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Pressure is stifling our talent – Taylor
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date online: 01 April 2010
Boundary Park round up: IF HOME is where the heart is, then Athletic are currently in need of an emergency bypass.
Only 2,833 fans braved the miserable midweek defeat against Brentford, a result which leaves Dave Penney's team in severe danger of the drop to Coca-Cola League Two.
The 3-2 reverse represented an EIGHTH Boundary Park defeat of a tumultuous campaign.
That puts Athletic already level with the number of losses suffered in the League One relegation scrap of 2004-05.
In terms of home wins, the picture is even more grim, with Penney overseeing only five triumphs so far this term.
And with four matches at Boundary Park remaining, Athletic are currently on a par wins-wise with the side which was relegated from the Premier League in 1994.
The raft of depressing statistics is matched by the general mood of gloom hanging over Boundary Park.
Out-of-sorts winger Chris Taylor — who sparked to life promisingly late on against Brentford as Athletic sought a point, hitting a post to set up a second goal for Pawel Abbott — believes that the frustrations of the fans have affected the players on home soil.
"Speaking for myself, I am a bit worried sometimes going out on to the pitch," said the frank 23-year-old, who is playing through what he feels is a restrictive injury around his groin and hamstring.
"You hear the fans after you make a mistake and sometimes it does get to you when you are on the ball.
“You have to try to ignore it, get on with it and do your job to get out of this situation.
"There are a lot of nervous players, you can tell that. They aren't playing with the level of confidence that allows them to show that they are good players.
"Sometimes when the ball is being headed back and forth between the two teams you are stood there at the side of it almost refereeing it all.
"We need to get the ball down and play confidently, but because these are nervous times people are heading it long and don't want to bring it down.
"I have not been in a situation like this since I have been here.
"I have had probably too many chats with my old man back at home getting worried and upset about it.
"I want to get back to myself, scoring goals and creating chances to help keep Oldham up.
"My own self-confidence was coming back in the last half-hour of the Brentford game.
"Normally you go out on the pitch and it is instinct — you know what to do even before you get the ball.
"But there isn't that confidence there that there should be to play like that.
"Fitness-wise I don't think I am all there. Confidence-wise, in the last half-hour I showed that when I get the ball in the positions I need to get it, I can cause problems.
"I put in some good crosses and a couple of bad ones and had a few shots.
"If I get the ball in the right areas I can make things happen, but if I don't then I may as well not be there."
Basic errors cost Athletic the chance of getting something out of the game against Brentford.
They must put that right quickly against Gillingham at Boundary Park on Saturday before facing up to the prospect of taking on play-off hopefuls and neighbours Huddersfield at the Galpharm Stadium on Tuesday night.
"On the balance of play (against Brentford) I thought we deserved a draw even though they broke away a few times and could have scored another," Taylor added.
"But it is a results business and we are down there for a reason.
"If we had won against Brentford we would have been five points clear with a game in hand. Now, we have one game in hand and it is a must-win, almost.
"I think three, maybe four, wins will do it for us, but it is getting them and that is easier said than done at the moment."
Comments
The majority of Latics fans have become apathetic or bemused rather than hostile over the course of this season. From what I've experienced in the Chaddy End, while there might be the odd hostile shout, the majority are still supportive of the players (just not the manager). If Chris Taylor thinks we're a hostile lot, God help him if he ever does move to Elland Road...
at last the truth chris last week it was this mystery injury why your form was so bad that the physio couldnt get to the bottom of now you admit you are scared.
i respect that and for 1 will not slag you off again for admitting it.
im suprised ammypam your not blaming the TTA for taylors poor form usualy you blame them for everything else
Chris,as a professional footballer you must be well aware to accept criticism from fans if they pay good money to watch their team. The very least that the fans are asking for is for the players wearing the "OLDHAM ATHLETIC" shirt to show some pride in doing so.
Nobody minds losing,if the effort has been shown by the players in the first place,however,this season you and the other players cannot admit to having pulled your weight for most of the season.The gates should tell you how fans feel.
Chris, you're a professional footballer, living the dream - do the right things, instinctively and the crowd will follow - the problem you have is that the enthusiasm has been washed away all season, so, the team has to get the crowd going, not the other way around!!
Yes Chris you have looked like the referee for most of the season. Whoever, if anyone tells you to hover in no man`s land between the "midfield?" and Pavel Abbott is an idiot & you should know better! Get out wide where even our players can find you with a pass, then do your most dangerous trick; Get down the line & cross. Steve Gerrard you are not!
No point looking back now. We've got to look forward to the next games and get behind players like Chris so we don't get relegated. Sometimes, I feel that some fans would like us to get relegated just to get rid of Penney. Well maybe we just won't bounce back - look at the likes of Bradford or even Luton and Wrexham who were in our division not so long ago. I don't want to watch Conference football so get behind the team as the crowd's negativity is clearly affecting their play!
taylor you are a big girls blouse dont blame the fans stand up and be counted. the fans love players that give everything and not 10 minutes per match you are a professional footballer get real do you want to work for my wages
CHRIS TAYLOR,WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE FANS, WE WORK HARD ALL WEEK AND THEN COME TO BOUNDARY PARK AND WATCH 7 OR 8 PLAYERS WHO CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO PUT A SHIFT IN. WE COME TO BE ENTERTAINED, NOT SAT THERE THINKING WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE WASTING MY TIME, WHEN YOU LOT CAN'T BE BOTHERED. IF WE SEE A GOOD GAME AND LOSE THAT'S FINE AT LEAST WE ENJOYED THE GAME. THIS SEASON IT'S LIKE WATCHING PAINT DRY. YOU LOT SHOULD BE MADE TO WATCH THE MATCH AFTER IN THE FREEZING COLD SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT
Its not the Normandy Landings for goodness sake, Its only football,and you are paid PLENTY for it, A collective pulling out of the fingers and full on effort is required no DEMANDED by the Latics faithful, NO MORE EXCUSES!
funkster - they ARE to blame for everything else. Chris Taylor should play the whole game on the Broadway side. He'll get no stick from anyone there!
Have I missed sumfin at BP this season. I would like to know how TAYLOR says the fans are stifling the talent. WHAT TALENT IS THAT AS I'VE NOT SEEN ANY THIS SEASON. Think he needs to be quiet and try and look interested for 90 min srather than the last 10 mins, and that's if he feels like it.
Chris you are just trying to deflect criticism from your woeful lack of form (injury related or not). If not fit, don't play Chris. Easy as that. Don't blame others for your lack of a worthwhile contribution this season.
Talent? There's little evidence of that Chris.
And who has brought about the pressure Mr Taylor? Not the fans. Poor excuse! Accept blame please.
Something HAS to be done regardless of results in the remaining games.
Have Your Say
Yes, Chris, but it's taken 6 months of poor football to get the 'crowd' to this stage. Naturally, in these times, confidence will be low but it's the manager's job to address that, not the fans'. The fans want you to do well, that's why they pay £20, but you've got to give them something to cheer about.
By ammypam @ 01/04/2010 13:03:03