Oldham Athletic (A) League One - 10 Aug 2013

[Welsh_Saddler]

Our first away fixture in League One this season takes us to the often freezing wasteland that is Oldham. They were top scorers last Saturday in their opening game winning 4-3 at Stevenage, although it should be noted that Oldham were 3-1 up at one stage in the second half and allowed Stevenage to come back to 3-3 before getting their 4th.

Lee Johnson (son of Gary, the Yeovil manager) is their manager, and latest team news is that he's announced an unchanged 19-man squad for the League Cup game against Derby County. Dangerous players seem to be Adam Rooney (still involved in a contract dispute with Swindon Town), Anton Rodgers (son of Brendan, Liverpool manager) and Jose Baxter, a product of the Everton academy (scored 2 against Stevenage).

Our team news at the time of writing is that we also have an unchanged squad, with the bonus that Andy Taylor has shaken off his pre-season ankle knock and is available for selection. Difficult one for Dean Smith - do you change a winning side?

One thing seems to be certain - there will be goals.....Oldham have now gone 48 League games since their last 0-0 result.

Referee is Gary Sutton, from Lincolnshire. He has a bit of a chequered past in terms of controversy following him around. He was first taken on to the Football League list in 2005, but two years later he was demoted to the Blue Square ranks before being re-admitted to the League list in 2009. Oldham fans will remember him for officiating at the game at Doncaster last November when he showed 2 red cards. The month before that, in a League 2 game at Plymouth he awarded 3 penalties. Various managers have complained about his refereeing standards (Ronnie Moore, Gus Poyet and notably Paul Peschisolido who was summoned to FL headquarters to explain himself)!!!

Enough waffling (I hear you say).....I will be quite happy with a 1-1 draw here. As the old saying goes, win your home games and draw the away games, and you'll end up top of the table. :D

[DYSaddler]

We battered them at home last season but were poor away. Although the away game was something like the 2nd game of the season and the squad consisted of Grof et al. I'll go for a 2-1 saddlers win - Lalkovic and Mantom with the goals infront of 4,024 (413 saddlers)

[Sadders]

Going to be a tough game this, under Jonhson they have signed a few good players and like Smith he is trying to get the ball down and play the proper way. Christian Montano is the guy that dominated Daryl Westlake when we lost 2-1 at Notts County a couple of years back and scored a peach of a goal last Saturday at Stevenage. Jose Baxter is the big threat, not sure how they managed to keep him as he is a quality player with pace and goals in him. Charlie MacDonald is a reasonably seasoned lower league forward as well, so the back four will have to be on top guard.

As Stevenage found out, they are however weak at the back and thus for any betsmen on UTS, BTTS looks bang on.

I'll go for an entertaining and ultimately hard fought score draw.

Oldham 2-2 Walsall
Baxendale & Westcarr, Baxter and Montano
350-400 Saddlers tops.

[JonnyOwen]

My first away game on my own, going to be sketchy! 2-1 Saddlers win.

[canadiansaddler]

2 - 2 draw

Butler to score a late Captain Zero super man bullet header to bring us back from the brink of defeat and allow 376 happy saddlers to dance there way down the M6 and accidentally win Britains got talent along the way with there rendition of "Were to Shexy"

[Soton Saddler]

Oldham 2 - 3 Walsall

Butler, Westcarr, Sawyers

4119 (377 Saddlers)

UTS C'mon.

[Willenhall Saddler]

First defeat I think, I think Oldham will do far better than they did last season, toughest game of the season for me so far

[Louise]

Going to this one so hope for a victory,realistically happy with a draw.

[Walsall Loyal]

2-0 Walsall both goals from westcarr

[Hurrikeen]

First defeat I think, I think Oldham will do far better than they did last season, toughest game of the season for me.

"Toughest game of the season"?

As a Latics fan, I'm wondering whether that's tongue in cheek since it'll only be our 2nd league game, or you think travelling to Boundary Park will be a much more difficult task than to, say, Molinuex, Griffin Park, Bramall Lane, etc.

I'm looking forward to this game. Both teams have goals in them and we are a little susceptible to the long ball. From what I'm seeing on here though, and on the FL League show against the Trannies, you prefer to keep it on the deck. If so, Saturday promises to be a decent game. Just gutted I'm on a Stag Doo at Haydock Park instead!

As I've said before, good luck for the rest of the season, despite hoping you get mauled on Saturday :-)

Latics 3
Baxter, Rooney, Montano

Walsall 1
Westcarr

[kshammer]

3-1 to us.

Lalkopop, Mantom and Downing.

Late goal from Baxter for them.

[WFC_Rob]

2nd in the league vs. 3rd. Automatic promotion six-pointer? :P

I think we're looking at a 1-1 draw here. Rooney for them, Lalkovic for us.

