Team: Oldham Athletic
Nickname: The Latics
Lge Pos: 5th
Ground: Boundary Park
The Gaffer: Iain Dowie
What can you say about Dowie's first season in charge? A rollercoaster ride wouldn't go close - maybe more like a flat-bottom boat in the Atlantic, sailing through a hurricane with 20ft waves all around.
On the field, Dowie has got the team playing sweet, attacking football. Whilst in the changing room, he is totally committed, constantly enthusiastic and the complete eternal optimist - always showing a desire to succeed. Dowie almost seems to have an aura about him which inspires the players.
Add to this, Dowie has proven that he has an eye for spotting talent and this has been a huge bonus to the club this season with the addition of players like Hall and Andrews (although he did have some help from his brother Bob at non-league Chesham Utd.) Everywhere you go, fans constantly comment that "Dowie is the 1st manager since Joe Royle, to put money on the pitch." Hall, bought for #40,000 could now be worth around #1m. Combine his transfer moves with coaching techniques including 7am swimming sessions, afternoon boxing sessions and other activities like paint-balling and you see a picture of unconventional modern coaching methods which are reaping dividends. It's no wonder that teams like West Ham, Portsmouth and Crystal Palace have been sniffing around him.
Worryingly though, off the field, the financial constraints might see an end to Dowie's managerial career at Boundary Park. Promotion is absolutely vital and might become the fine line between survival and extinction. With money being a constant headache for Dowie, things were made 20 times worse in February when he we was told he had to lose a key member of his coaching staff. Dowie admitted that making that decision was one of the hardest decisions he's ever had to make.
Should the straight-talking, honest Dowie see promotion slip away then it's widely expected that he will go, along with several key members of the side. And with Chairman Moore putting #50,000 in each week to keep the club afloat, success really is everything. But there couldn't be a better man than Dowie in place to take the pressure. He is a born winner and he has the ability to deliver.
Star Goalkeeper: Les Pogliacomi
Aussie keeper, Pogliacomi signed for the Latics during the last close season from Paramatta Powers. Having sent a video of his performances around to English clubs, the Latics invited Pogi for a trial and as they say, the rest is history.
His first season in English football will never be forgotten. Pogi scooped the Latics player of the season award after collecting 19 clean sheets from 37 appearances (that's over 1 every 2 games!) This tally places Pogi in the Latics record books for the most clean sheets in a season. He came to the Latics originally as a superb shot stopper but has fast-learnt how to command his box and handle with ease. Only his kicking sometimes lets him down, but other than that he has become a well established member of the side.
Pogi will be hoping to catch the eye of the Australian national coach next season, however at present, the Aussie faces a race for fitness after missing the Latics final 6 games of the season through injury. Should he be fit to reclaim his spot in the side, it would give the Latics a massive boost.
Star Defender: Fitz Hall
Signing from non-league Chesham Utd towards the end of last season, Hall has grown in stature throughout this season and came a close 2nd to Pogi for the Latics player of the season award.
Having taken part in nearly all of the Latics clean sheets, Hall's magnificent 1st season in professional football has been made even more special by the fact he played without key defensive partner and team captain Clint Hill since December. During the early part of the season, the Latics had 8 clean sheets in 11 games with Hill in the back 3, however with Hill missing this doubled the responsibility placed on Hall. Regardless, the youngster continued to shine.
Not only is Hall a superb defender though, with his strong tackling, colossal heading and quick pace, Hall has proven that he is a goalscorer too. The Latics defender used to play upfront when a trainee at West Ham and this season, Hall has been a 3rd striker at times. It's no surprise that the 6ft 4in has netted a number of vital goals (notably a last minute equaliser to keep us in the FA Cup vs Burton Albion.) It is Hall's mixture of defending and attacking which makes him one of the most complete defenders the Latics have had for years. He can even pick out a brilliant 50 yard pass at times. It is all of these attributes which has seen him rewarded with a place in this seasons PFA Division 2 team of the year. A well worthy achievement.
Star Midfielder: David Eyres
Latics fans can't help but love David Eyres. He is a magician at times with his wonderful crossing and when clean through on goal, you know exactly what the outcome is before it happens.
