Ratings - Oldham (A)

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Boom - Cant beat an away win, especially one on the first day. Well done Ross.

All told it was a pretty crap game. Both teams never really got into their stride and Orient were probably marginally better. Glad we got the win as I think Oldham will struggle this season.

We started the game really well and had a couple of decent chances after only 3 minutes. After 20 mins they grew into the game and had obviously realised we didnt have much pace at the back, throwing long balls over the top. One of them had some back spin on and in my opinion Vigeroux came out and didnt touch the ball - we got away with one.

Second half they threw on Rowe who didnt really do much. We struggled to get our full backs forward and when the forwards got it they usually lost it. There wasn't much creativity in the middle and we basically resorted to long ball.

Seemed like the game was going to peter out until Turley won a really good header (he should have started) and DJ, who literally had about 3 touches all game was there with a really tidy finish. Love it.

Dont think we had any stand out performances, good or bad.

Vigeroux - 6 - Made a couple of saves which were comfortable. Rushed out a couple of times and lucky not to give away a pen.

Ling - 6.5 - Couple of important clearances, one in each half. Both were covering our CBs which is really good to see that his positional sense is being worked on and improved. non-entity going forward.
Coulson - 6 - Looked slow, gave the ball away second half in a really bad place and then missed a challenge. Clean sheet though.
Happe - 6 - passing was off in the first half. Went off injured second.
Brophy - 5.5 - Lost his man a few times, once leading to a booking. Barley got forward. When he did he looked dangerous. Wish he had a right foot.

Cisse - 6 - Did everything relatively well. Didnt really see much of the ball.
Dayton - 5 - Pretty anonymous. Couple of good set pieces.
Clay - 6.5 - Same old display really. Cant shoot and playing further forward, it doesn't really make sense to me.

Wilkinson - 6 - Has some great touches but not much of an end product.
Johnson - 7 - Hard to give him a mark. Was probably a 5 before the goal. He doesn't suit a lone striker role and too often left isolated. But then popped up with the winner. Really need someone like him when we need a goal.
Angol - 7 - Thought he had a good game without much end product. Has the best touch of anyone on the team and feels wasted on the wing.

Subs:
Macanuff - 6 - didnt really affect the game much. Amazing run at the end when he sprinted past about 4 players half his age.
Sotiriou - 6.5 - Started to grow into the game last 5 mins, surprised he didnt start.
Turley - 6 - lax on the ball a few times but good assist.

[HenleyO]

I thought that was a perfectly decent away win. Thought we were solid enough.

Johnson is hopefully going to score loads. Proper finisher.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Forgot how sh*t league two football is. i feel silly.

[Dohnut]

Pretty fair marks. Maybe another .5 for Happe who was trying to get forward and have a go.

[jamespevans]

Thought we had a good first half without doing anything in the channels against a side who were playing like the away side. Second half, instead of dominating for 15 minutes and making it tell (as per our last two) we seemed to react negatively to Rowe coming on. After that, way too may crosses were coming in and we couldn't string two passes together.....until one moment of magic from Turley/Johnson. Happy to grind out wins but we are better than this.

Vigouroux - 6.5 - solid at the back but nearly gave away a penalty in the first half and still doesn't have a right foot.
Brophy - 6.5 - turning into a regulation LB and never got forward in the first half. Started to link up well further up the field midway into the 2nd half. Needs to cut out those cross field passes in the final 3rd
Happy - 7 - solid as usual, hopefully no consequences from him coming off.
Coulson - 7 - another solid performance, another clean sheet. Hopefully back to his best.
Ling - 8 - My MoM. solid at the back, supporting the CBs and was confident supporting the front three.
Angol - 5.5 - truly atrocious in the first half, virtually every decision was the wrong one. Not so bad in the second half and could have scored
Cisse - 7 - ultra reliable as the holding midfielder
Dayton - 6 - had the obligatory role of the anonymous central midfielder which he carried out to perfection
Clay - 7.5 - was all over the park in the first half and despite fading in the 2nd was still putting in important tackles
Wilkinson - 6 - very average by his standards, probably under the weather
Johnson - 7 - literally had nothing to feed off all game. He gets the 7 for his well taken goal

McAnuff - 7 - 39yo etc etc good cover for Ling and supporting the front line after he came on
Sotiriou - 6.5 - probably hasn't done enough to play his way into the team yet but looked lively
Turley - 7.5. - can't really give MoM to a bloke who only played 30 minutes but what a 30 minutes! Ultra solid at the back (he has a very solid elbow) and repeated Tuesday's attacking role

[RedDwarf 1881]

Forgot how sh*t league two football is. i feel silly.

