Thetownend.com

The Opponent:  Oldham Athletic

So we move on from a morgue-like County Ground to the glamorous North West of England in search of an immediate bounce back from what was a pretty miserable night at home on Tuesday. From my lofty position in The Town End I get to see all sorts of random people behaviour, and the behaviour of a few several nights back was beyond cringeworthy. “Fucking hell Ward you are shit”, “Do something with it Pritchard you useless cunt”, just some of the absurd remarks from just one person. This same person spent 2 years detesting Alan McCormack, no idea why, and with hindsight, perhaps he had a point, but seriously? You know who you are Kojak, he likes to shave his hair off to disguise the fact he is pushing 60, others on ‘the left side’ may know who I am referring too. I only have 3 words for him, PERSPECTIVE you cunt.

Some 7 miles north of Manchester, elevated within The Pennines and lying between the Rivers Irk and Medlock is the location of today’s opponent, Oldham.  Many useless facts are available when it comes to Oldham so we will only focus on the important ones. Yates Wine Lodge, home of many a fond memory for many, was founded in Oldham in 1884 by Peter and Simon Yates. The tubular bandage was invented and developed in Oldham in 1961. That "vital contribution to advancing medical science" resulted from a collaboration between local firm Seton and a cotton manufacturer in the town. Some of Oldham’s more famous folk include cigar chomper, Winston Churchill, comedy, er, legends, Cannon and Ball, Take That dwarf Mark Owen, Funny man Eric Sykes, The man who loves shoving his hand up puppets poopers, Philip Schofield, and not forgetting, Sunita from Coronation Street.

The Last Time We Met Away – Back in December of last year we took all 3 points back from Boundary Park with 2 goals from Rafa De Vita in front of a whopping 3’345 people!

They have served us both –  David Down, Hasney Aljokefree, Adam Rooney, Sam Parkin, Fraser Digby, Don Heath, Paul Edwards, Leon Clarke, Tom Devlin, Andy Todd

Where the opposition gather –

http://www.owtb.co.uk/index.php/forum/1-the-terraces-latics-forum/

Oldham Last 6 – LDLDWWL (Currently 19th on 11 points)

The Odds – Oldham 15/8 Draw 12/5 Swindon 8/5 Let’s hope we can get that all important first goal today and my pittance is likely to be wedged on Ryan Mason at 10/1 with Sky Bet. It must be said this seems a much better bet than the 20/1 being offered on Alan Navarro.

The Son Says –  2-0 Victory. It seems to be his stock answer when he seems a little unsure.

The Prediction – We will bounce back impressively after Tuesday night’s horror show and pick up a hard fought 2-1 victory with goals from Ryan Mason and Nile Ranger, with a crowd of 3’988 and 299 from Swindon.

And Finally – There are claims that Oldham was the birthplace of the first chip shop. The sometimes disputed claim of trade in deep-fried chipped potatoes is said to have been started in around 1858–60 from an outlet owned by a John Lees, on what is the present site of Oldham's Tommyfield Market.  In 1900 Oldham had the highest concentration of chip shops in the country with one chippy for every 400 people!

COYR COYR COYR

Good work as per usual Rosso  :clap:

I've got a good feeling about this!  2-1 Swindon COYR

I had hoped you'd give a mention to William Cobbett...Oldham's first MP. Just so that Ardiles could feel a little more at ease

Ryan Mason at 10/1 is a brilliant place to stick a bit of cash. Birthday score of 2-3 for me, Mason and a Ranger double. COYR

Does Aljofree auto correct because otherwise there is no excuse.

3-1 defeat

Hmmm. I think we will struggle again today. Wouldn't be surprised to see us go on a mini poor run now. Think we might come out of this with a 2-0 loss, with Rooney bagging at least one.

Well I never knew that Cobbett had connections up there.  Thanks for the kind thought, Reg.

