Decent write up in the Guardian

[Crusoe]

Been a while since we got this much coverage on our own merits. Decent write up reminding the rest of the world who we are...

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/footbal...football-league

[beag_teeets]

Can someone post the text?

[Digglelatic]

They were founder members of the Premier League but their fortunes have slipped since. Can Oldham recover under Paul Dickov?Wembley Stadium 1994. The early days of the Premier League. Two of its inaugural members, the already bloated supergiant that is Manchester United and the feisty counter-punchers of Oldham Athletic are playing for a place in the FA Cup final. And it's Oldham who are winning. Then, in the dying seconds, Mark Hughes hits an equaliser. You may be familiar with what happened to United after that; Oldham's tale isn't quite as happy.

 

The Latics were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 1993-94 season and so began a spiral down to what is now League One. There was a brief surge of hope when businessman Chris Moore took over the club and declared Oldham would be back in the Premier League in five years. After a period of heavy spending they reached the 2002-03 play-offs under Iain Dowie but were knocked out by QPR. Moore took fright and left Oldham a wheezing wreck of a club.

 

Without Moore to support them they were mired in debt and many of the club's best players were sold for a fraction of their true value. Moore's name is still uttered in a hiss by many Oldham fans and his effigy was burned outside his company offices. The club eventually went into administration but was saved from complete financial meltdown by the trio of Simon Blitz, Simon Corney and Danny Gazal. Oldham had recovered sufficiently to reach the play-offs in 2006-07 but were beaten by Blackpool. You may be familiar with what happened to Blackpool after that; Oldham's tale isn't quite as happy.

 

Joe Royle, the man who oversaw Oldham's glory years in the Premier League, returned for a brief, unsuccessful spell before Dave Penney took over last season. He wasn't exactly the third coming of Royle. "Many of our supporters said Penney was one of the worst managers we've had in our history," says Dave Moore of oldhamathletic-mad.co.uk. "Crowds dwindled [only 2,833 turned up to watch a 3-2 defeat to Brentford in March] and season tickets sales for this season were slow." The club took action and they parted ways with Penney. Then a fire ripped through a section of the stadium earlier this week.

 

And yet if you talk to Latics fans they're upbeat. That's partly because the club are second in League One but their new manager, Paul Dickov, has also brought a wave of optimism to the club. One of his first decisions in his first managerial job was to hold a meeting where fans could voice their opinions and frustrations. The decision was a contrast to Penney who enjoyed – or didn't enjoy – a tense relationship with the supporters. Dickov has also installed his own frenetic, battling playing style and the team is enthused by a host of younger players (the average age of the starting XI on Saturday was 23.5 and six of those players were 22 or under). Djeny Bembo-Leta, an 18-year-old Congolese forward with pace and a good shot, has been particularly eye-catching. For the time being, Dickov appears to have confidence in his youngsters and, injuries aside, has been consistent in his team selection.

 

There are caveats though. One of the reasons the team is so young is that there aren't funds to sign more established names. Oldham are only three league games into the season and how the young players cope when the rain and elbows beat down later on in the season remains to be seen. It may be then that the squad's more experienced members, including Sean Gregan and Dickov, who is still registered as a player, come into their own.

 

Boundary Park is in a state of disrepair – even before the fire it only had three of its stands in use – and plans for a new stadium have yet to be finalised. Of the club's three saviours, Blitz and Gazal have departed and only Corney remains. If he goes, the Latics may well get a brilliant new owner, but they could equally get another Moore, whose type surface all too often in the lower leagues.

 

The proposed stadium would be in Failsworth, not far from Manchester City's ground, something which highlights another problem for Oldham. It has to fight giants such United and City for its fanbase as well as smaller clubs such as Bury. The new stadium would seat 12,000, a tacit acknowledgement from the club that it may never reach the heights it scaled in the 90s. "[Oldham fans] do remember those times and that's right but it is going to be one hell of a journey to ever get back to that," Andy Ritchie, who played and managed at Oldham, said earlier this year. "And, being a realist as I am, I don't think they will hit that, though I think they can make the Championship."

 

Given the fallout after the days of Chris Moore – a situation mirrored across English football – Ritchie's sentiment is a wise one. "The main feeling now is that it's a good place to watch football and that's the first time we've felt like this since Dowie's day," says Dave Moore. "Personally, I'm the most optimistic since we were relegated from the Premier League." If Dickov's young side are still near the top of League One at the end of the season that optimism will be justified.

 

[slystallone]

Been a while since we got this much coverage on our own merits. Decent write up reminding the rest of the world who we are...

