Oldham.

[is4]

Thanks Mark.
I thought I was right.

[jr]

Jan 10, 2022 13:23:11 GMT markf said:

Barrow was postponed because the middle of the pitch resembled a lake.

For Fylde, the team never left London because of the fatality at Milton Keynes.

My issue with the Oldham fiasco was that the heavy rain was forecast and local knowledge should have come into play and an earlier postponement should have been made.

The problem at Boundary Park, according to one of their staff I spoke to, is one of ownership. Oldham Athletic FC apparently don't own the ground. That is owned by the previous owners of OAFC.

If that is true then any ground staff would be employed by the ground owners not the football club. I am not sure how that dynamic works with regards to pitch maintenance.

It should be said that the ball wouldn't roll too far when the ref tried it hence the postponement.

I'm sorry but that's a poor excuse. It had stopped raining and there was no more rain forecast. Even 30 mins later the ball would have rolled better. Why couldn't the game be put back 30 mins if need be. They do it if teams are delayed or a large proportion of the crowd hasn't got into the ground.

The problem we're not privy to the referees report. It's the fans that get shat on yet again. I wonder if we can request this under FOI to PMGOL or whoever the appropriate authority is.

No real communication from Oldham either. If there was some form of communication then that might help.

Although the Rochdale fans wouldn't be happy at least they waited until late in the day as the players and fans were there anyway.

If it was unplayable at 2.30 then fine but looking at the pitch and the surrounds I couldn't see and surface water at all.

[markf]

Where did I offer an excuse?

I only saw a photo of the pitch not actually in the flesh. I suspect that's what you saw too.

BTW Matt said the pitch was very wet when he saw it.

[jr]

Jan 10, 2022 16:08:01 GMT markf said:

Where did I offer an excuse?

I only saw a photo of the pitch not actually in the flesh. I suspect that's what you saw too.

BTW Matt said the pitch was very wet when he saw it.

My point is that calling a game off at 1.10pm when no more rain is forecast is worth the wait till a bit later as everyone is more or less there.

One assumes Matt had a look around that time and wouldn't have been at the ground at 2.30. I was told that Matt wasn't happy at all with the decision.

I think my reasoning is sound. I just can't see the need to call off so early. I bet the ref had a function to go to in the evening

[markf]

Don't disagree with you but didn't answer my question.

[jr]

Jan 10, 2022 16:42:45 GMT markf said:

Don't disagree with you but didn't answer my question.

You made an observation which the ref may use an excuse

[markf]

No I haven't. All I have done was to recount part of a conversation I had and the likely consequences of that.

I also added what happened when the ref did his inspection.

Nowhere in that have I offered an excuse for anybody.

[jr]

Jan 10, 2022 18:13:42 GMT markf said:

No I haven't. All I have done was to recount part of a conversation I had and the likely consequences of that.

I also added what happened when the ref did his inspection.

Nowhere in that have I offered an excuse for anybody.

You’re misunderstanding me Mark. I’m not saying you’ve made an excuse, I’m saying that if the ref used it as an excuse

[markf]

Used what as an excuse?

[trev]

They should rename this forum Semantics Planet.

[nonsuch]

To help move on from this … I can see two reasons for which Oldham did not do their best to have the game played:
1. Their terrible form plus new disputes with the owner at the Wigan game.
2. Different ownership for the stadium which - depending on the rental arrangements- can mean the entity owing the pitch had preffered not to affect it by allowing the game go.
Anyway, it is what it is and many time from the most frustrating moments (I am thinking Torquay in spring, Oldham home game, Exeter, Rochdale, Leyton or Newport away) we have seen the team bouncing back to excellent runs of form so maybe this would be again the case.

[Andy K]

Jan 11, 2022 8:45:47 GMT nonsuch said:

To help move on from this … I can see two reasons for which Oldham did not do their best to have the game played:
1. Their terrible form plus new disputes with the owner at the Wigan game.
2. Different ownership for the stadium which - depending on the rental arrangements- can mean the entity owing the pitch had preffered not to affect it by allowing the game go.
Anyway, it is what it is and many time from the most frustrating moments (I am thinking Torquay in spring, Oldham home game, Exeter, Rochdale, Leyton or Newport away) we have seen the team bouncing back to excellent runs of form so maybe this would be again the case.

I'm sorry but I really don't understand the need to give a postponement as a conspiracy. Yes, there may have been some incompetence or logistical failings but let's be serious about this. "Oldham" isn't just one person and they have very little to gain by postponing the match. They don't have the worse form the league (that goes to Exeter), they're still I think under a transfer embargo, their squad isn't decimated by Covid and they don't have any suspended players.

I'm sure we've all had our nose put out of joint at a late postponement, but on the balance of probability and bearing in mind only a referee can call a game off, Oldham "conspiring" to force a postponement to be is up there with 5g chips in vaccines and Elvis working in the local chip shop.

Utter nonsense based on nothing.

[is4]

Just read a article on Oldham and the owner.
Well worth a read.

[is4]

Regarding previous post
That was a BBC article

[davep]

I see that Oldham's game next Saturday against Orient has already been called off as Oldham are unable to field a team.