Oldham reflections.

[RU66]

It makes me laugh that you want to throw players in that you've barely ever seen play. He's 17 years old and playing youth football.

It's about time you realised that when the youngsters don't play (or even make the bench) it means they aren't ready or good enough.

Duncan looked not far off good enough a year ago. Must have progressed since.

[Brin]

I was in attendance and what a woeful first half that was.

Take nothing away from Oldham. They were a busy unit and in our faces from the off. High tempo wide playing, they set about us that quick we'd hardly blinked when after less than a minute they were in front, embarrassing to say the least. Richardson was cheekily chipped over the top and left in no mans land while Douglas was no where near his man, who blasted it home from short range. These two are not ready for this level yet and it showed throughout the game, albeit Richardson was the busier of the two with some tackles putting the ball out of play.

Their second goal was another footballing lesson and having performed heroics against Bradford, Dawson was once again back to his worse. Rigid on the goal line, he could have and should have cleared the ball in mid air after Baptiste had been out jumped. Spence didn't come out of this without blame as he too was out jumped for their player to score.

We desperately need to be seeking another keeper in Januray if Hamshaw has no faith in Cann, why bring him in? Yes he has/had concussion but their have been other games this season already where Dawson has been weak. Other Managers change keepers why can't we? I feel Dawson is our main weak link in the defence and maybe the other players feel it to at times during a game, others may disagree.

Is it playing the three in the back or a need for a solid four, that we can't yet defend correctly? Has Woody been told just to work with a three or is he in agreement with Hamshaw and they still blindly insist on using this failed set up?

Anyway back to the game. I like the effort and style of play their forward troubled us with in the first half. Not so much the second half as he was nullified by bringing on Rafferty.

Our turnaround with the Howitzer from Spence was well worked, a lucky deflection for an own goal but a powerhouse of a delivery from Rafferty caused their time wasting thrower Leake to put it into his own goal, game finally on.

In the end the more experience and stamina showed from us with Reece scoring a lovely well worked goal having been supplied by a flick on from Hugill. Game over, got out of jail free or was it a more concerted team effort in the second half coming from the second half subs? Whatever, it was a well deserved win having come back from being 2-0 down.

Don't like the Etete/Sheriff combination and simply cannot wait from Sam Nombe's return to full duty. Not heard any further update but, trust his partner/baby are doing well.

NB. Note to RU66, did you notice Josh Ayres played and scored, don't know what it was cancelled out for? Meanwhile your lad McGu..... we'll not bother going there.

[RU66]

I was in attendance and what a woeful first half that was.

Take nothing away from Oldham. They were a busy unit and in our faces from the off. High tempo wide playing, they set about us that quick we'd hardly blinked when after less than a minute they were in front, embarrassing to say the least. Richardson was cheekily chipped over the top and left in no mans land while Douglas was no where near his man, who blasted it home from short range. These two are not ready for this level yet and it showed throughout the game, albeit Richardson was the busier of the two with some tackles putting the ball out of play.

Their second goal was another footballing lesson and having performed heroics against Bradford, Dawson was once again back to his worse. Rigid on the goal line, he could have and should have cleared the ball in mid air after Baptiste had been out jumped. Spence didn't come out of this without blame as he too was out jumped for their player to score.

We desperately need to be seeking another keeper in Januray if Hamshaw has no faith in Cann, why bring him in? Yes he has/had concussion but their have been other games this season already where Dawson has been weak. Other Managers change keepers why can't we? I feel Dawson is our main weak link in the defence and maybe the other players feel it to at times during a game, others may disagree.

Is it playing the three in the back or a need for a solid four, that we can't yet defend correctly? Has Woody been told just to work with a three or is he in agreement with Hamshaw and they still blindly insist on using this failed set up?

Anyway back to the game. I like the effort and style of play their forward troubled us with in the first half. Not so much the second half as he was nullified by bringing on Rafferty.

Our turnaround with the Howitzer from Spence was well worked, a lucky deflection for an own goal but a powerhouse of a delivery from Rafferty caused their time wasting thrower Leake to put it into his own goal, game finally on.

In the end the more experience and stamina showed from us with Reece scoring a lovely well worked goal having been supplied by a flick on from Hugill. Game over, got out of jail free or was it a more concerted team effort in the second half coming from the second half subs? Whatever, it was a well deserved win having come back from being 2-0 down.

Don't like the Etete/Sheriff combination and simply cannot wait from Sam Nombe's return to full duty. Not heard any further update but, trust his partner/baby are doing well.

NB. Note to RU66, did you notice Josh Ayres played and scored, don't know what it was cancelled out for? Meanwhile your lad McGu..... we'll not bother going there.

Brin still think McGuckin he's got more to offer than J Holmes who ran out of idea's 2nd half.

