Oldham vs Milton Keynes

[Simpo]

An interesting one as two relegated sides meet. Also interestingly, one is fancied by many to go straight back up, while the other being tipped by some to fall straight down the trapdoor again, despite only being claimed by the relegation zone doors on the last day!

To put it firmly, I have no such fears. Bunn and Rhodes have calmed things down, got everyone who wants to be here on the same page, and helped turn round a losing mentality by forging a successful pre-season campaign, the second half showing vs Preston the only failure.

But we'll start to properly know what we're about after Saturday's tough test.

We should line up something like this:

Bench: De La Paz, Hamer, Graham, Maouche, Baxter, Benteke, O'Grady

Outside chance of Baxter playing ahead of one of the midfielders but he will probably only be fit enough for the bench. We have been playing one striker up front in the last couple of friendlies, but could use two now we've signed a few forwards! But I think it'll be one up top in recognition of MK being tipped to do well.

David Cotterill could sign this week, but has had no pre-season.

3000 season tickets have been sold, up about 200 on last year, it would be nice to have anything approaching 4000 for this game, but we'll see.

 

[Franchisor]

Oldham will feel they should be contenders having come down from L1 with us (and I do think Oldham will be comfortably top half), so how we perform will give us a real indicator as to where we are.

Very happy with how we are defensively and in midfield (I'd argue on paper we have one of the best defences and midfields in the league), some concern though going into the season as to whether we have the firepower up front.

Our top scorer from last season (Aneke) isn't fit and only just started training again, and we haven't brought in anyone of note in terms of wingers/strikers. Our only proper centre forward (Sow) doesn't look like he will be fit for at least a month or so.

Overall, I'd be confident in saying we have a stronger squad than we did last year in League One and don't think we will concede many goals this season, the question is whether we'll have the firepower to score them too.

Prediction - Oldham 0 - 1 MK

 

[DippyDon]

You seem to have missed part of our name off

As for the game, it all depends on if we can create chances. Our defence is looking extremely good, our attack? Not so much. We have the players there to cause problems, they just aren't.

 

[hold'um Oldham]

I'm not confident on the whole for the season but strangely I think we will win this, catching the removal men off guard.

I don't do pre season but everyone seems to be quite confident in performances. Can't see it being a classic but I'll go 1-0 surridge

 

[hold'um Oldham]

Think this is the least excited I've ever been on the eve of the new season.

 

[Attila the hun]

So life begins in league two we need a good start I’m going for a 3-1 win for the latics

 

[DippyDon]

I don't know if it's just the hangover but the nerves are starting to sink in now. Come on MK

 

[Hurrikeen]

Baxter has been training all week so I’d like to see him start. Hopefully Byrne is at least on the bench.

Personally I’d go for:

Iversen

Hunt - Clarke - Edmundson - Taylor

Coke - Missilou - Gardner

Baxter

Surridge - Miller​

 

[hold'um Oldham]

I couldn't even begin to predict what the team will be having seen no pre season games and knowing very little about bunns style of management and the new players.

 

[Hurrikeen]

Christ almighty that team is weak.

No Clarke, Taylor, Baxter or Byrne (less surprising).

Latics 0-2 Franchise

 

[DippyDon]

Alex Gilbey starts 5 and a bit months after doing his ACL. An absolutely incredible recovery

 

[Attila the hun]

Just got back from game. The first 20 mins cost us no complaints on the penalty from where I was sat. Poor defending for the 2nd But that’s gotta be the youngest back four put out by anybody today after going 2-0 down I thought we were the better side although MK prob had the best chances in 2nd half but it was mainly Oldham bossing the game just. Couldn’t get an equaliser Mk resorted to time wasting and players kept going down wanting the ball put out of play they was pretty much out on there feet at the end what looked like a bad injury for an me dons player stretchered off hope he’s ok A day of what could of been for Oldham if MK are the best team in this division there must be some crap about

 

[hold'um Oldham]

Didn't think we were that bad. We were much more physical than we are used to, and we looked lively down the left.

Branger looks an excellent signing. A little light weight in the middle of the park, coke will be the one to make way for Baxter imo.
What we are seriously lacking is a leader at the back. Individually they are all capable (I don't rate hunt, completely overrated imo he could be gone for me) but none of them will give out the bollocking clark Gerrard would have done. We need an experienced head back there.

