Crewe Vs Oldham

[Crewelad87]

This looked an easier game a few weeks ago but Oldham have picked up abit of form recently and made some decent looking signings. As for us our form is also pretty strong, we've won the last 4 at home, intact I think we're unbeaten at home since the Vale game in early November. Recently though we've struggled in putting a full 90 minute performance in, we tend to half one decent half and one poor one. Luckily our decent half tends to be better though and we end up with a positive result.

The touchline will be interesting also, There isn't much love lost between Dave and Dino, every game they face each other tends to end in an agreement.

Crewe 2-1 Oldham (Kirk, Powell, Smith) 5,425 (800 Latics)

 

[Hurrikeen]

Little bit of momentum picked up in recent weeks. 4 draws was followed by 2 wins so decent enough compared to the rest of the season.

In our last two games - Mansfield and Bradford - I don’t say this lightly when I say we absolutely mullered them both. Weird to see after so many shit performances. 49 vs 12 in shots according to the BBC - O’Donnell kept it from being at least 6 last week.

The January window has seen excellent business for us which is as rare as rocking horse shit under Al’s reign - McCann & Smith remain with us for the season with an option for another year on the former, we signed Danny Rowe & Zak Dearnley and loaned both Piergianni & Borthwick-Jackson who’ve been very good so far.

Tough one this though looking at Crewe’s form, that being said we don’t seem to do too badly there.

I’m going to opt for a 2-2 draw with Smith & Rowe to score. 1004 tics.

442 if Dearnley is fit (in place of Maouche), otherwise:

De La Paz

Hamer - Wheater - Pierganni - CBJ

Missilou - Sylla

Nepomuceno - Maouche - Smith

Rowe​

 

[Jigsaw]

Will be my first game since Barnsley in the FA Cup so looking forward to this one. With Oldham picking up some decent results and strengthening in January, this will be much more of a test.

Agree with Crewelad87, the Decemeber/January run of fixtures along with the injuries we have picked up have been tough but with Lowery and Kirk both getting rests in recent games, I'm hoping for 3 points here.

 

[JJ1532]

Could do with a couple of bodies back for this. I know he improved in the 2nd half last week, but I don't want Jones anywhere near the first team. Walking disaster area. Hope Lowery or Green is fit enough to play in his place. Also hope Finney is fit after what looked like a groin issue last week.

that being said we don’t seem to do too badly there.

You think? In your last 8 visits, you've won 6 and outscored us by a ratio of 3-14. In that run there have been 4-1 and 3-0 losses, a narrow 1-1 which we didn't deserve, a 1-0 win when we were abysmal in 15/16 and now 3 straight defeats, all to nil.

Got to keep picking up the wins, but when it comes to you lot, I'll take whatever I can get.

 

[Gerald Hattrick]

We only win 1 game a season against Oldham which we’ve had. Draw or away win unfortunately.

 

[Hurrikeen]

Sold the 759 allocation and it’s POTD so should be close to 1000.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

The encouraging stat is that whenever Dino Maamria manages a side against us, they lose their discipline and often have a player see red.

I don't think Oldham are anywhere near as physical as his Stevenage side were. As has been the case in about 80% of our games this season, a team is once again playing us having picked up form. Same will apply to the next two games after this too and I'm thoroughly expecting Macclesfield, Morecambe and Stevenage to go on runs of good form in the next few games too. But I do think if we turn up and graft for a full game tomorrow we'll have enough quality to see Oldham off. Offord will need to be at his best to stop Rowe but I have faith in him. I'm going for a 3-1 win to ourselves, we're due a clinical performance and I can see us getting one tomorrow having had a week to rest and recuperate.

 

[JJ1532]

Good bench, but the spine of the team concerns me. Nottingham and Offord have been fine in their last 2, but this will test them. And in midfield, still the same trio. I like Finney, but Jones scares me. And I wonder what sort of shape Wintle is in, given he's missed zero game time since the start of September. No Lowery, which is a shame, although it sounds like he'll be good for Tuesday.

Get Lancashire, Nolan and Lowery back and you're looking at a seriously congested squad.

 

[Hurrikeen]

What’s it looking like for us away numbers? 1000ish or less?

 

[JJ1532]

YES YES YES!!! Fully deserved after beating down the door and getting nowhere. Down Powell, down Lowery, lost Anene for the final 20 minutes meaning we had to throw on an ageing striker who hasn't played in 2 months.

Oldham weren't shocking, but they weren't brilliant either. Offered little in attack aside from one meaningful shot on target, which they scored.

As for us, I felt we were very poor in attack. Wrong decision after wrong decision all game. So many wasted promising positions. Dealt with their limited threat well, despite one colossal brain fart early in the 2nd half. Equaliser was pure fluke, but hey, we had one go in against us like that against Swindon, so swings and roundabouts.

We kept pushing but just couldn't get much on goal. Very frustrating, but a bit of Kirk magic got us there in the end. With most of the other teams in the promotion race dropping points as well, this is a massive win. Be amazing if we could back this up on Tuesday.

 

[Hurrikeen]

As soon as out keeper fucked up and let you back in, our Goomba looking prick set us up to hold on for dear life.

Very even game prior to us taking the lead.

