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Show me what you’re made of!
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date online: 01 February 2012
SIMON Corney has urged Athletic's players to quickly recover from their crushing disappointment of not reaching Wembley.
The failure this week to get past Chesterfield and into the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final was, in the chairman's view, mainly down to failures in the first leg of the Northern final, in which a sub-par performance left Athletic 2-1 behind and with it all to do.
A late Jack Lester goal at Boundary Park then sealed the fate of manager Paul Dickov's side.
But amid a poor run of form — Athletic haven't yet won in 2012 and have picked up three points only once in their last eight npower League One fixtures — it is important that the gloom lifts quickly.
"It is a big test for Paul and a big test for the players now," said Corney, who reckons that a Wembley victory would have been worth £500,000 – including prize money half of the club's predicted losses for the season – to Athletic.
"It is a big game for us in three days' time against Leyton Orient at Boundary Park and we need to win at home.
"We have to start winning games. Last season, we only won two of our final 19 games and a similar run now would leave us in trouble.
"At the moment we are on a run of only two wins in 10 matches. To improve our form, we need to get back to scoring goals. We were unlucky against Chesterfield on the night and in my opinion, the tie was lost over there. If we had gone out in the first leg with the same attitude we showed in the second game, I believe we would have made it through.
"The fans were fantastic and very supportive, as they have been all season. We couldn't have asked for much more and they deserved us to get to Wembley.
"And with some of our chances, they could just as easily have gone in as miss. But we move on."
Midfielder Tom Adeyemi will line up against Orient at Boundary Park, after extending his loan deal.
The Norwich midfielder, who has scored three times in his 29 appearances to date, stays with Athletic until March 10, a busy period packing in 10 games.
The only other activity on a quiet deadline day saw striker Ryan Brooke move on loan to Blue Square Bet Premier outfit AFC Telford.
The 21-year-old striker had a similar loan spell in the same division at Barrow earlier this season, though this time around it is hoped he will get more time on the pitch.
REUBEN Reid was forced to withdraw from Athletic’s reserves squad travelling to Manchester United today due to an ongoing injury concern.
The striker is still having problems with the badly-torn thigh muscle which has kept him out of action for three months.
In the squad for the Manchester Premier Cup tie, which was played behind closed at Carrington, was new signing Keanu Marsh-Brown.
FORMER Athletic trainee Kallum Higginbotham has signed for Huddersfield Town.
The 22-year-old striker, who has been impressing for Scottish First Division side Falkirk, has moved to the Galpharm Stadium for what the Bairns are describing as a “six-figure sum”.
Comments
Since our demise in the JPT many of your readers have jumped on the 'bash the Latics' bandwagon and there is no doubt that the club and team are 'under fire'. Policy for incoming players seems to be for flank operators when it is obvious that the strikers are firing 'blanks'. Too late for this transfer window but many questions about how former players from OAFC are in demand elsewhere with O'Grady and more latterly Kallum Hegginbottom playing for successful L1 opponents. Relegation battle ????
hqw does simon know the fans were fantastic if he could not make the effort to go i had a night of work
Listen to Mr Corney yet again!, is he having a bubble or what?, the man could not be bothered to turn up for the most important match of the season says it all about his tenure. He was there asking the fans to come out in force to, we did! where was he?. Who was it down to not to resign Scapuzzi? why did we not get another striker on a months loan to ensure the final? and why have we got another second rate winger?. Nice to see many more seeing the light when will enough be enough?.
Well done Simon by not spending 100-200k on a decent striker or 2 you have now admitted to losing out on 500k. I thought you were a business man. Short term no vision thinking is unbelieveable and I thought you were happy with your choice of manager and you mention last season we won 2 of 19 and presently 2 in 10 that by anyones standards is unacceptable.
