Lessons in substitutions – Knee jerks

Wednesday, 21st Oct 2015 19:16 by Antti Heinola Wish our regular columnist Antti Heinola luck as he attempts to drag his usual six knee-jerks kicking and screaming out of Tuesday night's dirge against Sheffield Wednesday. Clean Sheet I've seen a few not too impressed with a clean sheet, having been baying for a clean sheet for weeks, but I'm a man who likes to take the positives from even the most turgid of encounters. I had an internet date once with a lady who I quickly realised I had absolutely no interest in. The whole thing was a waste of time. It may even have been the day of the Oldham semi, in a dank pub in the afternoon near the river. She suggested regular intercourse while her husband was out working. I refused, but it was a positive to take from an otherwise dreary encounter. Clean sheets that night, and clean sheets last night. And actually, Wednesday didn't even force old Greeno into a save. Sure, Barry Bannan's shooting was as wayward as a Karl Henry sideways pass, and Clint did well twice to prevent goals - once by maiming the forward, once by heroically heading over his own bar. But still, you won't get through a game without giving away any chances at all. Sheff Wed were unbeaten in six before this. So, you know, bright sides and all that. Subs. Copy and paste If there's one thing Neil Warnock might do before he takes Chris Ramsey's job today, tomorrow or next week, it's to explain to Chris how subs work and what the point of subs are. You can use them to replace tiring players. You can use them to replace under-performing players. You can use them to make a dramatic change in the shape of the team. When you think about it, there are dozens of options available. You can sub anyone on your team for anyone on your bench. Perhaps those choices can be bewildering, but if you're smart you can narrow things down to the most sensible options. So, removing Hall and placing Hoilett at centre half would be A Bad Idea, for example. Putting Karl Henry on at all is also A Bad Idea. Likewise, in a home game against a mid-table team, when the score is 0-0, removing the only striker you have in your entire squad and replacing him with a midfielder is also, demonstrably, A Bad Idea. Keeping that striker on but also bringing on your goal scoring midfielder, replacing Daniel Toszer, for example, and moving Massimo Luongo (a rare above average player on the pitch last night) deeper, would be A Better Idea. Using one or two other subs to freshen the team, when the other side has used all three subs and therefore has, by definition, fresher legs, would be A Nice Idea. But what else to expect? I can't defend someone making the same mistakes in every single match. Karl Henry Despite a rigorous warm-up, trackie bottoms off, my worst fears were not realised, and he didn't replace Luongo to play 'in the hole'. Or Chery, to play left wing. A dozen games, two clean sheets. Can you guess which ten games Henry played in? Controversial decisions I need to see these again, so this is a rubbishy knee jerk. Apologies. I thought someone could've warned Clint of the impending danger during the first half incident (although he was very ponderous), and my first reaction was that it would be a foul and a red card. But the ball did go away from Sougou and it was a shoulder injury, more likely caused by the fall than the challenge. So my feeling is Clint probably got a foot to the ball. Whether that was before or after he got the man, I don't know. As for the penalty appeal, I often go on the reaction of the players. I didn't notice any Owls appealing for a pen. Did he just kick the ground? Grant Hall Not sure what to make of him. Never seems to do much wrong, but never really dominates either. I thought he and Clint did a good job on Nuhui (who looked pretty awful except when shielding the ball with his enormous frame). He seems happy on the ball. Sensible player. Not too many errors. Deserves his place in the side at the moment, but I remain unconvinced. Still, decent potential there. I just feel we need an ugly bastard in that position to give us a bit of fire. Can you tell I'm struggling? Fans Things are not going well. The club - specifically Tony Fernandes - haven't helped this recently. But, still, we're halfway. We're not going to go down. Austin will be back soon. We have a decent squad - and they are trying. I understand the frustration, I understand the boos are aimed at the manager not at the players, but come on… Can we have a *bit* of patience? We drew 0-0 with a team unbeaten in six. It's hardly catastrophic. Everyone has the right to say what they want blah blah bloody blah, but I remember the days when teams got booed off only when they were heavily beaten and near the bottom of the table. Now if you're mid-table and draw 0-0, that's worthy of a booing. Really? I know Q Block in particular did try singing a lot despite the desperately dull fare on offer and well done to them, but sometimes football games aren't very good. It can happen. What a night, under the lights... Pictures – Action Images Photo: Action Images



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dixiedean added 10:15 - Oct 22

great stuff Antti. I could have written almost every word myself, although mercifully I've never had a dalliance with any Oldham housewives !

That game was never going to be a gimme as Weds are no mugs, so a point wasn't a disaster , but it does crank up the pressure a notch to beat Franchise on Sat . I also thought Ramsey was writing his own suicide note when KH was warming up , but it would have made sense to take Sandro off if he was tiring, although putting Henry on would have caused a riot. I don't think the reaction to JET's withdrawal was justified. Within 20 seconds Fer won a flick-on from which Phillips nearly ( arguably should have ) scored. If that had gone in would Ramsey have been given credit for a tactical masterstroke ? It still seems his departure is just a question of time but we are an intolerant lot at times, so let's not moan at EVERYTHING he does for the sake of it. At least we won't get Steve Evans. 1

Patrick added 17:17 - Oct 22

Right to the end I thought, this is going to be 1-0 to Wednesday's only shot on target, so I'm like you, it's a clean sheet and a point against a form team. I thought we looked more solid with Clint, Sandro and Luongo down the middle. Nice point about subs, guess this is one of those things about managing a team through 90 minutes of competitive football that you don't get as a coach, however long in the job. Ramsey has overseen, what, maybe 25-30 matches as a manager? Let's hope Neil will also say you can never have too many forwards on the taxi rank, even if they're not all world beaters. 0

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