Oldham Athletic Season Preview: defensive focus

2016-17 saw another Shezurrection story for Oldham. In similar circumstances to 15/16, they were bottom of the table when John Sheridan took over, but ended it in 17th place, conceding fewer than champions Sheffield United. Was organization the key to staying up? Tom O’Dea discusses The Latics.

Partly, but more the manager getting the best out of his players and identifying weaknesses. As the stats show, conceding goals was never a massive issue but being too defensive in games.

Having finished the last eight seasons between 15th and 19th, it seems every year you’ve needed a survivalist mentality. Has this cycle been part of what has stopped you from becoming a more creative, better rounded side?

Think there is a number of factors under Lee Johnson we where playing attacking football and going to places to win games, Paul Dickov teams did try to play good football in his early days. Sadly in recent years we’ve had some bad managerial appointments and players sold or signed on short term deals which affects trying to build the nucleus of a good team. We showed under Shez in both his spells we can play good football with a settled team that can be developed, not chopped and changed each season.

As well as John Sheridan’s appointment, what changed in the second half of the season? Was signing centre-back Anthony Gerrard and using right-back Brian Wilson more often the key factors?

To me, after Peter Clarke and Connor Ripley, Brian Wilson was up there for me, Mr Reliable, he put in some great performances. Having Gerrard back in the team helped lift the squad and further strengthened it. Also under Shez we where not sitting back for 90 minutes, we were trying to win games. Bringing back Aaron Amadi-Holloway was a masterstroke and we started to see players that under Robinson had not performed as well as they could such as Lee Erwin, Paul Green and Ryan Mcclaughlin, why he was such a highly rated youngster. Players being able to play football run at players, being able to shoot and attack.

Stopper Connor Ripley has gone back to parent club Middlesbrough after keeping 18 clean sheets last year. At the time of writing, your only professional goalkeeper is Chris Kettings, who is yet to play in the Football League…

Chris Kettings was released so as we speak we only have a trialist keeper on the books. Ripley was class, best keeper in a long time. By all accounts we did try to bring him back which fans would of loved however reality is. He is too good for this level. Whoever we sign it will tough to match his record or performances & my worry is some fans won’t be patient enough.

Centre-back Peter Clarke was an ever-present last year. Given that he’s scored more goals (5) than any Latics player bar Lee Erwin, is it fair to say he’s had an impact in both boxes?

The biggest mistake of the season would of been if Clarke had been allowed to leave in Jan.

No team since 94/95 Leyton Orient (who finished 24 points adrift) has scored fewer than your 31 goals in the third-tier. Is this woeful attacking record down to a lack of intent, as much as quality?

Scoring goals has been a Oldham problem since 2009 really, sometimes strikers look too scared? Others have played in defensive minded teams, some have simply not been good enough. With the new players brought in surely we will see more goals being scored next season.

You’ve signed Dan Gardner, a wide midfielder who fans of the division’s bottom side were content to see leave. Given the above statistic, are you not frustrated that the club hasn’t tried to sign players that will improve your use of the ball?

Think it’s a case of trying but trying to get hold of them wages, agents and also having players good enough with the ball just someone being able to bang it into the net.

Craig Davies joins from Scunthorpe. What did you make of him in his first spell at Boundary Park?

I didn’t mind him but he needs to concentrate on his actual role there was times when we was going out wide to often & needs to not spit his dummy out already we have seen pre season he can put himself about.

What are your thoughts ahead of the League One season as a whole? Any potential dark horses for you?

I think the league will be wide open of the 3 relegated sides I think Wigan will do better, Blackburn under Venkys are a mess & Mowbray has struggled in this league before. I like Paul Warne a former player would like to see him do well (Not at Oldhams expense)

Where will you finish?

Reckon about 13th but hoping we can be that outsider the team that can come from no where. Still think it’s a wide open league. I settle for a top 10 finish and a good cup run.

The Football Lab’s Verdict

With key defensive performers getting on, the attack barely looking stronger and no Ripley to save the day, this looks a tough season for Oldham. It could be the year that they meet the unfortunate consequences of half a decade of survivalism and short-term thinking. 24th