Ice Storey Zebra - Oldham Athletic v Gateshead 23/12/23

[Music] W hey hey hey [Music] hey good afternoon everyone and welcome to a new video on the channel as I speak it is Friday the 22nd of December 2023 and tomorrow which will of course be Saturday the 23rd of December we are heading over to Greater Manchester for Alm Athletic versus Gates Ed in the National League now the reason that um I'm starting the video now the day before is because uh basically I am stopping in York of all places overnight which a little bit ironic given who our next game is against after to this one um so yeah so so starting now is for the purposes of the travel Montage more than anything but without further Ado let's get into [Music] this [Music] so that is the first leg of the journey complete we'll carry on to Old them in the morning uh do have people that I am staying down here with by the way have not fed out on a hotel in York and realistically I didn't even need to so yeah uh cat shes in the morning right then it is match day let's [Music] go [Music] so I'm in Al them now uh as you could probably tell by the footage of the m62 uh we have been greeted to a pretty typical Olden weather um no wonder to call this place Ice Station Zebra but uh anyway going into this game this afternoon old them are currently in 10th place in the National League table they're only actually only three points behind us of course we're in sixth place Following last Saturday's really disappointing result against FC Halifax town and this is of course the second time have played old them this season the first being a two all draw at the international Stadium back in SE setember uh that game it was Mike Williamson managing Gates said and David unsworth managing Alm today it is Rob Elliot managing Gates head and Mickey melon manag managing oldum so uh wholesale changes at both clubs and I do think uh in the second half of the Season all them do have another gear to go into but hopefully for our sake that that's not going to be today I think the thing that's maybe letting him down a little bit so far Maybe similar to us really is is the home form like like us they do seem to perform that bit better on the road so hopefully that can be something that works our favor today but all the same I'm not coming down here and taking anything for granted you never can against all them irrespective of where they are on the table uh it's always a tough game it's a massive Club a massive following as well so uh yeah they're always going to have that like level of expectation on them and as I said I do think that they will uh like start pushing up the table uh between now and uh the end of the season it would surpris me if they did get in the playoffs I me back them at the start of the season and I'm sticking by that but it all like remains to be seen I mean isn't going to be a quick fix for Mickey melon because there there's a lot of like sort of Maintenance that needs doing for them like in terms of on the pitch and there's no getting away from that they invest a lot of money in the summer and he could maybe argue that they are have been underperforming a little bit but there is as we say still time for them to salvage this season I mean I don't think anyone's going to catch Chester Field I think that's um I think that's a by gone now but that the race of the playoffs is very much open and uh very much part of that is of course ourselves uh we are uh this is actually going to be a really tough run of games I'd say between now and the next round of the fa trophy obviously going into boundary Parks never an easy game regardless of where all them are in the table and the back toback games against York which again isn't going to be easy another team that are the say criminally underperforming uh then of course uh on Wednesday the 10th of January wa to Chester Field which is literally as tough as it gets but um we're still up there for Reas and we've got we have got good group Lads that will know that they didn't perform to the levels that we all know that they can last Saturday and they'll be looking to come here and rectify that um and I think this would be a good place to do that I mean obviously uh the best sort of time to put on a good show would would have been on national TV we couldn't quite manage that but uh playing the G in front of one of the biggest crowds that we're going to play in front of this season uh it is most most definitely the next best thing in terms of doing it so uh looking forward to this this afternoon I do enjoy the a away days in this particular part of the country and it would be very nice indeed to go into Christmas on a real high so let's H and down to Boundary Park and find out how it all falls so this is the third time we've been to this ground it's the third different stand that they've put us in uh the other one out is that one over there of course the jaw Royal Stand uh I think just for the sake of it if we end up playing these again in DFA trophy or better yet the playoffs uh may as well just put us in there so we can complete our tour of the ground and of course the teams are warming up now where gates are getting ready in this half it's a little bit hard to tell in a minute whether we're going to be in our white home strip or if we are going to be in that all black third strip uh we will find out in due course uh but anyway old and I ready over there of course going to be in a traditional uh blue so uh yeah I will see you when the players are coming out the tunnel and ready to start the [Music] [Applause] match so it is the all black third strip for this [Applause] [Applause] afternoon [Music] [Music] come on [ __ ] H man [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Brant KN it in get in get [Music] in send [Music] [Music] in that would have been soft that [Music] [Applause] [Music] way get it in yes [Applause] oh afternoon AC