The Lactics but not the one your thinking of - Oldham Athletic A.F.C.

[leckuno]

I've been struggling to get into a save recently and had a bit of time away from FM in hoping that the love of the game will come back and I feel that this save is going to do that as its a bit different from starting with a team at the top and always making the same signings.

When assessing teams in the Vanarama National League, Oldham Athletic’s history makes them an enticing proposition for many Football Manager players. The former Premier League club has a large stadium for this level with a capacity of 13,612. They’re probably the biggest club in terms of fanbase as well.

2022 marked a low point in the proud history of Oldham Athletic as they became the first club to have competed in the modern era of the top-flight to be relegated to the fifth tier of English football.

With the club bought by a local businessman in the summer that they were relegated, Latics fans are now hoping for brighter times ahead at Boundary Park.

With only two promotion places available in the Vanarama National League, sealing an immediate return to the EFL will be tough. Our task will be to get Oldham back on an even keel in our first season before building a squad that’s capable of moving up the divisions and eventually getting back to the bright lights of where they were 30 years ago.

The Board

The main aim from the board is to become self sustainable as a football club which has to be the aim for any club at this level really and will be vital as we climb the leagues as well. Over the next 2 seasons the board want to see us promoted and then just stablishing ourselves there over the following 3 so we'll see how it goes.

The Fans

The fans have a much higher expectation this season and are expecting promotion and hopefully we're able to deliver it this season.

Finances

We've got a nice wee amount in the bank at the moment but I don't expect it to still be in the black come the end of the season. We've got a small transfer budget and a small bit of money left in the wage budget as well if its needed.

The Squad

We have a huge squad here as the club doesn't have a reserve team at the moment so anybody over 18 goes into the firs team squad. The squad has a good average age but there are some players on very high wages for this level in my eyes due to age and with the direction we want to take the club in. I don't expect to make any real improvements to the squad until the end of the first season

August

Its going to be a very long season with 46 league games with cup games thrown in as well but here are the first 6 to get us on our way to getting back to the top.​

 

[CrokayVessel]

Looking forward to this! I was going to do Boreham Wood but decided Huddersfield at the last moment!

 

[leckuno]

Preseason and after

Before looking at August we had preseason to play as well where we arranged a lot of games where we mixed up the opposition between games we knew we would win and games that would bring in a bit of cash for us as we did alright with only losing to Bolton and Sunderland.

Over preseason we messed around with a few different tactics but we decided we didn't need to do anything fancy this season and don't want to over complicate things for the players and have settled on a 4-4-2 and concentrate on just getting the ball into the box as well.

Southend v Oldham

Not the dream start that we wanted but we fought hard and managed to salvage a draw with Dallas slotting home from close range.

Oldham v Aldershot

What a ten minutes of football here as Dallas opens the scoring before Stokes pegs back 6 minutes later but Hope made a run down the wing before cutting in and firing past the keeper straight from the kick off to get the winner.

Oldham v FC Halifax

Garner using all his years of experience here to get into the right space at the right time here as the ball falls kindly to him and he fires home.

Chesterfield v Oldham

A great start here as Alex Reid coming in as a rotation option opens the scoring before Dallas bags the 2nd. Dallas looks like he'll be a great player for us so its a shame we've only got him on loan for the season.

Boreham Wood v Oldham

We might have a new strike partnership here as Dallas and Reid get the goals again. Reid did come on as a sub here after 60 minutes and we were glad to see a near instant impact.

Oldham v Solihull Moors

A great game here as Garner strikes just before half time as he heads home from a cross from Hope. Walker comes on and scores with his first touch of the ball before Reid bags his 3rd in 3 games.

League

A very good opening month here as we're only one of two teams undefeated in the league with the other being Barnet in 4th. There is still a very lot of football to play though.

September

7 games to squeez in this month. Its mental the amount of football at this level. We're just very lucky to be one of the few professional teams at this level which should hopefully help us in the long run.​

 

[leckuno]

September

Gateshead v Oldham

What a game as we come from 2-0 down in the final half hour and Kitching wins the game with the final kick of the ball as well.

Oldham v Dorking

Second game in a row where we have to come from a 2 goal deficit to win the game with a late goal. It is a worry though for the 2nd game in a row we've gone two behind as we can't keep this up.

Bromley v Oldham

A much better game here as we finally keep a clean sheet again as we get the 3 points thanks to a cheap penalty (thank goodness VAR isn't at this level and then a nice headed goal as well.

Oldham v York

Our first defeat at the club as even though we took a very early lead before York broke through our defence to score twice in 11 minutes.

Oldham v Oxford City

We bounce straight back with a very strong first half performance from Andrew Dallas before Mark Kitching gets forward to pretty much score straight from the kick off of the 2nd half.

Kidderminster v Oldham

A pretty boring game here but we take the 3 points thanks to an opening own goal which took a wicked deflection which sent the ball past the keeper before Norwood doubled the lead.

Wealdstone v Oldham

A good game for the travelling supporters as we really pushed for it in the closing minutes to put the game beyond doubt and it works as Andre Dallas gets a 2 minute double to seal the 3 points

League

Its tight at the top just now as we have a narrow 3 point lead as we have now played a quarter of the season in the opening 2 months.

October

We start our journey in the FA cup and hopefully we're able to overcome whoever we face to make the 1st round. We've got some big games in the league as well against other former football league teams.​

 

[leckuno]

October

Oldham v Maidenhead

A good all round game here, especially the opening 22 minutes as we race to a big lead and then hold on for the 3 points.

Oldham v Dag & Red

A scare here as Dag & Red come back twice to get it to 2-2 but we dig in and get back in the lead before Dallas rounds off the win with a cracker of a strike to seal the 3 points.

FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
Oldham v Southport

Our first game in the FA cup and its a nice easy win and it was a great start for Kitching who has made a habit of scoring right after a kick off. Even though they equalised the game was never really in doubt as we make it to the 1st round.

Rochdale v Oldham

A poor game here as we threw it all away in the final 5 minutes of the game here, It was really disappointing that we couldn't hold on

AFC Flyde v Oldham

We bounce straight back again with a good win but it was a worry after going behind early but we were a much better team in the 2nd half.

Oldham v Altrincham

A mix of emotions in this game as we had to come from behind twice here to ****** a draw but considering they are one of of rivals for the title its a good result

League

After our one loss this month we now find ourselves on 44 points along with Chesterfield and it looks like its going to be a very tight season as its still anybody's title

November

A very tough draw in the 1st round of the FA Cup but we'll make the most of it and its nice to have a bit of a shorter month here with just the 5 games.​

 

[leckuno]

November

FA Cup 1st Round
Oldham v Peterborough

We came so close to a big upset here but a really poor challenge from Liam Hogan cost us here as Peterborough have managed to force a replay

Oldham v Eastleigh

James Norwood has a brilliant 2nd half here as we manage to come from behind twice which is a bit of a habit this season but the 3 points is the most important thing.

FA Cup 1st Round Replay
Peterborough v Oldham

Well its a repeat of the first leg as we throw away a 2 goal lead here and sadly this time Peterborough were able to find the winner as they knock us out of the FA Cup in the 1st round.

Oldham v Ebbsfleet

A very fortunate draw here as we should of done a lot better here.

Woking v Oldham

A much better game here as we get a lot of balls into the box here and it paid off as we won the game quite late on.

League

The first time we've dropped off top spot in the league as we are a point behind with 2 games in hand. Its looking like its going to be a 3 horse race for the title though and that even with the teams below us being close behind.

December

December already and we play our first game in the FA Trophy as we enter the competition in the 3rd round and I expect us go far in the competition.​