Eyres, the Latics player of the season last year, was pipped to the accolade this season by Pogliacomi (1st) and Hall (2nd) but without Eyres' crucial goals the Latics would have been struggling to keep up with the pack. Showing he is a free-kick specialist with his 88th minute winner at Stockport in March, the winger has netted 15 times in all competitions this season. Remarkable for a 39 year old midfielder.
The former Preston man won the highest accolade of his career this season, when he was voted in the best ever Preston side along the likes of Sir Tom Finney. Hitting 40 next February, the Latics winger looks nothing like his age and both Dowie and Eyres will be hoping to agree on another 1-year contract in the summer. Latics fan's will be hoping so too!
Star Attacker: Wayne Andrews
This must have been a season beyond anything Andrews could have dreamed of. Signing from non-league Chesham Utd (like Hall) Andrews has become such a nuisance to the opposition, that he rarely gets past the hour mark before being booed by their fans.
The Latics striker did look slightly green when he first arrived at Boundary Park, but as the season has progressed, so has the youngster and the goals have come with it. Starting with his debut goal against Notts County in September, Andrews gave a glimpse of what was to come with a net-burster to claim the winner against Colchester in October. Now, the striker has gone on to score 12 goals in total this season, challenging partner Clyde Wijnhard as the main man upfront.
Andrews' pace is his biggest asset, as defenders have been baffled and left for dead on many occasion. The nippy forward wins penalties, gets players booked and is generally a handful and with his ability to have a pop at goal from an angle, the Latics man will be a real danger to any defence in the play-offs.
What they say:
They say that Oldham are a dirty side. They say that we're not good enough. And they also say we've spent money. Dowie rightfully put Andy King (Swindon manager) in his place when he used that on us 2 weeks ago, by correctly stating that Hill and Killen (our 2 main signings totalling #500,000) have both been injured for most of the season.
To be honest though, it was a nice surprise when at Wigan, fans were inquiring about Wayne Andrews and stating they believed he was a useful player for us - then he scored after 15 seconds!!! Word must be getting around about his abilities. I guess that most sides know we are a hard-working team that wants to play football, but whether they believe we are serious contenders to win the play-offs, I'm not sure. All I'll say is underestimate us at your peril!
What we say:
We're not a dirty side. We are good enough, but we need to be consistent. Too many times, the Latics fail to follow up an excellent performance with another decent one. And no two legged play-off is ever won in one game (well, maybe except for our 6-0 win over West Ham in the 1990 Littlewoods Cup semi-final 1st leg.)
Latics fans know we have the armoury to do the damage and have the foundations to be solid at the back. But it is producing that against the top sides which is going to be the key. The Latics often do raise their game, but the worry has been that in their last 2 crucial away games against Bristol City & Wigan, the team might have been better staying on the coach.
However, ours is an away record to fear. If the Latics can get any kind of a result at home, the Loftus Road outfit won't be expecting us to come down to London to be pushed over. Let's face it, we didn't do that in November when we went there and won.
All in all, Latics fans feel that if we can get to the final, then we'll win the play-offs. Most see the play-off semi as a bigger hurdle than actually winning at the Millennium Stadium, should we get there. However, if we do get there, I'm sure that mind-set will shift back to panic and pandemonium again.
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The run in: (final 6 league games)
Barnsley (h) Won 2-1
Cheltenham (a) Drew 1-1
Chesterfield (h) Won 4-0
Wigan (a) Lost 3-1
Swindon (h) Won 4-0
Huddersfield (a) Drew 1-1
Home: W3 D0 L0 - F10 A1 - 9pts
Away: W0 D2 L1 - F3 A5 - 2pts
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Head-to-head: (vs 3 playoff contenders)
vs QPR (h) Drew 0-0
vs QPR (a) Won 2-1
vs Cardiff (h) Lost 2-1
vs Cardiff (a) Drew 1-1
Vs B.City (h) Won 2-0
vs B.City (a) Lost 2-0
P6 - W2 D2 L2 - F6 A6 - 8pts