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U's 0 Oldham 2 - Noah's View
U's 0 Oldham 2 - Noah's View
Sunday, 9th Dec 2012 13:30 by Noah4x4

Old-em?... No Sell-em!... This morning, my heart goes out to Joe Dunne, or more so to Mrs Dunne (and junior Dunnes) who is probably dealing with a very sore Irish bear.

Joe knows exactly what he wants to do, and it's exactly what we want, but he evidently doesn’t have the squad to deliver, with an unfortunate training injury to Eastmond being the latest twist; excuse my pun. On Monday, about 100 or so season ticket holders left WHCS totally convinced and supportive of Joe’s playing philosophy and of Robbie Cowling’s commitment. Today, 2,797 of the 2,897 crowd (less a handful of Latics fans), are probably less convinced. We now have two difficult away games before our next WHCS appearance on Boxing Day, and the Xmas TV schedule looks better than normal. Given the lure of the fireside, an armchair and a sherry, let’s hope the spirit of the 100 engenders the remaining 2,797, and maybe a few more, as is usual for the Christmas fixture, for the visit of Brentford. But there’s little to encourage us from that fixture after their success over MK Dons and our awful capitulation to the latter. My hope is that we can get to Crawley and hence to the transfer window whilst staying outside of the drop zone by the current margin or better. We have to keep the faith.

Both Joe and Robbie Cowling had committed to the “new U’s way”; a delightful passing game that emulates “Real Madrid; Arsenal; Barcelona; Swansea” etc. We saw that is achievable during Joe’s early efforts in charge. However, Joe confessed that the U’s youth teams had adopted this strategy far better than many in the first team, and so it was today. Derived of the silky skills of Watt, Massey and Eastmond, it was once again like watching a John Ward side, and at the death, even with John Ward tactics. One could easily count the number of times that we effectively played the ball on the deck entirely from the back and into any threatening attack without removing one’s shoes and socks. For much of the game it was hoof and hope. We simply couldn’t string a long sequence of passes together without the benefit of our Arsenal loanees and hence the U’s rarely troubled Oldham.

Sears ran hard, and skilfully beat defenders, but generally went up blind alleys with the desirable midfield support and hence a ball outlet absent. Potts and Wilson appeared a little more reluctant to push forward than usual, perhaps shell-shocked from the MK result. We did miss Rose in that forward role, but the crowd’s cry for “Johnny White White White” isn’t the solution. John is a solid defender, but like Magnus, perhaps doesn’t fit the newly favoured passing game. Compromise on players and positions isn’t the solution, and only patience and practice will produce results if we are to pursue this style. Anybody that later watched the Swansea v Norwich game in full on TV will perhaps understand what I mean. Swansea; massacred in the first half (0-3); maintained their system, sorted out their errors, and almost got out of jail. By contrast, the U’s were forced to switch to 4-4-2 and former JW tactics, as the personnel on display were never going to concoct the right appealing cocktail.

Jabo annoyed and pressured a solid Oldham defence, but largely in isolation. Elsewhere we were poor, notably in midfield. Woody was anonymous (er… lazy?) although he did deliver a couple of quality through balls. Andy Bond was unlucky when hitting a post, but didn’t have the touch of an Eastmond. Marcus Bean effectively broke up attacks, but wasn’t a playmaker like Eastmond, and I doubt that Izzet would have succeeded to any greater extent, certainly as regards any contribution to the absent ‘passing game’. In response to the clamour from fans to “bring in more youth”, Joe replaced Bean and Bond in midfield with Gilbey and Wright, but that had little effect against a competent Latics side. Magnus firmly headed and booted the ball forward to players that were all too soon disposed of it, the ball having not been played to their feet. His individual mistake resulted in the first breach of our net. Henderson was rightly (IMHO) judged man of the match, but I can see why he was replaced by Morrison to see if a Clinton and Jabo combination in 4-4-2 was any more effective (it wasn't).

Joe Dunne tried everything available in his managerial armoury, short of lacing up his own boots, but frankly, the team let him down on the day. However, I would have welcomed Thompson on for Magnus, probably from the outset. It was a big mistake by Ward, inviting him back like the prodigal son on such a long contract. Sadly, he isn’t the U’s player he once was, and that's probably the system, and not entirely his making.

To be fair, the U’s were always in the game until the second bizarre goal. I found comfort in Mark Cousins being at his bravest behind a fragile defence. He made the courageous saves that Sullivan didn’t in recent weeks. The normally quite dependent Wilson had a nightmare, but it was good to see Tom Eastman recover his confidence and composure after his shocker at MKD. The second Oldham goal followed an awesome save by Cousins, but the ball spun and located itself behind Brian Wilson’s boot. Lying stationary, just an inch from the line, with the crowd crying “it’s behind you”, the seasonal pantomime ended with his unfortunate back-heel that finally pushed it over the line. Shame the Xmas bloopers DVD is already in the shops.

Fortunately, all below us lost - except Portsmouth that nabbed a point - so we lose no ground in the relegation battle. I remain totally convinced that the ‘new U’s way’ is correct, but upon this and the performance at MKD, we don’t yet have the right personnel. Let’s hope that Joe Dunne can offload plenty to get the wage bill down to permit the acquisition of players that can deliver the ‘new U’s way’. But without our loanees, we are back to where we were when Ward was sacked, and Joe Dunne doesn't deserve that given what he has inherited. The objective, must now be stay up and rebuild, let's get behind Joe during the essential demolition and reconstruction.

Photo: Action Images



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