By Albatross
September 5 2003

Financially dead in the water Oldham Athletic travel to the Vic to take on Hartlepool United. It could be the Lancashire Club's last game - but will it end in a victory for Pools? It's fair to say that the majority of Oldham fans are too caught up with matters off the pitch to be concerned with what happens on it at the moment. Unless they either have a large cash boost, or convince the Football League to let them have a little more time to find one, they could end up out of the league on Monday - a fate that also hangs over Notts County following the collapse of their takeover consortium.

It's ironic that Oldham were founder members of the Premier League, and that it's some of the things that the advent of the Prem saw that now sees the Latics on the verge of closure. TV Money is at a very low level now outside the top flight, and with instant success demanded and foreign players arriving by the score no-one seems to be prepared to take a chance by splashing out money on lower league players.

Is it the biter bit then? Some have expressed little sympathy, but I prefer to think of the words of John Donne: "Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know, For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee." It may be Oldham and Notts County this time, but with the number of clubs in administration or on the brink of it growing all the time the last thing the Football League needs is one to finally cease to exist - it could be the final straw that sees other struggling clubs following them into oblivion and a start five or six levels down the pyramid. If Division 2 lost four clubs this season (and don't forget that the likes of Luton and Barnsley have been sailing a bit too close to the wind recently) it will make a mockery of the whole league.

Anyway, getting back to matters on the pitch, Oldham have not had a great start, caused in part by the loss of many of the key players that saw them reach the playoffs last season. 39 year old David Eyres is part of the squad, while 38 year old John Sheridan may drop down to the bench; meanwhile, sometime Pools trialist Matt O'Halloran is pressing for a start after scoring in Latics first win of the season against Rushden last weekend. Calvin Zola Makongo has arrived on loan from Newcastle, and the young forward looks set to start the game up front after impressing for the reserves in midweek.

Dowie may have lost much of his best talent over the summer, but he's still managing to make Oldham competitive. They have scored in every game, notching ten goals in six appearances, and some better defending - fourteen have gone in at the other end - would have seen them much better off than their current 19th place. It may well be that survival as a club may result in relegation, but it's not going to be without a fight.

For Pools, the main injury news is that Eifion Williams is pressing for a return to action. He would probably have played for the reserves if they'd had a game this week, and although it maybe too soon for him to start the game, he might yet make the bench. Similarly, new signing Ryan McCann may find himself on the bench.

Mark Tinkler was obviously unhappy to be substitued last week, and his reaction earned him some displeasure from the management team. Whether he starts or not may say a great deal. I expect him to take some part in the game.

How Pools bounce back from defeat against Luton may tell us much about how we will fare this season. If Cooper can keep the team playing with a measure of confidence and determination, it'll bode well for the campaign; and I may be a little over-optimistic here, but I think he's just the man to do exactly that.

This is a game Pools should win, and I think we will. Oldham will be dangerous going forward, but I think their defensive frailties - it seems like they need to score twice just to get a draw - will be exploited by the likes of Humphreys, Robinson and Gabbiadini. 2-1 to Pools, with Humphreys and Robinson to score.

On an unrelated note, my updates to this site may be slightly limited for the next couple of weeks - I'm getting married and going on Honeymoon. Hopefully though there may be the odd match report appearing soon, but you'll just have to wait to find out who it is doing the writing!