Fair enough we lost. Not much in it imo. Sloppy penalty to give away but all in all I think a draw would have been a fair result.

Not too concerned about it on the opening day.

 

[Simpo]

Difficult to judge either team based on that. Mad how young that backline was. Goalie 21, defenders 18 21 17 23. And it showed for that second goal. But then again Coke fell asleep to give away the pen, and he's a veteran. Looked well off the pace. Fair play, our heads didn't go down, we didn't stop playing, and I thought we'd get something after making it 2-1 just before half time. But not to be.

We'll know more about where we're at after August is done. Glad you saw good signs hold'um, me too.

 

[Franchisor]

Say what you like about us being a franchise blah blah blah, but that group of Oldham supporters (seemed like a decent portion of the crowd) booing our player being stretchered off are scum.

Our player (McGrandles) suffered a potentially serious injury, at minimum sounds like a concussion and head injury (eye completely closed up) and required a hospital trip, but Oldham fans thought it was appropriate to boo him. Bunch of idiots. To make it worse, some fans even defending their own fans for doing it.

 

[Simpo]

Say what you like about us being a franchise blah blah blah, but that group of Oldham supporters (seemed like a decent portion of the crowd) booing our player being stretchered off are scum.

Our player (McGrandles) suffered a potentially serious injury, at minimum sounds like a concussion and head injury (eye completely closed up) and required a hospital trip, but Oldham fans thought it was appropriate to boo him. Bunch of idiots. To make it worse, some fans even defending their own fans for doing it.

Boy that cried wolf.

 

[hold'um Oldham]

Didn't hear any of that personally but there is no denying mk are whining cheating soft arsed bastards who would go down when hit by a snow flake.

That particular incident admittedly it's never good to see anyone stretchered off, but generally mk were an embarrassment to the game today

 

[Franchisor]

Didn't hear any of that personally but there is no denying mk are whining cheating soft arsed bastards who would go down when hit by a snow flake.

That particular incident admittedly it's never good to see anyone stretchered off, but generally mk were an embarrassment to the game today

Ofcourse you are going to say that, and ofcourse I'm going to say that we weren't as bad you're making out - happens at every game up and down the country when one team think the other are soft touches or timewasting, guaranteed, and especially when they're trying to find an equaliser.

But regardless of that - Oldham fans (not all, but seemingly a large portion of the crowd) were a disgrace today booing McGrandles as he was stretchered off, there is just no defending that type of reaction.

I know it's natural to defend your own club/fans, but on this occasion I think Oldham fans should just accept it was wrong and I'll I'm reading is Oldham fans defending that behaviour or blaming us. I know it's not the biggest incident in the world, but if it was the other way round and our fans were booing a stretchered off Oldham player I guarantee Oldham fans would be seething.

 

[Franchisor]

Boy that cried wolf.

I know it's easy to just accuse other teams of timewasting/faking injuries etc but a lot of players have genuinely picked up injuries today:

- McGrandles stretchered off and had to go to hospital (eye injury)
- Pawlett subbed off after turning his ankle
- Simpson confirmed injured (not known what kind of injury)
- Houghton had to have stitches at half time (hence why he had a bandage on)
- Brittain took a knock (unknown if anything more serious)

Considering the visible evidence of injuries our players had, maybe for once give another team the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Simpo]

I can believe they were real. Some probably didn't, hence any perceived poor treatment from Oldham fans. I hope McGrandles does not have too serious an injury.

 

[hold'um Oldham]

No one is denying those injuries are real. Not were they intended maliciously. It wasn't that sort of game.

I'm also not defending our fans if it happened, but I didn't hear it. I'm at the opposite end of the ground to you though so I'm not denying it happened.

 

[DippyDon]

Just announced that he’s suffered a facial fracture.

 

[Franchisor]

Just announced that he’s suffered a facial fracture.

Yup..

https://www.mkdons.com/news/2018/august/update-on-conor-mcgrandles/

Poor guy, facial fracture today and also suffered a double leg fracture in 2016 playing for Norwich

 

[Attila the hun]

Like I said in my previous post. I hoped he was ok appears he’s suffered a facial fracture shame for the lad I can’t excuse the behaviour of a section of Oldham fans booing him I think we all know if a stretcher appears it’s normally not a good sign but it’s been along time since I saw a side. Play the referee like MK Dons did. Falling down wanting the ball put out of play to disrupt the game