Home v Oldham August 17th

Yes, I agree. He is their captain Maouche. I thought he looked a tidy player, making some good through balls as well. He faded in the later stages of the match, but he seemed a good technical player.

 

Maouche or something?

Yeah, I'll give them that, but second half kinda disappeared.

I swear, someone over there has done the same thing Edin did last year - went out and signed a few technically gifted players and walloped them into a 'team' without any real strategy or know-how. Sadly guys like Maouche and Fage won't do anything unless they get a move out of there, despite a bit of talent.

Personally I'd sign Fage, but would worry Maouche would follow the same pattern as all the other failed 'false strikers' we've had.

 

I’ve heard people bang on about stats far too often when trying to justify a point. Go and check the stats for this game, Oldham had more posession, more corners and more attempts at goal. The stat that matters is the one that says goals for. And today our finishing was clinical. Nice to have a strike force you can trust to hit the target.

 

Oldham reminded me of us last season. Some nice technical players in midfield. Decent approach play up to the box, but couldn’t hit a Cows Arse with a banjo and awful at the back.

 

I wonder how much I would have won if I’d put a bet on?

 

Yeah impressed with their no10

 

Devine will get better with games and confidence. Maybe Reeves. I do expect one in maybe two with Akpan going

 

If money is tight, I’d forget about Colville and use the money, with what we’ve saved on Doyle for a hard man in midfield. It’s badly needed.

 

I called it last week and stated we should go with 4-4-2 with Scannell down one side and the more defensive player, Wood, down the other.

And I’m no master tactician but it’s amazing how easy the game is when you play players that come alive with deliveries into the box..!

 

Last time I saw us win live was Accrington new year

Until today that feels good!

 

One big problem that was noticeable today was that Oldham walked through our midfield on quite a few occasions. We need that disciplined DM in there who won't go forward at all and will prevent attacks coming straight through the middle.

 

You're too modest.

 

Completely agree.

 

Was it the same person that said we should stop feckin around with 4-3-3 or diamond formations and play 4-4-2 with Scannell and Wood as the wide options????

 

Fantastic feeling. First half was almost us V Cambridge in reverse, all the possession in the world, hit the wood work once but create little else. But you’ll get that when it’s 2 against 3 in the middle, we still need a tough tackling centre mid who can defend the back four. Difference between us and Cambridge is we have real quality up front, these two will bag plenty with the right service if they stay injury free. It was a joy to see us hit the back of the net for the first time live in so long, and in clinical fashion as well.

Everton at the back is colossal, you wouldn’t want to be a striker having the ball pumped up to you knowing he’s about to go through the back of you. The midfield two improved a lot after half time, hopefully Scannells goal will kick start him, his decision making is still very suspect though, woods crossing was fantastic at times. Everyone was solid over 90 though can’t pick any one out negatively for the first time in a while. The Don was fantastic, as was Vaughan. I can’t believe how sharp and fit Donaldson looks for his age the assist was sublime and his finish wasn’t bad either.

On to Stevenage, hopefully with a new midfielder!

 

I think what made this game a little easier than the Cambridge game was that Oldham simply did not press high.

We had time to ping it long from both centre backs, whereas most teams will probably have more tactical awareness and defend from the front.

Could be why we walked it in the end.

 

They were guilty of over playing it big time. This is league 2 it ain’t gonna be pretty most of the time amd teams that go direct will generally do well, case in point Donaldsons goal. And if we go 4-4-2 regularly there are gonna be times where we are behind in posession stakes but it doesn’t matter. What does matter is getting the ball upfield for that strike force of ours. Connor Wood might not be the best left winger you will ever see but he got two decent crosses in the box in the first five minutes and a goal from Vaughan. Also a couple of lovely balls in the second half, one througj ball to the edge of the box for either Donaldson or Mellor was top class. Donaldson and Vaughan have numerous assets to their game, things you don’t notice straight away. Their workrate is phenomenal, and both have a knack of winning free kicks.

 

Can see you’re struggling to let go of your scapegoats. Devine had an ok first half and accomplished 2nd. It helped that Vaughan dropped back in the 2nd half to help out, but claiming Devine only tidying up his own mistakes is a cheap shot.

As for “McCartan got into some good positions but let down by his finishing”, followed by “less said about Patrick the better” shows the point I’m making. BOTH got into some good positions but BOTH let themselves down with their finishes.

Why does one get praise and not the other???

 

Did Patrick get into any good positions? He lost the ball every time he had it.

 

Yes, he did fine - running into the defenders was nothing Scannell didn't do all day long, and isn't he meant to be mint?

Nothing wrong with Patrick's cameo, IMO, he was direct and his lack of control makes him unpredictable - not the worst thing to have when you're 3-0 up, but there's no question he should have played Shay (?) in with his first attack - would have been a pretty simple finish.