Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Reports and reaction from the 2017-2018 season as Walsall finished 19th in League 1
- Welsh_Saddler
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Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Jon Whitney isn't blessed with a surfeit of hair, but that doesn't seem to worry him - but the hair that should concern him is the anecdotal one from which is suspended his personal "Sword of Damocles" because that particular hair has definitely started to fray, and only a thumpingly convincing 3 points against Oldham Athletic on Saturday will help to nourish it in any way. At the moment the sword is poised above his quivering torso as he lies strapped to the Physiotherapist's table! The rumour mill and the grapevine have left many people in no doubt that there are fundamental inadequacies in his managerial make-up - dissatisfied players, lack of Board support, tactical naivety, disparaging (and contradictory) public statements, take your pick.
Bearing all that in mind, it's reassuring that those sentiments are very nearly mirrored by supporters of Oldham Athletic regarding their manager John Sheridan. Appointed for his 5th (yes, 5th) spell as Oldham's manager in January this year he guided them to a 17th place finish, but it has to be said that the team's statistics were remarkable ... Oldham scored the fewest goals in League One last season (by a country mile) - to score 31 goals in 46 games takes some doing, specially when you think that even the execrable Coventry City found the net 37 times. Even more interestingly, Oldham's defence conceded only 44 goals, which was better than runaway leaders Sheffield United. The striking options have been enhanced by their signings of Courtney Duffus (from Everton) and Belgian Gyamfi Kyeremeh (from Eintracht Braunschweig II), but last season's ever-present goalkeeper Connor Ripley is back at his parent club Middlesbrough, so Ben Wilson is at present between the sticks, on a 6-month loan from Cardiff City. Defensively, of course, the Latics have the waistline of Anthony Gerrard at their disposal and there must be a significant amount of tactical nous at Boundary Park, as they released Michael Ngoo in the close season.....
The displeasure of Oldham's fans is largely due to the disappointing start they've made (like ourselves) -
Aug 4 Oxford United (H) League One, Lost 0-2
Aug 9 Burton Albion (H) Carabao Cup, Lost 2-3
Burton Albion followed the same pattern as Sheffield United did against us, in making wholesale changes from their recognised first team. The opening defeat against Oxford United saw only 2 shots on target from Oldham .... now which other team plays for 90 minutes and only has 2 shots on target??? John Sheridan, of course, has his own particular niche in football management - not many guys have been awarded 5-match touchline bans, or been sacked for "gross misconduct", but no doubt he will be on his best behaviour at Fortress Banks's.
So - what will JW's approach be for Saturday? His options are limited, it has to be said, in that although the defence will probably pick itself it's up front that the major headache becomes a full-blown migraine. Bakayoko has to be first choice because he has demonstrated his ability, but Simeon Jackson appears to be nothing more than a passenger (and an offside one at that). There's no talk of any kind of contract for Matty Fryatt yet, and he's nowhere near match fitness. Wingers? Simple - we haven't got any. Square pegs in round holes.........
Prediction? From what I have seen, and it's only from an armchair, we've been very unlucky (Copyright JW), and sooner or later there has to come a game where the opposition doesn't get the benefit of outrageous rebounds and extremely fortunate deflections - in the hope that Saturday will provide such opposition I will venture to suggest a 3-1 home win, with Bakayoko and Oztumer scoring before half time, and Candlin coming on in the 72nd minute to score with his first touch. :D
UTS!!!!!!!!!
Bearing all that in mind, it's reassuring that those sentiments are very nearly mirrored by supporters of Oldham Athletic regarding their manager John Sheridan. Appointed for his 5th (yes, 5th) spell as Oldham's manager in January this year he guided them to a 17th place finish, but it has to be said that the team's statistics were remarkable ... Oldham scored the fewest goals in League One last season (by a country mile) - to score 31 goals in 46 games takes some doing, specially when you think that even the execrable Coventry City found the net 37 times. Even more interestingly, Oldham's defence conceded only 44 goals, which was better than runaway leaders Sheffield United. The striking options have been enhanced by their signings of Courtney Duffus (from Everton) and Belgian Gyamfi Kyeremeh (from Eintracht Braunschweig II), but last season's ever-present goalkeeper Connor Ripley is back at his parent club Middlesbrough, so Ben Wilson is at present between the sticks, on a 6-month loan from Cardiff City. Defensively, of course, the Latics have the waistline of Anthony Gerrard at their disposal and there must be a significant amount of tactical nous at Boundary Park, as they released Michael Ngoo in the close season.....
The displeasure of Oldham's fans is largely due to the disappointing start they've made (like ourselves) -
Aug 4 Oxford United (H) League One, Lost 0-2
Aug 9 Burton Albion (H) Carabao Cup, Lost 2-3
Burton Albion followed the same pattern as Sheffield United did against us, in making wholesale changes from their recognised first team. The opening defeat against Oxford United saw only 2 shots on target from Oldham .... now which other team plays for 90 minutes and only has 2 shots on target??? John Sheridan, of course, has his own particular niche in football management - not many guys have been awarded 5-match touchline bans, or been sacked for "gross misconduct", but no doubt he will be on his best behaviour at Fortress Banks's.
