Well, after our League win on Tuesday at the Keepmoat, we now travel to Boundary Park for the re-match where instead of three points at stake, it is the hope of a third round draw away to a big club. Some would say, let's have a Cup run, but I think most would prefer to play either Manchester club away for the money.
Anyway,the victory on Tuesday saw the Rovers claim seventh place in the Football League Power rankings, behind the like of City, United and Chelsea, amongst others.
Dean Saunders
" We beat Bradford P.A., which could have been a banana skin for us,and the reward was Oldham away today, but the rewards after this round could be massive for us." He went on, " This competition is one of the revenue streams the club has, so it's very important for us, it's also very important for the players and their careers, but first we need to beat Oldham."
We will not have an unchanged side as David Cotterill and Iain Hume both miss the game through suspension, following Tuesday night's game. Martin Woods will also be absent through injury. It will be interesting to see how Dean works his back four.
We need to cover for Cotts which may mean a start for David Syers and then we could put Tommy Spurr back to left back with James Husband taking the wide left role. The question is, who plays alongside Corporal Jones, it will be either Shelton Martis or recently returned Jamie McComb.
Hopefully Bill Paynter, although rated 50/50, will be fit to replace Hume and partner Chris Brown up front. Andy Griffin is also rated 50/50 with James Harper also doubtful. Do not be surprised if Dean brings Kyle Bennett back on the bench. This, to bolster what could be a small bench today.
Oldham Manager, Paul Dickov gave a, " We can beat them", message to his troops. "The one thing Tuesday night's game did was to show us we can win," said Dickov. " This is our Cup Final with a potentially money-spinning tie in the next round."
Dean Bouzanis, the Oldham keeper will be missing due to his red card on Tuesday, along with Cliff Byrne who picked up his fifth booking. Oldham will go with 18 year old Liam Jacob in goal and have recalled Alex Cisak from a loan at Pompey as back up.
Today's match officials are Nigel Miller from the North East, who was in charge of the game at Leyton Orient, which Rovers won 2-0. He will be assisted by Steven Copeland and Paul Hobday.
Let's hope the weather does not affect the game and we can come away with a win, the last thing we need is a replay with the small squad at our disposal.
Oldham v Rovers Budweiser FA Cup 2nd Round.
posted on 2/12/12
Fuzzy,
Now you are getting personal.
posted on 2/12/12
Well here i am this morning.
I have read all of last nights posts.
Let me make something clear to Alex first of all.
The apology was intended to be genuine as i felt that after your "why are you being so bitter" post that you were upset that i was having a pop at you.
Not because i am backing down from my point of view.
Fuzzy - yesterday you belittled a comment that i had made when you put a symbol and ridiculed my 54% possesion stat on our game yesterday.
Well i had to laugh after listening to Match of the Day last night.
Linekar was talking about Swansea against Arsenal and said that Swanseas had had a high possesion count in the game of 56%.
Now i guess you will tell me that Linekar knows nothing as well.
This is not personal of course.
Oh Alex - by the way - from your comment i think i now know who your brother is.
Was he a colleague of Bally's some years ago and i think he was deployed on a motorbike for a while.
Am i right?
Fuzzy - you say you find it difficult to let go when something gets under your skin well ditto that for me.
What abuse did i give you by the way?
posted on 2/12/12
No Hound,
He wasn't in the Bill he was a fireman in Thorne. You have probably seen him as I am fairly sure he sits a few rows in front you in the South Stand. He used to do a lot of refereeing locally and I think I am right in saying officiating with Stuart Highfield the director who resigned recently.
You could say that we have debated strong and hard since we were kids. I can remember years ago spending ages arguing where the ref should stand at corners. But thats where the disagreements end and there is nobody I would rather sit with at a football match. Its just a pity that our OLD MAN is not sitting in between us as he would probably have a totally different point of view to both of us.
posted on 2/12/12
Well it is Sunday and we have made our Peace, it is also the season of Advent and it is the first Sunday of Advent. It is done and dusted as far as I am concerned. Hound - as far as Alex's brother is concerned, you would immediately recognise him if you saw him from your playing days. Good Luck to you all. Yankee as well when he wakes up. Message to him is the package has eventually been posted. And as for Last Night Alex.
That is my secret.
posted on 2/12/12
Saddo here
First I'll be fair - there was an unnecessary "go figure" comment on the end of something I said. Sarcastic and unnecessary. My apologies to anyone it angered.
Secondly, I'll say LISTEN AT US. I'm off to take some pills that will help me grow up a bit. Anyone else want any?
On Lineker there's quite a bit to say (you really shouldn't throw challenges like that) . I realise some are going to be banging their heads against walls reading this but I hope others might find something of interest.
The difference between 56% possession and 54% possession doesn't sound much. But actually it's quite a lot.
As I said before - based on average "ball in play" time 54% possession means in the course of the whole game, one team had the ball for 5 minutes longer than the other. With 56% possession it's 7.5 minutes more. It's half as much again.
Now put it in contexts of the teams we are talking about. Swansea are renowned for playing good, possession football. For their game to work, they need the ball.
But Arsenal are also a footballing side. They want the ball too! So, this was a match between two sides renowned for possession football. And one of them gained 12% more possession than the other (56-44). I genuinely haven't seen the score but Swansea won right?
Donny do not play possession football. For their game to work, they don't need the ball so much. Having the ball more than your opponents doesn't necessarily mean you're playing a possession game.
I haven't seen yesterday's match but I have watched Tuesday's. I also didn't even listen yesterday but I'll take a guess now as to what happened.
Oldham would have allowed us possession in non-dangerous areas knowing we're not going to pass through them. Allowing us the ball in those areas ups our possession. On the evidence of Tuesday night's game,I'd doubt very much that our tactics resulted in that possession. Their's did.
Lineker not knowing what he's talking about? Not at all. It's quite refreshing to see he definitely does!
posted on 2/12/12
Just looked at the draw, thank God we lost as we would hve had 4 weeks of who's better SoD or Dean, I honestly think I could not have taken that.
posted on 2/12/12
What a blessing indeed, Bad Feelings there boys - Lots of personal issues between players and clubs. Oh am I now feeling a lot better. Afto Yankee
posted on 2/12/12
Actually NY it isnt possible to say who is the best of the two managers anyway.
SoD's Rovers were good and then they weren't.
Deano's Rovers weren't good and then they were.
Different times, different teams.
However, statisically..........................................
posted on 2/12/12
Just on my way home from St Gallen. Great fun. Standing in -7C with snow coming down by the bucket load watching Winti lose 4 : 0.
posted on 2/12/12
I think all you guys should chip in to pay me to go away on holiday again. Whilst I was away Rovers played 4 won 4 . Back yesterday and what happens! Enjoyed football USA style especially when the sprinklers came on during the game and stopped the action.