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/footbal...football-league

A decent, balanced article. Though why he went to another board for the opinions of fans instead of the club approved OWTB fans forum is another matter eh?

 

As has been said; it’s good to be getting a write up that highlights our current positives as well as the obvious financial issues too.

 

 

[dec666]

Interestingly we made the play-offs in 2002-03 and then 4 seasons later in 2006-07, its now four seasons on in the 2010-11 season. Is this a sign? Are we heading for the play-offs again? It's enough for me anyway, this has to be our year now!

[pukka]

Very good article.

 

For anyone interested:

 

The guardian football podcast is an excellent listen with James "Football Italia" Richardson.

[Stitch_KTF]

The new stadium would seat 12,000, a tacit acknowledgement from the club that it may never reach the heights it scaled in the 90s.

 

 

[ste1987]

Great article.

[martjs]

The proposed stadium would be in Failsworth, not far from Manchester City's ground, something which highlights another problem for Oldham. It has to fight giants such United and City for its fanbase as well as smaller clubs such as Bury. The new stadium would seat 12,000, a tacit acknowledgement from the club that it may never reach the heights it scaled in the 90s.

 

Ahhhhh, is that you Corporal Jones?

[singe]

Ahhhhh, is that you Corporal Jones?

No?

Number 0000 are you in trouble?

Edited August 26, 2010 by singe

[HarryBosch]

It has to fight giants such United and City for its fanbase as well as smaller clubs such as Bury.

 

eh????

 

you can't move for Bury tops in Spindles nowadays.

 

"The main feeling now is that it's a good place to watch football and that's the first time we've felt like this since Dowie's day," says Dave Moore.

 

when it was good under Sheridan it was better than when it was good under Dowie.

Edited August 26, 2010 by HarryBosch

[boundaryblue80]

eh????

 

you can't move for Bury tops in Spindles nowadays.

 

 

 

when it was good under Sheridan it was better than when it was good under Dowie.

 

Nah...just not true...for a start...when everyone sang "we've got our club back" this is how it began...

 

 

Football League One Tranmere 1-0 Oldham 05-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 0-1 Port Vale 08-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 1-0 Swansea 12-08-2006

Football League One Millwall 1-0 Oldham 19-08-2006

English League Cup Rotherham 3-1 Oldham 22-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 0-0 Carlisle 27-08-2006

Football League One Bournemouth 3-2 Oldham 02-09-2006

 

Unlike Dowies season, which was enjoyable throughout, it was only good under Sheridan for 5 or 6 months out of 3yrs of his time here (Sept 2006 to Feb 2007 - the wheels fell right off after beating Swansea away) and August 2008...after gaining 16 from the first 18 points we embarked on a run akin to relegation form for the rest of his tenure before being sacked.

 

Dowies was far better...unbeaten away run...League cup run...the football was exactly right for this division, style wasn't always there but the plan worked. Yes, the size in budgets were on different planets but when we talk about "how good it was" Shez's reign really fooled a few people. And it wasn't played on the floor as much as people think either!

Edited August 26, 2010 by boundaryblue80

[slurms mckenzie]

Nice article and some interesting opinions in the comments section.....

[HarryBosch]

Nah...just not true...for a start...when everyone sang "we've got our club back" this is how it began...

 

 

Football League One Tranmere 1-0 Oldham 05-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 0-1 Port Vale 08-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 1-0 Swansea 12-08-2006

Football League One Millwall 1-0 Oldham 19-08-2006

English League Cup Rotherham 3-1 Oldham 22-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 0-0 Carlisle 27-08-2006

Football League One Bournemouth 3-2 Oldham 02-09-2006

 

Unlike Dowies season, which was enjoyable throughout, it was only good under Sheridan for 5 or 6 months out of 3yrs of his time here (Sept 2006 to Feb 2007 - the wheels fell right off after beating Swansea away) and August 2008...after gaining 16 from the first 18 points we embarked on a run akin to relegation form for the rest of his tenure before being sacked.

 

Dowies was far better...unbeaten away run...League cup run...the football was exactly right for this division, style wasn't always there but the plan worked. Yes, the size in budgets were on different planets but when we talk about "how good it was" Shez's reign really fooled a few people. And it wasn't played on the floor as much as people think either!

 

each to their own - those 5 or 6 months were, for me, my best times following Latics since 1991

 

it isn't all just about the results for some

Edited August 27, 2010 by HarryBosch

[slystallone]

Nice article and some interesting opinions in the comments section.....

