Oldham Athletic v Swindon Town Matchday Thread

[THE FLASH]

Storey isnt god but he has to be better than inexperienced youngins ..

Squad build is threadbare this season.Hope some lessons have been learned.I doubt it

[Reg Smeeton]

Town don't sound as if they will get another point this season. Will 51 definitely be enough to avoid the last relegation place?

No. Of the teams with us in the relegation battle for probably 1 place, Shrewsbury look have the most difficult run in, but it's now looking increasingly possible that the last game of the season may decide. We've also managed a -11 GD in the last 4, effectively throwing an extra point away on most of the other candidates. 

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

On the other hand, if he worked out quite early that we had just enough to stay up, he did quite a clever job of offloading a few salaries on loan to save money for a full-blown assault next year.

Right?

The budget gets cut every year which is why the squad has got worse. Getting rid of 2 strikers and not replacing them is a massive risk. If Obika got injured a few weeks earlier we might be in trouble now. The result of not replacing is a threadbare squad...from experience in October id have thought Power might have got a few more in to avoid this very scenario.

[Ticker45]

Easter and onwards is always the time that tends to sort out which way teams are heading and our current form is pathetic regarding points and goals conceded and has put us in a not very good situation.

The chances of us getting anything at Bradford probably hinges on our "better" players being available but even then I do not hold out any great hopes as they are on a roll currently and it may be too soon.

Just another win would help certainly and I will be glad to see the back of this season that is for sure.

[Red Frog]

The budget gets cut every year which is why the squad has got worse. Getting rid of 2 strikers and not replacing them is a massive risk. If Obika got injured a few weeks earlier we might be in trouble now. The result of not replacing is a threadbare squad...from experience in October id have thought Power might have got a few more in to avoid this very scenario.

I think he binned this season weeks ago, and would have gone for a loan if Obika had got nobbled a couple of weeks earlier. Might be quite canny. I just don't know when we get to see the payoff.

[Jimmy Glass is an Alien]

It will be interesting to see how we run next season as the emergency loan window is closing, so we can only do business in the summer or January. Do we stock up on players in the summer and replenish in January, or do we go with what we have and use the youths?

[Costanza]

As far as I'm concerned, 21st is still very much a possibility and I'm surprised how relaxed a lot of people are about this.

Well done, everybody. I'm still nervous.

[Ells]

I think he binned this season weeks ago, and would have gone for a loan if Obika had got nobbled a couple of weeks earlier. Might be quite canny. I just don't know when we get to see the payoff.

Agree with this, although I'd probably go back further than a few weeks. The payoff will be next season. We'll either have a more diverse squad who challenge, or we'll continue to have a threadbare squad who struggle with inadequate replacements when they're needed. Perhaps we'll have exactly what we've had this season, except half the squad won't get injured and we won't have a manager/coach who despise each other, and we'll reach the play offs. I do think there are more factors at hand than just the fact that Obika is injured and everyone else is short.

I was quite pleased we only conceded 2 actually 

[JoeMezz]

About time for another PowerHour I think...

[Ells]

About time for another PowerHour I think...

Seems pointless to me. I think most people have already made their mind up about him and won't be swayed - and if they are on the fence, a few leading, Garth Crooksy questions from Hodgetts isn't going to help.

I think he should have us all round for a cuppa.

[Oaksey Moonraker]

About time for another PowerHour I think...

At least people will have more to talk about than the food kiosks!

[Wobbly Bob]

Post match large medicinal vodka in progress.

Well that was expected. Oldham did enough and not much to get excited about.
Decent in the first half, good tempo and attacked well down the wings,
BOO in particular and Rogers moved the ball quite well.
Improved display from Hylton.
Top teams don't concede goals like the first one, either the cross is stopped,
or its then dealt with in the box or the keeper saves it.
Oldham pressed more in the second half and a few of our lot faded.
No real threat from the youngsters up front but good experience anyway.
Still maybe need another 3 or 4 points to be absolutely safe.
Hopefully the return of NT and maybe Jon can steady the ship
on Saturday.

[theakston2k]

Highlights up

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/league-one/10231859/oldham-2-0-swindon

Looking at the goals it looks like more shambolic defending and poor keeping. First goal a free header but looks to be very close to the keeper so should be doing better. Second goal lots of half arsed clearances and keeper in no mans land to get lobbed from 6 yards for the final finish. We really are just giving away goals at the moment!

[Oaksey Moonraker]

Betfair offering 200-1 on us to be relegated. Time for a Brian Hillier insurance bet to cover cost of a season ticket.

[Tails]

As far as I'm concerned, 21st is still very much a possibility and I'm surprised how relaxed a lot of people are about this.

Well done, everybody. I'm still nervous.

I think we probably need a couple of points to be sure but generally 51 has been enough... I was relaxed, now I'm a bit nervy. If Obika and Vigs are back soon (+ NT's returning on Saturday) I think we'll be able to get at least one more win.