Oldham updates & reports

[Simon T]

Oldham updates

Well as I'm stuck at work I'll start this thread.

The BBC website has the team as:

Paul Smith, Dobson, Fieldwick, Somner, Sonko, O'Connor, Hutchinson, Evans, Jay Smith, Rougier, May. Subs: Hunt, Peters, Julian, Hughes, Traynor.

Unfortunately, they also have the latest score as 1-0 to Oldham (Dean Holden header 16 mins from a right wing cross). I'm assuming that as Fieldwick is in the side and no Roget that people won't be blaming Somner for getting skinned by a tricky winger for this one.

 

[Happytobee]

Equaliser for the Bees !!

Eddie Hutchinson with a header from a Dobson corner.

Come on you Reds !!

 

[MayenneBee]

1-1 Hutchinson

 

[timmy_boy5]

Half time- Hutch's first senior goal methinks?

 

[Amsterdam Bee]

COME ON YOU REDS!!!!

And Hutch aswell. That will annoy a few....

 

[timmy_boy5]

Rougier has got one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[timmy_boy5]

Maybe i take back the comments about the long ball game

 

[MayenneBee]

2-1 The Rug

 

[Simon T]

Maybe i take back the comments about the long ball game

From the BBC website:

Assist by Paul Smith (Brentford) from own half.

 

[Amsterdam Bee]

'AVE IT YOU MONKEYS!!!

 

[YorkBee]

good grief I know we want a result but at what cost? downes keeping his job? yeah yeah I know cynical I know and i want the bees to win but i also want downes out so I am in a cleft sort of stick here

bees to win Downes out

and as for you Mayenne bee ... OI!!!! Barr NOOOOOOO

 

[MayenneBee]

smiff saves pen!!!!!!

 

[Happytobee]

2-1 to the Super Bees !!!

Rougier the scorer. Sounds like he latched onto a hoof from Paul Smith. Route one but who cares. We've scored 2 goals in open play !!!!!

 

[MayenneBee]

York bee - see a doctor!

 

[Amsterdam Bee]

Christ, I can't bear "watching" it like this......

COME ON BEES!!!!

 

[Amsterdam Bee]

Oldham has just brought this guy on for M A-C.

N'Diwa Lord-Kangana


Now that is a name.....

 

[timmy_boy5]

Full time
at last a fookin win

 

[Amsterdam Bee]

feckin' QUALITY!!!!!

 

[DidntYouUsedToBee]

At last. We may have our doubts about Wally but if we don't hold out this season were well f***ed

 

[timmy_boy5]

another 30 0f those would be kewl

 

[Heston Bee]

Oldham reports

First game of the season for Mr H. Bee and after previous results and all the forecast for doom and gloom I expected the worst, and it was duly delivered after about 15 minutes with a soft goal from a long throw - Sonko misjudging the bounce, letting it past him and someone sneaking a smart header past Smudger into the bottom corner. Cue plenty of sighs, here-we-go-agains and anxiety.
However, the Brentford derailment was postponed, as lo-and-behold! the Bees started to battle and play some football! Could this be the same team that has been continuously lambasted for the last 2 weeks?
A thumping header from Hutchison off Dobson's corner put the half-time score at 1-1.
Second half was end to end stuff, Oldham hitting the post, Somner having a decent shot deflected wide, Rougier getting past his man and getting off a decent shot to be well saved by the opposing keeper. Oldham also hit the bar after some more rather inept defending, but a long kick from Paul Smith deceived the Oldham defence (the ball bouncing seemed enough to disorientate them) and Rougier was on hand to slot in a deserved goal.

The Bees were excellent going forward, there were some good moments of one touch football, and a stream of excellent crosses from Fieldwick. At the back we looked poor though, and in particular Sonko didn't look the player I saw commanding things last season - at fault for their goal and for the penalty (great save Smudger!)
Still, Hutchinson was superb in the second half and the win was deserved! Bring on the doubters...

