Oldham Athletic (A) League One, Aug 13, 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

A local game for any Northern Saddlers, at Boundary Park. Make sure you're well wrapped up as it can be quite arctic even in August - nearly as cold as The Shay, Halifax, if memory serves. It's been "all change" at Oldham Athletic over the summer, with manager Stephen Robinson appointed in July 2016 having been Assistant manager to the Northern Ireland team. He joined Oldham to find they only had 7 contracted players, and in the close season 18 new signings have been made - Robinson is on record as saying that he's still learning some of the players' names......

An up-and-down-start to the season for the Latics:-

6 Aug Millwall (A) Lost 3-0
9 Aug Wigan Athletic (H) League Cup, Won 2-1

Will Grigg scored for Wigan, but they rather shot themselves in the foot by having defender Jake Buxton sent off near half-time. Oldham's reward for this win will be a short trip to Preston North End.

From Jon Whitney's point of view it would appear that we flattered to deceive in beating Wimbledon 3-1, being brought back to earth with a bump by Yeovil Town. His team selection will probably depend as much on players' match fitness as much as form, so it's very difficult to predict with any accuracy. Hopefully messrs Cutler and Etheridge have had a session of "how to get back to your goal in time after taking a free kick" :wink:

I've posted this statistic before, but it's always good to have an excuse to resurrect it......in 1961/2 our home record in league matches was Played 23, Won 19, Drew 4, Lost 0. Goals for 62, Goals against 20. And in that same season we lost at home in the F. A. Cup 0-1 to.......yep, Yeovil Town, so here's hoping for a repeat of that season's performance!!

Prediction for Saturday? Very unsure, but after the Yeovil game I would be happy with a 1-1 draw - Makris to open his account.

[saddla]

One of my first away games back in the 60's was at Oldum. Can't remember the score only the pitched battles on the terraces.
Blagged my way onto the supporters coach behind the station as I didn't have a ticket and it was full. I slipped the guy a quid and he said you'll have to squeeze up with your mates. 3 of us sat on a seat for 2, me and 2 very nice young girls. Those were the days :lol:

I'll be driving up from Cambridgeshire for this one. No young girls though :( . 2-1 to me babbies :D

[cumbria-saddler]

Nice early Northern away game! 2-1 Walsall, Bakayoko and Makris.

Does anyone know if we are in the normal away end, or the one we were in last season?

[Whitters]

Hopefully messrs Cutler and Etheridge have had a session of "how to get back to your goal in time after taking a free kick" :wink:

Etheridge simply wanted some extra bloopers videos for when he does his Keeper Masterclass Schools in the Far East.
0-2 to us.

[swampysaddler]

Attended this one last season.
We was absolutely dire.
Hoping for a better result seen as I won't be there Saturday.
1-2, Jackson and Makris to get off the mark.

[coop63]

Nice pre-match article again Welsh - thanks

One of our biggest assets last season was resilience (we didn't seem to know when we were beat - with the exception of the play off games!!) and this is mainly based around capability and player trust. My main concern is that with such a new squad and so many fresh faces, this 'player to player' trust has yet to be established and it was evident on Tuesday against Yeovil..

Oldham will have the same problem so on this basis I'm going for a repeat result of our opening game last season 1-1

UTS

[SoccerHQ]

The record here is horrendous isn't it?

I went to the August 2013 game which Bax scored the winner but that must be the only win up there in last 10 years?

Oldham weren't far off relegation last season and this season have a rookie manager and signed a whole host of unknown players.

Should get a point at least from this, I'll go 2-2.

[scott_powell]

0-4 Walsall

Jackson x2, Morris and Bakayoko

[Ancient Moaner]

0-4 Walsall

Jackson x2, Morris and Bakayoko

Whatever your on...can I have some?
Belgian and myself will be there as usual, with our winter woollies for the trek through the frozen tundra up there on that there mountain.
I'll go for 1-1 at best, we've suffered from a couple of lousy performances up to date and hope that Whit's can sort out a winning team from what has to be the best collection of individual quality ever to be seen in recent Walsall squads.........but, will they gel quickly? Let's hope so.

[scott_powell]

0-4 Walsall

Jackson x2, Morris and Bakayoko

Whatever your on...can I have some?
Belgian and myself will be there as usual, with our winter woollies for the trek through the frozen tundra up there on that there mountain.
I'll go for 1-1 at best, we've suffered from a couple of lousy performances up to date and hope that Whit's can sort out a winning team from what has to be the best collection of individual quality ever to be seen in recent Walsall squads.........but, will they gel quickly? Let's hope so.