Setting off for Boundary Park (via Lancaster...long story) in less than an hour.  New ground!  It's only taken me 23 years to get around to it.  So yes, the excitement is genuine!

Coldest ground I have ever been to.

Is it correct that Boundary Park is the highest ground in England?

Banker 1-1 draw today with 3886 in attendance with 8188 from Swindon (seems to be a recurring figure lately)

Hopefully, my new Audrey moniker will be a harbinger of good fortune

The Hawthorns is the highest above sea level.

I think Oldham is the coldest ground officially.....all that freezing cold mist flowing over the Pennines..it was certainly fucking freezing when I went in relegation season...just before Austin fucked off.

Lets hope we bounce back and get a result: draw for me...

Yeah, just googled that. Strange one is that Blundell Park (Grimsby) is only 2 feet above sea level.

So if someone farts in the North Sea they could get swamped

Clean sheet would be a result in it's self. So 0-0 for me.

Going off on a tangent but we're 20th highest above sea level!

HP - http://www.midfielddynamo.com/stadia/england_highest.htm

Back on subject, the curse of the ex player. 1-2.

Won't be easy and will be interesting to see the formation with McEveley suspended.  Once again I will be completely away from any score updates at my son's birthday party, which provides hope for us getting a result!

Agreed, guess Branco might come in if he wants to continue 3 at the back away from home? Then becomes tough to fit both Mason and Pritchard in. Maybe Ajose makes way and Pritchard plays off Ranger up top?

More likely I think he reverts to 4 in defense with Byrne at LB.

Hoping for a draw and us to enable Foderingham to have a quieter 90 mins than he did Tueday

Prior to Tuesday I have no doubt that a positive prediction would have been on the cards but I don`t believe the wheels have fallen off - Walsall are a good side and we are not that far behind them so rather than going for an away it has to be a draw of maybe 1-1 or even 2-2.

We're still a good side even after Tuesdays result. Think we'll nick a tight game 2-1.

1-0 defeat, Rooney pen

Hoping for a 2-1 win although a draw would not be a bad result.

Some whingers on here will be rubbing their hands

From personal experience Port Vale is colder than Oldham

The coldest day i remember a match at was Fulham in the cup,still defrosting from that experience.
Today has draw written all over it but if we score early we could suprise again ala Rotherham.

Courtesy of STFC official Twitter (@Official_STFC):

Town side to face Oldham: Foderingham, Thompson N, Hall, Ward (C), Barthram, Kasim, Luongo, Mason, Byrne, Ranger, Pritchard

Subs: Belford, N'Guessan, Waldon, Thompson L, Branco, Ajose, Elgabas #STFC

Not sure if we will play with Nathan at centre back or go 4 at the back with Barthram or Thompson at left back.

Looks like a 4-5-1 to me, could be wrong. Not got a problem with that as the midfield is fairly attacking and we have options from the bench to switch formation later if need be.

I remember that Fulham game, 86-87? They painted the lines blue because the pitch was white with frost.

Reg is right, by the way.  It's all a bit northern.

It's actually in the Guinness record books as the coldest day on earth ever!

I do like C Roberts on commentary
Says it how it is

Where the fuck is everyone today?

At the game?

Doesn't seem a lot of interest on here today?

Stuck on the M6
As the adver crew currently are  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I doubt there's more than 200 there.

Not much to say from what I've heard of the game so far. Pretty dull.

Hello,is it 3-6-1?

Maybe double that.

The commentary sounds terminally dull.

I'm here.

It's a bit boring, might go have some lunch.

Shitty one down as per

C'mon Town

Scored by Sean O'Hanlon as well :)

Waking up a bit now. A bit.

Orient 1-0 up over Rovrum

Rafa has scored for Bradford

We're riding our luck a bit.  Not convinced by 3 at the back.  Byrne tracking back when he has to (which is quite a lot) but Barthram less so.  Look exposed to me.

Great

bollox

30 fucking yards???

