Match Thread Home v Oldham Athletic 3pm Saturday 20th March

OMG - got to laugh. He looked like a championship or higher player who had taken a wrong turn and found himself at a league 2 match. Would swap for any of our current outfield.

 

Before they took over we had lost six on the trot so yes I would say it’s important we didn’t lose the game against a team who had beaten us 3 times before this season

 

For sure, his parting comment with regards Andy scoring 5 on today's performance sort of sussed him out .

 

It was the right approach for the position and squad they inherited. But their big task now is showing whether they can oversee a more attack minded, cohesive way of playing. Because next season has to be about promotion and they need to show whether they're worth backing, to that aim in the summer.

 

I think it was important not to lose that, and under Stuart we'd have been too focussed on desperately chasing an unlikely win.

That game postpones my own personal judgement for another match; if we win, stopping the rot was ideal, if we don't win, we're only extending our run without a victory.

I can accept today's scoreline (if not performance) but only if it leads to something better.

I notice I'm not the only one getting tired of the join-the-dots, paint-by-numbers mid-game tactics and substitutions, though. Come on, T&S, you've got a mega platform here, don't let it become too big for you - show the world what you can do and that you've got ideas.

 

We're not back in December. We're safe, show some balls and go for it, especially at home.

 

He was a shothouse at Reading as a player and has remained defensivly so ever since. Credit to them today. We were lucky to get nil!

 

Not the reaction I think any of us hoped for after the previous two games, especially Carlisle.

We just seemed really slow/sluggish in most departments. A few bright moments but on the most part we didn’t threaten anywhere enough and I think Oldham will be frustrated to only leave with a point.

Cooke is a big miss, but it’s not just down to him. We generally haven’t had the intensity in the past 3-4 games as we did when T&S took over. Not much time for rest before Tuesday then back into another Saturday fixture. Need to see more from the majority of the starting XI or perhaps a change in formation to bring some of the fringe players into the starting lineup?

Really felt the gap left by Novak as well in recent weeks. Hoping he’s back sooner.

 

Now I know this will be quoted and regurgitated if I’m wrong & he ends up an Man City or Liverpool in a few years.......but........
I’ll bang £20 quid to the burns unit if he ever gets into a championship or premiership team!

 

Before they got the job T&S had nothing to lose so could be more ambitious, Perhaps now full time they have something to lose and are more cautious concentrating more on not losing, Just a thought

 

He run the show going forward when introduced, looked very comfortable on the ball, he wasn't frightend to carry the ball and take men on, I certainly can't agree with your headless chicken comment, funny old game when fans see the same game and view it differently.
Your highlighted comment is the reason why he'l be at a far better club that Oldham next season imo,
There will always be times when fans see the game differently , but I'm happy you agree with the majority of my posts .

 

They're young and learning. They'll need time to work it out.

Their view today was "we don't want to lose 3 in a row". They also don't really have the balance of team to do everything they want to. They're also balancing playing every tuesday/Saturday until the end of the season.

Every game is a learning experience for them and we have to hope that they reflect and work things out. They will learn a hell of a lot this season and we have to trust that that will stand them in good stead next season.

Ultimately, they've stopped us from going out of the league which is what everyone was worried about only a couple of months ago.

 

I wont attack individuals however we were really poor. Our “forward” can’t play as a lone striker as neither are nimble , nor quick enough, nor indeed skilful enough. Our midfield consists of energetic kids, defensivly no complaints . As a cohesive unit, on today’s showing, we are nothing. What a HUGE change since our linchpin Cooke went and got injured. He was the catalyst and the glue that held the pieces together.

 

The most important thing about playing CM is to be discipled and stay in the position in the middle as a fulcrum, Both Evans and Vernam were all over the place allowing them to run through us and not giving our players an option going forward, Hence the amount of pass backs because no one was offering for the ball, Bye the way I thought Scales improved things and did enough to give a run out Tuesday,

 

For me he still shows that he needs to play more games and lacks experience. His decision making isn't always good, his passing is sometimes poor and his touch his heavy.

If we're relying on him to score and create chances, which I think is what he's supposed to be doing, then he's not doing that at the moment. However, he looks raw to me and will improve if he learns as he plays more but also could easily become and average league two/one player if he isn't willing to learn.

 

Of course they are learning but Rowe off for Cook was a little disappointing wouldn't you say, Evans offered little for the full 90 minutes yet stayed on, I've posted before a young kid like Crawshaw is a little raw he will either give his full back nightmares or an easy shift, having said that if you don't give the lad the ball he can do either.
We are safe from relegation and I would not have been disappointed had they made several changes introducing more kids but his opening comment " it was about not losing after two defeats" is not what I want to hear.
I'm usually classed along side @Park bantam as a happy clapper I can assure you I'm far from happy with today's performance

 

Well to be fair Oldham are a bit of a bogey side for us and one could argue a point is a good one against them, However displays like that will not help sell season tickets when they go on sale

 

It wasn't a great performance but we're not going to get brilliant performances on all of the 46 match days.

We were much improved from Carlisle but what they need to learn is how to score more. I think they need to tweak the formation.

 

Who you on about, I'm commenting about Bahamboula the Oldham lad.

 

They'd won 1 in 9. And conceding goals for fun. That was the ideal game for us to put in a performance after a poor patch. What good does 'not losing' games have? We're not going down and we have an outside shot at the playoffs. This is THE scenario where you can set your stall out to take a bit of risk.

I thought we'd left the mediocrity mindset behind. When I say 'we' i mean the the club. I appreciate you're always going to struggle with that idea Park.