Hmmm, that comments section; I wish people would do a small bit of research before posting on national press sites; this is just plain wrong:

 

Lower league football is now built on the cast offs from the Premier League. Gone are the days of young players starting their careers at smaller clubs. The big boys just hoover up all the talent at an early age and the small clubs have to feel lucky to get them back as young loanees. Gone are the days when you would go to a ground like Boundary Park to see young local players who are signed to that club and get excited about there prospects. We might as well be the reserve sides that Arsene Wenger always wanted to play in th lower leagues as its hard to get excited about a team of old journeyman and young loan players.

 

Having said that, Dickov will probably do well as he'll have his contacts with the City youth program and none of them will be getting a game for the senior side any time soon.

 

Of the current squad / 1st team; the following applies:

 

Paul Black – home-grown youngster

Lewis Allessandra – as above

Chris Taylor – as above

Djeny Bembo-Lita – as above

Deane Smalley – as above

Kirk Millar – brought in from N.I; but through the youth system

Ryan Brooke – out injured obviously; but a home-grown youngster

 

At a push; you could include Dale Stephens; albeit brought into the club but has been in reserves for 2 seasons before making the break-through.

 

There’s also Lomax who, whilst unlikely to feature much at all; is still a home-grown player; and the recently departed Tom Eaves was brought up through the youth system & reserves before being sold on.

 

Seriously; How many more young home-grown players do you want in a side? I’d say that we, at present, would have one of the highest ratio’s of young; home-grown players playing in the side in the division.

 

 

[JohnnyPimp]

Unlike Dowies season, which was enjoyable throughout, it was only good under Sheridan for 5 or 6 months out of 3yrs of his time here (Sept 2006 to Feb 2007 - the wheels fell right off after beating Swansea away) and August 2008...after gaining 16 from the first 18 points we embarked on a run akin to relegation form for the rest of his tenure before being sacked.

 

I agree that large swathes of Shez's tenure weren't good, but I think you're doing him a disservice missing out the period when we went on the 'away run', including the Leeds and Everton victories.

[Lags]

Come on Dowie, lets hear you agree that you had a big budget instead of agreeing you did it on a shoe string with those that were ignorant of the fact in the media. A good read and certainly one where the Journo did his homework to produce it.

Edited August 27, 2010 by Lags

[Ackey]

Come on Dowie, lets hear you agree that you had a big budget instead of agreeing you did it on a shoe string with those that were ignorant of the fact in the media. A good read and certainly one where the Journo did his homework to produce it.

He's a good writer. Was on the Pod this week too.

[RoyleArmy]

He's a good writer. Was on the Pod this week too.

 

so you know Dave Moore he lives in candan i think all i know he runs a forum on OAFC.

Edited August 27, 2010 by RoyleArmy

[oafcprozac]

Nah...just not true...for a start...when everyone sang "we've got our club back" this is how it began...

 

 

Football League One Tranmere 1-0 Oldham 05-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 0-1 Port Vale 08-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 1-0 Swansea 12-08-2006

Football League One Millwall 1-0 Oldham 19-08-2006

English League Cup Rotherham 3-1 Oldham 22-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 0-0 Carlisle 27-08-2006

Football League One Bournemouth 3-2 Oldham 02-09-2006

 

Unlike Dowies season, which was enjoyable throughout, it was only good under Sheridan for 5 or 6 months out of 3yrs of his time here (Sept 2006 to Feb 2007 - the wheels fell right off after beating Swansea away) and August 2008...after gaining 16 from the first 18 points we embarked on a run akin to relegation form for the rest of his tenure before being sacked.

 

Dowies was far better...unbeaten away run...League cup run...the football was exactly right for this division, style wasn't always there but the plan worked. Yes, the size in budgets were on different planets but when we talk about "how good it was" Shez's reign really fooled a few people. And it wasn't played on the floor as much as people think either!

 

Dowie's season enjoyable throughout???

 

 

First 6

 

Cardiff (H) L1-2

Peterborough (A) W1-0

Brentford (A) D0-0

Tranmere (H) W2-0

Blackpool (A) D0-0

Wycombe (H) L0-2

 

Our home record was :censored:e at times losing to Cardiff, Wycombe, Luton, Wigan, Crewe and Plymouth. Losing to Cheltenham and Carlisle in the cup and scraping a lucky draw at home to Burton in the cup too. Draws with Cheltenham, Port Vale, Notts County, Blackpool, Peterborough, QPR and crucially v QPR in the Play Offs. We won 11 home games - that cost us promotion - I bet Gillingham won more than that and were relegated last season!

 

Enjoyable no, Siege mentality yes, it was us against the world with the under current of the financial problems, redundancies, away unbeaten run etc...

