Chaddy_Ender

I wouldn't there were quite a few empty seats and they had cordoned off a couple of blocks. The end only holds 1200, so half full was about right.

You may be right it seemed more if im honest.

609 in the away end.

Sorry but theres more than that Id say 800 + at least.

Everyehere we go

I counted league games only, the JPT is a two bob cup where teams often rest their best players. I think using the 60 odd league games he has played in offers a fair guide of his performances it does stretch over a season and a half.

Just for the record Ive no bee in my bonnet I was just trying to find evidence to support my view that he doesnt contribute enough, its my view and some may say the statistics for an attacking midfielder support that, LJ must appreciate the value of him or he wouldnt continue to play him, one thing I would question is the notion that he would be noticed more in his absence maybe on Saturday we will find out.

Said it before, he's a stats player, no goals or assists but will be hitting all the right KPI's.

Is that like the person at work who walks round with a clipboard looking busy but actually acheives sod all ?

After some debate last week about Danny I thought it only fair to look into his stats and see what kind of influence and effect he has on the team, there has been some talk by some fans in recent weeks that he has had a lull in form while others feel he is an integral part of the team both defensively and knitting the team together in attack.

For me the stats although not a true reflection of the work he does for the team are a poor return for a player who plays in either the number 10 or at the head of the diamond in most games, his last league goal came in the 4-1 victory against Coventry on 21st October 2014.

From his 27 games in League 1 this season he has 3 goals and 3 assists, compare that to Daniel Johnson who managed 3 goals and 1 assist in just 6 games for Oldham or 3 goals and 8 assists in just 17 League 1 starts this season, in fact looking at his overall League record with Oldham it makes pretty grim reading. In 65 games played his return is 7 goals and 5 assists.

In response to some of my criticism on here a poster claimed he would be the second name on the team sheet after Liam Kelly but for me the stats just don't back that up, should we expect more from a player playing so high up the pitch? Is it the reason LJ has had a look at Noble, Johnson and now Mellis to spark some life into the team in the final third of the pitch?

What is his best position? For me its probably as the front man but the manager this season has tended to go for a more physical player, it will be interesting to see whether Danny and Mellis can play in the same team as I feel there is only really room for one of them in there but one things for sure a return of 1 in 9 on assists and goals is a very poor return from a player labelled by some as one of our most creative.

 

It's funny how these lower in the league teams suss us out - yet we can't suss them out.

All they have done is hassle our midfield and centrehalfs and pick up the pieces, the better teams have allowed us to play it out from the back with very little pressure applied, this has allowed us more joy against better footballing teams who go for three points themselves, last nights game was crying out for Turner or Murphy to trouble them I appreciate neither are fit but replacing players like for like is pointless, even Dayton would of been a better option last night on the left with Jones in the middle.

I think Jones would be magic playing where the undroppable one does but we haven't really had anyone else to play on the left side, perhaps Mellis will be able to.

Forte has scored most of his goals off the left flank why even contemplate moving him inside, every :censored:e team in this league knows we play narrow, it was LJ's old man who highlighted how to beat us we now need a plan B, having wingers in the squad would help but thats been ditched so where do we go from here ?

Kean

Kusunga

Dieng

J.Wilson

Mills

Kelly

Winchester

Jones

Mellis

Forte

Wilkinson

Simple, put Jones back to CM ahead of Kelly as a midfield pairing.....it worked up to November.

100% - it was Jones who instigated much of our better play in that unbeaten run he was a perfect foil for Kelly and is so much more effective in that central role, wasted out on the right.

LJ singles Forte out for his turn of pace post match against Notts County then totally nullifies his pace by moving him inside, in a mismatch with Mvoto. Lets play to our strengths everytime ive seen Jones wide rignt or Forte up top it hasnt worked why keep persisting ?

Can we expect a bit more from Kelly in terms of driving forward when needed? Or is he untouchable?

Untouchable along with both Wilsons Elokobi Philliskirk and Jones.

From what I am reading last nights performance could well of been the biggest statement of the week, for me this squad contains too many players with a weak mentality, Rachubkas gone so we cant blame him, Kelly was back so theres no excuse there, in reality we are what we are an average run of the mill League 1 side, we have players who turn up when they want, too many havent got it in them to influence a game or even show some consistency, its a shame because for the first time in a while we had a chance but for whatever reason since Preston in the JPT it just hasnt happened, its not negativity its realism we somehow need to go back to what we had in the 12/13 match unbeaten run, we have the same players all we need to do is adopt the same tatics, get back to basics stop over thinking everything and play our best players in there best positions, one final point is how on earth is B Wilson keeping at least 3 suitable replacements out at right back ? He hasnt performed for weeks and must have something written into his contract to play each week because he is poor, Kusunga for one must think he is never going to get a chance to play if he is immune from being dropped.

How did Poleon play ?

You pay to see two teams at a football game and it is bad when oldham fans are chanting boring boring barnsley to their players. Time wasting as soon as they scored

Its a tactic we should of employed in recent weeks when letting points disappear, I'd of taken an ugly 1-0 win but we dont seem to be able to grind out results on our off days, be a tough game at Glanford Park on Saturday lets hope the players have it in them to show up.

Be lucky if we take 500 now

Last time I checked a fan had never scored a goal.

Correct we could win this league with crowds of 100 we dont need a source of income. How silly of me.

If we are in the hunt come March then the crowds will pick up, no need for any offers.

Why wait till March we need the support now, our season may be over by March.

Time to pack the ground out and get behind the lads.

If only, first job for the new commercial director is to fill some of those empty seats and get the place rocking, on here we have come up with a million and one ideas surely one of them is viable.

After Saturdays game LJ said the physio had told him Forte could manage only 30 minutes on Saturday but he had to stretch that out, I'm pretty sure he wont risk him from the start and use him if needed late in the game.

Latest odds this morning have us,

Finish top half - 4/11

Finish bottom half - 9/4

Top 6 - 4/1

Forte top scorer - 8/1

Promotion - 16/1

Relegated - 66/1

Champions - 350/1

Kean

J Wilson

Elokobi

Any two from Brown, Mills or B Wilson (someone's going to be upset)

Kelly

Winchester

Jones

Mellis

Poleon

Wilkinson

Presume Murphy is carrying a niggle so subs for me,

Coleman

Dieng

Mills, Brown or Wilson

Philliskirk

Forte

Kusunga

Turner

Could we take a 1000 now with a win tonight ?

We played our best football and had our best run with him up top....

Agree we went 6 unbeaten with him in the team, for me his best game was Swindon away caused them no end of problems, it just clicked goal wise in his final start lets hope he picks up where he left off.