Well, after the easy game in the first round of the FA Cup we probably couldn't have had a harder one in the second round.
Oldham are on a very good run of only two defeats since August, in the league against Bristol City and in the JPT against Preston.
The Preston loss was on penalties so it could be argued that they didn't actually lose the game.
Our 2-0 loss against them was during this run when we had a very poor back line so perhaps it wasn't as bad as we felt at the time.
Since that night we have improved immensely.
We have added Johnstone, Stevens and Butler which has strengthened the team tremendously and as a result of that we are now a more potent attacking threat with the creative players being freed up more to do their stuff in the top half of the field.
Our last two matches have seen us come from behind to get two away draws which in all honesty would have been accepted by most of us had they come during the dodgy start we had in August and September.
Since we have got a decent squad together it shows how much our expectations have shot up that we are probably disapointed at only drawing two away games that in all honesty we could have won.
We would surely have won at Barnsley had Turnbull not been in such inspired form and had our strikers been at bit more composed in front of goal, something that also applied at Crewe.
We have played Oldham in the FA Cup twice before and they have beaten us both times so perhaps it is our turn to progress.
A win obviously puts us into the third round draw with a potential for either a glamorous home draw or a good away day to a PL club.
PD and Dean Furman have extra reasons for wanting to do well in this game of course.
PD had his first managerial job with Oldham which lasted for two and a half years before he came to us and Furman of course is a former captain there.
In the 2-0 loss earlier this year Furman took some ferocious stick from the Oldham fans and actually had quite a poor game and was subbed, much to their delight.
They were singing "One greedy baaastard, there's only one greedy baaaastard" to him.
He in particular will be very fired up and want to set the record straight.
Our overall record at Oldham is won 6, lost 6 and drawn 6 so perhaps another draw is on the cards.
Interestingly the Oldham manager has said that "Doncaster will be a tough game" (Donaldo, it isn't just PD who says that mate) and that in recent weeks we have been a very good side.
I also like the fact that there are lots of very positive comments being made by our players about us pushing on into the top half of the division to give us a chance of getting into the play off places by the time the business end of the season comes around.
I actually also think that the fans are becoming more optimistic about our chances since we got the current team together.
Stevens staying on a little longer helps the cause but i hope he stays for the rest of the season because he is far better than Evina at left back.
Hopefully we can put another good performance together and continue our recent good run and get the dream third round game.
OLDHAM V ROVERS FA CUP THREAD
posted on 6/12/14
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posted on 7/12/14
I'm with you zigger, i would like a nice away day trip to a PL club.
posted on 7/12/14
BBC have a few match highlights on their FA Cup page this morning.
I have to say that Theo looks really lively on the stuff it shows.
Most of the good scoring chances were by us too.
posted on 7/12/14
Bit of a coincidence since Dickovs gone 2 up top we are more balanced, settled, create more opportunities and score goals, whether it works at home we will see but so far we are moving on nicely.
posted on 7/12/14
Azza, it certainly looks that way but i also think that we are playing the midfield in a different way too.
We are now trying to employ the diamond set up which has freed up Wellens just behind the front two and he is pulling the strings and puttings balls into dangerous positions for the front and wide men to go on to.
posted on 8/12/14
Hound: You say again that people have forgotten what was said before this season began. “We all said that if we finish mid table we will have done well. Some even predicted a second relegation in a row”
Having reviewed carefully what we were actually writing in the immediate aftermath of the takeover falling through, there was indeed massive doom and gloom. Copps was about to go, Keegan had not re-signed and Wellens was showing no sign of staying. We seemed that we were about to lose Turnbull and Husband with no prospect of suitable replacements. There was nothing to encourage any hope; we did not know what T and B would do; the prevailing mood was that we were on the verge of losing everything with nothing to fill the void on or off the pitch. So if you take that as your reference point it would be right to recall that people were talking of survival being the realistic objective.
However, the worst case which we all feared never actually materialised, experienced players re-signed and we are now further strengthened by Johnstone, Butler and Stevens, so the forecasts of what would be a decent league position must be revised upwards as we became stronger and I think it would be fair to say that the re-assessment would be that the play-offs have now become within our scope.
Mooligan bases his argument on actual achievement rather than the confidence which you may draw from recent improved form. And leaving the closing stats for 2013/14 out may suit you, but they are part of Dickov’s record when he had a stronger squad than the current one. Dickov’s ability is central to our success or failure whatever the squad he is managing and whatever season we are looking at, so in a rational assessment, past results cannot be summarily disregarded.
Some of us are more easily encouraged than Mooligan is, but if, instead of focusing on the improvement in recent performances away from home, we look at league form there is justification in retaining doubt.
However well we are playing away from the Keepmoat, we still need to establish the ability to pick up a great deal more points at home than we drop if we are to make the top six.
Having said all that I personally believe that there are encouraging signs and perhaps Dickov is finally beginning to learn from his mistakes.
posted on 8/12/14
The team we had last season may have been stronger but we were playing in a much more difficult for us to compete in league so i have to discount that part of the argument.
My point about our expectations at the start of the season is still relative.
At that time i too was thinking the same thing, that we would struggle to stay around mid table.
The thing was that we beat Yeovil and York in the first week and everyones expections went up.
Then when reality set that we didn't have anywhere near a strong enough squad the results went against us, as i had expected them to.
Defensively as we all know, we were very poor.
As you and i agree, our signings have strengthened the team and given the manager the options that he didn't have at the start of the season.
It isn't a coincidence that the results are now coming.
I agree with you that a crack at the play offs isn't out of the question and i personally don't think it is impossible.
I listened to Paul Keegans interview on the radio last week and he was very adamant that the lack of a pre season had hampered the managers plans but that things were now going in the right direction.
The problem is, he said, that we have given the teams above us a head start.
There isn't a Rovers fans alive who doesn't know that we have to start picking up points at home but it is remarkable how many teams around us have a similar problem.
The thing i have noticed though is that the recent run has quietened the "Dickov out" calls and people may be realising that with a decent squad in a division which is probably our genuine level we will be able to at least consolodate and maybe even have a go at the play offs.
posted on 8/12/14
I'll sum it all up for ya's...
Shjt board!
Shjt manager!
Don't get your hopes up for the foreseeable future!
Ok?
RTID
posted on 8/12/14
Well for a long time it looked like it would be Man Utd.
Bristol City at home is a good draw though.
We owe them one after the 3-0 game.
They will fill the away end.
I remember watching us play Bristol City in the FACup third round in the early sixties when i was a young un.
We drew 2-2 and lost the replay.
Bristol were in the old first division at the time.
posted on 8/12/14
If we had confidence at home then it could be viewed as a good draw, but we need to build a winning mentality at home for this to happen. Hopefully we can start on Saturday