Oldham

[Mike E]

1 hour ago, Miller11 said:

Absolutely. A proper flat 4 in midfield. Bollocks to accommodating Armstrong with this wide forward nonsense. I’d have said Downing ahead of Chapman, but either would do just fine for me.

                      Walton

Nyambe   Tosin   Williams   Cunningham

Chapman  Travis  Johnson  Rothwell

                         Dack

                       Graham

Not a chance, but I’d love that lineup on Saturday.

That's our best side imo, even accounting for injuries. It's amazing how different the midfield looks with Johnson in it.

[Alejandro Tapia]

Nothing to celebrate we need to still improving if we want to have any chance againg sheffield united and on league that is to much more important we have to win against boro somethind that is veey possible and doable to me....

The best part of this is that Downing still showing that he will be much more important to us that we belived and that are reilable players that  could start pushing tonhave more minutes on the first 11 like chapman he deserves a chance anyway a victoryis a victory and we really needed this for a positive change on mentality.

#TheMexicanRover 

#ImRoversTillIDie 

#COYBB 

[nathan_rovers1]

Never. In. Doubt. 

[philipl]

Very pleasant surprise to see the final score.

Reading through this the message is nobody is ready to step up and our salvation is Dack and Graham.

Mowbray's gamble ruled options out and probably damaged everyone involved.

[Stuart]

6 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Hahahahah mate. Leave it. This is coming from the young lads and Jonty. I’ll trust them on this one thanks ??

You’ll trust hearsay over facts?

Players will never say anything bad against their manager in public - especially to fans - and particularly youngsters.

I guess we do need to leave it.

[BRFC4EVA]

DG should be starting home games, the slightly strange part about it all is that TM has told us the same numerous times (also acknowledging that away from home he needs someone more mobile). So what does he do first game of the season against a newly promoted team who we knew would defend deep with 2 banks of 4 and wed have 65% possession..? Not play DG?!

Sounded like an exciting 2nd half. Glad that downing has done more then Whittingham already then in that whole league 1 season. Even if he doesn't play all the time, you'd expect him to bang in the odd long ranger and get a few assists.

[JacknOry]

I guess TM is thinking of life without DG but with our (on paper), tough start with regards to fixtures, he should be sticking to what we know until we get some points on the board and some momentum before pushing this new system. I was very surprised to see Gallagher straight into the team against Charlton. It should be DG and then one of either Gallagher or Brereton coming on to replace him later in the game.

We really do have to stop with strikers on the wing as well. Chapman got some minutes, Rothwell helped save the day, Downing has looked fairly solid and then we have Armstrong who out of the striker turned wingers, looks the best of them mainly because he has some pace. Gallagher and BB should be competing directly with eachother and Graham for the lone role.

[Paul Mani]

1 minute ago, Stuart said:

You’ll trust hearsay over facts?

Players will never say anything bad against their manager in public - especially to fans - and particularly youngsters.

I guess we do need to leave it.

Which facts are those? The fact that Mowbray has given more U23s debuts than any other Rovers manager in the last 30yrs? The fact that he leads a management team who seek investment into retaining the academy CAT A status? The fact that he’s the first Rovers manager in modern history who watches youth training and matches everyday and makes himself available to speak to those young players everyday? The fact that he lead the call for Jonty to come into the first team set up with considerable expense attached because he wanted to improve the pipeline of young players into the first team and introduce analysis based coaching?

The person I was attending with has the full confidence of the young players. But yeah, I’ll take the opinions of the CEO and the players over someone who sees from afar and has no actual knowledge or direct dealings with anyone.

There’s lots to be concerned about as a Rovers fan at the mo. Trust me when I say this is not one of them.

[Atko's Engine]

7 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Because money doesn’t necessarily make you happy mate! 

I'm not sure ChrisPriceBaldSpot would agree with you there Paul!

 

[Stuart]

10 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

Which facts are those? The fact that Mowbray has given more U23s debuts than any other Rovers manager in the last 30yrs? The fact that he leads a management team who seek investment into retaining the academy CAT A status? The fact that he’s the first Rovers manager in modern history who watches youth training and matches everyday and makes himself available to speak to those young players everyday? The fact that he lead the call for Jonty to come into the first team set up with considerable expense attached because he wanted to improve the pipeline of young players into the first team and introduce analysis based coaching?

The person I was attending with has the full confidence of the young players. But yeah, I’ll take the opinions of the CEO and the players over someone who sees from afar and has no actual knowledge or direct dealings with anyone.

There’s lots to be concerned about as a Rovers fan at the mo. Trust me when I say this is not one of them.

Mowbray’s transfer failings and injuries/suspensions have forced his hand in having to play youngsters. Needs must. How many has he successfully inducted? One. Bowyer has a better record of utilising the academy. Even last night, Lenihan, Bennett and Adarabioyo all injured - or is Mowbray choosing to blood the youngsters and exaggerating the injuries? Which is it?

