Oldham’s capitulation on Saturday afternoon against MK Dons resulted in a fierce response from manager Paul Dickov. The 5-0 thrashing left the 37-old Scot embarrassed and he made his feelings perfectly clear during his post-match comments.
Whether or not some of the players who took part in Saturday’s at-times shambolic performance – their heaviest defeat this season – will be involved in the upcoming week’s training sessions remains to be seen. A furious Dickov promised a major improvement, and even alluded to the possibility of player withdrawals for next Saturday’s home match against Tranmere. By withdrawals, Dickov firmly meant permanent withdrawals, heads will roll, arrivederci etc.
However, with a thoroughly depleted squad as it is, Dickov needs all the options currently available to him. It is true that the loss of influential captain and playmaker Dean Furman and James Wesolowski from the centre of midfield represents two colossalblows. It is often said, on par with some of football’s famous clichés, that if you take out certain players from any team in the world they are significantly weaker; Furman and Wesolowski are Oldham’s ‘certain’ players.
Still, excuses must not be made for Saturday’s woeful display. It represented everything bad about this particular Oldham side. It was toothless in attack, it made costly errors in defence, and, certainly not for the first time this season, it was bereft of any forceful tempo in the early stages of either half.
MK Dons are a fine footballing side; there is no doubt about that. Yet to perform with such little desire and grit is a worrying sign. The Latics are far from being safe, and what began (and looked for a short while) to be a very promising season – both in league and cup – is suddenly looking perilous.
Whilst they have two games over some of their proximate league rivals, Oldham are only seven points off the bottom four, and considering six of the bottom seven recorded victories on Saturday and the resurgent form of Chesterfield and Rochdale, the gap will only contract.
The next five games see four clubs – four struggling sides – visit Boundary Park. Dickov must demand, not feebly encourage as he has been contented with for months, results. Not just results as that can paper over the cracks, but performances worthy of genuine praise.
Should the players fail again, the manager must show a ruthless touch and come good on Saturday’s threats. As mentioned, who is omitted is unclear. It is fair to say that leading goal-scorer, Shefki Kuqi, is well below the level required. The hard-working Finn set his own standards, and he has fallen way short of them since the New Year. Dickov’s only concern regarding his strikers is the lack of firepower in waiting. Kuqi is not too big to be dropped, but is Matt Smith good enough for a run of starts? Unfortunately not. Thankfully Rueben Reid is ever-nearing a return following an injury that has left him on the side-lines since September.
There are also the inconsistent performers such as Chris Taylor, Latics’ most experienced player in terms of matches played, defender Jean Yves-M’voto and keeper Alex Cisak. The Aussie Cisak had been in terrific form during early spells of the season, but in the last three matches he has made costly mistakes which have led to goals.
Paul Dickov has proven in the past that he is a keen encourager of young players, such as Carl Winchester and David Mellor, and so he must remain intact with his managerial philosophies. If the more experienced players amongst this under-performing group are not at the required level, changes must to occur.
The team is screaming out for the return of Dean Furman to add steel and a touch of class in the centre of midfield (Wesolowski, too, but he has recently undergone a shoulder operation and will not return until the closing stages of the season), but in the meantime the players have to heed Dickov’s warnings. A victory against both Tranmere and Colchester in the next seven days is imperative, or a prerequisite of four points.
The overhanging point is this: failure can no longer be tolerated. For far too long Dickov has allowed inconsistent, error-filled performances to slip by the way side, but seeing his reaction to Saturday’s hiding tells you he has grown weary of it all. He has demanded major improvements, and now it’s up to the players to respond.
By Oldham blogger Craig Worswick
[ad_pod id=’writer-2′ align=’right’]