Meet the Manager - The Results!

[longtimeblue]

Shame. Two hours of a chat with a manager is a special occurrence. Ah well, 2480 minutes or 41 hours 20 mins until the season kicks off!

Roll on Saturday morning. Have to be honest and say I've not missed in the slightest (to the contrary if I'm honest) but I'm looking forward to an away day now and my silly head is saying we'll win 3-0.

[oafcprozac]

Did IbbyRoyleArmy Gate Crash again?

[blueatheart]

Didn't go Ross, I was invited and fully intended to go but I only landed in the early hours and had stuff to do so had to inform Rick this morning I wouldn't make it. Shame as I enjoyed it last time but i'm glad others got the opportunity.

 

Shame they were all ill prepared and didn't take notes

Yeah, some fan liaison you are.

[oafcprozac]

Roll on Saturday morning. Have to be honest and say I've not missed in the slightest (to the contrary if I'm honest) but I'm looking forward to an away day now and my silly head is saying we'll win 3-0.

 

I'm so :censored:ing up for this season it is crazy, i'm genuinely excited by our attacking talent for the first time since we nailed down Beckett, Warne and Liddell in 2005. I hope we're going to go goal daft this year. Wingers, decent midfielders and all types of strikers.

 

Last few pre-seasons I've not really missed it, I was intrigued more than excited in 2010 after Dickov's arrival but this year the excitement has returned, not because I think we're going to walk the league - simply that for the first time in years we'll be Oldham Athletic again, namely a team that has a bloody good go, may come up short occasionally but scores plenty of goals.

 

Most pleasing is that fans seem to be pulling the same way for the first time in years, we have a good group that seem to be all peeing in the same pot and a young, hungry manager. There's similarities to Dickov's honeymoon period but I can't see us only scoring 2 goals in 10 games under LJ as looking at that squad picture, the strength in depth for the perceived budget is ridiculous! Dickov never once had strength in depth in all areas and seems to be repeating the same mistakes at Donny, with a very small squad 36 hours before kick off. I'd still like a centre-half but you have to out score the opposition in any game - so let's do that. Can't wait for Saturday, i'm preparing the cooler as I type……..

[oldhamathleticmad]

I conquer prozac. I've never ever been so excited to be heading to Stevenage in my life haha. Really optimism from the fans on all areas. I really do think that LJ is a seriously good manager, as you'll know from your fans meeting (which is a unique gesture anyway) that he has sometime special about him

[daveycrow]

Hi guys was at the meet the manager today. I was the guy in the pink shirt looking like a pig and sweating like one boy it was warm in there. To be fair to everyone they have pretty much summed it up very well. But LJ did ask for not too much to be said on here as other clubs do look at our forum. Barry and Rik did say they would organize another meet the manager and Lee said he would try and make it before xmas. But i will say this I have been supporting Latics 49 years now and there are are fans who have supported them longer but this is probably the most optimistic I have felt bar a couple of seasons under JR

[iamjonesyyoafc]

 

I'm so :censored:ing up for this season it is crazy, i'm genuinely excited by our attacking talent for the first time since we nailed down Beckett, Warne and Liddell in 2005. I hope we're going to go goal daft this year. Wingers, decent midfielders and all types of strikers.

 

Last few pre-seasons I've not really missed it, I was intrigued more than excited in 2010 after Dickov's arrival but this year the excitement has returned, not because I think we're going to walk the league - simply that for the first time in years we'll be Oldham Athletic again, namely a team that has a bloody good go, may come up short occasionally but scores plenty of goals.

 

Most pleasing is that fans seem to be pulling the same way for the first time in years, we have a good group that seem to be all peeing in the same pot and a young, hungry manager. There's similarities to Dickov's honeymoon period but I can't see us only scoring 2 goals in 10 games under LJ as looking at that squad picture, the strength in depth for the perceived budget is ridiculous! Dickov never once had strength in depth in all areas and seems to be repeating the same mistakes at Donny, with a very small squad 36 hours before kick off. I'd still like a centre-half but you have to out score the opposition in any game - so let's do that. Can't wait for Saturday, i'm preparing the cooler as I type……..