 

[Thomas Bathurst]

We definitely looked much, much better going forward. Smith & Hutch were pushing on. Dobbo and Fieldwick got forward and delivered a number of telling crosses. Somner looks 1000% better as a centre half as well all know. Rougier is a tricky customer and looks like he'll score a few. May looked promising, with a bit of presence and the ability to hold the ball up. The main problem was organisation at the back still - and we look like conceding every time cross comes in.

The crowd was horribly disappointing - but if the games are half as exciting as today - then I'm sure they will creep up. If we play the boring negative stuff of before then they will stay this low.

All in all, while not a magnificent performance, it was encouraging and exciting and that's good enough for me.

 

[beesxtreame]

we were much better in the second half and the ref was s**t for both teams

 

[Ascot Bee]

Really enjoyed the game.

I thought we had a reasonable balance around the pitch and I think May and Rougier will become a decent forward line.

Sonko was in a daydream though.

 

[steve bee]

I'm not sure if i dreamt it or not but i saw an excellent game with Brentford playing neat attractive passing football on the floor and not hoofing it up in the air. Eddie Hutchinson scoring his first ever goal with a bullet header and then in the second half winning a tackle and hitting a superb defence splitting pass through to Rougier. A much improved performance from the whole side,plenty of shouting and encouragement from a number of players and plenty of fighting spirit.

 

[JTofBFC]

Huge improvement on the last few games.

Very enjoyable game in fact with the result always up for grabs right up until the end. Nobody can complain about the result though.....although I'm sure Iain Dowie will.

Notable plus points for the Bees.

1. Jay Smith had an absolutely fantastic game. He was up and down the pitch passing, intercepting, defending. You name it he was there. I didn't think he had that kind of game in him but for me he was the man of the match today.

2. Lee Fieldwick. Who says the fans don't know what they're talking about. The player we have all been clamouring to replace the right footed left back we've had all season had a blinder too. Particular credit for a string of excellent precision crosses.

3. Matt Somner. Excellent game but then we all know he's really a centre half.

4. Tony Rougier. Superb game. Very quick feet and often seemed to get to the ball first when it should have been the defenders ball. Gave our front play a new lease of life.

5. Eddie Hutch. As mentioned elsewhere only really got going after 42 minutes but had a good second half as well as the goal. Playing the last 50 minutes with a bloodstained shirt must mean he has lost his "clean shirt" tag too.

6. Dobbo. Could tell he was really up for it today. Obviously some of the criticism has hit home and he played like a man possessed at times.

7. Smiffy. Great penalty save.

No disrespect to the others as it was a good team effort but those were the ones who stood out for me. Not sure about May. He did OK without unduly impressing but he's got a few more games to show what he can do. I still think Peters has had a rough deal off the Manager but as long as we're winning no complaints.

Shame about the crowd. Another £20k lost to budget I suppose. Maybe we can start getting some of those missing punters back if todays effort can be repeated weekly.

 

[Stanley]

What a difference a goal makes, you could see the confidence oozing back after that, especially following our usual schoolboy error in defence leaving us 1-0 down for the fourth league game on the trot.

Can't fault the effort today though and although we rode our luck at times we deserved to win what was a pretty exciting end to end match, we actually looked like scoring every time we attacked. Be churlish to pick out individuals but agree with above about Dobbo, stirring stuff from him today.

There's going to be a lot of comments about Somner in the middle and Fieldwick as left back but even Wally must admit we did look better balanced

 

[beezy babe]

Jay Smith had an absolutely fantastic game. He was up and down the pitch passing, intercepting, defending. You name it he was there. I didn't think he had that kind of game in him but for me he was the man of the match today.

I have to agree with this. I have never really rated Jay Smith but he surprised me over and over again today. What a superb game he had!

Rougier looked really good I thought after the first (slightly wobbly) ten minutes. May was in the right place all the time and looked as though he could be a useful player once he has settled down a bit. Nearly cried when Smudger saved that penalty - it felt like a bloody cup game!! Or maybe that is just the result of me being sober during a match?

Please please give us more of this Bees!!

 

[Simon C]

We had a bright start and then conceded an stupid goal and heads dropped. We only got going again because of Michael Dobson. That was a true captain's display and I think we can put this result down to one crunching tackle that he had no right to win. This stirred the crowd and the players and Dobbo's forays down the right wing with the bright O'Connor kept us going.