 

I'm not sure why a lot of people regard the Dowie season as such a triumph. I missed 4 games all season and for most of the away games it was backs to the wall. We had a superb spirit but by Christ we were lucky. The one game where we did play well, ironically we lost in the Play Off second leg. There were a few outstanding performances on the road - Notts County stands out, as do the wins at Derby and West Ham. But the home games were mostly not enjoyable, we tonked a couple of teams but the home form cost us and with the team we had that was unforgivable. (Injuries with the squad we had were no excuse)

 

If our season ends in play-off failure this year it really will be a glorious defeat.

 

[oafcprozac]

Nah...just not true...for a start...when everyone sang "we've got our club back" this is how it began...

 

 

Football League One Tranmere 1-0 Oldham 05-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 0-1 Port Vale 08-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 1-0 Swansea 12-08-2006

Football League One Millwall 1-0 Oldham 19-08-2006

English League Cup Rotherham 3-1 Oldham 22-08-2006

Football League One Oldham 0-0 Carlisle 27-08-2006

Football League One Bournemouth 3-2 Oldham 02-09-2006

 

We were pretty, but toothless in Shez's first few games. Then Porter returned at Bournemouth and by then Charlton had settled in, he dropped two of his midfielders (Wood and Rocky) and suddenly we had penetration. The football we played from the Bournemouth defeat onwards right through to winning at Swansea was more enjoyable than anything I saw Under Dowie, the home games were mostly a joy to watch and we picked our fair share of points away - turning point was Shez inadvertently slagging his players off as not good enough for the Championship at the fans' forum. After that it was downhill all the way and Shez never recovered from that. We were the best team in League One that year - our biggest problem? The manager didn't believe in his players. If Dickov gets us going, Dickov won't have that problem. He's not played in two world cups...

Edited August 27, 2010 by oafcprozac

[boundaryblue80]

Dowie's season enjoyable throughout???

 

 

First 6

 

Cardiff (H) L1-2

Peterborough (A) W1-0

Brentford (A) D0-0

Tranmere (H) W2-0

Blackpool (A) D0-0

Wycombe (H) L0-2

 

Our home record was :censored:e at times losing to Cardiff, Wycombe, Luton, Wigan, Crewe and Plymouth. Losing to Cheltenham and Carlisle in the cup and scraping a lucky draw at home to Burton in the cup too. Draws with Cheltenham, Port Vale, Notts County, Blackpool, Peterborough, QPR and crucially v QPR in the Play Offs. We won 11 home games - that cost us promotion - I bet Gillingham won more than that and were relegated last season!

 

Enjoyable no, Siege mentality yes, it was us against the world with the under current of the financial problems, redundancies, away unbeaten run etc...

 

I'm not sure why a lot of people regard the Dowie season as such a triumph. I missed 4 games all season and for most of the away games it was backs to the wall. We had a superb spirit but by Christ we were lucky. The one game where we did play well, ironically we lost in the Play Off second leg. There were a few outstanding performances on the road - Notts County stands out, as do the wins at Derby and West Ham. But the home games were mostly not enjoyable, we tonked a couple of teams but the home form cost us and with the team we had that was unforgivable. (Injuries with the squad we had were no excuse)

 

If our season ends in play-off failure this year it really will be a glorious defeat.

 

Gotta love the "First 6 games" and neglect to add...

 

Next 8 games...

 

Football League One Notts Co 1-3 Oldham 07-09-2002

English League Cup Oldham 3-2 Notts Co 10-09-2002

Football League One Oldham 6-1 Mansfield 14-09-2002

Football League One Oldham 1-0 Bristol C 17-09-2002

Football League One Colchester 0-1 Oldham 21-09-2002

Football League One Oldham 4-0 Huddersfield 28-09-2002

English League Cup Derby 1-2 Oldham 02-10-2002

Football League One Swindon 0-1 Oldham 05-10-2002

 

I do believe that equalled our best even run of wins of 8 didn't it?

 

As for them first 6 games....gelling squad and...

 

Cardiff (H) L1-2 - Cardiff...the same side who were right up there with us and won in the playoffs

Peterborough (A) W1-0...Won at a ground we barely ever win at

Brentford (A) D0-0...Drew at a ground we barely ever win at

Tranmere (H) W2-0...Won...

Blackpool (A) D0-0...Cracking little derby that day...Pogs making a blinding save - last time we were behind the goal

Wycombe (H) L0-2...Poor admittedly...a side that back then always seemed to do us at home

 

Moving on...

 

"Our home record was :censored:e at times losing to Cardiff, Wycombe, Luton, Wigan, Crewe and Plymouth."

