Nicolas ?

[London Irish]

But I am starting to question your judgement more and more and wonder how much you actually see us play.

This doesn't surprise me much because you don't seem to have much of a response to the points I put forward about Charlie's positive record of midfield ball-winning for us. It is much easier to start having a go at me than stick to the arguments.

 

[Trigger]

It's all very well winning a ball but then passing it straight back to opposition 9 times out of 10 doesn't help does it, especially at this level...

 

[London Irish]

Your take on Charlie's pass-completion stats is fanciful, old chap.

 

[Uncle Buck]

This doesn't surprise me much because you don't seem to have much of a response to the points I put forward about Charlie's positive record of midfield ball-winning for us. It is much easier to start having a go at me than stick to the arguments.

You are not answering my question.

The issue with Oatway is he is not good enough. Brentford got rid of him when they got promoted to the second, as they knew he could not do it. When we went up, Adams was starting to play Pitcher rather than him, Taylor signed Lewis as Charlie was short of what was needed. I honestly think Taylor was going to let him go at the second of the Division 2 Championship season. He was not near the team in the run in and then for the game at Port Vale he was made Captain, I guess as some sort of thank you for your efforts. However Taylor then left and Knight handed out some dubious long term contracts and so we were stuck with him. Hinsh did pick him, but then we best paper over that as he also picked Marney and Wilkinson, but Coppell came in and one of the first things he did was bring Rodger in as Oatway was completely out of his depth at Division 1 level. Last season he only played due to injuries and although he had the odd good game for every one of those he was at best average for the following 4.

Watch him play and he is slow, which is not a problem, as both Chippy and Jolly are, but he has nothing to compensate his lack of pace. He cannot pass and his tackles are generally lunges and often the ball goes straight to opposition players. Too much of our support worship him because he gets stuck in, but often all it means is he is on his arse whilst the oppostion are cleaning up from another of his tackles and then attacking us, he is out of position and our already weak midfield is now stretched even more. His other problem is he does not read the game well and runs around like a headless chicken or just goes flying in.

 

[Ex-Staffs Gull]

Adams was starting to play Pitcher (When )

I agree with London Irish, why is everyone so over critical of Oatway. He does a job, it is not pretty, but then Zinidine Zidane he isn't. He is a good defensive midfielder, and can pass the ball, not 50 yards to feet , but very rarely gets caught. When he does, we notice because often nobody is backing up (maybe this says something about the player).

He is not my perfect defensive midfielder by anymeans, but he DOES break up the opposition play, he provides others with space by taking on responsibility with the ball. Yes he gets it wrong sometimes, but name me a player who doesn't. (seriously name me one).

Uncle Buck, all of us are entitled to our opinions, but I seriously think you are badly mis-judging Oatway. He has been a regular pick for the following managers ..

Micky Adams
Peter Taylor (although Lewis did replace him in the run in, you cannot second guess what would have happened.)
Mark McGee

In 5 years nobody has replaced him properly except short termers such as Lewis and Sidwell.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Adams was starting to play Pitcher (When )

Adams last few games, I think Stoke onwards, he was playing Pitcher in the side.

 

[London Irish]

So your argument is that Junior Lewis and Simon Rodger are better players than Charlie? Undoubtedly true, can't argue with that. Shall we pick them for Saturday's game then?

Your comments are typical of your inability to see the strengths of Charlie's game. Apparently, it was all just one big mysterious accident that he got his contract extension. Repeat that back to yourself out loud and marvel at how silly that theory is.

Apperently his performances last season were just another bit of Charlie luck that keeps coming for him! Again, shame for you that McGhee has gone on record as praising him as one of our best performers last season. I'll take McGhee's knowledge of football over yours, thanks all the same. A McGhee quote put on here by Robert Lester Zamora recently even seemed to suggest that McGhee sees Charlie as part of the team for the next two years.

Your final paragraph assessing his ablities is laughable. But I won't accuse you of not watching games, I just don't think you can appreciate good defensive midfield play and just want a midfield made of up of four box-raiding attackers.

Charlie is a popular player because people appreciate what he brings to the team. Your comment that he regularly misses tackles is untrue. Your comment that his mistakes regularly compromise the team are untrue. Your comments that he can't read the game are particularly untrue.