challeng comp half time old athletic one gate said nil uh unfortunately that is probably a Justified outcome really uh once again I've had a lot of the ball but just not really doing a great deal with it but In fairness to all them they do look as though of figured like almost got' got game plan and sust us out really so uh fortunately you can't argue with it in that respect they just totally cut Us open for the goal that scored you can maybe ask one or two questions about the goalkeepers positioning But ultimately it was a fairly composed finish I think the main top two chances we had was obviously the first one that went off the crossbar then the one that um then the one that was obviously had added wide uh which was the last action of the first half but uh yeah it's it's not been particularly great and the thing that really concerns me a little bit I've got to say is that um this seems to almost lack of Plan B like um just whatever the game plan is today just up to now anyway isn't really working I think it's also inevitable that we are going to throw J anger on at some point obiously Steven W had to come on uh with con bride getting injured which is another concern at minute like injuries do feel as already mounting up a little bit but uh you know we are still in the game uh we are going to get more chances I'm sure they going to get more chances so uh yeah there's still a long way to go in this [Applause] yet come on come on come [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] on come on oh for [ __ ] sake [Applause] man [ __ ] of short Corners ever work like ever that's J on [Applause] yeah on yes come on [Applause] come [Applause] [Music] on mag [Applause] mag [Music] [Music] [Applause] Jesus Christ CL sorry sorry [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] sorry f [Applause] [Music] [Music] welome what that 6 minutes of valid time at the end of this game 6 [Music] [Applause] minutes that would been one of the best gos I've ever seen back [Music] left [ __ ] [Music] [Music] [Applause] whistle [Music] come on come on I [Music] [Applause] think get in look at Mugs there get in [Music] come [Applause] on get come [Music] on full-time old mathletic one Gates head 2 uh something that really really frustrates me actually is that time and time and time again are we sure how good we can be when we play away from home and uh I just honestly think like if imagine where we could be in a table right now if we could uh transfer that those performance levels and results uh into our games at the international Stadium as well that would be absolutely like I mean we're flying as it is but uh CH will be possibly even getting on top of the league if if we could do that but uh tremendous way to bounce back from last week's disappointment said um obviously playing in front of bit in front of a big crowd and what have you um always felt like this it' be something that would maybe relish and uh we certainly Rose to the challenge today and uh yeah I think first half uh it looked like all of them had a sust but I think once we broke them down they uh maybe went to Pieces a little bit I'd say we just absolutely started to dominate them if truth be told and uh they couldn't really uh get near I mean they had slightly odds maybe half chance here and there um after we' gone two on up but uh there's absolutely no doubt whatsoever that uh I think over the balance of play that we absolutely deserve to win that game today and as I say it puts us in an absolutely fantastic position going into the festive period and officially we are officially now 50% of the way through the season so long may this continue I mean if hopefully as many players as possible can stay fit if not then hopefully we can maybe get a couple couple of bodies in on loan accordingly and uh yeah just see where it takes us cuz um yeah we're in a really really good position just now but uh you know got to take it one game at a time and next up is York at home on boxing day and I really hope that um we can as I said uh transfer the performance levels that we do on the road to the international Stadium that'll be a really good Christmas present that I've got to say so um yeah it's going to be it's going to be a tough game on um on Tuesday as it will be um but I think York conceded in the last minute at home to today so be wanting to bounce back from that but uh yeah uh as I said uh brilliant brilliant we're uh displaying the second half there and uh yeah going back over the m62 really really happy um and that is that for this video and I'll be back of course on boxing day with that Gates head versus York City game and uh as it is the last video before the big day I would just like now to take the opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas hope you all have a really great day and uh yeah just thank you so much for your support for the channel so far this season for every season that we've done really but one thing I would like to maybe just briefly touch upon it's a it's a an issue that's very close to my heart and I'm sure is one that is uh very close to the hearts of many views as well and that is of course what the issues surrounding mental health cuz uh there um CU this time of year can be very tough for a lot of people for whatever reason um so uh just if if you are watching this and you maybe struggling a bit just you're not alone just you talk to someone uh just let them know how you're feeling and contrary to that uh please if if it feels though someone's maybe struggling a little bit uh just just chat to them um cuz uh you know the anxiety depression they don't take Christmas off so uh yeah just just make sure you're there for people like over this period and yeah just you know try and make it as enjoyable as as enjoyable for them as it can possibly be so uh until box and day take care cheers for watching Merry Christmas see you later