We still haven't had a shot.

Bugger

"football games are all about winning games"-right there Christian!

:( Julie Watts has too many users grrrrr.

It's not a bad thing, trust me

So does my account.  I would blame Julie, its just the shitty player.

I preferred it when we were good.

I'll be amazed if we get anything from this game.

Just back from a run. Have we started where we left off on Tuesday?

I might be saying this prematurely but it seems teams have sussed us out, not sure we have much plan b but happy for coops to prove me wrong.

I blame ardiles  :)

We need to have a shot at goal at least in the 2nd half

Tamworth 3-0 Solihull Motors in FA Cup. Could be your lucky day if we face them at The Lamb!

We've turned into Brizzle City overnight

Just had one.

There goes Julie's reputation.

Brizzle 1-1

We're waking up by the sounds of it.

Luongo can't shoot can he :doh:

Brizzle 2-1 :crash:

They're gonna struggle to keep hold of Emmanuel-Thomas in January.  :)

Yay. Own Goal 1-1

GTFI

Get in!

Get in :) :beers:

Morrison scores for Reading

Yeh, Tamworth just gone 4-0 up, thought you'd be chuffed

You lot are in for a treat when that OG goes up online.  A peach.  Clinical execution.

That would be the one I want

5th booking for Kasim

Out v Vale at home

Sounds like he's walking a tightrope...

Out today if he carries on tackling like he is.

Yes. 1-1.

Delayed reaction I know....Digital radio just broke, by the time I got to another one we'd scored!

Player is bloody rubbish today - breaking up all the time!

293. I win (just)  :)

C'mon town.

Playing wider this half, and creating a little more.  Much too narrow first half.

Let off - Oldham go very close

Reckon a change is needed up top?

May as well stick Ajose and N'Guessan on.

Peterboro losing

Pritchard doing his best to reach 10 yellow cards.

And down to 10 men

Shitty 3 one up so looks like a win for them at last

Lets fucking nick this one  :nod:

Yup  :badmood:

Fuck off for fucks sake fuckers.

sigh

fuck it

Ball sacks.

Shite.

I take it we have let another in then.

Oh flabby ball sacks! And Utd equaliser. Tossbags

Smeg

Yep and was coming

United go from 2-1 down to 3-2 up in 1 min

(http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk109/Woffls/Banners/smeg.jpg) (http://media.photobucket.com/user/Woffls/media/Banners/smeg.jpg.html)

Arse biscuits!

Histon2-1 Stockport latest. Unfinished business

Slave Traders wrapped up first win, they will probably win a few on the bounce now

Doubt it the way we are currently playing

Christ, glad I've missed most of this!

Hope it wasn't as shit as it sounds on the radio (which sounds as shit as Tuesday, but against a worse team).

You know its desperation stakes when Wes goes up for a corner

Oh well. Bad week.

N'Guessan blocked a shot on the line?

Football is rubbish.

Oh dear! Lets hope Cooper sorts it out, and soon.

Cock it.

I think he meant N'Guessan's shot was blocked on the line. Not what he said mind..

He needs to find a system that works away from home. 4 points from 21 away is extremely poor.

I think we have to remember that our first and main objective is 50 points. I think we had all started to dare to believe we had turned into promotion chasers.

Typical Town away form that. Aside from the odd blip.

Showed more signs of life in the second half, but obvious we're going to need a Plan B for away games like this.  Taking it down the wings and popping balls in for our tall strike force just seems to make more sense on days like today.  Not how MC likes to play, I know, but the fluid passing game that he likes (& that gets so much credit in the right conditions) is not always going to work.

Radio Swindon-over reaction.co.uk. Some people calling for Holloway ffs!

Still 8th but bunching up all around now
Be another toughie v Vale coming up

We certainly don't need a new manager, but Cooper needs to come up with a Plan B and C for games like today and Tuesday.