[We-ARE-Walsall]

Be a tough game this one, wouldn't be surprised if we came undone to be honest. However we are no pushovers either, So I'll go for a high scoring draw. 3-3.

[Willenhall Saddler]

First defeat I think, I think Oldham will do far better than they did last season, toughest game of the season for me.

"Toughest game of the season"?

As a Latics fan, I'm wondering whether that's tongue in cheek since it'll only be our 2nd league game, or you think travelling to Boundary Park will be a much more difficult task than to, say, Molinuex, Griffin Park, Bramall Lane, etc.

I'm looking forward to this game. Both teams have goals in them and we are a little susceptible to the long ball. From what I'm seeing on here though, and on the FL League show against the Trannies, you prefer to keep it on the deck. If so, Saturday promises to be a decent game. Just gutted I'm on a Stag Doo at Haydock Park instead!

As I've said before, good luck for the rest of the season, despite hoping you get mauled on Saturday :-)

Latics 3
Baxter, Rooney, Montano

I meant to say "toughest game of the season so far" I was in a rush when I posted it




Walsall 1
Westcarr

[WFC_Rob]

Praise indeed from Lee Johnson here: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-football/walsall-fc/2013/08/09/walsall-fc-backed-to-hit-heights-by-oldham-manager-lee-johnson/

[Hurrikeen]

Praise indeed from Lee Johnson here: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-football/walsall-fc/2013/08/09/walsall-fc-backed-to-hit-heights-by-oldham-manager-lee-johnson/

He's a good lad is, our LJ!

[Ancient Moaner]

Praise indeed from Lee Johnson here: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-football/walsall-fc/2013/08/09/walsall-fc-backed-to-hit-heights-by-oldham-manager-lee-johnson/

He's a good lad is, our LJ!

He seems to have signed one or two damn good players, that are known by most of us, would seem he too can recruit some
quality, I think they will be a totally different outfit this season. Could be a toughie this one. I'll be there, so I'm hoping for a creditable draw, perhaps 2-2 in the end. One thing for certain...Boundary Park will be the coldest spot in the UK! I bet during the recent heatwave there used to be a queue of folk snaking over the roughshod carpark waiting to cool off in the sub zero temperatures that pervade from the ground!! :lol: :lol:

[rogerem]

2-4.... 512 Saddlers with a brace for Lalkovic and Mantom.

[Exile]

I fancy a 3-3 thriller here. Don't know why, just one of those feelings.

W-A-W to get knocked out by a wayward goal kick from O'Donnell. MMF to finish his pie and chips without batting an eyelid.

[Exile]

Front page poll by the way...

http://upthesaddlers.com/wp/archives/20 ... s-walsall/

[We-ARE-Walsall]

I am now going :D

I'll watch out for wayward goal kicks.

[rusky]

My first post of this new football season so I have to go with a win for the mighty Saddlers, I'm going for a Ray Graydonesque 1-0, Butler in the 87th minute. 327 saddlers enjoying a warm Boundary Park!

[King Crimson]

I am now going :D

I'll watch out for wayward goal kicks.

Best stay in the bar.
:wink:

[saddla]

In my opinion this is going to be a real indicator of how our season is going to map out. Oldham are certainly no pushovers, so a win for the super saddlers and I'm off down the bookies to get some cash on us for promotion. A draw is probably what we should be expecting. A loss and we will probably be disappointed - but not too much.

I'm in optimistic mood though and I'll go for a 1-2 win for the boys in red! (that's if Oldham haven't changed their colours this year :lol: )

[latviancheese]

Walsall 3/1 to win, or 5/4 on the Draw No bet.

Too easy to chew on those prices.

I think it will be a 2-1 win for Walsall. Goal late on.

[We-ARE-Walsall]

I am now going :D

I'll watch out for wayward goal kicks.

Best stay in the bar.
:wink:

Don't encourage me :lol:

The football is more tempting than the beer these days.

[latviancheese]

I am now going :D

I'll watch out for wayward goal kicks.

Best stay in the bar.
:wink:

Don't encourage me :lol:

The football is more tempting than the beer these days.

We must be good :wink:

[We-ARE-Walsall]

Not that good. I still managed to miss our first goal Tuesday night stood up the bar.

[latviancheese]

Not that good. I still managed to miss our first goal Tuesday night stood up the bar.

Funny though, when it went in a thought crossed my mind about Evo and crew. :lol:

[saddla]

Team:
01 O'Donnell
04 Butler
12 Downing
14 Benning
15 J Chambers
07 A Chambers
08 Mantom
11 Hemmings
16 Baxendale
09 Lalkovic
10 Westcarr
Substitutes
13 Lewis
05 Holden
02 Purkiss
25 Sawyers
26 McQuilkin
06 Featherstone
24 Hewitt