OAFC33

Poor on Holdens part - at some point we've got to trust our young players instead of these endless loans. Sadler was steady at best and I honestly think a young hungry player would have offered more going forward. Truelove didn't even make the bench.

I'm more than slightly concerned about Rhys Murphy? I haven't seen anything which makes me think he was worth a fee and a 2 and a half year contract. I'm sure the Poison Dwarf did his 'due diligence' on him though.

Not sure that they'd take another young keeper - Colemans got another year on his contract. If Byrnes can be kept fit he's worth a punt and Jacobs looks promising. Tuohy keeps getting mentioned but he's a long way off physically for a midfielder. Could have done with some reserve football to judge him.

Byrnes injured again today judging by the report on the OS.

Something needs to be done by the next manager to address the development problems which have escalated during Johnson's time at the club. Organised reserve football has become a thing of the past - Johnson indicated that friendlies would be organised to address this. I believe the reserves have played a grand total of 3 or 4 games all season. Youth players need to be playing a higher and more physical level in their 2nd year to bridge the gap to 1st team football otherwise they will inevitably struggle. The step up from age group football to the professional game is a massive physical hurdle. We need to assess last years crop before we look at the current youth players. How much competitive football have Coleman, Bove and Truelove played this year? Also, giving an 18 year old a 12 month contract doesn't really give sufficient time to assess them before they're released due to financial pressures to make way for the next batch. Taking Winchester as an example - under the current system he would probably have been released at the 1st opportunity.

The players TP develops need something to bridge the gap between youth and 1st team. That has disappeared this season. Of the 3 taken on for this season. Bove - 2 loans. Brief JPT appearance. Truelove - 2 loans. Coleman - playing the odd youth team game and warming the bench.

Many of the lads aren't given long enough when they become pro's. All 4 released within 12 months last season and I'd bet Bove & Truelove will be released by the end of the season. The club needs to form ties with good local conference or Evo-Stik clubs to get the 18 and 19 years olds out on long term loans if reserve football is a thing of the past.

Nice that we can develop players for other clubs while sending our own youngsters out on loan to the arse end of North Wales. A real morale boost for the young pro's.

He's staying with Colwyn Bay until the end of the season according to their website. Doubt he'll ever pull an Oldham shirt on again.

I'd give the Woodhead a miss judging by the amount of snow that's fallen in Barnsley.

Nothing sudden about it - it's just escalated during a bad run and some baffling comments and behaviour by LJ.

I think he's yet another member of the 1st team who's taken a dislike to Johnson.

I think he needs to just admit he got it wrong. Is this a vanity / ego thing or does he really think the average Oldham fan is thick?

Connor Brown at left back? With Elokobi and Truelove I think there's enough cover for Mills.

Not sure that singling out players for criticism in interviews is the way forward - he obviously has a problem with Winchester but does he really have to make it so obvious? Can't say I've heard him publicly tear a strip off Poleon who's been consistently awful. Instead it's the Schmeltz and Joksts 'work in progress' syndrome.

3 half time subs suggests to me LJ got it totally wrong in the 1st half - now he's trying to come the tactical genius while publicly slating players again. The 3 who were hooked at half time could have been any one of 6 or 7. Playing Poleon and Phili up front in the 1st half offered absolutely nothing.

A fair few conference players could cut it in L1 and L2 but choose not to for financial reasons. The quality is good and far above anything that reserve football offers these days.

Generally the conference sides contribute nothing or a nominal amount towards a loan players wages.

Common sense prevails - 3g provides a poor playing surface when compared to grass and increases the risk of injury. Plus, how long would a pitch have to be down before it paid for itself? I'd estimate 3 or 4 seasons at least.

Truelove dislocated his shoulder in a reserve game a few weeks ago - not sure if he's fit yet. Isn't even listed as a player on the OS.

The training kit quality is really poor. Badges are badly stitched on and print dissolves in the wash.

LJ was down at Stalybridge on Bank Holiday Monday with Tony P for the Stockport County game. Not sure if they were scouting or just watching the loanee.

I would say most people are baffled rather than negative. The constant subbing of Winchester ( he can play a full 90 ). Making a blatantly unfit Kelly captain when he's hardly played any football for 12 months. The persistence with changing formations and trying to play a lone striker. The failure to address the striking problem prior to the season kicking off ( Willie Gros was another vanity experiment by LJ ). Personally I think a re-run of last season is on the cards.

Too many gimmicks and buzz words at the moment for my liking.

Might as well have kept playing in the training kit - plain without being classy.