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Today's Edition for
 
    1st February 2002 
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 Rivals match preview's JKLatics.com (oldhamathletic.rivals.com) Big Match Preview - Notts County v Latics Latics have scored 53 and are close to the play offs. The Magpies have conceded 53 and are 3rd bottom. Turkey shoot? Nah! This will be anything but that as County begin to realise that they had better do something about their current situation before they find themselves in Division 3. Tough game. Latics v Notts County

ONE TO WATCH (1)
Mark Stallard - Forward 26 year old Stallard hails from Derby and was signed by then manager Sam Allardyce for a bargain £10,000 from Wycombe Wanderers in March 1999.  Mark, 6 ft tall and over 13 stones already has four goals to his credit this season and he'll need close marking. NottsCounty.net has this to say about him :- In the steal of the season, Sam Allardyce made an audacious £10,000 scoop for Mark from Wycombe Wanderers in March 1999 after he was unwilling to commit himself to a new contract. He had begun season 1997/98 in explosive form, with 11 goals in his first 16 games, including a hat trick at home to Walsall and finished with 18 in 46 starts proving himself one of the deadliest strikers at this level. He quickly became quite a favourite with Magpie fans, scoring some vital goals at the end of the season to help the club avoid relegation. With good vision, Mark is a nippy player, quick over short distances, and often scores goals from close range, being confident with both his left and right foot.. ONE TO WATCH (2) Danny Allsop - Forward This is the guy who will really need to be shackled tomorrow. Australian born Allsop already has 8 goals to his credit this season, including a hat trick against Mansfield in the Worthington Cup and a brace against  Wrexham in the league. Signed from Port Melbourne by Manchester City for  bargain £10,000  in July 1998. Allsop scored his first goal in English football against his current club in a league cup tie the following week. Another big target man to frighten Latics, 6ft 1 inch Allsop never managed to make the grade at Maine Road and following various loan spells, two of which were at Meadow Lane and a bad medial ligament injury, County signed him for £300,000 in December 2000. If he can maintain his current strike rate (after tomorrow please) he'll begin to, look like a bit of a bargain. Keep your eye on him please Stuart!Nationwide League Division Two
Saturday 2nd February 2002

Latics make the trip to Meadow Lane, Nottingham tomorrow to take on Notts County. The Magpies, managed by Ex Latics man Billy Dearden, are having a rough time at the moment and have lost four on the trot and 6 of their last 7, scoring only once in their last 4 matches.  They've also conceded a staggering 53 league goals so far this season. Latics are the division's highest scorers, but aren't these the matches Latics just love to lose? It's a turkey shoot on paper. But County are always tough opponents. Last Season's fixture at Meadow Lane, coincidentally on the same Saturday last season, resulted in a narrow victory for County. Check out that match at this link. Notts County v Latics 3/2/2001 County's visit to Boundary Park this season was a cracker and it saw Latics hit top spot after The Magpies suffered a 4-1 mauling by Latics. Check it out here. Latics v Notts County 29/9/2001 Latics have already visited Meadow lane once this season, coming away winners in the LDV, courtesy of an Alan Smart debut goal. Check that one out here Notts County  v Latics (LDV) 4/12/2001 Team News Julien Badudet and David Reeves rejoin the squad and Paul Rickers and Tippy make way. Latics Kelly, McNiven, Balmer, Duxbury, J Sheridan, Appleby, Corazzin, Holden, Eyres, Murray, Beharall, Armstrong, Baudet, Smart, Rachubka, Reeves. Reeves may well warm the bench and come on later as Wads plays his one up game or we may be treated to a rare display of 2 strikers in view of County's clearly shaky defence. Who knows with Wads! It's perm any 3 from three in that case. Defence, dodgy of late in the centre may remain unchanged or wads may decide to rest either Beharall or Balmer and give new French signing Julien Baudet a run out. New Argentinian signing Christian Colusso will travel but won't figure as he awaits his international clearance.

Current League Position

Nationwide League Division Two
1/2/2002 Pd  W  D  L  F  A  Pts  Position
Latics 30  12  10  8  53  40  46  8th
Magpies 30 6 8 16 35 53 26 22nd

 Official Oldham Athletic Web Site (www.oldhamathletic.co.uk)Content from the Oldham Athletic Web Site is used with permission of Oldham Athletic Football Club  
Cristian Colusso