 

This. This. 1 Million times THIS.

[oafcprozac]

Yeah, some fan liaison you are.

 

I hope that's tongue in cheek mate, I write more summaries from fans gatherings, away games, club dos etc than anyone on here! Sadly can't be at every single one, and I was gutted not to be there today.

Edited August 1, 2013 by oafcprozac

[blueatheart]

 

I hope that's tongue in cheek mate, I write more summaries from fans gatherings, away games, club dos etc than anyone on here!

I think the effect of an early start has kicked in

[Simpo]

If we don't want some secrets getting out, can I suggest opening match day chat earlier on Saturday, so that today's events can be discussed with more privacy?

[mikeroyboy]

Jch walked into meet LJ with two minders. LJ told them to do one. He then said I wanna sign you but you WILL follow these rules.

 

You will got go away over summer

You will live in Oldham in digs I choose

You will not go home without my permission.

 

Also LJ personal paid for his mum to visit him twice a month. The club have also paid for his theory test and will pay for his driving lessons. They've basically given him a family. LJ said Jch had grown up in the worst poverty you can get in the UK.

Is there anything LJ hasn't got covered? I think his boys are going to run through walls for him.

[oafcprozac]

LIke You won't believe mate, I've been up for nigh on 36 hours, I walked round Tesco like a :censored:ing zombie earlier, then realised I was actually in Asda……can't keep my eyes open here but still hoping for a Prozacesque Summary!

 

To top it all got back in the car, and the bloody exhaust had decided to go, despite not moving for a week - so had to go and get that looked at. Welcome home Paul!

Edited August 1, 2013 by oafcprozac

[blueatheart]

But LJ did ask for not too much to be said on here as other clubs do look at our forum.

I did so wonder why the betting odds were so bad, after reading a few select posters ('Lee Sinnott' eat your heart out) I'm not surprised.

 

Please, professionals reading a footie forum, a director of the club WILL BE POSTING NEXT.

[longtimeblue]

but this is probably the most optimistic I have felt bar a couple of seasons under JR

I'm up for it an all but get a grip

[blueatheart]

LIke You won't believe mate, I've been up for nigh on 36 hours, I walked round Tesco like a :censored:ing zombie earlier, then realised I was actually in Asdacan't keep my eyes open here but still hoping for a Prozacesque Summary!

 

To top it all got back in the car, and the bloody exhaust had decided to go, despite not moving for a week - so had to go and get that looked at. Welcome home Paul!

 

Oh? What's the news from tesco/Asda? Bump into anyone? (On purpose?)

[maddog]

Sorry it took so long, oh ye(s) of little patience.......

 

A summary of today – or at least what I can remember. Apologies if I miss anything out, misunderstand what was being said, or repeat what others have said. I am paraphrasing at times as well. And the points are in no particular order, but I’ve tried to group them into themes to help my memory! I'm pretty sure none of the below is what LJ was not wanting to be put on here - none of it would be useful to the opposition, which is what he was worried about.

 

A hell of a lot was discussed in 2 hours, and I found everyone to be very honest and open. It was a really interesting couple of hours, and very informal and relaxed. Barry and Rick Attwood were there throughout, along with Johnson. Muzza joined midway through, and Simon had to leave to go to another meeting after around an hour (was supposed to be 30 mins). All 3 of the Latics staff seemed to have good relationships.

 

There will be more meetings like this throughout the season, and Johnson is keen to have another one definitely before Christmas. He’s aware that there may be times we’re not winning and vibes aren’t as positive, but insists the meetings will still go ahead, and he’ll continue to be honest in his responses.

 

Re: Eddie – LDJ - He’s part-way there, but is a work in progress. A ‘project’ for ‘all of us’. He’s fast and tall. He might go out on loan, to improve his fitness/game. The Latvian game is very different and he has never properly been coached. He thinks that if he was chucked into the side right now, he’d be overwhelmed by how fast the English game is, as well as by the side of the crowds – he found the pre-season crowds amazing. He also needs to get used to the English culture, although his English is very good. He’s a young lad, has a lot of potential, and he’s glad we’ve given him a chance that he wouldn’t otherwise get, as scouts don’t tend to go to Latvia.