Dino out - you big armed, roid infested useless prick.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Were Oldham trying to lose that? Jesus

 

[JJ1532]

No, they just encountered the same issue a lot of teams do against us at home. Because we dominate possession, the only way a lot of the bottom half teams can stick with us is by chasing us down hard for the first hour. That means that in the last 20-25 minutes, they are knackered. Seen it numerous times this season at home. Our only dropped points at Gresty Road have been to teams in the promotion race(Cambridge aside). We've lost to the teams in 4th, 9th and 15th(when we had 10 men for 50 minutes) and drawn with the teams in 3rd, 5th and 21st(who have a reasonable away record despite their low standing).

Oldham did what most team do. Go hard in the first hour, lose energy in the last 20 and end up clinging on for dear life. Ironic thing is, but for their time wasting, there would have been less added time and we wouldn't have scored. Never occurs to managers like Maamria though. God I'm glad he went home fuming yet again.

 

[Crewelad87]

Oldham tactics were bizzare and they got exactly what they deserved for being so negative and wasting so much time. So pleasing to win in the 97th minute in those circumstances. Moment of magic from Kirk for the winner, plus yet another assist for the Jones goal. Can't believe the lad gets booed by our own fans. He's probably the most effective player in the league. Gutted to lose Powell in the warm up because he's on a hot streak but Walker showed a few bits of class and had a decent debut. Nottingham and Offord continue to impress at the back, Notts is so strong and quick, wins most things in the air, and Offord is super composed on the ball and never gives it away.

Fantastic win with many of the other promotion contenders losing. Hopefully we can follow this up with a win Vs Crawley, and maybe top of the league come Tuesday night.

 

[lordofthepies]

Enjoyed that. Oldham didn't look like a bad team until they went at front at which point that gave up on any attacking ambitions whatsoever. They asked to get beaten in the end. Fair effort from their fans though; plenty of them and made a decent noise considering what they've been through in recent seasons.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Bloody enjoyed that Kirk goal. Not because it was a 97th minute winner and one in the eye for Oldham’s tactics, but because I sit near the People’s Front of Anti-Kirk. Fuck em.

 

[lordofthepies]

Bloody enjoyed that Kirk goal. Not because it was a 97th minute winner and one in the eye for Oldham’s tactics, but because I sit near the People’s Front of Anti-Kirk. Fuck em.

Bellends.

 

[JJ1532]

Thing is, I do get the frustrations with him, at times. He was very wasteful on a number of occasions today, he pulled out of a few 50/50 challenges and he did so poorly on their goal. I get that expecting him to be this all round player is crazy, as virtually no player at this level is. But I do understand it in part, even if the booing is clearly unacceptable.

I just don't understand why their expectations of him are so high. Why is anything less than an immense 10/10 all round performance is worthy of such abuse? I've never seen a player held to such a high standard. It's baffling.

 

[Gerald Hattrick]

Oldham fans were great, supported the team and were noisy until we equalised, then not a lot, well nothing really. However the shithouse master Dino, got exactly what he needed, nothing. Why waste time from 10 minutes? The keeper was an embarrassing, and crap. But well done anyway.

 

[Crewelad87]

Just watched the highlights and how on earth did the ref miss the handball in the build up. Also in the pure ecstasy of the moment I didn't realise how good a goal our winner was, both Ainley and Kirk really showing there class.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Let's talk about Luke Offord. Three starts, three outstanding performances.

 

[Crewelad87]

Let's talk about Luke Offord. Three starts, three outstanding performances.

He's taken to first team football like a duck to water. He reminds me a little of Ryan Wintle but abit more a natural defender positioning wise. You will do well to find a better centre half on the ball at this level, so calm and relaxed, it's crazy to think he's only 19 and played a grand total of 3 league games. It helps having such a dominant centre half like Notts next to him.

 

[Pennywise]

He's taken to first team football like a duck to water. He reminds me a little of Ryan Wintle but abit more a natural defender positioning wise. You will do well to find a better centre half on the ball at this level, so calm and relaxed, it's crazy to think he's only 19 and played a grand total of 3 league games. It helps having such a dominant centre half like Notts next to him.

Nathan Smith says hi.

 

[JJ1532]

Be interesting to see where Offord ends up in the next few years. He probably lacks the height or the ariel ability to be a full time CB, but at FB? Or in CM? Could be a very good option. Exciting to think that in the likes of him, Finney, Adebisi, Heath, Griffiths and Robbins we have some decent prospects coming through to replace those we'll lose in the next few years.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Nathan Smith says hi.

Have to shout. Can't hear you down there.

 

[Pennywise]

Have to shout. Can't hear you down there.

Long way to go yet. See you soon.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Vale fans’ optimism after a win is always to be admired.

 

[valefan16]

Vale fans’ optimism after a win is always to be admired.

To be fair we've been winning pretty regularly lately... averaging 2 points a game since the Swindon victory which is title form... you'd have to be a Carlisle fan to be negative at that... not saying we will keep it up but may as well enjoy it whilst it lasts after three years of utter shit.

 

[Crewelad87]

A strange part of me wants Vale to keep up the good form, the bigger the game is at the end of March the better.could be a a great crowd and atmosphere.

 

[valefan16]

A strange part of me wants Vale to keep up the good form, the bigger the game is at the end of March the better.could be a a great crowd and atmosphere.

Would be a good occasion after years of one or both of us being in the brown stuff when we meet!