[Brin]

Brin still think McGuckin he's got more to offer than J Holmes who ran out of idea's 2nd half.

Go on, I'll have a nibble.....Jack Holmes put in a very good effort last night and got several good crosses in. He was at them all the game and they knew they had a handful to deal with. His tricky twists and turns put more than one of theirs on their arse and I thoroughly enjoyed his commitment.

Meanwhile McGu.....'Oh stop it now Brin and let it go' I can just hear TLC and others saying that to me .

[Townerslovechild]

Ok then...let it go man !
I nearly went,but had to cut/shave my hair, and that took priority.
Sounds like another 45 minute performance, the bradford game is the only one so far where we have been competitive for the whole game.
Sounds like the younger players didn't really step up,this will be why they're not playing....note to certain poster.
Hopefully the come back will give them confidence, but we really need to start playing for mire than half a game, very soon.

[Derbymiller]

The three at the back is hurting us, that and not having an option to pressure Dawson as well. These are down to Hamshaw, he will live or die by his decisions as all managers do with two sacked this week. I still think a flat four with our experienced players and good solid DM in front will stop the constant leaking of goals. Make us difficult to beat first then pretty to watch Matt for godsake, it is points not performances at this stage that matter.

[mellowmiller]

Surely Mellow, thats the point of the 'match thread', and what differentiates it from the 'post match thread'? One is a 'in the here and now' live commentary which ebbs and flows with the game, the other is a commentary with full hindsight. Otherwise just have the one thread.

Of course it is Grumpy and it was just a tongue in cheek comment because if you look at some of the things that were said on there and compare them with those after the final whistle.......
Games nowadays last more than 90 minutes and things can change significantly so sometimes it's better to be patient rather than jump to instant judgements all the time.

[Brin]

Of course it is Grumpy and it was just a tongue in cheek comment because if you look at some of the things that were said on there and compare them with those after the final whistle.......
Games nowadays last more than 90 minutes and things can change significantly so sometimes it's better to be patient rather than jump to instant judgements all the time.

Very wise words

[RU66]

One positive note Yearwood whose never looked fit in the second half was more like it. Didn't think Gore or McWilliams were in the game much. Not knocking Dawson at all with centre backs we started with in front of him. Douglas though you've got to start somewhere could come on for that.

[Heliosphan78]

Duncan looked not far off good enough a year ago. Must have progressed since.

You don't know whether he's progressed or not, you're guessing.

He played 71 minutes against the Newcastle Academy team, 12 months ago. And based on that, you'd put him straight into a league game away from home? Wow.

Everyone gets an opinion but at least base it on something rather than absolutely **** all.

[millersrus]

Gore only came on in the 63rd minute and for me certainly had a presence. Holmes wasn’t quite as influential in 2nd half as the first.
Dawson certainly at fault for the second goal. The ball looped into 6 yard box and he retreated instead of making an easy claim. I wouldn’t blame Spence for not making a headed clearance.
As to our disallowed goal I can can only assume Lino said offside, it certainly wasn’t. Ref was happy with it.
Think Lino got it wrong badly.

[Masbroughstreet]

As to our disallowed goal I can can only assume Lino said offside, it certainly wasn’t. Ref was happy with it.
Think Lino got it wrong badly.

I thought it was given for offside even though he was miles on, However according to The Advertiser match report it was a handball.

[millersrus]

The ref was a lot closer and had a good view. ��

[GlennMiller]

It shouldn't be any surprise that we struggled early on against a solid Lge 2 side who've been on a decent run. You can't stick a bunch of inexperienced youngsters into the side and expect them to play like a solid Lge 1 unit! But these are the games where Hamshaw needs to experiment with the less experienced players so no criticism on him.

That said, there were some notable observations;
Dawson is a brilliant shot-stopper and that's where his goalkeeping qualities end.
Baptiste is an agricultural defender who is way off Lge 1 standard.
Richardson needs time to develop before he's anywhere near the first XI.
Holmes is a real trier with good skill. However, to make the most of his abilities he needs to be in Lge 2.
Ayers always makes an impression and would be ahead of Hugill every time for me.
As mentioned, Etete and Sherif should not play together.

After an understandably dreadful first half, I quite enjoyed the second!

[Ericsladkilnhurst]

Duncan looked not far off good enough a year ago. Must have progressed since.

You don't know whether he's progressed or not, you're guessing.

He played 71 minutes against the Newcastle Academy team, 12 months ago. And based on that, you'd put him straight into a league game away from home? Wow.

Everyone gets an opinion but at least base it on something rather than absolutely **** all.

Look how long it took for Kayode to be aggressive against a centre half.
Putting Duncan in against a seasoned centre forward would be like a rabbit caught in a cars headlights.
Be it we play Northampton Town on Saturday, & if even Eaves played for the Cobblers, he would make mincemeat of Duncan.