However with Evans on the left coming inside all the time we looked very disjointed. This was fixed in the second half with Evans hugging the touchline a bit more and giving us a threat down both sides. I would like to see Hunt (he looked fit to me, either that or on speed ) on the left and Evans in the middle from now on.

As has been mentioned some of the defending was abysmal but it was mostly Sonko trying to claim balls he had no right to get, including the first goal. Somner and Fieldwick looked much better in their natural positions.

Upfront Rougier was full of tricks and always dangerous while May will need more time to work with the team before we see the best of him.

The crowd was low but those of us there got behind the boys well and there was a good atmosphere, especially after Eddie's goal (similar to the relief after MacCammon's first of the season last Bank Holiday).

And who was that big fairy Oldham brought on at the end? lol

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Agree with all comments above. However a major change from the last 3 weeks was that we had a true striker on show - Ben May was a thorn in the side of Oldham. He worked hard and heads well. On balance already looks better than Rowan vine looked last year.

The best player on the pitch in the first half was Antoine Courier.....the shame was that he was playing for Oldham as a trialist. If wally was looking today and has sense he will make some efforts to sign him ASAP.

 

[love and mercy]

Agree with all comments above. However a major change from the last 3 weeks was that we had a true striker on show - Ben May was a thorn in the side of Oldham. He worked hard and heads well. On balance already looks better than Rowan vine looked last year.

The best player on the pitch in the first half was Antoine Courier.....the shame was that he was playing for Oldham as a trialist. If wally was looking today and has sense he will make some efforts to sign him ASAP.

Are you having a laugh . Do you really want that French tart playing for us again .
Good grief

 

[Simon C]

Are you having a laugh . Do you really want that French tart playing for us again .
Good grief

You would think that someone would have taken him to one side by now and explained the offside rule properly.

 

[Holysmit]

A good display with some nice passing and moving which made such a pleasant change from the hoof and hope sh*te. We actually looked dangerous when we attacked and I think we could have had more but there keeper was very good and one of the best i've seen in division 2.

Everyone mucked in today which was nice and if they can keep that up they'll do well enough to keep us in division 2. Rougier looked dangerous and deserved his goal after forcing there keeper into a good save early on in the second half in honesty he should have scored. Wasn't too impressed with May but that being said I feel that once hes had a while to settle in and learn how others play he could do a job for us. Midfield was good and I think a lot of that was down to Steve Evans who brings an extra urgency to the team when he plays. Jay Smith was immense which didn't suprise me as I have been one of his most vocal supporters/promoters in the past. Hutchinson put in probably his best peformance to date it was a great header and Kevin O'Connor looked threating when he had the balll.

However with all this I was still concerned about the defence although I have to say Dobbo was simply superb putting in a peformane similar to when he first got into the team years back whipping in crosses which threatented them and some awesome tackles. Fieldwick also put in some great last ditch tackles and Somner looked better at centre back. Sonko made some good tackles but made to many mistakes and gave away a penalty. With all that said though our defence was exposed far too often for my liking and only a good Smith save, the post, the bar and poor finishing gave us 3 points. Furthermore we gave away one of the softest goals i've seen at GP. The defence needs to be sorted out urgently.

 

[SigiBee]

Holysmit, I take it you weren't at the Peterborough game. The first goal then was even softer. A point about Stephen Evans. He's got great energy (and a great sense of humour according to Jay Smith in the programme today) but its not going to be long before he gets himself sent off for gross incitement of opposition players. Hutch did a good job in winding him down this afternoon when he went off on one. Well done Hutch. Channel that energy Evo, use it constructively to get the crowd going - don't risk red by going looking for trouble in the goalmouth - we need you on the field. You've got ability and the same spirit that fuels the South African cricket team. Use it to effect, mate.

 

[BoroBee]

Agree with all comments above. However a major change from the last 3 weeks was that we had a true striker on show - Ben May was a thorn in the side of Oldham. He worked hard and heads well. On balance already looks better than Rowan vine looked last year.