Cristian Colusso has signed for the Latics until the end of the season and comes with an impressive C.V.  There is no fee involved in the deal to bring him to the club and it is hoped he can settle in England. The 24 Year Old is an attacking left footed midfielder who can play on the wing or up front. He made his Argentina Primera Liga debut for Rosario Central when he was only 17, one of the youngest players to do so.  A year later, he was part of the side that won the South American Conmebol Cup, playing all 8 games. In 1998 he had a loan spell with Sevilla for the last five months of the season before returning to Rosario Central where he has played over 120 games so far.  He has been a member of the Argentine Under 20 squad and Under 23 squad earlier in his career. He was introduced to the press this morning at Boundary Park and spoke afterwards to the media, "I am happy to be in Oldham and to sign for the Club".  "Training has been very good and I enjoy the coaching"  He explained that Rosario Central are one of the top ten clubs in Argentina.  He said "I have been a companion of Carbonari from Derby County, I have always wanted to play in England". "I see much English football on TV in Argentina, Veron is always on TV". Mick speaks about Notts County It's been a funny week without a midweek fixture, but that has given Mick Wadsworth some time to recoup and reorganise his troops before the game at Meadow Lane tomorrow.  During the week he has brought an Argentine Midfielder in for the rest of the season. What can you tell us about Cristian Colusso?
He's Argentinian, He's got an Italian passport, he's very talented, he's played at a high level in Argentina, he's also played for the National Youth team, Under 20's and Under 23's teams.  He's very experienced, yet he's only 24.  We've got a terrific chance now to have a look at him until the end of the season and see if he can adapt his own game to the English game. How did you come across him?
Well I've got good contacts, I've been to Argentina a few times and I know people there.  Via a contact, it was a recommendation and we had the opportunity to fly him over and have a look at him for a week, which we have done.  We have liked what we have seen so far. Good News for David Reeves, he has overcome his injury quickly?
Yes, he is training now and maybe part of the squad tomorrow for Notts County. Notts County have had a terrible season and are on a bad run of results, Are you expecting a backlash?
Well we hope not, but that is always possible, we certainly hope not because we need to be on top of our game and we need to come away with three points.  Three points is our aim and that's what we hope to be coming away with. We won there in the LDV before Christmas, Are we going there tomorrow with a similar game plan?
Well, similar in terms that we want to win, yeh it's important now that every game that you don't win you lose ground on those above you.  If we lose tomorrow then that is an opportunity lost on the others and we must not let that happen too often now. Will the fans be able to see Cristian Colusso tomorrow?
No because we are waiting for international clearance, which can take a while.  It can take a day, a week, I can't speak for the Argentinian F.A. or our F.A.  Until we get International clearance, we can't play him anyway, but he will be travelling with us because he needs to understand the gameplan and the sort of football he's getting into soon, so it will be interesting to see how he reacts.

 Dave at the bookies                           Notts       Draw     Latics

   BananaBet              7/4        9/4        5/4

   Bet365                 7/4        9/4        5/4

   BetClass               7/4      23/10        6/5

   BetDirect              7/4        9/4        5/4

   BetSense.com           7/5        2/1      13/10

   Betandwin.com          6/4       17/8        7/5

   Cash Point             7/5      21/10        7/5

   Centrebet              6/4      23/10        6/4

   Expekt                 6/4       17/8        7/5

   Ladbrokes.com         13/8       11/5       11/8

   OddsAlive            17/10        9/4      13/10

   Paddy Power            8/5       11/5        7/5

   Playit.com             6/4        9/4        6/4

   Sports.com             9/5        2/1        7/5

   Stanleybet            13/8       12/5        5/4

   UK Betting            13/8       11/5       11/8

   Unibet                13/8        9/4       11/8

   William Hill          7/4        9/4        5/4

 TEAMtalk (www.teamtalk.co.uk) Latics seal Argentinian swoop Oldham have signed former Argentina Under-23 midfielder Cristian Colusso on loan from Rosario Central until the end of the season. The 24-year-old left-sided midfield player, who has also represented his country at Under-20 level, made his debut for Rosario Central at the age of 17 - making him one of the youngest players to appear in the Argentinian Championships. Boss Mick Wadsworth was alerted to his availability by South American contacts and was impressed by the player during trials at Boundary Park earlier in the week. There is a possibility that the deal may become permanent and Colusso does not need a work permit because he holds an Italian passport. Looking ahead to his stay at Boundary Park, Colusso said: "I am happy to be in Oldham and to sign for the club. Training has been very good and I am enjoying the coaching." 
Reeves back for Magpies test 
David Reeves will be fit for tomorrow's trip to Notts County whilst David Beherall has recovered from illness and keeps his place in the team.  Reeves has missed the last three games with an ankle injury but could resume his strike partnership with Allan Smart as The Latics bid to re-ignite their play-off push. Oldham have picked up just one point from the last six and boss Mick Wadsworth believes victory at Meadow Lane tomorrow is crucial. He said: "A draw won't be good enough - we need all three to get back on track." "It won't be easy. County need every point they can get and they will be fighting for their lives." Defender Beharall has recovered from a virus infection which ruled him out of training and keeps his place in the middle of what has, of late, been a jittery defence. French centre-back Paul Baudet is also in the squad after being left out for last Saturday's 3-3 home draw with Bournemouth. Striker John Eyre and midfielder Paul Rickers miss out after being on the bench for that game. Squad: Rachubka, McNiven, Beharall, Baudet, Balmer, Armstrong, Murray, J Sheridan, Appleby, Smart, Corazzin, Eyres, Holden, Duxbury, Reeves and Kelly.