Quite worrying that even with 5 defenders on the pitch in the last two matches that we have been cut open so easily. The three at the back has certainly been hit and miss so far and for me it leaves us far too exposed on the wings.

A bit of perspective for those who really thought we would challenge for the title. Expectation will remain play offs and I will reserve judgement until later in the season.

I think I said the other day - our manager is Mark Cooper so I don't think the season has gone too badly so far given the player turn over.

Dreamland some of our fans.

You know that this is a league game and not in the cup don't you.?

They played in the FA Cup qualifier, draw tomorrow afternoon. Histon won 2-1

Edit. My mistake, it was the league, blame futbol24.com

Exactly!  We started very slowly today again, to play our fluid passing footy we have to win the right, no good allowing the opposition to get the initial foothold, we will always struggle.  At Rotherham the Millers should have been out of sight in the first half, once we scored they crumbled. that will not happen too many times - especially away from home.  The other worrying aspect for me is the fact that Nile Ranger will always cause havoc if the right balls are played into him, today it appeared we struggled to even find him, let alone with the right ball - and we were playing with just him up top!!  As regards plan B, I don't think Cooper has one, not playing well and yet we only made one sub all game, it doesn't make sense to me.

I took in a quality match...Slimbridge v Warminster in the Les Phillips cup...

So, I only had official texts and a few off my mate who was there.

First half....we are shit.

Second half: better but lucky OG.....then radio silence.

Calls for Coopers head is a fucking joke.

Cooper does need to study other tactics though.....

I still don't see why you think anything less than play offs in unacceptable.  Considering the age of the squad and the inexperience of the board and manager along with the cost cuts we have gone through, anything above midtable would be a decent season.

We were always going to be inconsistent, unfortunately the style in which we have started the season has got everyone believing that we are the finished article, hopefully the last two performances will cool a few people down.

At least I know I'm not a jinx by listening to away games!

A long way to go, but Cooper does need to get a bit more savvy with tactics.  There seems to be a slight lack in ability to change things when needed -both formation and personnel.  Aside from Rotherham, we've only picked up points against teams in the bottom third of the table.

I blame the coach.


We've been shit since we got it. I don't care if it's got a treatment table and sky sports. Coach out.

I went to Tesco instead of listening to the whole game after hearing that we had no shots off target - let alone on target - in the first half. I made the right decision.

It was only just over a week ago that we tore Notts County to shreds and were unfortunate not to win by a much greater margin. A 4-0 away victory at Rotherham was only a couple of weeks ago. We will be consistently inconsistent this season.

Surprised to see a couple of people on Twitter complaining that Kasim isn't good enough. That's a pretty quick turnaround.

Probably not, they've most likely been idiots for some years now :)

First half was a bit of a non-event. They've had one good chance from a cross where a header 6 yards out should've been converted (similar in circumstance and build up the their eventual winner). Our formation allows the opposition to get down the sides and put crosses in but we didn't deal with them too well today. Their opener seemed harmless but dipped late and goes in off the bar but despite not playing well - no shot on or off target - I was confident we'd step our game up and could still gain a point if not 3.

We started playing in the second half, Mason/Pritchard/Ranger seeing more of the ball and looking dangerous when we got into good areas. Yes our goal was fortuitous however Oldham hadn't really threatened enough to warrant a lead. From here I thought we'd go on to win. Luongo and Kasim started to win the battle in the Midfield which freed up Mason and Pritchard who then had a drive or two blocked/cut off by steady defending. Yet a very good cross from a pretty awful left back got headed home well at the back stick and we're left chasing the game. Fairly standard defending in all honesty and we'd then have at least a point which I'm sure we'd take given our away results this season.

N'Guessan had a late chance cleared off the line but to be honest Oldham should've put themselves out of sight with a good number of chances that missed the target. These came from the game being stretched as Luongo started to venture further forward, leaving Kasim to try and pick up the pieces defensively.