The best player on the pitch in the first half was Antoine Courier.....the shame was that he was playing for Oldham as a trialist. If wally was looking today and has sense he will make some efforts to sign him ASAP.

Sorry - disagree with almost all of this post!
May looked like a thug and was lucky not to get sent off - someone must have had a word with him at half-time because even after his long overdue booking (IMHO) he was still pushing and mixing it with their defence. Luckily he settled down in the second half, but I could see little that impressed me.
Courier was and still is a whinging git - no change, no skill, end of..

 

[C-Bee]

Well this was my first game this season and I admit to picking up my season ticket with a heavy heart, having kept up with the GPG and fearing 90 minutes of purgatory awaiting me. However, notwithstanding the season's start I found MUCH to enjoy today!

OK so the goal was soft and there were a few 'heart in mouth' type incidents. But, there were also some lovely balls in, some committed tackles and some inventive ideas. There were also two blessed, welcome, vital goals !!!

On the basis of today I'd say we have things to build on. I'd also say that every fan needs to get down there and make some serious noise.

 

[mhead bee]

I agree with a lot of what is said but just to add,

Thought we had a lot more balance today, dobbo and oconnor linked well and pinged in crosses all day. Fieldwick was outstanding although still slightly lightweight in the air he makes up for it on the ground.

Evo had a good game winning loads of ball and an excellent 2nd half.

Somner was outstanding in CM (again) and sonko ruins all the great stuff he does by some comical defending when he collides with oconnor for the first goal when both had free headers, gave away a stupid penalty. Sometimes he is brilliant but then he just does something stupid.

i still think CM is the weak area. Smith had an outstanding game but hutch was anonymous before scoring one of the best headers I have ever seen getting his head split in the process. He came to life like he had the world lifted of his shoulders and had a briiliant last 50 odd mins. To put it in persepective oldham were very very very poor and we murdered them in CM last half hour, but against a good side I think these two will struggle as smith plays deep and hutch is too slow to get involved. I think both could be good with a guvnor but together we are sometimes exposed at the back.

Up front rougier was class.

The other guy is fairly immobile but he certainly puts himself about. He smashed have smashed 5-6 of their players as he attacked balls in the box. He certainly works hard and holds the ball up well and is a good addition.

All in all a good day out and reminded me why i love going to brentford..

If the lads do read this..they have to take the rough with the smooth and they have had some pretty strong criticism recently particularly hutch, but today they deserve all the credit in the world and I was dead chuffed with all of them today..thanks!

I am looking forward to the next game now but we need to keep the back 4 the same. I personally would stick evo in the middle and bung hunt on the left, I would also give peters a bit of airtime, but what do i know?

 

[Idaho Bee]

. I personally would stick evo in the middle and bung hunt on the left, I would also give peters a bit of airtime, but what do i know?

Probably more than Wally.rofl

 

[bees66]

Probably more than Wally.rofl

lol

 

[Greenford Bee]

I have got to admit that some of the players that I personally blasted after the Peterborough game really turned it around today:-

Jay Smith - Best game in a long long long time.

Dobbo - Captain Fantastic, going up for corners?????????????? Great to see.

Matt Somner - I was proud to be 25% ish Welsh!!

and a lot of credit to our Wal for:-

1. Playing Fieldwick. A lot to learn but a natural left footer who obviously likes to get forward.

2. Signing another youth (May) but at last a true centre forward who Rougier etc. might be able to play off. He put in more effort today than Vine did in 10 games last season.

and special mention to:-

Eddie H - Gets a bit of stick (on the New Road) but what a heart
and what an engine

Stephan Evans - The new Evo, full of running but I agree that we need to see him infield ASAP.

The Rest of the Team - I did not see a poor performance today.

 

[IsleofWight_Bee]

Agree with most of the above. Got to disagree with BoroBee though, I thought May had a good first game despite all the Oldham shirt pulling etc - they were first class at deceiving the ref and getting free kicks etc that should have gone our way. Perhaps he was getting confused with Evo who was lucky to stay on after losing the plot.

Anyway enough of that..good performances from most and a word about Sonko, yeah ok not the greatest today but his late clearance when the guy would have been clean through was excellent.

