|
|
Post by tangerinedream on Apr 21, 2022 5:20:26 GMT
Realistically speaking 2 of the 4 play off places are now out of our reach and if we're to stand any chance at all of getting a top seven finish then nothing less than a win at Oldham Athletic is required. Our opponents will have the same objective in mind with their Football League status literally hanging by a thread and by a quirk of fate both sets of supporters will be looking closely at the results of the Barrow v Tranmere Rovers and Stevenage v Sutton United games which could have a great bearing on both their sides respective fates. Sutton United and Tranmere presently occupy the last two play off positions while Barrow and Stevenage (both having played a game less with a 4 point advantage) lie directly above the Latics. With 6 teams mathematically still able to grab a play off spot it's Sutton United who are in the best of form with 12 from their last 15 points, ourselves with 7, Tranmere and Mansfield with 6 and Newport and Swindon with 4 so it's only Sutton who are showing any sort of real consistency. After the mind boggling team selection against Barrow I just hope that we go to Boundary Park with a line up that is based on winning rather than defending because if we see a repeat of what we did last Monday then we can kiss goodbye to any hopes of keeping our flickering hopes of a play off place alive. As if events on the field aren't bad enough the ongoing events off it have cast a debilitating shadow over Boundary Park for too long and while relegation for Oldham would be a hammer blow for their long suffering support the prospect of making a swift return (should the worst happen) would be virtually non existent under the latest and present incompetent ownership. While I'll of course be rooting for a Salford victory I'm hoping that certain sections of our support will show a bit of class and respect to the opposition should results conspire to seal their fate. I somehow doubt it though.
|
|
|
|
Post by chipbarm on Apr 21, 2022 8:27:21 GMT
Nice sentiments TD, it would be sad to see yet another long standing football league club drop into non league. Given how long it's taken the likes of Stockport and Wrexham to get close to a return shows it won't be easy for them when they inevitably get relegated, as I think they will regardless of Saturdays result.
I just hope we show more ambition than on Monday as we play 2 of the bottom 3 teams either side of a six pointer with Mansfield so 3 wins are an absolute must. Even then I think with Sutton's form, and the gap to Bristol and Northampton our only hope is Tranmere but even they may already be too far ahead. Mansfield have a game in hand which is lowly Stevenage at home so if I'm honest I think we've had it with Bristol, Northampton, Sutton and Mansfield my tips for the play offs. 8th or 9th is our most likely finish I'd say.
|
|
|
|
Post by je85 on Apr 21, 2022 9:33:18 GMT
We need to look at what Wellen’s Orient did to scunny a few weeks back for inspiration as to how best to deal with a side on the brink.
Oldham did what GB did on Monday and went with a completely new formation. Went from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 against FGR - so I am expecting both sides to revert to type.
This won’t be pretty or easy because you know they will go all in for one last hooray. Keillor-Dunn is playing out of his skin in a side that’s going down (100% would take him next season), he will try and get shots away and hope Oldham forwards can follow up. That said I think Sutton at CB can be got around - Watson, Smith and BTA should be able to cause havoc against him. Not sure if Piergianni will be back for this one but if he is let’s hope he saves a Sergio Ramos impression for someone else.
It’s going to be a battle, the last few months since the rainy season micro-climate at Moor Lane has been perfect for series 7 of CO92 FT. We need to win and set ourselves up for the sky cameras and Mansfield followed by Stevenage. At which point we can all uncross our fingers and toes with the faint hope playoff games to look forward to… but a pig has just flown past my window.
|
|
|
|
Post by bronco123 on Apr 21, 2022 12:12:47 GMT
Not your bog standard game is it? I fear a loss because this side has bottled all the pressure games this season: Derby, Chesterfield, Bristol, Port Vale (H). I hope I am proved wrong. The atmosphere will be toxic and not one for the connoisseurs. Quite a lot of eyes will be on this one, I hope our fans behave and let the home fans get the headlines. Could be the end of the season for both sides if it is a draw, so I think this will be the bookies safe bet. God know what line up GB will put out.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris P. Bacon on Apr 21, 2022 12:51:08 GMT
I don't care if Oldham stay up. Their mouthy fans aren't keen on us and I have no loyalty to them either from childhood or location. It is what it is. The table doesn't lie. One game doesn't define a 46 game season.
I'd rather go full-on attack and lose than defend to try and get a point.....even if we got that point. We are playing one of the worst teams in the league and chasing promotion. If that doesn't warrant an attacking side then I don't know what does?