So - what will JW's approach be for Saturday? His options are limited, it has to be said, in that although the defence will probably pick itself it's up front that the major headache becomes a full-blown migraine. Bakayoko has to be first choice because he has demonstrated his ability, but Simeon Jackson appears to be nothing more than a passenger (and an offside one at that). There's no talk of any kind of contract for Matty Fryatt yet, and he's nowhere near match fitness. Wingers? Simple - we haven't got any. Square pegs in round holes.........
Prediction? From what I have seen, and it's only from an armchair, we've been very unlucky (Copyright JW), and sooner or later there has to come a game where the opposition doesn't get the benefit of outrageous rebounds and extremely fortunate deflections - in the hope that Saturday will provide such opposition I will venture to suggest a 3-1 home win, with Bakayoko and Oztumer scoring before half time, and Candlin coming on in the 72nd minute to score with his first touch. :D
UTS!!!!!!!!!
- sirrammell
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
1-1, Oztumer penalty again. Whitney to get another week in the job with more questions than answers.
- El_Nombre
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Kouyar won the penalty last night. That's more than Morris has done the entire time since Shrewsbury. Give him a go.
One nil Walsall ... please!?!?
One nil Walsall ... please!?!?
- Walsallone
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
A very important game....have we got the confidence, skill and guts to win it? I hope so as Oldham will probably be also rans in the League(like us at the minute).I will go for a 1-0 victory.
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scott_powell - Site Addict
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Too important to lose.
Walsall 1-0 Oldham
Bakayoko to score.
Walsall 1-0 Oldham
Bakayoko to score.
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Ancient Moaner - Site Addict
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
1-1 banker, ours from an own goal of course.
Fury erupting from the lower & middle 'floors to go' stand, directed toward the dugout and the Board....which one will wilt first?
Go on Whitney....fall on your sword for everyone's sake.....
We need a fresh approach, the current one ain't working.
Fury erupting from the lower & middle 'floors to go' stand, directed toward the dugout and the Board....which one will wilt first?
Go on Whitney....fall on your sword for everyone's sake.....
We need a fresh approach, the current one ain't working.
- SoccerHQ
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
0-1.
Times are dire when I'm predicting defeats and AM is going for a draw. :D
Times are dire when I'm predicting defeats and AM is going for a draw. :D
- Tom_1992
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Think we'll scrape a win as Whitney seems to have a knack of pulling a result from somewhere just as the pressure is heating up.
It won't be easy on the eye, but I'm going for a 2-1 victory with another Oztumer penalty and Wilson to score against his former club.
It won't be easy on the eye, but I'm going for a 2-1 victory with another Oztumer penalty and Wilson to score against his former club.
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chunkster - Site Addict
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
I have a sneaking suspicion that we will win this one, there is to much pressure on Witney not to.
- BathSaddler
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Oldham have a squad every bit as threadbare as ours, so if we lose this we really are in trouble.
I think we'll get a point from a 1-1 draw, but that's about the limit of my expectations.
I think we'll get a point from a 1-1 draw, but that's about the limit of my expectations.
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hullsaddler - Glitterati
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Not often there is a relegation 6 pointer 2nd game of the season but I'll go for a 1.0 win ..Devlin.
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SaigonSaddler - Site Addict
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Nailed on draw, with a dazzling cornucopia of football goodness and excitement.
So, 0-0.
So, 0-0.
- coop63
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
2-2 and another quote from JW along the lines of: 'I can't fault the commitment from the lads and we dominated the game for 70 minutes but must learn to be more disciplined from set pieces'....
- saddlertd
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
SaigonSaddler wrote:Nailed on draw, with a dazzling cornucopia of football goodness and excitement.
So, 0-0.
From the opening synopsis above, it looks like Oldham are as toothless as us, so 0-0 looks the obvious score....so I'll go a bit left-field and say 3-1 to the mighty Reds. It will be the start of a 5-match winning streak that will take us to the top of the table.
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giglee - Posts: 76
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
2-0 win, baka and ozzy with the goals. Can't wait to see the super saddlers for the first time this season :D
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PT - Site Addict
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Looking forward to it - as always. Don't get why, after decades of supporting us and seeing us be more rubbish than good, some have decided they don't fancy it anymore.
Anyway. I'm with Saigon. 0-0. Not a lot happening but both managers to be happy with a "we could/should have won that, but we're off the mark with a good clean sheet and we will build from that".
All the lads and lasses all had smiling faces.
UTS
Anyway. I'm with Saigon. 0-0. Not a lot happening but both managers to be happy with a "we could/should have won that, but we're off the mark with a good clean sheet and we will build from that".
All the lads and lasses all had smiling faces.