Well done you Reds..just another 52 points eh!!!!

 

[Mary250550]

As i am on holiday in Germany i aint seen a game so far, but christ almighty we fekin won!!! YEEEESSSSSSSS!!!! cum on u beeeees!! May sounds a gd signing as does Rougier!!! I have a sneaky feeling coming on!! THE BESS R GOIN UP!!!! (well maybe)

 

[Edmundo]

GOIN UP!!!!

Steady on. Staying up will do me fine.

 

[WarrenBee]

As i am on holiday in Germany i aint seen a game so far, but christ almighty we fekin won!!! YEEEESSSSSSSS!!!! cum on u beeeees!! May sounds a gd signing as does Rougier!!! I have a sneaky feeling coming on!! THE BESS R GOIN UP!!!! (well maybe)

Can I have a pint of what you're drinking please.

 

[West Wilts Bee]

Reports.

Yeah I really enjoyed the match today, and it was one of the best Iv'e seen in a long time. Star man for me today was Tony Rougier (especially after some negative comments last week) he will do us well. Agree with most that has been already said, Jay Smith, Hutch, Fieldwick, Dobbo.
But for me there is something missing in the midfield, ie not enough protection for our overworked defence. A special mention to the brilliant bees fans that could be bothered to turn up, great support. Also a special mention to the ones who couldn't be bothered, today you were the losers.

 

[Mr Tree]

i almost feel bad for doing this, but some doomsaying has to be done

for one thing, oldham are a poor team (i'd feel sympathy for them, but their fans aren't worth it ), and we were fairly lucky to get away with the win (penalty, bar, post by Eyres??)

we were a lot, lot better than against Peterboro, but lots of problems still. defence was shambolic at times, schoolboy-style, running after the same people and throwing themselves into slide tackles. and what was Sonko on?? certainly not this planet...

the midfield 4 eventually clicked as Oldham tired, but Oldham exposed our lack of width time and again in the first half and a better team would have punished that. o'connor and evans did well chasing back generally, but there were times when fieldwick and dobbo were exposed.

and eddie hutch, waste of space. apart from the goal, like...

as mhead bee, i'd have hunty in for hutch, and evo moving inside. maybe even rougier on the right wing, peters up front and move kev o'c inside for smith, so:

Smith
Dobbo-Sonko-Somner-Fieldwick (that defence may need modifying!!)
Rougier-Kev O-Evans-Hunt
Peters-May

yeh, what was hunty on at the end?? scared the life out of them, esp their no.5 ("pick on someone your own size!").

darren sheridan - what a ****er

good to see us win, but work is still needed

 

[Edmundo]

Please please please please please please please don't let Oldham go bust now!

 

[Edmundo]

and eddie hutch, waste of space. apart from the goal, like...

Er, and about six headers clear when Oldham corners came in. Plus making a nuisance of himself in midfield. And several good passes.

 

[JonnieGee]

Thought the main differences from the Posh game were:

1) We workrd hard as a team (like the start of last season).
2) When the ball was played up front we had someone (May) who could hold it up.
3) We had a proper left back which gave the team more balance.
4) We didn't just hoof it up field.
5) We won!

We still need to defend better if we are not to be relegation candidates. Lets not forget that Oldham hit the woodwork twice and missed a pen.

Overall the performance was very much better than the Posh game. Here's hoping the team build on this result and the missingfans return.

 

[Mr Tree]

Er, and about six headers clear when Oldham corners came in. Plus making a nuisance of himself in midfield. And several good passes.

i lost count of the amount of challenges he pussy-ed out of, gifting them possesion. Several good passes?? I remember ONE, the type of ball that O'Connor/Tabb/Evans would play 3 or 4 times a game if they were in centre mid. He is clearly the best header of the ball at the club, but is that all he's in the side for, then??

anyway, well done to him - it was a good performance (by his standards). but he would not be in my starting XI...

other things : i hope wally has seen the difference that getting the full-backs involved made to our game. that wouldn't have happened if our no.3 had been playing left back... great crossing from both dobbo and fieldwick