Tarky revelling in new Latics system

ON THE BALL: Athletic defender James Tarkowski in possession against Accrington in pre-season.

JAMES Tarkowski made only one short substitute appearance for the first team when Oldham and Peterborough last faced-off.

He wasn’t involved in the five-goal drubbing at Boundary Park in February 2011. And thank goodness for that.

Shell-shocked Athletic conceded all five goals in the second half as Craig Mackail-Smith scored twice. A bad experience like that could have hit one as young as ‘Tarky’ hard.

Watching the game from the Main Stand, though, can only have been beneficial. The ball-playing centre-back will have to deal with one of the scorers from that night, Tommy Rowe, when Athletic take on a Posh side tomorrow which is every bit as strong as that which, in Tarkowski’s words, “thumped” Oldham at that last meeting.

But every tip gleaned two years ago will come in useful - and the rapidly-maturing Tarkowski isn’t a player who forgets such lessons.

Now 21 and after 56 first-team appearances, in the three games this seasopn so far Tarkowski has been the senior partner in a new defensive pairing with David Mellor.

But the departure of the aerially dominant Jean-Yves Mvoto in the summer has meant Tarkowski has also had to get stuck into the coarser aspects of defensive duties.

“I have been a bit more aggressive in the air, attacking the ball more,” he said. “When Jean was beside me, he would do that more than me. It has been a change in style at the back. We are playing it out a lot more and it suits me. I prefer it that way.”

Comfortable in possession and with an eye for goal, Tarkowski’s leadership qualities have already been noted by Johnson. The “New Moston Beckenbauer” is a captain in the making.

Right now even younger members of the team are looking to him for a little guidance.

“There is probably pressure on me to be more vocal and to talk to the lads a bit more,” said Tarkowski. “But I enjoy having the likes of Glenn (Belezika) and Coops (Joe Cooper) talking to me.”

Athletic’s past two results haven’t been so enjoyable. Tarkowski points out that the Walsall game was as tight as it gets, with precious few chances at either end.

But he also accepts that Athletic need to do more — especially making better opportunities for strike duo Charlie MacDonald and Adam Rooney.

“It’s been an average start for us,” Tarkowski said. “But we still have the confidence in ourselves that we can have a good season.”

This weekend will be a tough one, he admits: “They have just been relegated from the Championship and they have some very good players. It won’t be an easy place to go to. But we will still fancy our chances to take three points. In this league, anyone can beat anyone.”