It's a prediction of hope rather than expectation ... but as you asked .. I'm on mushrooms. I can link you with a dealer if you like?

Now leave me alone. I'm currently on an adventure with Eddy Sonko, sailing down a rainbow river.

[Gripper]

Nice early Northern away game! 2-1 Walsall, Bakayoko and Makris.

Does anyone know if we are in the normal away end, or the one we were in last season?

I've been once (last season) and that's the end we are in again this time around mate.

[WSTFC]

2-1 Walsall, Makris (x2)

[derbysaddler]

Oldham 1-3 Walsall

Jackson, Oldham own goal and Makris.

Also due to the shrooms, I'm currently flying through sunset skies on a flying pie to visit Bonsers floating palace................I can see the spires in the distance. :shock:

[cumbria-saddler]

The record here is horrendous isn't it?

I went to the August 2013 game which Bax scored the winner but that must be the only win up there in last 10 years?

The only other one I remember us winning was in 2007-08, the game between Christmas and New Year. Dann and Ricketts scored, and I remember Richard Taundry was absolutely superb that day at Left Back.

[Ancient Moaner]

0-4 Walsall

Jackson x2, Morris and Bakayoko

Whatever your on...can I have some?
Belgian and myself will be there as usual, with our winter woollies for the trek through the frozen tundra up there on that there mountain.
I'll go for 1-1 at best, we've suffered from a couple of lousy performances up to date and hope that Whit's can sort out a winning team from what has to be the best collection of individual quality ever to be seen in recent Walsall squads.........but, will they gel quickly? Let's hope so.

It's a prediction of hope rather than expectation ... but as you asked .. I'm on mushrooms. I can link you with a dealer if you like?

Now leave me alone. I'm currently on an adventure with Eddy Sonko, sailing down a rainbow river.

I'd join you, but as Edward Hitler would say "I Haven't got the bus fare mate" :lol: :lol:
Great idea on the mushroom vendor by the way, Bury Market perhaps?

[Darth Vader]

Go for a 1-1 draw just cos it's Oldham

400 odd Walsall fans

[Ancient Moaner]

Go for a 1-1 draw just cos it's Oldham

400 odd Walsall fans

Every single one of us deliriously happy on Scott's mushrooms, shipped up to Oldham to 'keep us warm'!!!! :D :D :D

[Cully]

See you all there folks :D

Oldham 2 Walsall 2 is my guess with my hat falling off into my lap when we equalise for the second time.

[killers left foot]

2-1 win with makris and jackson scoring the goals.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Oldham Athletic:

Etheridge

Edwards
McCarthy
O'Connor
Henry

Osbourne
Kinsella
Moussa
Oztuma

Cuvelier
Jackson

Substitutes: MacGillivray, Dobson, Morris, Preston, Ginnelly, Bakayoko, Makris

[Welsh_Saddler]

Early goal in Kent.... Gillingham 1 Bury 0

and Peterborough Utd 0 Bradford City 1 (Jordy Hiwula!!)

AFC Wimbledon 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Charlton Athletic 0 Northampton Town 1

Chesterfield 1 Swindon Town 0

MK Dons 1 Millwall 2

[SaddlerCraig]

Sads world making it sound like getting all the posession but all in front of the oldham defence at the mo.

Get the feeling we might nick this off a set piece.

[SaddlerCraig]

Rico being stretchered off with shoulder injury... with no cover at left back it's a big concern

[Welsh_Saddler]

Matt Preston on for Rico Henry, 31 minutes......

Updates: AFC Wimbledon 1 Bolton Wanderers 1

MK Dongs 2 Millwall 2

Fleetwood Town 1 Scunthorpe Utd 0 (*** This scoreline pushes us up to 3rd place in the table***) :D

Port Vale 1 Southend Utd 0

Title favourites Sheffield Utd 0 Rochdale 1

[chunkster]

barnsley and brentford both winning 2-0

[Andy_Petterson]

Can no-one be bothered to even say it finished 0-0?

:lol:

[Andy_Petterson]

4 pts out of 6.

Good enough for me.

[Wendy Mumford]

DISGRACEFUL. Sliding down the table already!!! Franksy, he's gorra gew !!!!

[DonningtonSaddler]

Go for a 1-1 draw just cos it's Oldham

400 odd Walsall fans

I know we are from Walsall, but surely not all 400 can be deemed as odd ?

[Pheasey_Saddler]

BBC stats shows 8 shots for both teams with 3 on target. Draw sounds a fair result.