Thanks for your ratings , guys . After reading that I still feel we could do with a new CB

[gshaw]

Forgot how sh*t league two football is. i feel silly.

But remember how much worse NL is and it suddenly feels much better

[tuffers#1]

Still got untill the 19th of october
No need to rush for a last player to bring in just yet .

Good away win.
Remember last years 1st away game
Im sure we all do, more those who went though

[RedDwarf 1881]

Forgot how sh*t league two football is. i feel silly.

But remember how much worse NL is and it suddenly feels much better

That's exactly what I was thinking. Even if we're destined to stay in League two for the next 20 years, I'd rather take that than go back down to the NL again .

[Dohnut]

Thought we had a good first half without doing anything in the channels against a side who were playing like the away side. Second half, instead of dominating for 15 minutes and making it tell (as per our last two) we seemed to react negatively to Rowe coming on. After that, way too may crosses were coming in and we couldn't string two passes together.....until one moment of magic from Turley/Johnson. Happy to grind out wins but we are better than this.

Vigouroux - 6.5 - solid at the back but nearly gave away a penalty in the first half and still doesn't have a right foot.
Brophy - 6.5 - turning into a regulation LB and never got forward in the first half. Started to link up well further up the field midway into the 2nd half. Needs to cut out those cross field passes in the final 3rd
Happy - 7 - solid as usual, hopefully no consequences from him coming off.
Coulson - 7 - another solid performance, another clean sheet. Hopefully back to his best.
Ling - 8 - My MoM. solid at the back, supporting the CBs and was confident supporting the front three.
Angol - 5.5 - truly atrocious in the first half, virtually every decision was the wrong one. Not so bad in the second half and could have scored
Cisse - 7 - ultra reliable as the holding midfielder
Dayton - 6 - had the obligatory role of the anonymous central midfielder which he carried out to perfection
Clay - 7.5 - was all over the park in the first half and despite fading in the 2nd was still putting in important tackles
Wilkinson - 6 - very average by his standards, probably under the weather
Johnson - 7 - literally had nothing to feed off all game. He gets the 7 for his well taken goal

McAnuff - 7 - 39yo etc etc good cover for Ling and supporting the front line after he came on
Sotiriou - 6.5 - probably hasn't done enough to play his way into the team yet but looked lively
Turley - 7.5. - can't really give MoM to a bloke who only played 30 minutes but what a 30 minutes! Ultra solid at the back (he has a very solid elbow) and repeated Tuesday's attacking role

Generous marks considering it was a poor game. Angol 5.5. I need to go to specsavers. Don’t think anybody deserved an 8.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Dull as dishwater.

6s all round, nobody was bad, nobody was great - impossible to pick a MOM from that, maybe Clay for his energy if I’m forced to go for someone. We don’t look like conceding many but are devoid of creativity.

Long may this continue.

[jamespevans]

For somebody who saw so much of the ball in the first half Angol was dreadful. He consistently made the wrong decision, a hallmark of his game.

[Cheshunto]

Very poor game but it’s probably a game that we would have lost at the beginning of last season.
Thought we looked solid but there wasn’t much creativity going forward with both Angol and Wilkinson looking ineffective.
Johnson looks to be a goal threat as he produced a great finish Out of nothing. I think he could well score 25 this season if we actually have some creativity in the team..........which brings me to JMD, who has hardly been used so far........has he fallen out of favour ??

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Very poor game but it’s probably a game that we would have lost at the beginning of last season.
Thought we looked solid but there wasn’t much creativity going forward with both Angol and Wilkinson looking ineffective.
Johnson looks to be a goal threat as he produced a great finish Out of nothing. I think he could well score 25 this season if we actually have some creativity in the team..........which brings me to JMD, who has hardly been used so far........has he fallen out of favour ??

Weird ain’t it? Imo, whilst he’s inconsistent, he’s the most naturally talented player we have and the type of player we should be building things around

[Thor]

What has happened to Wright? Is he injured or just out of favour?

[Rich Tea Wellin]

What has happened to Wright? Is he injured or just out of favour?

Clays ahead of him these days. I’m sure he’ll get minutes in the next month though

[jamespevans]

What has happened to Wright? Is he injured or just out of favour?