 

Wigan, Cardiff and Crewe who were all promoted, barely shameful that. Wycome see above. Luton and Plymouth...I'll give you. Weren't as bad as your making out at home.

 

As for the financial problems...they didn't surface until March when Moore made his announcement that he was stepping down as Chairman. Nobody saw it coming...everything kicked off in June after we'd lost in the playoffs.

 

The point anyway was the type of football witness...not about budgets etc which people find very hard to seperate when talking about Dowie. Bluntly put...Shez didn't excel in that field over Dowie bar for a few spells over 3yrs. Results wise in a tougher division back then though, the style was right and was bloody unlucky to not see us go up. My only main critic of Dowie was his decision to rest players vs Udders which saw us only get a point...had we won, we would've had the 2nd leg at home and it could possibly have been very different. We'll never know...

Edited August 27, 2010 by boundaryblue80

[boundaryblue80]

The manager didn't believe in his players. If Dickov gets us going, Dickov won't have that problem. He's not played in two world cups...

Very true...It's been interesting knowing a local Journo over the years. That Crewe away game in Shez's 1st season rang alarm bells, especially hearing what wasn't printed from the post-match press conference. Snapping at journos and asking them "and how many World Cups have you played in?" It's never the best way to keep the Journo's on side.

 

Personally...I see Dickov straight out of the Dowie mould. It won't be pretty at times but they'll work their knackers off for him. At times, it'll be very direct when we're under the cosh. When Dowie left I often said that whoever came in would have a hell of a job as Dowie could get average players playing above their level. We've not had that since. It seems to be something Dickov is able to do...fingers crossed it carries on...

[oafcprozac]

Gotta love the "First 6 games" and neglect to add...

 

Next 8 games...

 

Football League One Notts Co 1-3 Oldham 07-09-2002

English League Cup Oldham 3-2 Notts Co 10-09-2002

Football League One Oldham 6-1 Mansfield 14-09-2002

Football League One Oldham 1-0 Bristol C 17-09-2002

Football League One Colchester 0-1 Oldham 21-09-2002

Football League One Oldham 4-0 Huddersfield 28-09-2002

English League Cup Derby 1-2 Oldham 02-10-2002

Football League One Swindon 0-1 Oldham 05-10-2002

 

I do believe that equalled our best even run of wins of 8 didn't it?

 

As for them first 6 games....gelling squad and...

 

Cardiff (H) L1-2 - Cardiff...the same side who were right up there with us and won in the playoffs

Peterborough (A) W1-0...Won at a ground we barely ever win at

Brentford (A) D0-0...Drew at a ground we barely ever win at

Tranmere (H) W2-0...Won...

Blackpool (A) D0-0...Cracking little derby that day...Pogs making a blinding save - last time we were behind the goal

Wycombe (H) L0-2...Poor admittedly...a side that back then always seemed to do us at home

 

Moving on...

 

"Our home record was :censored:e at times losing to Cardiff, Wycombe, Luton, Wigan, Crewe and Plymouth."

 

Wigan, Cardiff and Crewe who were all promoted, barely shameful that. Wycome see above. Luton and Plymouth...I'll give you. Weren't as bad as your making out at home.

 

As for the financial problems...they didn't surface until March when Moore made his announcement that he was stepping down as Chairman. Nobody saw it coming...everything kicked off in June after we'd lost in the playoffs.

 

The point anyway was the type of football witness...not about budgets etc which people find very hard to seperate when talking about Dowie. Bluntly put...Shez didn't excel in that field over Dowie bar for a few spells over 3yrs. Results wise in a tougher division back then though, the style was right and was bloody unlucky to not see us go up. My only main critic of Dowie was his decision to rest players vs Udders which saw us only get a point...had we won, we would've had the 2nd leg at home and it could possibly have been very different. We'll never know...

 

Financial problems surfaced in October the same day Wijnhard's injury was announced. The day before the Luton game at home we announced we were losing £50k a week, had to make redundancies and Moore wanted extra outside investment, we lost. Strangely enough every time we were on a decent run that season, the :censored: further hit the fan.

 

By March Moore had announced his giveaway Season Tickets, Hardy had been suspended and Moore only stepped down as he'd already decided to take the money and run.

 

 

Yeah I know about the 8 wins, we also won 7 on the trot under Talbot dontcha know? We also went from 2nd November - 13 January without winning at home. That's what killed our season. Then we went another two months until 8th March without winning at home.

 

I think that year was the beginning of the bigger names dropping down into this level, splitting the division in half between the haves and have nots. Ironically we were in the 'haves' bracket.