Latic Acid Test. Oldham Athletic - Away. Sat 15th Apr 17 @ 12.30

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

We'd have carried more threat generally. And created more. At the very least their centre halves would have had something to do.

On 1 hand you're saying we didn't convert chances as being the problem and on the other you're saying we didn't put ourselves about enough as the reason for not scoring. Which is it? Genuine question as I wasn't there.

[Bruce Rioja]

We hit the bar twice after going two up top. Let's not conveniently airbrush that out. Only Parkinson is to blame for playing ALF up top in a one.

We hit the bar twice when Wheater and Beevers won intial headers, having two up front (who did feck all) didn't really contribute to that.

We also had a point until we went two up. Not sure Clayton would get in a pub team, lad is shite.

The Clayton that hit the bar? Don't get me wrong, I don't rate him either, but you do have a tendency to shift stuff around to suit your argument.

[BWFC_Insane]

We'd have carried more threat generally. And created more. At the very least their centre halves would have had something to do.

On 1 hand you're saying we didn't convert chances as being the problem and on the other you're saying we didn't put ourselves about enough as the reason for not scoring. Which is it? Genuine question as I wasn't there.

Both, obviously. We created chances mainly by throwing the big defenders up there. We'd have had more with someone who doesn't shirk battling the defenders.

[Bruce Rioja]

We hit the bar twice after going two up top. Let's not conveniently airbrush that out. Only Parkinson is to blame for playing ALF up top in a one.

We hit the bar twice when Wheater and Beevers won intial headers, having two up front (who did feck all) didn't really contribute to that.

We also had a point until we went two up. Not sure Clayton would get in a pub team, lad is shite.

We went two up top against 10 men. Don't forget that bit either.

[BWFC_Insane]

We hit the bar twice after going two up top. Let's not conveniently airbrush that out. Only Parkinson is to blame for playing ALF up top in a one.

We hit the bar twice when Wheater and Beevers won intial headers, having two up front (who did feck all) didn't really contribute to that.

We also had a point until we went two up. Not sure Clayton would get in a pub team, lad is shite.

The Clayton that hit the bar? Don't get me wrong, I don't rate him either, but you do have a tendency to shift stuff around to suit your argument.

Was it Clayton or Long? Either way, just playing two soft lads up front doesn't make any difference.

Plenty of the ball, but nobody today really looked like they could score. Or show the flair needed to really make something happen. End of the day we've been like this since January and losing Ameobi. We've got by with efficiency. But definitely cannot cope without Madine and Taylor.

There are no words to describe Moxey, never seen a player duck out of so many 50:50's. He definitely didn't want to be on that pitch.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

We'd have carried more threat generally. And created more. At the very least their centre halves would have had something to do.

On 1 hand you're saying we didn't convert chances as being the problem and on the other you're saying we didn't put ourselves about enough as the reason for not scoring. Which is it? Genuine question as I wasn't there.

Both, obviously. We created chances mainly by throwing the big defenders up there. We'd have had more with someone who doesn't shirk battling the defenders.

But we didn't have anyone to convert them anyway from what you're saying. Or is the tendency Bruce mentions kicking in?

I suspect there's all sorts of reasons why struggle to score sometimes, but do try to remember that ALF is the nearest we've had to a reliable goalscorer for many seasons. He needs service in the same way Madine needs decent crosses/balls in to do his thing. As for Clayton I'm reserving judgement until he's had some sort of consistent run in the side.

[officer_dibble]

Moxey, aye
More chance of me going pro and playing left back next season than us seeing that wimp in a bolton shirt. Needs a change of club (some might argue career).

FWIW when we doubled up with Vela and Morais on Tope Obadeyi first half they were all over the shop. Plenty of opportunity to cut back from byline. That kind of cross Le Fondre enjoys. As it was Morais wasted a lot of the ball and those opportunities. Moxey on the left we knew would be shite. Morais disappointed me today.

[BWFC_Insane]

Moxey, aye
More chance of me going pro and playing left back next season than us seeing that wimp in a bolton shirt. Needs a change of club (some might argue career).

FWIW when we doubled up with Vela and Morais on Tope Obadeyi first half they were all over the shop. Plenty of opportunity to cut back from byline. That kind of cross Le Fondre enjoys. As it was Morais wasted a lot of the ball and those opportunities. Moxey on the left we knew would be shite. Morais disappointed me today.

Morais picked our Pratley with one of those....

[Bruce Rioja]

Moxey, aye
More chance of me going pro and playing left back next season than us seeing that wimp in a bolton shirt. Needs a change of club (some might argue career).

FWIW when we doubled up with Vela and Morais on Tope Obadeyi first half they were all over the shop. Plenty of opportunity to cut back from byline. That kind of cross Le Fondre enjoys. As it was Morais wasted a lot of the ball and those opportunities. Moxey on the left we knew would be shite. Morais disappointed me today.

Morais picked our Pratley with one of those....

Was that the one that Pratley just about kept within the stadium?

[twilight]

for me, that game today was almost carbon copy of the Scunthorpe game, except with slightly more energy from us. We played into oldhams hands by punting up to Lefondre when they had big guys at the back. Apparently we played with 2 up front in the 1st half as vela was allegedly the 2nd, although I must admit I hadnt realised that! I also think the Bury game will be tough if we havent got Madine up front, as clearly Parky cant change it.