 

Re: Playershare – LDJ - He’s never heard of such an initiative at a club and thinks it’s great thing. As above he thought it was better to sign a player like Eddie with the PS money, who has a lot of potential and we can all see develop, than a loan player. He seemed a bit patchy about how it works to be honest, but I’m sure Rick and Bazza will keep him on track with it. He said in the grand scheme of things, it all goes into the same pot, and you could just as easily say we’re all contributing towards Rooney’s wages.

SC said the money almost doesn’t matter [not in a dismissive way – it’s true] – it’s a drop in the ocean, and the whole playershare pot might not have even covered the relocation fee we’ve paid out for one player this season. He also thinks it’s a good initiative though, as it feels like a sense of ‘we’re all in this together’ – ‘we’re all Latics fans and want the same thing’.

 

Re: the ground redevelopment – SC – bit patchy about whether construction has started yet, but stressed that clearing the old stand away has taken 6/7 weeks and probably cost around £200k already. The total cost of the stand will be around £4m, and he doesn’t totally know where all the money for it is coming from yet. The council aren’t putting in as much as he has read people saying. It will be ready for the start of next season. We have a gym on board so far, but the rest of the units need to be pitched over the next year. They’ve looked at someone running the conferencing facilities for the club, but if needs be the club will run it themselves. This would be costly, as they have been quoted £880k to fit kitchens in there. He just wants the ground to look like a proper football ground again with 4 sides. He said he was still unsure who would own / benefit from the facilities in the new stand [wasn’t totally sure what that means].

 

Re: ownership of the club – SC – people have enquired about the club, but none of them have been viable people with any intentions of putting money into the football side of things. Koucash is a great bloke but Simon thinks if his passion was football, he’d have bought a football club before now. If he’d sold to him, we might not have moved out of Oldham, but would not have been playing at BP. SC said he doesn’t sleep well at all, due to the stress, and would still sell if the right person came along. He’s gone past caring if people think he has an ulterior motive. He feels like he’s done his bit to try to get people in through the gates – offers, freezing ST prices, and thinks the only way to get people through the gates is success. Says you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t regarding whether to sign players on short or long-term contracts.

 

Re: backroom staff – LDJ – now has himself, Muzza (First team coach – who he was wary of at first, as he had a good relationshiop with SC and had been at the club before, but over time realised they worked well together and now have a good relationship – also said Muzza was offered a manager’s(?) job elsewhere over the close-season in a lower division, but decided to stay), Lee Steele (fitness coach - who is the fittest person at the club and leads by example), Bobby Mimms (GK coach - who is better than PG, although at the time he was sad to see PG leave. One of 15 very very good GK coaches in the country) and Tony P (who was brilliant when he joined the club, and is very good for the youth set up). He had a list of 6/7 possible assistants, and offered the job to one, who decided that it was best to stay where he was, and LJ agrees that was actually the best decision for him. He then took stock, and thought about other possibles – they were either young, or established and maybe set on their own ideas of playing. He also mentioned Billy, who works all hours, and ‘sweeps up’ a lot of the stuff LJ has to do – he talked about him needing someone who is computer literate, who pulls together bits of games on film, takes notes to be used when reflecting on the games. There is no scout at the club, so the backroom staff and their friends / family do it. He talked again about the due diligence in looking to bring players in, and thinking very carefully about whether they would fit in with his philosophy / the dressing room. He said each member of the backroom staff has 400-500 games each experience of playing football.

 

Re: the fans – LDJ – fans are entitled to express their opinions, as they have paid their money. He’d prefer it if they could be positive in their expressions during play, and express any negativity at HT and FT. Says it is hard to lift players’ spirits when they get a lot of stick off the fans. Apologised that his players may not have applauded the fans at the end of the match towards the end of the season, as he thinks they should do.

 

Re: being a manager – LDJ – he’s not liking dealing with agents, and messages from them offering him players are coming through all the time and he can’t chase them all up. His phone bill was £4000 recently, although he said (possibly joking) that a lot of that was calling Simon in New York. He also said he feels like he’s gone from the best dad in the world to the worst, and is lucky sometimes if he can get home for 7 to put his daughter to bed, whilst his phone is still ringing, and it’s often 11 at night before he can switch off, and then he’s up again at 5.45 every morning. He said he didn’t have a summer….. but that’s what it is all about, Muzza feels the same, and their families are right behind them. He said it’s nice to be a manager where there’s no selfishness (like competing for places), and he has final say, although he never throws his weight around.