I couldn't name an individual today who stood out - from either side - but I don't think anyone had a particularly poor game necessarily. We all know the strengths and weaknesses of the formation so it's understandable that people fleeted in and out of the game. Thompson did ok at CB, Byrne was better than Bartham as a wing/full back (defensively and offensively - the game bypassed Bartham I thought). Ranger/Pritchard/Mason tried to get things going but were stifled or starved of possession. I can't be bothered with the rest - they were ok, no worse than the opposition but I know they should be beating them one-on-one.

We need to learn how to start picking up the odd draw away from home, in games similar to today. If we don't we'll be mid-table comfortably which at the start of the season I would've taken. However knowing how well we can play, we should be aiming a little higher. That's not meant as a criticism, more an acknowledgement of the fact we need to stay behind the players/MC when we're not playing well.

Well they won't have to watch him next week as his yellow gives him a suspension.  A chance for Thompson the younger?

We had that coach at rovrum
Albeit without any markings on

Blimin posh coach it is though.  We went and had a nose round it prior to the Walsall game.

missed the first 25 minutes - many thanks M6!

i'm going to have to offer some criticism today, not usually my bag but there are some things i think need to be said.

given that jmac was unavailable today i was expecting to see us go 4-2-3-1 again, having seen that i think that's what we should have gone with, my main area of concern being that we had no width to speak of out there today, at least not meaningful width.

we had 4 center midfielders on today, ok pritchard was maybe supposed to be a second striker, and often looked like we were lacking options.  if we'd have gone 4 at the back at half time and taken barthram (looked out of his depth today unfortunately, good off the ball but did nothing with it) off we could have brought n'guessan on and had both him and pritchard on the wings and actually had a couple of out balls.

bit of a shitty day really what with the m6 being basically at a stand still for about 50 miles and the football not really up to it, booked a day off work for that too which makes it even less worth while.

oh well, it'll happen i guess, you have to be take the last couple of performances/results to be able to really enjoy the previous couple.

going to remain positive and look forward to port vale, only 2 league games left for me now this season, france is beckoning and i'll be gone after colchester, so hoping for another couple of scintillating performances to send me off.  seeing a couple of fringe players against wycombe and a decent FA cup draw would make me happy too.

First shot on target, five past four.
Sums up the game for me.
No complaints if we lost that 4 - 1
Awful spectacle if you we're a Town fan.

The only real surprise today was that Adam Rooney didn't score....we're at a bit of a crunch time now with the clocks about to go back and weather conditions changing, because our side isn't built for the hard attrition of Div 3....we badly need to make sure we pick a couple of wins in the next 6 or so games.

This situation is similar to 81/82 where another young side with an inexperienced boss, started off looking highly promising, collected 21 points after 14 games, but struggled through the winter and got relegated.

My god I feel sorry for you. You drove all that way, missed half the game, we lost miserably and all you have to look forward to is moving to France!  Nobody should have to endure that much misery.

We should organise a whip round

it's ok, i live in a ski resort surrounded by 18-21 year old english, danish, dutch and swedish girls.  winter is good :)

cannot put a price on how much i miss going to football though when i'm out there

KT 1-0 nochee :)

i take his point though, i don't really consider the resort to be france if i'm honest.  i have actively had this argument with french people who believe they should be served first simply because they're french.  they get asked to leave

2-0  :)

Something to look forward to then Reg  ;)

I get your point though, which loosely ties in with my earlier one that I think we'll struggle to pick up points against the higher placed opposition.

i don't think will have anything to do with league placings to be honest.  sometimes we'll be unplayable, sometimes we won't, for me this season is as simple as that. 

if we're as good as we can be then we can beat anyone, if not then we can lose to anyone.

The fact that Reg has made the effort to post shows where we are and depresses me a little.

Sorry Reg.

Brush ourselves down, back on to next week. We don't become a poor team over night....4 at the back away from home is a must...for me.

