Oldham Story — August 2010

Hello friends, welcome back! We had already made some signings, but I was hoping for more, so here they are.

Transfers Out

Quite a few more players were sold, these players all weren’t good enough for the Championship, I was very pleased with the price we got for Keigan Parker, he really isn’t very good.

Transfers In

I said in the last post that we were still looking for a right back, and I’m pleased to say that eventually we have. It is young Fulham defender Elliot Omuzusi, he is on loan for the season, for a fee of $275k. He has good attributes, is quick and strong in the tackle, he should be a good player for us this season.

I still wanted another centre back after selling Dejan Stefanovic, and arranging a deal for Rueben Hazell to be sold to Bohemians in January. I was very pleased that I was able to get this player, it’s Spanish defender Ruben, from Mallorca. He was transfer listed so I was able to pick him up for just $525k, a good deal for us. He is very good in the air, I hope he can be a very reliable defender for us this season.

One more new player was brought in, after selling Worthington we still needed another midfielder, and I was pleased to get defensive midfielder Dani Fragoso. He is a solid player, a natural in the DMC role, who can also play as a central defender of midfielder. He also came pretty cheaply after being transfer listed at his old club, Cadiz.

So, with the new signings we started the season, our first season in the second tier for thirteen years. We started at home to Swansea, it was going to be a tight match, they had some decent players. The match started and we were playing quite well, probably the better team, but it was the visitors who went in front. The players heads didn’t drop though, and we got a deserved equaliser through Febian Brandy, he slotted in from 8 yards. After that we continued to press but we couldn’t break through and the first match of the season ended in a draw.

Next up and we had another home game, it was a League Cup tie against League 2 side Port Vale. I sent in a few backup players, as we had a really tough game against Wigan coming up. The players rewarded me though, after Pawel Abbott it was the Martyn Waghorn show, he slotted in two goals before completing his hat trick with a penalty, and we secured a good victory, one that we deserved. We were through andwere to face Portsmouthin the next round.

After  that good win we were in for a much tougher game, we had to travel to recently relegated Premier League team Wigan. They hadn’t sold any of their players, and really should be in the top flight with the quality they have. However they looked lacklustre, and in the 16th minute Brandy put us in front with a well taken goal. We were in dream land but we couldn’t hold on until half time, in the 39th minute Wigan equalised from a corner. Just as I thought the floodgates were about to open, we scored again, Chris Taylor turned and smashed one in from range, it was a wonder goal! After the break Wigan started pushing forward  looking for the equaliser, but the defence stayed strong in the nervy final minutes, and we had won! It was a great victory, a huge scalp for us, the players confidence soared after that.

The busy schedule continued soon after, we were at home to Preston in the next game. I expected an even game and that’s what it was, but we went in front when John Kennedy nodded in from a corner. Preston kept having chances, but Itandje was having a blinder, but just as I thought we were going to nick the win, Preston scored, they smashed one in from range with the last kick of the game. It was a bitter blow for us, having it snatched away at the last minute was a huge disappointment.

After that game we had another tough one, it was away at another relegatedPremier League side, this time we were playing Portsmouth. The match wasn’t a very good one, to be honest, we defended well, and we had the better chances on the counter attack. It took until the 72nd minute for the deadlock to be broken, and I am delighted to say it was us that got it, Pawel Abbott placed one in andwe were one up! Portsmouth stared to come forward more after the goal, but they only tested Itandje once, he was equal to it and we held firm, for another victory! I was delighted, and we deserved it, we played really well.

Just four days later and we were back at Fratton Park, this time it was a League Cup game that were playing against Pompey. I decided to rest a few players and I wasn’t too bothered if we lost this one, which we did. They had a full strength side out and got a deserved victory. I am not too disappointed, I would rather lose in the Cup than in the league.

We had one more game to play in this very busy month, we were back at home for the visit of Doncaster. The game was tight, but we were slightly better, and after Deane Smalley had put us ahead and they had equalised, Febian Brandy placed  in a winner in the 54th minute to give us another victory. I was pleased with the win, the team are looking solid and quite comfortable at this level.

After a great start for us we sit third in the league! Not bad for a team that was predicted to finish 19th….. but there’s still a long way to go, but if we keep up some decent form we should finish comfortably in mid table at least.

Next monthis going to be tough, we have a busy schedule after the international break at the start of the month. Hopefullywe can get 10 points from the month, if we get anymore than that I will be delighted.

That’s all then folks, thanks for reading!