky today with the chances hitting the bar and being blocked, but much of the possession is in areas that doesn't hurt the opposition. The defence coped well with balls lumped forward, but Crawley played like an away team, counter attacking with pace (especially in the 2nd half) and looked to me like they might score every time they got possession in the final third. Keeper aiming for JCH with every kick is hardly a surprise tactic - all 22 players and 3500 spectators could see where it was going and as usual tough defenders nullify that. I thought we were supposed to be playing it out from the back. A frustrating afternoon, but at least the sun was shining.

As far as I can see the Latics' team play some attractive football and get involved in some cracking games but I can't see how expectations of a top half/pushing play-offs can be justified. Nine competitive games so far this season has seen us concede 15 goals, although changes to the back four don't help. The harsh truth is that whilst goalscorers win games - miserly defences win leagues/promotions. A team that concedes penalties with embarrassingly frequency is also going to struggle. Still, it's better than the drab 1-0 losses suffered for the last couple of seasons at least there a re goals to cheer.

That ? is just what we need - incredibly versatile; can play anywhere from goalie to striker.

Seemed to have stirred it up with my earlier post. LJ might have unearthed a gem or a good backup, time will tell. It just seems strange to pick up an obscure Dutch second tier player when there are so many known and experienced English players out of contract.