If you take Waggott or even Mowbray at his word and not his actions - and listen to players (I’ve already explained why this is folly) then you are fooling yourself.

It’s no surprise that you are apparently well connected at the club. Those who champion failure on here usually are. However, if someone changes your objectivity as a poster.

[Mattyblue]

BB was awful. No pace, no touch, no physicality, no aerial presence, missed a sitter.

I was hoping he’d show some promise against a team bottom of the 4th division, he didn’t. Think some of you are desperate to find anything that gives us hope he won’t be a massive flop, but it wasn’t on display last night.

[Paul Mani]

Just now, Stuart said:

Mowbray’s transfer failings and injuries/suspensions have forced his hand in having to play youngsters. Needs must. How many has he successfully inducted? One. Bowyer has a better record of utilising the academy. Even last night, Lenihan, Bennett and Adarabioyo all injured - or is Mowbray choosing to blood the youngsters and exaggerating the injuries? Which is it?

If you take Waggott or even Mowbray at his word and not his actions - and listen to players (I’ve already explained why this is folly) then you are fooling yourself.

It’s no surprise that you are apparently well connected at the club. Those who champion failure on here usually are. However, if someone changes your objectivity as a poster.

I’m a lifelong fan who happens to have a bit of real insight into how things actually work Stu. That’s not ‘championing failure’ it’s real life. Suck it up.

As Iv said, many of your / our concerns are valid. The biggest one not being mentioned is exactly what happened between Mowbray and the lads transfer deadline day resulting in Mulgrew going and Lenihans ‘injury’ as well as being overlooked for the captaincy....can’t get a bean out of anyone re that!!

[Paul Mani]

Just now, Mattyblue said:

BB was awful. No pace, no touch, no physicality, no aerial presence, missed a sitter.

I was hoping he’d show some promise against a team bottom of the 4th division, he didn’t. Think some of you are desperate to find anything that gives us hope he won’t be a massive flop, but it wasn’t on display last night.

I agree 100%. He was non existent the whole game and only popped up four times to miss glaring chances! Was a bit unlucky with the handball.

I still can’t work out what type of striker he is...

[Gary C]

6 hours ago, WacoRover said:

Agreed on Graham. He may be 34, he’s still valuable to the club.

bring on M’bro. 

At the moment Graham with Dack just playing off him works. So stick with it.

[arbitro]

Just now, Mattyblue said:

BB was awful. No pace, no touch, no physicality, no aerial presence, missed a sitter.

I was hoping he’d show some promise against a team bottom of the 4th division, he didn’t. Think some of you are desperate to find anything that gives us hope he won’t be a massive flop, but it wasn’t on display last night.

Quite frankly he was embarrassing, much worse than the centre halves who were called out. I just don't see anything at all in him that gives me confidence that will ever be a player. For a professional footballer his body strength is pitiful, I lost count of the times he was knocked off the ball.

All things considered he is becoming a huge headache for Mowbray as the huge fee he paid hangs around his neck like a millstone.

[Colt Seavers]

8 hours ago, Waggy76 said:

How did Oldhams right back play ??

 

I only noticed him late in the second half. Mowbray switched Chapman from right to left a few minutes after he came on. This seemed odd as Chapman clearly had the beating of the left back.

The right back instantly seemed to have Chapman's number. He matched him for pace and wasn't sold by two 'nutmeg' attempts. I was very impressed with him. Physical, fast and scrappy. Chapman quickly lost the confidence to take him on which he can be prone to when his pace is matched.

[RevidgeBlue]

9 hours ago, AllRoverAsia said:

Mowbray post Oldham: ''I don’t want to be the team we have been for the last two years and just hit long balls to Danny Graham ''

Yet we are.

[RoversClitheroe]

7 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

I’m a lifelong fan who happens to have a bit of real insight into how things actually work Stu. That’s not ‘championing failure’ it’s real life. Suck it up.

As Iv said, many of your / our concerns are valid. The biggest one not being mentioned is exactly what happened between Mowbray and the lads transfer deadline day resulting in Mulgrew going and Lenihans ‘injury’ as well as being overlooked for the captaincy....can’t get a bean out of anyone re that!!

There is definitely something behind Lenihan being overlooked and Mowbray loaning out Mulgrew last minute.

[AllRoverAsia]

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

Yet we are.

We just have to be with the players at our disposal at a time when Mowbray is carrying out major experimentation with the 'defence'

Stick with what works. I think this may be DGs final season as a starter so Mowbray's mental investment in BB and Gallagher will be fully exposed soon enough, if not already.

[RevidgeBlue]

8 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

I think he has put himself up as a target in respect of the expectations he’s raised Glen. I also think he might end up losing his job...but I spoke to Waggot pre match and sat behind him, Suhail and Cheston and they didn’t seem or look too concerned. 

