True, IA, it’s been hard for Rory but I’m still not convinced about him. For me, he’s let in a lot of goals he should have saved, he doesn’t seem to martial his defence well, and his carelessness over not bringing a cap to the match at Sutton showed inexperience, too.
Like the rest of the team, the lad’s confidence is probably shot. The atmosphere here must be toxic after years of decline, and anyone staying on next season will carry that burden with them. Most are best away, for their own good – or it’ll feel like post-war Ukraine!
A total clear-out of the first team, and a fresh start with new manager and players, is what’s needed.
Starting with the keeper. Why? Because at nil-nil, you start the game with a point, so if you can avoid conceding, you’ll finish it with a point, too. OK, it’s stating the obvious, but the keeper is number one for a reason. A good keeper will also martial the back line, and give them confidence. Look at the keepers we’ve had here in recent years and the effect it’s had on the outfield.
It’s always easier to stop goals than score them, so, after the keeper, build the defence, particularly with good centre-back(s). Why? Because it’s another key position covering a vulnerable area – in the middle.
Just check the current league table. You don’t need to score lots of goals to be high up, but you DO need to be tight at the back. Northampton (4th) have only scored 7 more goals than Oldham. But, guess why Oldham are struggling… So, if you have the those positions well covered on a regular basis, plus a half-decent midfield and forwards, you should be on your way to 55 points a season. When was the last time we had that?
