wiseowl

I think the Athleticos massed ranks in the RRE are great (although I do appreciate Fluffy's point that it hasn't influenced home results). Personally think a three quarters empty Chaddy looks (and sounds) absolutely awful and will only dilute the support in other sections of the ground. I too, started my Latics days in the Chaddy (and was there for many years) but I think it's long since had it. Mistake this I think but let's see.

All I would say is; please no knee jerk reactions. Interview people properly and get this right - and Latics will be on an upward trajectory for a good few years.

9 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

The glaring problem that nagged us throughout last season was midfield. He simply hasn't fixed this (I'm still unconvinced the signings brought in are able to take us to the next level) and, as much of a marquee signing Norwood was, a greater error wasn't to bring in a centre midfielder of a similar stature. Wrexham brought in Andy Cannon. Notts County had Matty Palmer. Chesterfield have Liam Manderville and Tom Naylor. We have no-one remotely close to the quality of any of these. This lack of detail, and willingness to persist with the likes of Sheron and Shelton together will most likely become his downfall.

It's all over the pitch where we have issues tbh. We have an ex-England international defender at the helm - and we've just shipped 3 goals (and could have been more). The whole team looks disjointed and bereft of ideas.

12 hours ago, League one forever said:

It was the most honest he’s been, and I actually felt for him- he looked broken. Just needs putting out of his misery now. 

Me too. I`ve been a critic of DU's management from quite early on. I watched the interview twice, the second from the perspective of, "What if that was my dad?". I would give him a big hug at home and advise him to get out of the firing line ASAP as it's clearly not working and will not be good for his health. 

58 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

Long time damage

 

Talk about being over dramatic.

You're a proper wind up merchant, I know, but I`ll give you just an example that could happen. Frank persists with his "stand by my employee" mentality - and little improves. Pay on the day supporters dwindle and we get back to the bad days of season ticket holders plus a few. Hits the club very badly in the pocket. Less money to improve the squad, results remain poor, mid-table mediocrity at best, fans get more toxic etc. We remain in non-league and end up losing money hand over fist - then, who knows what.

When Joe Royle was first appointed, I quote,

"Royle, who has been named as a director just over 40 years after his appointment as Oldham boss, says the immediate aim for the club is to "get out of this division".

It needs to happen and it won't with DU in charge. So, definitely long-term damage could result.

All Latics' fans are sincerely grateful for your takeover of our beloved club; we really are. You and your team of people brought a huge sense of relief and renewed optimism for the future. All in the Boundary Park garden appeared rosy.

Last season, for some fans, doubts crept in with regard to the suitability of, perhaps, your most crucial employee; the first team manager. Results were initially poor and performances likewise. The results eventually picked up but performances were generally mediocre. The upturn in results persuaded most that the manager should be given more time and the attendances at the start of this new season showed that the town's football fans were backing your plan.

With the exception of one game, results and performances this season have been way below anyone's expectations. As football fans, we can see clearly that our present manager is not suitable to take us where we need to be. It's just patently obvious to anyone who knows anything about football. You have previously expressed your admiration of "the Athleticos". Most supporters love them too, their generation helps to ensure the survival of the club long in to the future. They have had nothing to shout/sing about and you are in danger of losing their valued support/vocal backing if things continue as they are.

Now, you have been fortunate, and no doubt worked very hard, to reach a stage in life where finances have been very comfortable for many years. You know that Oldham generally remains a "poor borough" and, believe me, watching Latics (particularly away from BP) puts a considerable dent into most people's disposable income. Fans have a right to express their opinion (if they so wish) when things show no signs of improvement whatsoever; particularly after all you have done to provide the manager with every chance of success. Please don't try and silence, or berate, people who have spent their hard earned money following our team for years.

The simple fact, Frank, is this. Our manager needs to be dispensed with before he does long term damage to the club. There is no doubt, our support will drift away further if you don't. Over 1,000 supporters have already recently stopped attending BP and it will be interesting to see Tuesday's home attendance for the York game. Until recently, a reasonable percentage of fans continued to back your policy of "supporting the manager". The tide has turned; that percentage is now very small and everyone I speak to is asking the same question, "Why are they persisting with this manager?"

It really is starting to baffle a lot of supporters and you are in danger of losing the massive swell of goodwill that you deservedly banked after the takeover. Don't let pride come before a fall, Frank. It's never the wrong time to do the right thing.

4 minutes ago, yarddog73 said:

Only thing certain tonight will be

 

@mcfluff1985

@nzlatic

@deyres42

 

Criticising the fan base and defending the indefensible. 

I would be astonished if anyone still believes that DU should remain as manager. 

He should never manage another game; as someone else has said on another thread, appoint Paul Murray as interim - and see how he does for a while.