I've defended GB on here and Facebook. At our best, he has us playing some good football, with some limited-ability players. I said after the last game that just like our players, the manager is also learning....as we all are. But if he goes defensive again and it fails, then I think he will be released at the end of the season. I think it's that cut and dry. Last week was a mistake. The manager needs to be big enough to acknowledge that and make changes. I think he will, but I can't be certain.
|
|
|
|
Post by tangerinedream on Apr 21, 2022 18:13:55 GMT
I don't care if Oldham stay up. Their mouthy fans aren't keen on us and I have no loyalty to them either from childhood or location. It is what it is. The table doesn't lie. One game doesn't define a 46 game season. Are there any opposition fans actually keen on us? Given the shyte fest that has gone on at Oldham (primarily but not exclusively off the pitch) for a number of years I do have some sympathy for their loyal fan base who have had precious little to shout about for a long time.I'd rather go full-on attack and lose than defend to try and get a point.....even if we got that point. We are playing one of the worst teams in the league and chasing promotion. If that doesn't warrant an attacking side then I don't know what does? Totally agree. It didn't work at Colchester either in our penultimate game of last season which ultimately cost us a shot at the play offs.I've defended GB on here and Facebook. At our best, he has us playing some good football, with some limited-ability players. I said after the last game that just like our players, the manager is also learning....as we all are. But if he goes defensive again and it fails, then I think he will be released at the end of the season. I think it's that cut and dry. Last week was a mistake. The manager needs to be big enough to acknowledge that and make changes. I think he will, but I can't be certain. I really can't see how he'd justify adopting the same formation of last Monday. If he did that would be it as far as I'm concerned in terms of my so far unstinting support of him. |
|
|
|
Post by Chris P. Bacon on Apr 21, 2022 19:20:23 GMT
I don't care if Oldham stay up. Their mouthy fans aren't keen on us and I have no loyalty to them either from childhood or location. It is what it is. The table doesn't lie. One game doesn't define a 46 game season. Are there any opposition fans actually keen on us? Given the shyte fest that has gone on at Oldham (primarily but not exclusively off the pitch) for a number of years I do have some sympathy for their loyal fan base who have had precious little to shout about for a long time.I'd rather go full-on attack and lose than defend to try and get a point.....even if we got that point. We are playing one of the worst teams in the league and chasing promotion. If that doesn't warrant an attacking side then I don't know what does? Totally agree. It didn't work at Colchester either in our penultimate game of last season which ultimately cost us a shot at the play offs.I've defended GB on here and Facebook. At our best, he has us playing some good football, with some limited-ability players. I said after the last game that just like our players, the manager is also learning....as we all are. But if he goes defensive again and it fails, then I think he will be released at the end of the season. I think it's that cut and dry. Last week was a mistake. The manager needs to be big enough to acknowledge that and make changes. I think he will, but I can't be certain. I really can't see how he'd justify adopting the same formation of last Monday. If he did that would be it as far as I'm concerned in terms of my so far unstinting support of him.You make a fair point TD. The vast majority of Oldham fans are loyal, don’t slag anyone else off and have been put through the wringer. That was just me retaliating. But unfortunately, almost half the National League teams are ex-league and some of them, were once quite high in the pecking order. Football is no respecter of reputation or heritage. Im not sure I would be calling for GBs sacking. I still feel at some point, we have to bite the bullet and give a manager 2-3 seasons at least. But I don’t think the owners would forgive him. Remember the final straw for GA? That disastrous game against a severely weakened Tranmere. It wasn’t the draw that did it, but the managers attitude and tactics for the second half after dominating in a way we’ve never seen in a game. |
|
|
|
Post by alanb on Apr 21, 2022 19:41:30 GMT
Start this match with the same attacking crew that ended Monday's match: Brandon, Smith, Hendo (and Bolton) all battling. And also put Stephen Kelly on, racing through the centre. We want a Salford no-nonsense early all-out assault - to have this game sewn up from the start. First of three wins!
|
|
|
|
Post by tangerinedream on Apr 22, 2022 6:41:27 GMT
Not sure if Piergianni will be back for this one but if he is let’s hope he saves a Sergio Ramos impression for someone else. |
|
|
|
Post by alanb on Apr 22, 2022 14:05:39 GMT
Not sure if Piergianni will be back for this one but if he is let’s hope he saves a Sergio Ramos impression for someone else. Luckily for us. I think we're all aware of just how dangerous he can be when he's loose in the box. |
|
|
|
Post by tangerinedream on Apr 22, 2022 20:47:13 GMT
Good result for us tonight with Newport losing 1-2 at home to Colchester which means they stay on 66 points (like ourselves) having played one game more.
|
|
|
|
Post by chipbarm on Apr 22, 2022 21:00:23 GMT
Just need Tranmere, Mansfield and Sutton to lose tomorrow whilst we win. I shan't hold my breath 😄
|
|
|
|
Post by alanb on Apr 22, 2022 21:55:10 GMT
Just need Tranmere, Mansfield and Sutton to lose tomorrow whilst we win. I shan't hold my breath 😄 It could happen, chip. |
|
|
|
Post by alanb on Apr 23, 2022 17:52:26 GMT
Seems that the teams played the remaining minutes after we'd all gone; and we win 2-1. A sad fiasco for Oldham.
|
|
|
|
Post by je85 on Apr 23, 2022 18:42:47 GMT
Well that got a bit spicy…
|
|
