• Nigel Adkins has been given the Tranmere job on a permanent basis signing until the end of the 25/26 season. Continue the discussion here.

Latics v Rovers

Boz

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Iain Hume
God knows what to expect from this one. In terms of line-up everyone except Wallace and Robinson is available and Ronnie remarked on the o/s that he's got the players to go back to 442. But will we?

I think this will be a difficult game and probably one we'll lose narrowly.
 
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Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
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John King
I think we might start with the same line up and formation as Tuesday, save for Ryan Lowe replacing Stockton. With Thompson and Baggie on the bench we would always have the option of switching bact to 4-4-2.

Oldham seem to have a better side this season than last, although it is rumoured that Baxter could be off to Sheff Utd before the weekend.

Although we are desperate for our first victory, a draw would be a decent result.
 

bigmart

bigmart
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Ian Muir
We should start the same team as it sends out the wrong message if we make changes, think we will draw 1 1
 

bigmart

bigmart
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Jose Baxter has been sold to Sheffield United so we wont have to worry about him on Saturday.
 

Ian

Super White!
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Aldo
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Kingy
We should start the same team as it sends out the wrong message if we make changes, think we will draw 1 1
I agree. I would stick with the same side, simply because it was entertaining to watch and let's be honest, the missing players haven't.
 
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Alan King, Barry Dyson
I hope he starts with the same side and formation. No-one deserves to be dropped and who deserves to come in? But I hope Goodi can last the full 90 minutes. If not, Dugdale can come in. I wouldn't start with him, as he's not yet match fit.

On the question of Dugdale's signing, I'm a bit confused. To sign a player on a month's loan who can't get into another League One side seems bizarre. We need a contracted player before the transfer window shuts and if we are planning to get one, why sign Dugdale? All I can think of is that Ronnie might want to sign him permanently, if he looks good. But the OS says he's an emergency loan, which I thought was to cover injuries and suspensions. If we don't sign someone else by Monday, there'll be another "emergency" in a month's time!
 
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Boz

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I suspect if Dugdale can regain some fitness with us he'll be going back to Crewe and if he can't we won't want him. Probably better than an inexperienced kid from a Championship side, though I agree with BBTCs point about needing someone in long term either contracted or season loan.
 

Ian

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Yeah, these are just panic transfers to cover the squad. At least he has good experience at this level. We might spend all season going from loan player to loan player in some areas. Goodison was immense the other night, but you can't rely on a 40-year old to get you out of trouble all season.
 
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Alan King, Barry Dyson
We might spend all season going from loan player to loan player in some areas.
That's my fear. How are the back four meant to get an understanding if we get a new player every month? Presumably, we've saved the best part of a year's wages by releasing Foster, so why isn't Ronnie signing a straight replacement? Surely there must be someone else out there half decent we can afford?
 
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Alan King, Barry Dyson
0-1. First win, first clean sheet, just one booking and hopefully no new injuries. To do it against Oldham must make it even sweeter. The stats say we didn't have many chances, but by finishing with three strikers on the field, Ronnie was definitely after that elusive league victory. A great week for Rovers. I await the reports.
 

Ian

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I'm pleased Stockton started after his performance the other day. How was the 433 and did we deserve to win? Delighted we've finally got the win, and its been a pretty good week.

I heard Goody and Ash were excellent, which probably helped with the clean sheet. As long as u can keep a clean sheet you've always got a chance, and we took ours just before the end of the game. Nice..

How did Koumas get on?
 
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Great victory and deserved in the end. All the sweeter as it came against Oldham as BBTC says, but particularly satisfying as this looks like the best team Oldham have had in a number of years.

They were much the better side in the first half, playing with real energy at a high tempo. With the narrow formation we were playing there was space out wide and they whipped a number of balls into our box. However, we were defensively very solid, both in the centre half positions and in front of them. Oldham did not get through us down the middle, OFW did not have a save to make and crucially we withstood the pressure and got to half time level.

In the second half our midfield got into the game, Koumas got on the ball and we dominated but without creating any chances of note. We were growing in strength but a goalless draw appeared the most likely outcome. Enter Sodje and Lowe. Ryan was very sharp when he came on and won a clever penalty by getting across the keeper, tempting him to clip him, after a great header from Sodje: Akpo has his critics but has won a few crucial headers to create goals already this season. Lowe duly desptached the penalty with what was virtually the last kick of the game to the understandable delight of the Rovers fans.

We looked far more solid today than in any of the previous league games, with all the back four playing well with the exception of Horwood, who was beaten too easily at times. As on Tuesday night, once Koumas got on the ball we dictated the tempo and played some very good football. Goody was brilliant but I would give Ash Taylor man of the match. Honourable mention also goes to Koumas, Rowe and Akpro, although Cole Stockton continued his improvement and it was a good team performance all round.

Onwards and upwards.
 

frenchrover

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aldo
A great fighting performance by all those wearing the shirt today. Although under "the cosh" for large parts of the first half the defence stood firm and refused to be cowed by a forceful Oldham side which seemed to be determined to dominate the game almost as a response to the loss of Baxter to Sheff Utd. Oldham's main threat came in the form of crosses from both wings which were dealt with effectively by Goody and Ash.
In the second half Rovers became increasingly confident in breaking quickly and started to cause Oldham more problems, particularly through Koumas getting more time on the ball and through both full-backs getting forward more pressing the Oldham wingers, who in the first half had been quite dominant, further and further back. The inclusion of Lowe and Sodje for the tiring Koumas and Akpa Apro proved decisive.
And from one such breakout Sodje flicked on for Lowe who cleverly sheltered the ball from the Oldham keeper forcing him into a reckless dive at Lowe's legs sending him clattering him to the ground in the box. In my view a nailed on penalty which Lowe converted with ease. Great celebrations from the players and fans at the final whistle...a clean sheet and the first 3 points of the campaign.
For me, although there were good performaces from Holmes, Rowe and Taylor, man of the match went to Goody who rolled back the years and gave a master class of defending whilst controlling the back four magnificently.
 
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