Ideal candidates for the JPT then.......that would be a right result.

Was in London all day yesterday and could not keep up with how the game panned out but reading the comments today from those who were there concerns me a little. I am coming to the conclusion that initially we were an unknown quantity and caught teams out with our style of play, but now we are three months in and the opposition scouts have seen enough and can negate our tactics.

I do think that we may need an "older" head in midfield that can change play - not an easy player to find as every club probably requires one of those, but as the season wears on the current squad is still in the main very young and quite inexperienced and on a steep learning curve and a seasoned "pro" might well be a real help.

One other thing that concerns me and has been talked about before is that MC does not use all his available players, only one sub yesterday and that strikes me as odd when we are chasing a game.

 :hmmm:



 

We'll win some and lose some. Mid table would be a decent return. Anything more is a bonus.

Harley?

Is he still alive?

Seems to me it's all about confidence.

our game is based on the players having confidence to pass the ball, sometimes in tight situations.

Now, with that awful performance against Walsall, our confidence has temporarily been shot to bits. The game was littered with individual errors and now nobody seems to want to try what they were doing successfully against Notts Co and Rotherham.

I reckon this will be a regular problem this season with the youngsters in the side - just as the fantastic football that the preceding games showed.

We will blow hot and cold. better get used to it

This. Mid table is a good season after the high turnover of players and drastic budget cut.

<Chang> Play-offs is the absolute minimum. Anything else is failure </Chang>

But that means that Cooper will be out, if we don't finish in the play offs....  apparently...

Failure may be harsh, however I am on record as saying the pre season aim of a title challenge is unrealistic.

If we have a good go at getting into the play offs but just fall short then there will be no complaints from me. Plenty of football still to play and I maintain my view that if we can keep within touching distance going into the second half of the season then we can put a run together going into the final stretch. On the flip side, I see why a few have voiced concerns that this squad will struggle when the winter period comes about and the classic '____ away on a cold Tuesday night'.

A lot will also hinge on the verdict in Ranger's court case as he is integral to our style of play. We saw what it was like with Williams up there and Ranger plays it superbly.

We are doing better than I expected in pre season, I couldn't believe the appointment of Cooper at the time, so I am relatively content so far.

Berniman: Well that's what the chairman has been telling people in pubs pre match. The bloke genuinely thinks we are title contenders.

The question this season isn't whether we're good enough but whether we can fulfil our obvious potential

Well the view has changed a lot from...


When we win it's play offs should be the minimum expected and the "happy to stay up brigade" should shut up, when we lose it's "If we have a good go at getting into the play offs but just fall short then there will be no complaints from me"

And as for what the chairman has been saying in pubs....  Really?  Is that where Jason Roberts came from?

Are we trying tp put square pegs into round holes ? i.e. are we picking players that are the good players and putting them into the formation regardless if the formation fits them, or are we picking players for the formation we are playing and putting them in hoping they will do well together.

The main one that springs to mind is Pritchard while he is a good player he does seem to be getting played all over the place , centre, mid, wings, of the front man, just to keep him in the team rather than put him in his best position where he is best or put him on the bench

does feel a little like that, however he kind of looked even better 'in the hole' than he has on the wing, that could just be more to do with the fact he's getting games under his belt.  he certainly didn't look great as a second striker on saturday though.

Chief idiot seems to be some fella called jimmymannswin or something like that!

I maintain that play offs should be the aim, if we give it a good go and fall short then so be it as long as further investment is given for the next season.

The 'happy to stay up brigade' do make me laugh, you don't splash out your biggest transfer fee for almost 20 years to just be content to stay in the league. Many also believe that we have a better side than last season, so why such a drop in expectations?

fittons_coaching_badge: My favourite Twitter Town fan (aside from Dan the Fan) is the bloke who spent all summer harassing Flint and giving him constant abuse, and then cried and threw a stop when Austin got a few chants at QPR. Brilliant.

Spot on.