Depressing to hear.

They bloody well should be.

[AllRoverAsia]

Just now, RoversClitheroe said:

There is definitely something behind Lenihan being overlooked and Mowbray loaning out Mulgrew last minute.

The Lenihan one is easy, see Captain Bennett

The Mulgrew one, see Captain Bennett

[Blue blood]

9 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Started off up front with Graham, bafflingly, on the LW. Start of the second half he was up front with Graham in a two. Once the subs came on I've no idea - somewhere in the final third, but often drifting towards the left. 

Thanks. That's worse than Bereton out wide. Graham on the wing??? He's loosing it. Graham has none of the qualities of a winger. Madness! 

[RV Blue]

22 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

I’m a lifelong fan who happens to have a bit of real insight into how things actually work Stu. That’s not ‘championing failure’ it’s real life. Suck it up.

As Iv said, many of your / our concerns are valid. The biggest one not being mentioned is exactly what happened between Mowbray and the lads transfer deadline day resulting in Mulgrew going and Lenihans ‘injury’ as well as being overlooked for the captaincy....can’t get a bean out of anyone re that!!

And you’ve just explained why you want nothing to change, you’re in there and you want to keep it that way. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture, Mowbray is failing.

[Colt Seavers]

A few musings from last night...

Nyambe seemed subdued and short of confidence all night. His body language told me he is a player shorn of self belief. He was ponderous on the ball and seemed reluctant when at right back to get down the wing. He looks a shadow of his former self and we need to be careful (or rather TM needs to be careful ) that he doesn't regress down the Adam Henley route.

Cunningham grew into the game. He is more of a Tommy Spurr than a Martin Olsson but has a bit more than Spurr going forward. I imagine he will be a fixture at left back for us.

Grayson is a lovely footballer but I don't see him as a natural centre half and Platt needs to develop, probably on loan somewhere. 

Downing has energy. He also has the class to beat his man without outright pace. I don't particularly like him on the right where he started. TM seemed to move him to the left wing before becoming centre midfield in the second half.  I think he could be most useful in what I call the Tugay/ older Hoddle role playing a little deeper. This would need an energetic Johnson or an improved Travis to make that work. ( big year for Travis coming up - hope he doesn't stagnate). 

Buckley looked a bit lost and I thought he played the right back role better late on when he was more confident of what he was being asked to do. In fact he played better than Nyambe there. I saw a few comments last night on here about him being out of position at full back but it is a role he knows well and is good at.

Brereton needs game time. He is a player that looks rusty if he misses matches. But can we afford to regularly start him to get him up to speed? I would say probably not.

Rothwell doesn't seem his old self this season (see the Nyambe comments above for why that is. Thanks TM).

Graham has to start as he is still the best option there. Chapman is a really useful match winning sub and can be big for us, which just leaves Dack. Interestingly he was more fired up off the bench than I have seen him for some time. He was extremely vocal and animated and really drove the team forward. He plays so much better like that but his zeal and desire has been absent too long.

Finally, this is speculation but the whole feel to my eyes is of some discord in the camp. I don't believe that Lenihan has a 'fluid on the back of the knee problem' one iota. I think he was part of the Mulgrew row and was dropped ( and not made captain) as a result. Ironically I think this show of strength might the best thing Mowbray has had to do in terms of focusing some minds. 

Finally, cutting away all the understandable concern amongst all of us on here; it was a cracking end to a match and I'm glad I went.

Edited August 14, 2019 by Colt Seavers

[RevidgeBlue]

19 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

I’m a lifelong fan who happens to have a bit of real insight into how things actually work Stu. That’s not ‘championing failure’ it’s real life. Suck it up.

Give it a rest.

The fact you for some reason sit behind Waggott and are on nodding terms with those in authority at the Club doesn't make your opinion any more valid than anyone else's because what Waggott and Mowbray are doing might not be right and, imo, it isn't. If you'd known Iley, Ince, Kean, Berg, Appleton, Bowyer, Lambert, or Coyle, that wouldn't have validated what they were actually doing either.

It's only less than a week or so ago you were passing an opinion that if the manager didn't bring in another centre back before the end of the transfer window then the window would be a failure. Instead we lost 2 on the last day. For the second summer running the big money signing again seems to be an absolute flop. But now, because you sit behind these clowns, all seems to be well in your world again.

You know as well as I do that unless there is a dire emergency none of those youngsters you list will see the light of day.

And in the unlikely event Mowbray does get the sack, it won't be because he's set an "unrealistic" target of top 6. (Which should be every Club's minimum goal really). It will be because we are in danger or returning to League 1.

Of which I think there's every chance if Mowbray remains in charge for the majority of the season and isn't replaced.