Bradford 25th April

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

Just watched SL's aftermatch interview and totally agree, the lads gave everything.  Can't argue with the guts shown, this was epitomized when,  at one late scrum,  Jordan Turner packed down in the front row. As someone said 'don't mind the loss as long as we gave everything ' and tonight we did. Those players gave their all for the shirt. 

[The Phantom Horseman]

14 hours ago, Bulls2487 said:

Heard this was a full Bulls team

We had Tom Holmes Jorge Taufua Kieran Gill Tyran Ott Joe Keyes all missing from our squad. 

We also lost Ebon Scurr and Franklin Pele during game.

Yeah but looking at the teams as a neutral there's a world of difference between what Oldham were able to field and what Bradford were able to do. Bradford have a core of about 22-23 players who would start for just about any other team in the division and indeed Bayliss and Waine who would both be automatic selections at most Championship clubs are currently out on loan because they can't get a game at Bradford.

Contrast with Oldham who have a much bigger drop-off in depth outside their starting 17 and were playing three players out of position last night including Craven on the wing which is roughly the equivalent of Bradford playing Lilley on the wing. As soon as I saw the teams last night I thought this would be a pretty one-sided game.

Edited April 26 by The Phantom Horseman

[m brooksy]

A nightmare night and a disastrous result. Think everyone felt the same when they heard the team that we were in for a battering. I do think Long needs some criticism for his lack of squad rotation as in 7 league games we have essentially not had a chance of winning two games in last night and Barrow away because so many players were unavailable. 75% of our squad are 30 plus with the majority of them 33 and over. They can't play every game and the lack of integration of the younger lads has really cost us already this season.

Bradford played a lot more rugby than I was expecting first half and were very good but i think of their 8 tries 5 did come kicks targeting Craven. I couldn't believe he played on the wing and then still can't explain why we didn't make a change there until we'd conceded 38 points essentially all down one edge. Surely DC in the halves with Dean at full back and PLT on the wing was a better option.  Even when Geener came on and we moved Turner to wing at least we stopped the tries from kicks.

Think there was still a few positives. PLT was phenomenal. Forster looked good and proved he should have had a lot more opportunities this year. The pack actually was good which seems crazy when you look at the score. 

[Jackie61]

12 hours ago, chiefgeneral said:

Previous comments are bang out of order!!!! How fickle!!! It's clear the fans that made them haven't been to many games all season.

4 key players dropped out last minute and we had to make do.

Despite this we never gave up and played till the end. If anything, those players need backing again due to the enormous effort put in

Shoe on other foot and Bradford had 9 injuries and we had 3 it would have been different story

Absolutely agree with you, some people are so fickle and hurtful comments are not required, but support support support for the players.

[Bert Street]

1 minute ago, Jackie61 said:

Absolutely agree with you, some people are so fickle and hurtful comments are not required, but support support support for the players.

It is a bit daft and perhaps the tone is regretted the morning after. If you have supported a club over a long period, the one thing you ought to know is that there are highs and lows.

I recall a very good Oldham side in the 1980s  being able to get nowhere near a Hull KR side who ran riot in much the same manner.

For what it's worth, I think we are in for a rocky couple of months with a lot of away games and a depleted squad. We should be able to regroup for the final part of the season and finish around halfway. That would be a big achievement.

There will be a big rebuild required for next season to be able to maintain progress, however .

[shaw llewellyn]

For those that walked out or are being critical of the coach or the players, they should realise that this isn't league one and we won't win every game and we won't always play well. Sometimes you just get beat by a better team.

God knows what people would have said on forum in 1999 when we just got hammered 84-0 by Widnes!!

[RoughyedsFan_merged]

2 hours ago, shaw llewellyn said:

For those that walked out or are being critical of the coach or the players, they should realise that this isn't league one and we won't win every game and we won't always play well. Sometimes you just get beat by a better team.

God knows what people would have said on forum in 1999 when we just got hammered 84-0 by Widnes!!

I left after 25 minutes as well. The game was done and it didn’t make sense to hang around on a Friday night.

To be honest, had I not been forced to buy the day before to avoid an extra £4, I’d have never gone in when I saw the teams.

[jroyales]

Can I apologise for the comments I have made.

I made my mail as soon as I came back from the game as you can imagine very upset the way the game had gone and with hindsight I would never have made the comments I made.

Yes I was at the 84 - 0 game and yes I will be going to Wembley and YES i won't be making any more rash mails.

[Tim G]

2 minutes ago, jroyales said:

Can I apologise for the comments I have made.

I made my mail as soon as I came back from the game as you can imagine very upset the way the game had gone and with hindsight I would never have made the comments I made.

Yes I was at the 84 - 0 game and yes I will be going to Wembley and YES i won't be making any more rash mails.

Takes courage to send that post.  Well said and lets hope we all have a magical day if we reach W. I wont say the name just yet lol

[canadian roughyed]

I didn’t get to listen today as I had to work. I did manage to tune in a little around 1/2 time . Sounds like the score line doesn’t reflect the effort. I will listen back today. Before making judgement. 

[Jackie61]

28 minutes ago, jroyales said:

Can I apologise for the comments I have made.

I made my mail as soon as I came back from the game as you can imagine very upset the way the game had gone and with hindsight I would never have made the comments I made.

Yes I was at the 84 - 0 game and yes I will be going to Wembley and YES i won't be making any more rash mails.

