The big boys await the winner; yes, we could get Barnsley away
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TEAM NEWS
Shot stopper Glenn Morris may get a game after coming through the Essex Senior Cup clash with Grays unscathed on Tuesday night, though loanee Luke Daniels has done nothing wrong there are a lot of games coming up.
Which may see recalls for midfielders Lee Sawyer and Anthony Grant, but then again Michael Timlin will not be playing on Tuesday, expect a dodgy tackle or two late on for a fifth yellow for Timmo, so Blues boss Paul Sturrock will not risk both.
As he told www.echo-news.co.uk: "They will all be difficult line-ups for me to pick but we do have players with knocks and others who are one booking away from a ban so that will certainly come in to consideration. Having said all that, we have the momentum behind us at the moment and we want to keep the unbeaten run we’re on going for as long as we possibly can."
Yes, that Swindon JPT southern semi-final is only three days away, similar circumstances for Oldham as well, and then the clash of the day in League Two against Cheltenham only four days after that, blimey, something's gotta give.
Expect Ryan Hall to start wide in the centre to take advantage of their more ponderous centre-back partnership, though if he plays the Huddersfield bloke that could see a change in plan, and I would start with Bilel Mohsni on the right, or left, who knows with Bilel, al la the Barnet starting line-up.
Just don't give them a third minute spot kick as we did in that game, though a similar result would be acceptable.
Can we win all three games in the week? Yes.
Will we, possibily not.
Would you want to? Of course, who is asking these questions?!
But if I could pick one........sorry, has to be the league game, but Wembley in springtime would be nice, and as it's hardly going to be the May date, I would sacrifice this one, nice as it would be to play Arsenal away in the new year, though you know we'd get Barnsley.
See a goalless draw here, if not, one goal either way, and if that's Southend, terrific, as long as it doesn't come with a price tag of a lost player or two through injury or Bilel, someone, seeing red.
Eyes down for ball 62, hopefully!: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Luggy speaks: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
A new striker needed in the new year? www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
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Shefi Kuqi
The 'flying finn' is certainly a player to watch, even though he doesn't always deliver, Shefi has been in fine form with 12 goals in 17 starts for Oldham.
Museshrimper again, from his very useful look at the Latics last game, see above, writing on www.shrimperzone.com;
'Kuqi was the clear focal point of Oldham's attacking play. He dropped deep to receive the ball to feet, looking to drag the opposing centre-back out of position and bring advancing midfielders into the attack, and had a very good first touch when doing so.
He was also the target of long, ariel balls and looked to flick on to Simpson and Scapuzzi when possible. What surprised me most was the amount of running he did - whilst being slow, he was still chasing down defenders and the goalkeeper in the latter stages.
He's a clever striker but also appeared to get frustrated too. If we can prevent supply to him we should nullify his threat'
Great stuff, let's hope Dickov does the decent thing and picks him!
(For more info on the player: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shefki_Kuqi)
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Salisbury City v Grimsby Town
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Fleetwood v Yeovil Town (Friday, December 3rd, 19.30)
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Shrewsbury Town v Rotherham United
Dagenham & Redbridge v Walsall
Barnet v MK Dons
Gateshead v Tamworth
Sheffield Wednesday v Aldershot Town
Sutton United v Notts County (Sunday, December 4th, 17.00)
Southend United v Oldham Athletic
AFC Totton v Bristol Rovers (Sunday, Decmber 4th, 12.30)
Charlton Athletic v Carlisle United
Since the late-1990s Oldham Athletic have grappled with poor performance, a high turnover of managers and an aging stadium. The club's limited company was formed after a period of insolvency in 2003–04.
In February 2004, the club's immediate future was secured when a group of United States-based expatriate British businessmen, led by Simon Blitz, bought the club, forming Oldham Athletic (2004) Association Football Club Limited.
Graeme Sharp took over as Oldham's player-manager on the departure of Joe Royle in November 1994, but he was unable to mount a promotion challenge and the pressure continued to build up a year later when Oldham narrowly avoided relegation. Relegation to Division Two happened at the end of the 1996–97 season, just after Sharp had resigned to be succeeded by Neil Warnock.
As one of the biggest clubs in Division Two for 1997–98, and being managed by Warnock who had achieved no less than five promotions with other clubs in the last 11 years, Oldham Athletic were tipped for an immediate return to Division One, but they finished a disappointing 13th in the league and Warnock resigned. Veteran striker Andy Ritchie took over as player-manager, but he too failed to mount a promotion challenge and was sacked in October 2001 to be succeeded by Mick Wadsworth.
In 2001, Oxford based businessman Chris Moore purchased Oldham Athletic, vowing to take the club back to Premier League football within five years. Wadsworth quit as manager in the summer of 2002 to make way for Iain Dowie, who transformed Oldham's fortunes on the pitch as they made their first serious challenge for promotion in Division Two.
Oldham finished fifth and their promotion dreams were ended in the playoffs, and their fans were furious when Moore decided to end his interest with the club—leaving behind large debts and a weak squad, and after selling the better players at a fraction of their market value at the time. For a while it looked as though the club would go out of business, but a takeover deal was soon completed.
In 2004–05, Simon Blitz and two other partners, Simon Corney and Danny Gazal, purchased Oldham Athletic, trying to rescue the club from possible liquidation. While trying to repay debts, Oldham struggled for several seasons—barely avoiding relegation once more in 2004–05. In the 2006–07, Oldham's fortune turned for the better once more as the club narrowly missed out on promotion —losing to Blackpool 5–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final.
After two years with the club, manager John Sheridan was sacked on 15 March 2009, immediately being replaced by former manager Joe Royle. After being offered the job on a permanent basis, Royle rejected the offer and announced that he would be leaving the club after the final game of the season, his last game in charge at home was the 1-1 draw with the Shrimpers. Were you in fancy dress that day?
Darlington F.C. boss Dave Penney was announced as Royle's successor on 30 April 2009, though Royle still was in charge until season's end.
Penney was dismissed as Oldham manager on 6 May 2010, with his assistant, Martin Gray, taking over as caretaker manager for the final game of season 2009–10.
During June 2010, Paul Dickov was named as Oldham Athletic player-manager signing a one year rolling contract. Dickov's style of football has seen the club's performances improve from the previous season.
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 19 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 20 | 21 | 26 | -1 |
| 12 | Oldham Athletic | 19 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 29 | 26 | -2 |
| 13 | Hartlepool United | 19 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 26 | 26 | -2 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 19 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 32 | 36 | 26 | -4 |
(For a far more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldham_Athletic_A.F.C)
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