Unsworth HAS to go TONIGHT for the sake of the club.

3 minutes ago, Magic Mikey said:

Frank is naive when it comes to football. 

Unsworth isn't good enough and is desperately hanging on as long as he's permitted to. 

Darren Royle has the responsibility to change the situation. Show some balls and do your fucking job Darren. 

100%

He knows nothing about football (or football fans for that matter) and it shows. The people advising him need to hold their hands up to him and admit, "We/I got it wrong, Frank and we need to change manager now before a) the fans desert in droves and b) DU does any further damage to this club."

11 minutes ago, BPAS said:

 

Surely that's also blaming the fans? It's not any fan's fault we've not been very good at football for a while (something we all agree on). The only differing of opinion is whether you think you know Unsworth isn't up to it, or you're happy to place your faith in the people in charge, to know whether Unsworth is up to it or not. For me (Andy), I'll trust the board's opinion over unqualified opinions (including my own) from the terrace.

There are some exceedingly knowledgeable football people, amongst the fans, who regularly attend BP. I sit next to one (he's a very balanced chap) and his opinion is that DU is a poor manager and the key reason for our failings on the pitch. Some of OAFC's board members had zero football knowledge prior to the takeover.

1 hour ago, Lags said:

 

Damn,  if he wasn't a board members friend he'd be Pep Guardiola.

It's just a dig at the board these kind of statements nothing more.  Bring back Al.

No it's not. It's bewilderment at the one particular aspect they have got wrong. I can accept they made a mistake in hiring him. It seems they can't. That's not a good sign.

44 minutes ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Calling it nepotism is just a lazy thing to chuck out there

I didn't mean it to appear lazy. Nepotism is now the only other reason (other than a contractual minimum term clause) that I can think of as to why he's not gone (or at least being questioned from above). When I saw Frank's unwelcome "finger wagging" at the fans/supporters, in the stand, at Gateshead I felt totally deflated. 

1 hour ago, deyres42 said:

Winning 4 out of 10 isn't promotion form so by definition that won't be good enough for anyone to stay in the position.

It's hard work sometimes. I never said that. I was making the point that even a semi- competent manager would get a reasonable tune with the assets at his disposal following the takeover. A good manager would have us promoted this season - no doubt.

2 hours ago, deyres42 said:

So if the next guy comes in and only wins 1 out of 10 he has to go as well and the revolving door starts again?

16 minutes ago, Lee Sinnott said:

Correct. And we keep revolving until we get a manager who wins games of football. Really is that simple...

3 minutes ago, latics22 said:

Yes 

The will if they show steady improvement, some form of plan and we look like we’re actually having a go. But win 1 in 10 there gone!

Agree with Lee and latics - any even half-competent football manager should be capable of winning at least 4 or 5 out of every 10 games, with the squad and set-up around him, in this awful non-league. We chose to employ a board member's close friend as manager; simple as that. Nepotism is costing us dearly.

Lots out there - and even on here - who would do better than our current manager.

2 minutes ago, GlossopLatic said:

 

Anything other than Unsworth out is that all people ever talk about these days. It's putting me off the whole board.

I agree with your sentiment. It does, however, illustrate the level of discontent regarding the manager when that is virtually all we can talk about. We`ve had the euphoria of a takeover, a disappointing season last time (which we all came to accept - even me eventually) and then the build-up and investment over the summer with great expectations for distinct improvement on the pitch this season.

The absolute flop it has been so far has resulted in virtually all the focus being pointed towards the glaringly obvious weak link in a supposed strong chain. Rightly so - who wants a great set-up behind the scenes when the football is dire?.

22 hours ago, basilrobbie said:

 

(1) Gates, budgets and wages don't win football matches. Players do. Well motivated, well coached players.

 

With regard to us, the bit in bold is exactly what we haven't got - because the manager is clueless. Almost everyone can see it - apart from a very small minority of fans now - and the whole of the executive/owner/board apparently.

Just read the latest OT piece too. Just more bullshit cliches.

However, it's pretty obvious our incompetent manager is going nowhere and I am now seriously beginning to question the competence of those above. I keep hearing how everything else is being run great (i.e. behind the scenes etc.). How come it's so shit on the pitch then? Why no improvement whatsoever after a year of "the plan"? What does that tell you? What do you do to resolve it? What ARE you going to do to resolve it - and when? How long do you plan for us to be a non-league club? What is the "plan" DU refers to?

The only conclusion I can reach is that there is something written into his contract (e.g. a minimum length of tenure) because he seems to be immune from any criticism whatsoever from above. It is baffling.

7 hours ago, BP1960 said:

 

I'm wise enough to retire from OWTB.

Bye.

BP - just learn not to rise to the bait. Fluffy's been at it a long time.