 

Re: the squad – LJ - Rates Mellor and thinks he has played well in pre-season. Feels the defence is strong enough and that we have enough cover. Has identified a player to come in on loan, but can’t guarantee games over the players who have fought hard for their places in pre-season, and is wary of upsetting the perfect balance they have in the dressing room (team spirit, confidence) by bringing somebody new in. Someone still may come in, if something changes at the club he is at, but all parties want him to come here, including his agent. He is embarrassed about how good bench is – him and Muzaa have come up with 12 possible formations this week –but has a good idea now who’s starting at Stevenage. They’ve been doing a lot of research into Stevenage ready for Sat. There are so many choices of how to play, and the system can be adapted via formation, tactics and personnel to adapt to the conditions of the pitch, and the opposition. Does not see Montano as striker but feels that over the close season, something clicked in him and he’s now buying into what LJ is trying to do – LJ not taking the credit for it though. Looked at goals conceded against Hudds – thought Grounds was at fault but when he looked back at the video, it was actually Brown’s man. He gives them :censored: when needed and showing them their worst bits on video to work on so they don’t make the same mistakes over and over – would not be doing anyone any favours. He thinks making subs is vital and will take off whoever is not performing, even Baxter, and change what needs to change. Baxter’s release clause is not good, but that’s what they had to agree to to get him to sign. Dickov would like to sign him. No guarantee made by SC that he would be here / not be here / time-frames, etc [although LJ talked about him in other contexts and being a genius and very much part of his plans, so make of that what you will]. A lot of stuff said about looking after the players, with particular mention for JCH – very psychologically minded, and I was very impressed! Some players are affected by criticism, and some aren’t (e.g., Tarky, who LJ says will play at a higher level). Re: captain, looking like Smith on the pitch, although there are a lot of players who would police the dressing room.

 

Re: Salary Cap – SC – not sure whether playershare is within or outside of this, but we’ll find out when we get audited. Every club gets audited, and we could be fined if we’re over. We are on the cusp, and the Club is in discussion with the FA regarding appearance fees not being included in the cap. We’re not in a position to sign anyone else, as it would put us well over the cap. [i’m assuming a loanee where we pay minimal wages would be ok].

That’s my brain exhausted of memories for now.

 

Just realised that’s not a summary

Edited August 1, 2013 by maddog

[blueatheart]

Thanks for that Maddog, really useful.

 

You'll be good fan liaison officer competition for Prozac ;)

Edited August 1, 2013 by blueatheart

[underdog]

Well done maddog for the summary

[footy68]

Good summary Claire, I'd love to go to the next mtm it's infectious, listening to Lee.

[Crusoe]

Cheers all for the information. Hopefully the salary cap comment will put rest to more speculation on new signings.

[maddog]

Good summary Claire, I'd love to go to the next mtm it's infectious, listening to Lee.

 

Hypnotic isn't he?

[palmer1]

I think we are going to see something special this season, like a few of it seems optimism is very high at the moment

 

If the worst happens Saturday though and some of these young lads freeze remember its a marathon not a sprint.

 

Can't bleedin wait!

Edited August 1, 2013 by palmer1

[oafcprozac]

Sorry it took so long, oh ye(s) of little patience.......

 

A summary of today – or at least what I can remember. Apologies if I miss anything out, misunderstand what was being said, or repeat what others have said. I am paraphrasing at times as well. And the points are in no particular order, but I’ve tried to group them into themes to help my memory! I'm pretty sure none of the below is what LJ was not wanting to be put on here - none of it would be useful to the opposition, which is what he was worried about.

 

A hell of a lot was discussed in 2 hours, and I found everyone to be very honest and open. It was a really interesting couple of hours, and very informal and relaxed. Barry and Rick Attwood were there throughout, along with Johnson. Muzza joined midway through, and Simon had to leave to go to another meeting after around an hour (was supposed to be 30 mins). All 3 of the Latics staff seemed to have good relationships.