Hello, hello. Here we go again. Our usual stupid comments by so called fans. It's about time you all disappeared to watch another team and give all true fans a break from your depressing, fault finding and stupid remarks. Good luck to Mr Corney in his efforts, on behalf of all true fans, who appreciate his efforts in keeping the club alive and kicking.
In response to caboroig, I am tired of moaning about former players like O'Grady who had 2 full seasons at BP and never scored a goal (he didnt score at any of his loan clubs either -Stockport, Bury, Bradford)'till 'Dale. Kallum H was no great shakes at 'Dale either. Some players dont suit some clubs - its always been the case - Dennis Irwin was a free transfer from Leeds! He was okay at Latics tho'!
kuqi will come good,his experience will help him.I back him to score on saturday.
Obviously you weren't at the b2net stadium spdij666, as kuqi didn't smash his penalty over the bar, he actually smashed it against the bar and it went over.
To all 'deluded' fans who continue to wear blinkers, and don't see how poor the team really is, I will just say - get real. If you accept 'what's on offer' then the club will never prosper but maybe that's what you want. I feel sorry for REAL fans and I can say,with pride, that I have now been a supporter for over 55 years (when I attended my first match). The situation is unacceptable.
well chaddyender i was at the b2net and kuqi was rubbish running round like a headless chicken, i was also at the b2net for the league game i go to every home match and 60% off the away matches work stops me going to the rest, so wake up and look at the facts,
My first posting for a while. I see Oldham Scotland is still wallowing around in his pit of BubbleGlum.
It really is time to give Matt Smith much more responsibility. He's a big talented intelligent lad who deserves an extended run. THe whole team needs an infusion of confidence and self belief. Maybe Kuqi should lose his hair. After all remember the difference Fryatt and Lochhead made when they first took over as front men.
Having supported Latics as long as you, Owdham fan, have you heard the saying "you only get what you pay for" ? Latics and other non premiership clubs, including championship sides are having to exist with little money coming in from T.V and sponsorship money, as companies are also struggling too with their finances. So I do accept what's on offer at the moment because the football being played this year is far better and when we get a little more rub of the green we can match any side in Div l.
Fair comment OLDHAM4LIFE - we all have our views and that's how constructive comments and constructive arguments can take place. However,you are too happy to go along with what is happening at BP and that's why the club 'gets away with it'. You cannot accept what's on offer but you can accept things if the team is trying and the management/Board are 'up to scratch'. Neither of these are happening at the present time.Look to the future and don't accept mediocrity or the club will cease to exist.
OLDHAM4LIFE its unfair to call alternative views stupid just because you don't agree with them.Real fans challenge decisions because they care and are not happy with the direction the club is going.Ask yourself the question are you happy with the tactics,substitutions and are the signings good.Do the likes of Stevengage have a bigger budget?Our crowds,goals and points are falling.If we don't stop this we will be in Div 2 and then Blue square league before you know it.Look at Stockport
Owdham fan and Scott I appreciate what you say but in the end clubs like ours are going to struggle to survive if they spend money they cannot afford. It's annoying I know but you have to be realistic about the demise of football at the moment and until Mr Corney gets more backing from someone you cannot expect miracles. Lower leagues will be regionalised in the near future, and the gulf between the top and the bottom of the league will grow wider.I will however still support LATICS 4 LIFE.
OLDHAM4LIFE appreciated.The money spent has been wasted. The key position to get right is the strikers and that is where most of the budget should be targeted.Get it right even on free transfers and we go places.Change the manager. Dave Jones and Ian Dowie are out of work plus Ritchie would make a good assistant or even striker coach.
PD has wasted his budget on poor signings.I don't believe Jones or Dowie would have made the same mistakes and would have much better tactics and contacts.
Have Your Say
stick your head in the sand then corney unlucky on the night you wernt even there, we wernt unlucky just bad,poor finishing, same as the first leg when kuqi blased the penalty over the bar, Time to drop kuqi and give smith a run up front with robbie.
By spdij666 @ 01/02/2012 16:00:36