Apologies accepted! hope your 4 newbies feel the same and come back

[yedforevvver81]

30 minutes ago, jroyales said:

Can I apologise for the comments I have made.

I made my mail as soon as I came back from the game as you can imagine very upset the way the game had gone and with hindsight I would never have made the comments I made.

Yes I was at the 84 - 0 game and yes I will be going to Wembley and YES i won't be making any more rash mails.

I think we will see some new faces 

I was feeling exactly the same and I was sat two rows in front of BQ and he was not happy, he told people at the forum and in broadway on occasions he doesn’t like losing and you could really see that last night,

let’s hope they bring in some new faces, only difficulty I see is availability of players, lots of teams have injuries at present. 

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

How can anyone walk out after 20 minutes??? Just think back to 91 and prem final against KR!!!!! They missed real treat!!!

[The Phantom Horseman]

here's the most famous example of why it's best never to leave a game early, even after the hooter has gone...watch the couple at around 0.22 at the top of the screen running back up the steps having just missed the most amazing play they'd ever see...the wife doesn't look happy with the husband!
 

 

[bosman69]

I wasn't at the game last night so won't comment on the performance aside from observing that this was self evidently a tough task. The issues have been building for a while with injuries and needs addressing. 

For me the biggest lesson to be learnt is around recruitment moving forward. In simple terms, I believe we have signed too many older players.  Whilst you will always need an element of experience, the numbers we have is asking for trouble. Last year we got away with it.. the games were less physical and we often dominated. League one also had gaps in the fixture list so bodies can recuperate. In the championship none of these apply and our large squad is not proving adequate. 

We have a large run of away games after the toulouse game and in reality we are in a false position at the moment in my opinion. 

We all know that this squad is capable of playing good winning rugby but we are far from consistent.

Like others I was also surprised that we weren't able to secure Dual Reg support from Wigan. Forber, Mason and Cartwright all played for the reserves this week. 

[tandle]

the facts are if we got more injuries on friday, oldham are in big trouble

we have players in the squad who play one game and miss four.

know matter how good they are,they are no use too you in the treatment room.

then others with long term injuries.

it needs a clear out and some new players not easy.

so the balls in your court bq and mf.   

 

 

 

[Happyed]

Bit drastic. Most teams go through a bit of a sticky patch with injuries.

SL clearly knows the score and brought Nene in to help but that was cut short for reasons beyond his control. Keep faith, it’s a long season 

[RoughyedsFan_merged]

12 minutes ago, Happyed said:

Bit drastic. Most teams go through a bit of a sticky patch with injuries.

SL clearly knows the score and brought Nene in to help but that was cut short for reasons beyond his control. Keep faith, it’s a long season 

MacDonald was an ego signing. He was always due to be here for three games, he managed two.

It’s extremely concerning as far as the squad goes that we’ve been forced this season already to draft two wingers in from Wigan because we had nobody in one game and then last night had 5 second rowers on the pitch and a stand off on the wing.

You can’t get promoted out of this league, so I’m unsure what the fixation on expensive older players past their best is? We’d be far better served with a younger squad of promising players, with a few experienced players in there.

[Happyed]

Can’t do right for wrong 

[sheddingswasus]

2 hours ago, bosman69 said:

Like others I was also surprised that we weren't able to secure Dual Reg support from Wigan. Forber, Mason and Cartwright all played for the reserves this week. 

I would imagine if they have already played Wigan wouldn’t let them play a second time

[sheddingswasus]

1 hour ago, RoughyedsFan_merged said:

MacDonald was an ego signing. He was always due to be here for three games, he managed two.

His wife is giving birth earlier than expected 

[wroteforluck87]

I convinced four new comers to come on Friday and despite the result all four are coming back for the Toulouse game and the Semi Final against Fev.

On the face of it, it appears Friday nights might be a popular granted I live fairly local so my faffing about before I can get to the game is less than others but I had a spring in my step all day at work knowing id be at the match with both of my kids (daughter dances on Sundays) not just one, having a few well earned Friday night swills the pyro also to the big game feel aswell.

So the question is whens the next one?

Id be over the moon if it was the Halifax game as my misses has booked us in for Sunday Lunch at the Ivy that Sunday and the glare I got when suggested rearranging wasn't a pleasant one.

[bosman69]

3 hours ago, sheddingswasus said:

I would imagine if they have already played Wigan wouldn’t let them play a second time

I suppose the point I was trying to make was that you would think that Wigan would prefer them to play at Championship level rather than reserves..  if oldham genuine felt that the missing players were going to make it then perhaps we didn't press the panic button earlier in the week?

[ultimate roughyed]

Some people need to get a grip, have a reality check, put things in perspective.........3 years ago we were nearly bottom of League 1 above West Wales and Cornwall at one point,  effectively the lowest placed traditional team!  Also playing in a tiny ground with poor facilities,  no disrespect to Avro which is perfectly adequate for amateur football.   A bit like Keighley now!  3 years on and we're playing in a great stadium with super facilities and are competing at the top end of the Championship.   One swallow (defeat) doesn't make a summer.  There will be lots of ups and downs this season so expect more defeats to come but get behind the club and the players and give 100% backing every game.  Sing even when we are losing, be resilient and think of the bigger picture .......we are going places.   Enjoy the journey, the lows make the highs even more bitter sweet.  

[Bedford Roughyed]