Clays ahead of him these days. I’m sure he’ll get minutes in the next month though

Would like to see him come in for Angol, not a fan as you will have noticed. However, Embleton likes the cover Angol provides for Brophy and also sees him as the go to for the big hoofs. Defending is not a strong part of JMDs game but his dead ball game and his creativity should always guarantee him an hour.

[PoliticOs]

Very poor game but it’s probably a game that we would have lost at the beginning of last season.
Thought we looked solid but there wasn’t much creativity going forward with both Angol and Wilkinson looking ineffective.
Johnson looks to be a goal threat as he produced a great finish Out of nothing. I think he could well score 25 this season if we actually have some creativity in the team..........which brings me to JMD, who has hardly been used so far........has he fallen out of favour ??

Weird ain’t it? Imo, whilst he’s inconsistent, he’s the most naturally talented player we have and the type of player we should be building things around

I saw him at Dagenham and at Wrexham and he was a different player with each. Honestly, I think on his day he is the very best player in the whole of the division. Its just his day is once a month. When he signed both clubs fans said he is unbelievable but just can't find consistency and we're finding that. I get that consistency comes from games too, and maybe he does just need 10 games straight and plays regardless of performance almost to allow for that, but he is an enigma. It's a shame. He is a hell of a player.

[tuffers#1]

JMD has to find the performance when he gets his chance
"Luxury players"are a No No in league 2 ,
If he wants to stay in its up to him to dominate a
game for 90 minutes then do it again & again .

Clay is more limited obviously but doesnt stop
Moving & thats why he is in

[EastDerehamO]

Thought we edged the first half, they the second. Unspectacular game, they looked fairly solid, didn't feel like we played to Johnson's strengths all game until the 89th minute. but that one chance was all he needed.

Always good to start the season with an away win, well done all.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

What has happened to Wright? Is he injured or just out of favour?

Clays ahead of him these days. I’m sure he’ll get minutes in the next month though

Would like to see him come in for Angol, not a fan as you will have noticed. However, Embleton likes the cover Angol provides for Brophy and also sees him as the go to for the big hoofs. Defending is not a strong part of JMDs game but his dead ball game and his creativity should always guarantee him an hour.

We’ve got some genuine competition at last.

All of Clay, Dayton, Jobi and Wright are competing for those two central midfield spots ahead of Cisse. You’ve got Wilkinson and JMD battling it out for the right ‘wing’ spot. We’ve then got Angol and Ruel for the left hand role.

Other than a handful of players who know they are pretty much guaranteed to start - Cisse, Vigaroux, Ling and maybe Brophy - everyone knows they have to perform when they start.

[Nad2008]

JMD has to find the performance when he gets his chance
"Luxury players"are a No No in league 2 ,
If he wants to stay in its up to him to dominate a
game for 90 minutes then do it again & again .

Clay is more limited obviously but doesnt stop
Moving & thats why he is in

Cannot agree with that re: JMD. He's a great asset to have, for his set pieces alone. If he could dominate games for 90 minutes consistently he wouldn't be in League Two. Even playing 60 every week he would be a real foil.

[Thor]

JMD has to find the performance when he gets his chance
"Luxury players"are a No No in league 2 ,
If he wants to stay in its up to him to dominate a
game for 90 minutes then do it again & again .

Clay is more limited obviously but doesnt stop
Moving & thats why he is in

Is that your opinion or is that a quote from Ross the boss? Cos theirs speech marks in that quote.

[tuffers#1]

JMD has to find the performance when he gets his chance
"Luxury players"are a No No in league 2 ,
If he wants to stay in its up to him to dominate a
game for 90 minutes then do it again & again .

Clay is more limited obviously but doesnt stop
Moving & thats why he is in

Cannot agree with that re: JMD. He's a great asset to have, for his set pieces alone. If he could dominate games for 90 minutes consistently he wouldn't be in League Two. Even playing 60 every week he would be a real foil.

He needs to show more if he wants to start
He's a flair player & his potential needs to start
being shown constantly 1 outstanding game a month as
has been ssid , isnt close, Ross will pick him when
he starts to show & dominate , if he can .

[tuffers#1]

JMD has to find the performance when he gets his chance
"Luxury players"are a No No in league 2 ,
If he wants to stay in its up to him to dominate a
game for 90 minutes then do it again & again .

Clay is more limited obviously but doesnt stop
Moving & thats why he is in

Is that your opinion or is that a quote from Boss the boss? Cos theirs speech marks in that quote.

My opinion Thory , why is it not of value ?