 

There will be more meetings like this throughout the season, and Johnson is keen to have another one definitely before Christmas. He’s aware that there may be times we’re not winning and vibes aren’t as positive, but insists the meetings will still go ahead, and he’ll continue to be honest in his responses.

 

Re: Eddie – LDJ - He’s part-way there, but is a work in progress. A ‘project’ for ‘all of us’. He’s fast and tall. He might go out on loan, to improve his fitness/game. The Latvian game is very different and he has never properly been coached. He thinks that if he was chucked into the side right now, he’d be overwhelmed by how fast the English game is, as well as by the side of the crowds – he found the pre-season crowds amazing. He also needs to get used to the English culture, although his English is very good. He’s a young lad, has a lot of potential, and he’s glad we’ve given him a chance that he wouldn’t otherwise get, as scouts don’t tend to go to Latvia.

 

Re: Playershare – LDJ - He’s never heard of such an initiative at a club and thinks it’s great thing. As above he thought it was better to sign a player like Eddie with the PS money, who has a lot of potential and we can all see develop, than a loan player. He seemed a bit patchy about how it works to be honest, but I’m sure Rick and Bazza will keep him on track with it. He said in the grand scheme of things, it all goes into the same pot, and you could just as easily say we’re all contributing towards Rooney’s wages.

SC said the money almost doesn’t matter [not in a dismissive way – it’s true] – it’s a drop in the ocean, and the whole playershare pot might not have even covered the relocation fee we’ve paid out for one player this season. He also thinks it’s a good initiative though, as it feels like a sense of ‘we’re all in this together’ – ‘we’re all Latics fans and want the same thing’.

 

Re: the ground redevelopment – SC – bit patchy about whether construction has started yet, but stressed that clearing the old stand away has taken 6/7 weeks and probably cost around £200k already. The total cost of the stand will be around £4m, and he doesn’t totally know where all the money for it is coming from yet. The council aren’t putting in as much as he has read people saying. It will be ready for the start of next season. We have a gym on board so far, but the rest of the units need to be pitched over the next year. They’ve looked at someone running the conferencing facilities for the club, but if needs be the club will run it themselves. This would be costly, as they have been quoted £880k to fit kitchens in there. He just wants the ground to look like a proper football ground again with 4 sides. He said he was still unsure who would own / benefit from the facilities in the new stand [wasn’t totally sure what that means].

 

Re: ownership of the club – SC – people have enquired about the club, but none of them have been viable people with any intentions of putting money into the football side of things. Koucash is a great bloke but Simon thinks if his passion was football, he’d have bought a football club before now. If he’d sold to him, we might not have moved out of Oldham, but would not have been playing at BP. SC said he doesn’t sleep well at all, due to the stress, and would still sell if the right person came along. He’s gone past caring if people think he has an ulterior motive. He feels like he’s done his bit to try to get people in through the gates – offers, freezing ST prices, and thinks the only way to get people through the gates is success. Says you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t regarding whether to sign players on short or long-term contracts.

 

Re: backroom staff – LDJ – now has himself, Muzza (First team coach – who he was wary of at first, as he had a good relationshiop with SC and had been at the club before, but over time realised they worked well together and now have a good relationship – also said Muzza was offered a manager’s(?) job elsewhere over the close-season in a lower division, but decided to stay), Lee Steele (fitness coach - who is the fittest person at the club and leads by example), Bobby Mimms (GK coach - who is better than PG, although at the time he was sad to see PG leave. One of 15 very very good GK coaches in the country) and Tony P (who was brilliant when he joined the club, and is very good for the youth set up). He had a list of 6/7 possible assistants, and offered the job to one, who decided that it was best to stay where he was, and LJ agrees that was actually the best decision for him. He then took stock, and thought about other possibles – they were either young, or established and maybe set on their own ideas of playing. He also mentioned Billy, who works all hours, and ‘sweeps up’ a lot of the stuff LJ has to do – he talked about him needing someone who is computer literate, who pulls together bits of games on film, takes notes to be used when reflecting on the games. There is no scout at the club, so the backroom staff and their friends / family do it. He talked again about the due diligence in looking to bring players in, and thinking very carefully about whether they would fit in with his philosophy / the dressing room. He said each member of the backroom staff has 400-500 games each experience of playing football.