Also, don't take it personal - the "social media" world is a strange place, full of very strange people - not often you get well-balanced, nice people like me. Please stay 

On 9/12/2023 at 6:36 PM, Shrek said:

There is genuine bemusement from senior staff and directors at the fans views. 

Lol - honestly? What's their view on the 1,000 plus that have already voted with their feet?

To be honest, if I were in charge, DU would not have one more penny to "invest". I`d be saying, "Right, we've honoured our side of the bargain; you've had our full support regarding signings/investment. Now please show us that you are capable of managing the squad you have put together. Please give us the winning machine and exciting flowing football you said your teams would produce."

9 hours ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

 

c) Is that how we're going to be run from now on? two straight defeats and we have to sack the manager because 500 drift off?
 

Has anyone said that?

By the way, it's more than double the figure you have quoted that have already "drifted off" so early in the season. That's alarming in itself. It's certainly not based on a couple of matches either. We've had a year of pretty much dross and not seen one iota of improvement from DU teams.

In any other business, if your paying customers were witholding their money in such numbers, so quickly, you'd be getting to the root cause sharpish. Fans have largely stuck by us because they really appreciate what FR et al have done. The goodwill obviously only lasts so long, though. IF there were ANY signs whatsoever that DU was taking us in the right direction, I reckon the majority would "stay for the ride" despite his predictable mind-numbingly boring football.

There are no signs of improvement and he needs to go. If you can't see that well, "Frankly....

1 minute ago, Dave_Og said:

We were never 10/3, shortest price I saw was 7/1

https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/sport/23653035.betvictor-names-oldham-athletic-among-promotion-favourites/

You are thinking of title there, Dave - 10/3 for promotion 

10 minutes ago, League one forever said:

I know what you mean, but it’s not as generic as that. 
 

In your example- There was fans in league two who thought we should still finish top 6 with no investment and literally one striker because ‘we’re massive in this league.’ That’s entitled- I agree. 
 

Now- we have been taken over, had millions of investment on and off the pitch, pay big wages, have a gate in the top two, and a squad of enough quality players to compete. There is no way it’s entitled to think that with the above in place you have a very good chance to do well. 
 

In our current circumstances we should expect/want/hope to be top 3. No question. 

Spot on. In fact, the bookies expected us to be top two. A fully justified expectation based on the stability, pre-season spending, all round club investment and the positive vibes emanating from BP.  

5 hours ago, yarddog73 said:

...looking at home crowds minus away followings this season they are following a worrying trend;

 

Aldershot 7342

Halifax 7186

Solihull 6690

Dorking 6219

 

Saturday was a glorious day with no local matches higher up the pyramid due to the International break so we probably attracted a few floating fans through the gate on that number. 

 

It's a fucking mess and needs sorting sharpish before the crowds drop to around 5000 that in my opinion would be negligent on the boards/owners part.

I suspect the home game a week tomorrow (York) may well see our first sub 6,000 attendance this season (particularly if it's a bad result this weekend). FR and family know little about football. One thing we all know as Latics fans is that it takes a long time to win back those "lost" floating supporters. Crowds were undoubtedly swelled by the huge optimism generally, following the takeover. The honeymoon period has now come to an end and people are starting to vote with their feet regarding the (generally) boring mediocrity served up by typical DU teams. 

Something is not right because many balanced people can see that it is very largely DU's management that is hindering our progress. Remember all the giddiness on here about our odds with the bookies as 2nd favourites for promotion before the season began?. We were 10/3, just behind Chesterfield, with the next nearest club being 10/1. The bookies couldn't be wrong could they? They clearly didn't factor in the DU effect!

So, perhaps there is something contractual that he has until the end of this season to "prove himself" (however that may be). If so (i.e. something written into contract) then FR et al will have been naive beyond belief. Surely not? Who knows?

I am at a loss now with regard to what is going on but I cannot see how anyone can still support DU after his poor year at the helm. Yarddog is quite correct that home attendance will dwindle significantly if this continues and that would be so very sad all round.

4 hours ago, nzlatic said:

Just on the nepotism thing, is it fact that DR and DU are long standing friends? Or is that something that’s been assumed by some? It gets brought up a lot but I genuinely don’t know. 

No idea about DR and DU but I am reliably informed that Joe R and DU are very good friends. As a pair, they once even took charge of the Everton first team together. 

A rhetorical question surely?

If Unsworth doesn't go, then you seriously have to question FR and the whole board. I keep reading "he's a successful business man, you know." Maybe, but by heck if he can't see that he's appointed a failure in DU, then he's going to throw £millions down the drain. That would be very sad. The support of the town is there, Frank, but we can't stomach any more of a manager clearly way, way out of his depth.

Get rid - now.