He was one of the best performers at Cardiff precisely becasue he reads the game so well. Helping Harding to snuff out Rougier in the first half hour, and then frustrating Doherty and Tinnion from breaking forward the rest of the game. The play-off final was an object lesson of what Charlie can do for the team. When the DVD comes out in a few weeks' time, buy it, watch it and educate yourself.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Your comments are typical of your inability to see the strengths of Charlie's game. Apparently, it was all just one big mysterious accident that he got his contract extension. Repeat that back to yourself out loud and marvel at how silly that theory is.

I honestly think he would not have been retained if Taylor had stayed with the club, it was Knight that gave him the 3 year deal.

Now I have stated my case and you have come back with sarcastic jibes and tried to use big words to look clever which is nice, but as ever, somebody disagrees with them you go out to be rude. The game is about opinions, but at present I am starting to believe that the Albion has one of the most sanctimonious, up their own arse, pc brigades around. It is a wonder other clubs are starting to dislike us due to our fans rather than anything else. At least if it was down to hoolies you could justify it.

I do not rate Oatway and disagree with most of what you have said, his selection has often been because he is available, down to injuries to others.

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

I thought this was about lxi not charlie!!!?

 

[Mr Blobby]

Last time we were in this Division Charlie only started 18 matches and 11 sub apperances. Not sure how many he missed completely through injury, but he was not in the squad for 17 matches!

He does have limited ability but he appears to be the "character" that gets the players going. If he was fit he would be in my starting XI at the moment, but if Carpenter, Rodger and Piercy were fit then my starting XI out the players we have would be

Roberts
El-Abd Cullip Virgo Harding
Piercey Carpenter Rodgers Jarrett
Molango Knight


Hart, Jones, Robinson, Butters, Mayo, Oatway, Currie, Kuipers, McPhee, Nicolas and Reid all in reserve, covering any injuries

 

[London Irish]

The game is about opinions, but at present I am starting to believe that the Albion has one of the most sanctimonious, up their own arse, pc brigades around.

Charlie's match programme column is gloriously un-pc and I fecking well LOVE IT.

Go on, at least say Charlie's good at that.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Charlie's match programme column is gloriously un-pc and I fecking well LOVE IT.

Go on, at least say Charlie's good at that.

I thought he could not read and write.

 

[London Irish]

I thought he could not read and write.

 

[Richard Whiteley]

I honestly think he would not have been retained if Taylor had stayed with the club, it was Knight that gave him the 3 year deal.

Now I have stated my case and you have come back with sarcastic jibes and tried to use big words to look clever which is nice, but as ever, somebody disagrees with them you go out to be rude. The game is about opinions, but at present I am starting to believe that the Albion has one of the most sanctimonious, up their own arse, pc brigades around. It is a wonder other clubs are starting to dislike us due to our fans rather than anything else. At least if it was down to hoolies you could justify it.

I do not rate Oatway and disagree with most of what you have said, his selection has often been because he is available, down to injuries to others.

Don't have much of an opinion either way on Oatway but reading this thread through I was amazed at this post. Uncle Buck I think it was you who started all this by questioning whether London Irish saw any games or not. I was also interested to check what long words he used....mmmm none that I would consider a long word. There's one in your post though = Sanctimonious
Where the hell does PC come into football chat? It's amazing what people will accuse of being PC these days just cos they disagree with it. Worse than being PC if you ask me.

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

Am I, and Uncle Buck alone in thinking that we got over-run time after time after time last season (in DIVISION 2) when LI's love-child Oatway was playing?

The way LI and his supporters talk is as if we have a Batty/Ince like player waiting in the wings to come back into the side to disrupt and spoil the opponents play

In my opinion Oatway is no-where good enough for Division 1 football, but I guess football, like most things is all about opinions.....

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

A McGhee quote put on here by Robert Lester Zamora recently even seemed to suggest that McGhee sees Charlie as part of the team for the next two years.

We're ****** then if that's the case

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

People on here will probably say Oatway is the answer....

 

[the right footed denilson]

Oatway isnt a great defensive player- id love to see his succesfull tackles ratio during a game. He's far too short and lightweight- i cringe when he competes in the air for balls, he mistimes tackles and often loses out on 50-50's. He is a poor passer, often forced to turn one too many times on the ball, rush his pass or pass backwards and he scores very few goals.

He's been a great servant to the club but he isnt very good. Its simple.

 

[the right footed denilson]

p.s

as already said he only plays when he is the only possible option. Other than David lee!

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

i think when chippy is back we will see a different type of play from nicolas, just as we will see a different chioppy as he wont be having to do some of oatways work