[Peter Thompson]

We are going up automatically....we could even do it on Tues if Monday's results go our way

But if for some unbelievable, unthinkable reason we manage to fcuk it up & don't go up, and somehow manage to throw away almost certain automatic promotion following the Southend win (I think we were 1/100 to go up automatically) - then could Parkinson even carry on next season after such a calamity ?

Because in my book it would be down to the manager and his tactics, more so than the players - the chairman has done all he can to help Parkinson by bringing in Long, Solomon, Karacan, Wabara etc to give the manager options in the way we play, but Parkinson only wants to play one way and has started the last 2 games with strange starting XI's handing the initiative (IMO) to the opposition before a ball has been kicked, due to his strange team selections - Scunthorpe would have been delighted to see us starting with Wilkinson as would Oldham today with just ALF upfront.

[Worthy4England]

We'd have carried more threat generally. And created more. At the very least their centre halves would have had something to do.

On 1 hand you're saying we didn't convert chances as being the problem and on the other you're saying we didn't put ourselves about enough as the reason for not scoring. Which is it? Genuine question as I wasn't there.

Both, obviously. We created chances mainly by throwing the big defenders up there. We'd have had more with someone who doesn't shirk battling the defenders.

But we didn't have anyone to convert them anyway from what you're saying. Or is the tendency Bruce mentions kicking in?

I suspect there's all sorts of reasons why struggle to score sometimes, but do try to remember that ALF is the nearest we've had to a reliable goalscorer for many seasons. He needs service in the same way Madine needs decent crosses/balls in to do his thing. As for Clayton I'm reserving judgement until he's had some sort of consistent run in the side.

August/September we were struggling to open teams up. We won a couple if memory serves from 30 yard strikes a few from Clough pengies and the like.

The reason we started opening 'em up in February was a combination of factors. Mainly Morais getting crosses in and some long throws that Wheater and Beevers were getting on the end of.

[Jugs]

Without Madine we clearly lack any way of opening teams up.

And this is exactly where Peter Thompson wins the argument hands-down regarding Parky having no plan B.

We've no target man but still played it long to a midget playing in a one. What the feck did he think might happen?

A special mention for Moxey today for being even shitter than his usual shit. Second in every challenge, whenever he had the ball he was either immediately dispossessed or actually passed it to a blue shirt. Howard in the nets fared little better either - questionable handling, one example of which gifted them the goal, and truly dreadful distribution, windy or not.

I don't genuinely think we can do anything else. We passed it well enough first half but there is no incision. We aren't good enough to play like that.

I think without the embargo, with a fair wind he could balance the squad a bit better. Spearing, Vela, Pratley and Derik are too pedestrian. If he has chance to improve but still goes with that next season Id say the one dimensional tag is fair. But right now I think he's simply had to maximise what he's got.

Like Allardyce early days.

Maybe. But I'd argue that he found it hard to get the best out of Clough. For his last few games he was stuck out wide, anonymous.

[officer_dibble]

Moxey, aye
More chance of me going pro and playing left back next season than us seeing that wimp in a bolton shirt. Needs a change of club (some might argue career).

FWIW when we doubled up with Vela and Morais on Tope Obadeyi first half they were all over the shop. Plenty of opportunity to cut back from byline. That kind of cross Le Fondre enjoys. As it was Morais wasted a lot of the ball and those opportunities. Moxey on the left we knew would be shite. Morais disappointed me today.

Morais picked our Pratley with one of those....

Was that the one that Pratley just about kept within the stadium?

Exactly!

[DJBlu]

Added highlights if anyone is interested.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=26451&p=1039846#p1039846

[BWFC_Insane]

We'd have carried more threat generally. And created more. At the very least their centre halves would have had something to do.

On 1 hand you're saying we didn't convert chances as being the problem and on the other you're saying we didn't put ourselves about enough as the reason for not scoring. Which is it? Genuine question as I wasn't there.

Both, obviously. We created chances mainly by throwing the big defenders up there. We'd have had more with someone who doesn't shirk battling the defenders.

But we didn't have anyone to convert them anyway from what you're saying. Or is the tendency Bruce mentions kicking in?

I suspect there's all sorts of reasons why struggle to score sometimes, but do try to remember that ALF is the nearest we've had to a reliable goalscorer for many seasons. He needs service in the same way Madine needs decent crosses/balls in to do his thing. As for Clayton I'm reserving judgement until he's had some sort of consistent run in the side.

9 league games Madine hasn't started and we've scored 2 goals. Stats don't lie.

Also it is pathetic to carry a striker who can only be effective if you present him several chances in a plate. ALF needs to man up and start doing a far better job up against centre halves.

[Peter Thompson]

ALF isn't suited to playing as a lone striker with his back to goal....

[Jugs]

True. He just isn't that kind of striker.

[BWFC_Insane]

ALF isn't suited to playing as a lone striker with his back to goal....

What is he suited to then? Has to do more than just expect chances handed to him.

Otherwise we are just carrying him. It isn't like he's John McGinlay in his pomp either. He does miss some.

In fact Super John wasn't a target man, but did a hell of a lot more outside the box than Le Fondre.

[Prufrock]

There's nothing wide other than 30 yards back. Don't know what he's supposed to do. Anyone questioning ALFs work rate wants their head checking. Dickhead can't even be bothered to grow 6 inches.

We need width high up. If not stick Darren through the middle. Tenacious yet useless, he might create some chaos.