· Last Year's Rd 2 Game - Coventry 0 Spurs 3
Oldham are managed by ex-Gooner, Brian Talbot, who joined them in the latter part of last season, from Rushden and Diamonds, whose financial bubble seemed to burst after a spell of success, which included promotion first to League status, then the old Division Two, which was once Division Three!
Oldham lie 17th in Coca Cola League One as we must call the division latterly known as Division Two. They drew at Doncaster last Saturday, but the previous week, beat Hartlepool, currently on the edge of the play-off zone. They have scored and conceded 16 league goals.
Spurs last game at Boundary Park was in May 1994, when Spurs needed and obtained a vital 2-0 win which ensured their Premiership status, with goals from David Howells and Vinny Samways in the Oldham mud. That was the season we missed Teddy Sheringham for most of the time, and boy did we miss his goals!
Joe Royle's Oldham were relegated that season, and their three year stint in the top flight was over, as was Royle's regin as one of their most successful managers. Royle so nearly took Oldham to the FA Cup Final, but they were cruelly deprived by a late Mark Hughes goal for Manchester United, also in 1994. The club has no major honours, but did make the League Cup Final in 1990.
There have been very few links between the clubs over the years, who have never met before in this competition, or its equivalent. Of only 4 players who featured in both sides, the most famous is current Hull Manager, Peter Taylor, who played for Oldham in the 1982-3 season, having previously graced the Spurs.
Oldham have signed former Spurs Junior, Mark Arber, from Peterborough, who got him from Barnet, where Arber spent four years, scoring 15 goals in 125 games. Oldham have an Australian keeper, Pagliacomi. Beware of name confusion, as they regularly field a John Eyre, and David Eyres. It's a good job our own junior keeper, Nicky Eyre will not be travelling!
Talbot still has a home in Hertfordshire and keeps a regular eye on the Spurs reserves, as do many League managers. I know that he has been impressed by the improvement in Spurs at senior and reserve level this term, and that he fears a bit of a spanking, especially if Jermain Defoe plays. Spurs are taking a strong squad, which, as I predicted, does include Rohan Ricketts, "O.J" Mabizela, and Goran Bunjevcevic. Atouba, Naybet and Edman are sitting this game out, but I expect Naybet and Edman to be fit for Man Utd on Saturday. The full squad is:-
Robinson, Keller, Pamarot, King, Gardner, Brown, Davies, Redknapp, Bunjevcevic, Mabizela, Mendes, Jackson, Ricketts, Keane, Kanoute, Defoe.
Hopefully this game will give Spurs a chance to fully express themselves and score a few goals, but don't be surprised if there is no goal feast, as the side needs to maintain discipline in preparation for Saturday's game.
I'll settle for 2-0. I'll be travelling to Oldham, and my report will not be posted till Thursday afternoon. I hope you find it worth the wait!
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