 

Re: the fans – LDJ – fans are entitled to express their opinions, as they have paid their money. He’d prefer it if they could be positive in their expressions during play, and express any negativity at HT and FT. Says it is hard to lift players’ spirits when they get a lot of stick off the fans. Apologised that his players may not have applauded the fans at the end of the match towards the end of the season, as he thinks they should do.

 

Re: being a manager – LDJ – he’s not liking dealing with agents, and messages from them offering him players are coming through all the time and he can’t chase them all up. His phone bill was £4000 recently, although he said (possibly joking) that a lot of that was calling Simon in New York. He also said he feels like he’s gone from the best dad in the world to the worst, and is lucky sometimes if he can get home for 7 to put his daughter to bed, whilst his phone is still ringing, and it’s often 11 at night before he can switch off, and then he’s up again at 5.45 every morning. He said he didn’t have a summer….. but that’s what it is all about, Muzza feels the same, and their families are right behind them. He said it’s nice to be a manager where there’s no selfishness (like competing for places), and he has final say, although he never throws his weight around.

 

Re: the squad – LJ - Rates Mellor and thinks he has played well in pre-season. Feels the defence is strong enough and that we have enough cover. Has identified a player to come in on loan, but can’t guarantee games over the players who have fought hard for their places in pre-season, and is wary of upsetting the perfect balance they have in the dressing room (team spirit, confidence) by bringing somebody new in. Someone still may come in, if something changes at the club he is at, but all parties want him to come here, including his agent. He is embarrassed about how good bench is – him and Muzaa have come up with 12 possible formations this week –but has a good idea now who’s starting at Stevenage. They’ve been doing a lot of research into Stevenage ready for Sat. There are so many choices of how to play, and the system can be adapted via formation, tactics and personnel to adapt to the conditions of the pitch, and the opposition. Does not see Montano as striker but feels that over the close season, something clicked in him and he’s now buying into what LJ is trying to do – LJ not taking the credit for it though. Looked at goals conceded against Hudds – thought Grounds was at fault but when he looked back at the video, it was actually Brown’s man. He gives them :censored: when needed and showing them their worst bits on video to work on so they don’t make the same mistakes over and over – would not be doing anyone any favours. He thinks making subs is vital and will take off whoever is not performing, even Baxter, and change what needs to change. Baxter’s release clause is not good, but that’s what they had to agree to to get him to sign. Dickov would like to sign him. No guarantee made by SC that he would be here / not be here / time-frames, etc [although LJ talked about him in other contexts and being a genius and very much part of his plans, so make of that what you will]. A lot of stuff said about looking after the players, with particular mention for JCH – very psychologically minded, and I was very impressed! Some players are affected by criticism, and some aren’t (e.g., Tarky, who LJ says will play at a higher level). Re: captain, looking like Smith on the pitch, although there are a lot of players who would police the dressing room.

 

Re: Salary Cap – SC – not sure whether playershare is within or outside of this, but we’ll find out when we get audited. Every club gets audited, and we could be fined if we’re over. We are on the cusp, and the Club is in discussion with the FA regarding appearance fees not being included in the cap. We’re not in a position to sign anyone else, as it would put us well over the cap. [i’m assuming a loanee where we pay minimal wages would be ok].

That’s my brain exhausted of memories for now.

 

Just realised that’s not a summary

Nice one Claire, cheers!

 

Right, need sleep…..

Edited August 1, 2013 by oafcprozac

[footy68]

 

Hypnotic isn't he?

Yes, in a non sexual way haha, and I never asked about the shoes.

[Simoncorneyisgod]

just remembered LJ paid for JCH to have 15 x 20 personal training sessions in Leicester over the summer and he is currently only 85% on his peak fitness....never been fit in his life but they have him on all sorts of supplements to bulk up. Eddie is that laid back they have him caffeine to try and perk him up and wont even begin to judge him till xmas at the earliest.