Youth clash confirmed Oldham have arranged their FA Lancashire Youth Cup semi-final with Wigan for March 4, with the tie to take place at Boundary Park. The tie must be decided on the night, so extra time and penalties will come into play if the scores are level, and the victors will look forward to a final against the winner of the Blackpool and Tranmere semi-final. Triple fitness boost 
Danny Allsopp, Mark Stallard and Marcel Cas are all expected to be fit for Saturday's clash with Oldham despite missing training on Thursday. Billy Dearden's problems keep mounting since his arrival as he was faced with an injury crisis this week at Meadow Lane. The new boss was desperate to get down to some hard work on the training ground in a bid to solve some of his many problems following Tuesday's 3-0 home defeat by Northampton. But he only had 15 fit players to work with on yesterday - including two goalkeepers - and that left him feeling especially fruustrated. However, the Magpies supremo is hopeful the trio of Allsopp, Stallard and Cas will be available for the home game against The Latics. The injury problems have prevented Dearden from looking at various options, and working on rebuilding the team spirit, and as he says that is really disappointing. Somehow Dearden has to pick the players up after what many supporters feel was the worst display witnessed at Meadow Lane for a very long time and it is probably not overstating the situation to say that the Oldham clash will have a major bearing on County's fate this season.
Defeat tomorrow would be their fifth on the trot and, with massive challenges to follow against Reading and Stoke, there would be every chance of extending that sequence to seven. Confidence within the team is already at rock bottom and, if they were to lose seven successive games, it is hard to image they would recover. Notts County (possible): Garden; Fenton, Chilvers, I Richardson, L. Richardson; Cas, Caskey, Bolland, Liburd; Allsopp, Stallard.

 Nottingham Evening Post (www.mymagpies.co.uk) Dearden blasts players Notts boss Billy Dearden today blasted the attitude of some of his players as he prepares for the Magpies’ next game in their relegation battle. The Magpies boss has told his side it is time to “stand up and be counted” when they face Oldham at Meadow Lane tomorrow. “People keep saying to me that there is a lot of ability in this squad,” he said. “But whichever way you look at it, it is these players who have got the club in the situation we are in. “You only have to look at the league table to see how well they have done. “Perhaps one or two of these players are guilty of thinking they are a little better than they are. “It is time for them to show how good they are and get us out of this. It is time for them to play with passion.” Dearden says he will not tolerate a repeat performance of the last two matches at Meadow Lane, when Notts nervously succumbed to defeat against Port Vale and Northampton. He still believes the Magpies, with 18 games to go, can escape relegation. But he warned that they must overcome their apparent fear of playing in front of their home fans — who turned on them following their latest disappointing defeat against the Cobblers on Tuesday. “I don’t think there is a problem with work-rate,” he said. “It is more to do with fear. They certainly seemed to play with fear against Northampton. That is not acceptable. “If the players cannot take criticism, then they should not be in the game. “You have to take the rough with the smooth in this game. “It is fine taking the praise when things are going well, but you have to be strong enough to take the stick when things are not working out. “I keep saying to people that you have to earn the right to play this game and that is what we have to do. “We have to do that tomorrow.” Dearden challenged his side to show that they have the quality so many people anticipated at the start of the season. “Can you explain how we can create so many chances at Swindon and Wycombe and how we can struggle to come up with anything at home?” he said. 
Contributions and letters should be sent to Gary Davies by e-mail at LaticsGary@ntlworld.comor at Boundary Bullet-zine,41 Verney Road,Royton,Oldham,United Kingdom.OL2 6AZ07786 928689Or in the Setons Chaddy end Row R Seats 67 & 68Boundary Bullet-zine Archive can be found at http://www.oocities.org/laticsgary.geo.The views expressed on this e-zine are not the views of Oldham Athletic F.C. nor necessarily the views of the Editor.This e-zine is a unofficial publication NOT sanctioned by Oldham Athletic Football Club.The editor will not publish any letters containing bad language.This e-zine is written using Microsoft Outlook Express and is best viewed with the HTML (rich) text option enabled.