UTS
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Ancient Moaner - Site Addict
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
saddlertd wrote:SaigonSaddler wrote:Nailed on draw, with a dazzling cornucopia of football goodness and excitement.
So, 0-0.
From the opening synopsis above, it looks like Oldham are as toothless as us, so 0-0 looks the obvious score....so I'll go a bit left-field and say 3-1 to the mighty Reds. It will be the start of a 5-match winning streak that will take us to the top of the table.
I have some cracking pills that will bring you down from that cloud in no time at all! :lol: :lol: :lol:
And remember Bradford feature in that 5 match run!! :( :( :(
- SoccerHQ
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Ancient Moaner wrote:saddlertd wrote:SaigonSaddler wrote:Nailed on draw, with a dazzling cornucopia of football goodness and excitement.
So, 0-0.
From the opening synopsis above, it looks like Oldham are as toothless as us, so 0-0 looks the obvious score....so I'll go a bit left-field and say 3-1 to the mighty Reds. It will be the start of a 5-match winning streak that will take us to the top of the table.
I have some cracking pills that will bring you down from that cloud in no time at all! :lol: :lol: :lol:
And remember Bradford feature in that 5 match run!! :( :( :(
Bradford winless at Bescot since October 2013.... :wink:
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Ancient Moaner - Site Addict
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
SoccerHQ wrote:Ancient Moaner wrote:saddlertd wrote:SaigonSaddler wrote:Nailed on draw, with a dazzling cornucopia of football goodness and excitement.
So, 0-0.
From the opening synopsis above, it looks like Oldham are as toothless as us, so 0-0 looks the obvious score....so I'll go a bit left-field and say 3-1 to the mighty Reds. It will be the start of a 5-match winning streak that will take us to the top of the table.
I have some cracking pills that will bring you down from that cloud in no time at all! :lol: :lol: :lol:
And remember Bradford feature in that 5 match run!! :( :( :(
Bradford winless at Bescot since October 2013.... :wink:
Feel sure I remember those awful vertical stripes celebrating more recently than that, but if you've checked I'll accept that, until the next fixture that is! :lol: :lol:
- cumbria-saddler
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giglee - Posts: 76
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Line-up:
Gillespie,
Devlin, Wilson, Donnellan, Guthrie, Leahy,
Chambers, Edwards, Morris,
Oztumer, Bakayoko
3 at the back, Donnellan straight in.
Gillespie,
Devlin, Wilson, Donnellan, Guthrie, Leahy,
Chambers, Edwards, Morris,
Oztumer, Bakayoko
3 at the back, Donnellan straight in.
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Sadsfan - Glitterati
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Will be watching Soccer Saturday from a bar in Costa Teguise with a Blues fan and a Villa fan hoping the Saddlers don't let me down. Think we will win this 2-0, more so to Oldham's shitness rather than our brilliance. Bakka and Ozzy to score.
- Welsh_Saddler
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Substitutes: Roberts, Roberts, Kouhyar, Jackson, Kinsella, Sangha, Oliver.
So ... O'Connor still injured (?), and no place on the bench for Flanagan, or Preston (negotiations on-going?), or Candlin (injured?)
So ... O'Connor still injured (?), and no place on the bench for Flanagan, or Preston (negotiations on-going?), or Candlin (injured?)
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Exile - Jobsworth
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
1-2
A set piece bracketed by two defensive lapses.
Evo to miss all goals while looking for chips, and only finding beer.
A set piece bracketed by two defensive lapses.
Evo to miss all goals while looking for chips, and only finding beer.
- Welsh_Saddler
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Early goal in the West Country ... Bristol Rovers 0 Peterborough Utd 1 (5 min)
.... and AFC Wimbledon 0 Shrewsbury Town 1
Blackpool 1 M K Dons 0
Rotherham Utd 3 Southend Utd 0 :shock:
Gillingham 0 Bradford City 1
.... and AFC Wimbledon 0 Shrewsbury Town 1
Blackpool 1 M K Dons 0
Rotherham Utd 3 Southend Utd 0 :shock:
Gillingham 0 Bradford City 1
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Ancient Moaner - Site Addict
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
Welsh_Saddler wrote:Substitutes: Roberts, Roberts, Kouhyar, Jackson, Kinsella, Sangha, Oliver.
So ... O'Connor still injured (?), and no place on the bench for Flanagan, or Preston (negotiations on-going?), or Candlin (injured?)
My word, that's an impressive bench alright, will have the rest of the 3rd Division quaking in their boots! :?
1/4 hour mark and still 0-0 the title is ours!!
- Welsh_Saddler
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Re: Oldham Athletic, League One 12th August 3pm
There you go .... Walsall 0 Oldham Athletic 1 (31 min) :( :( :(
According to the Beeb - Oldham's goal was from a difficult angle, long range........... (Gillespie positioning?)
According to the Beeb - Oldham's goal was from a difficult angle, long range........... (Gillespie positioning?)
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