Guy Branston Pickle

Something else happened at Stockport too which improved their form.

The abuse directed towards Nuttall is a disgrace by the way. He was one of the only players that looked like a footballer yesterday yet he still gets stick. Wouldn't blame him for leaving, a lot of fans have made their minds up about him.

Next Saturday already feels like a massive game. I know it's a long season, but there's been a lot of investment this summer and expectations have rightly been raised. If results don't come it'll get toxic quickly.

You said no one agreed with you. Which is absolute bollocks.

Anyone watching that game yesterday could see we needed someone with composure and who could pass a ball our midfield, except our coaching staff. I can't believe they didn't bring Gardner on. He isn't a world beater but he can control and pass a ball which is more than the other two can. If he wasn't fit why was he there?

Imagine doing all that positive business to bring in some really good attacking players... then starting first game of the season with 5 defenders (including a centre half at wingback) and two (shit) defensive midfielders Fuck off. I was prepared to give him time but I traveled a long way to watch one of the most pathetic, cowardly, incompetent displays I've ever seen in 27 years watching Latics. He's never gonna change, it's all about not losing instead of winning. I feel sorry for Norwood tbh. If we don't win on Saturday fire Unsworth into the fucking sun Excuse my language

Don't think I saw a single person praise Shelton last season. All the Latics fans I know and every post on here was rightly saying he's bang average at very best. Not sure where you've been seeing people praise him...

I'm so fucking angry about that today that I'll have to take a breather and respond properly tomorrow. Would happily see Unsworth walk for that today. Pathetic doesn't come close to summing it up, one of the all time worst performances.

I thought that was a pretty reasonable post?

I don't actually think that defence was that bad. Well, Pidge and Clark anyway. Look at their careers since. It was the total lack of midfield that did us that season. Some of the away performances particularly were brilliant though, so fun to watch. Shame he couldn't sort out the home form Anyway, enough nostalgia. We're going up!

Not in the league. McAleny got 20 odd in the Kewell season I think?

Ridiculous signing. Could genuinely be the difference between playoffs and automatic promotion. What a day BRING ON SATURDAY

Nah, Norwood has sleeve tattoos on both sides

Someone called Foster, they've got the banner above ready

He scored 12 goals two leagues above last season and fans of a League One playoff club want to keep him. Of course it would be a coup

Surely Norwood isn't signing. It can't be true

Midfield always worries me, it's been our achilles heel probably since we sold Korey Smith. Just constantly weak there with no creativity. Sounds like Lundstram gives us the creativity, and Sheron gives us physicality. But the thought of us starting the season with a Sheron-Shelton midfield doesn't fill me with hope. I don't know much about Ward tbf. I still think with the players we've got 3-5-2 is the shape to use. We've got 3 excellent centre halves and it allows us an extra man in midfield. Ward out on the left just feels like a square peg that we've seen so many times down the years

Horrendous that. Won't just affect him but his teammates too. Absolute wankers, disgraceful.

Would especially good in a 3-5-2 (have they played this in pre-season or have I dreamt it?)

Can't believe Nuttall only scored one, get him out ffs

Only 8 players in the entire division scored more than him last season...

Champions by March.

I agree with you, the way he occupies centre halves is really good. Because it isn't Paul Warne style pressing though it goes unnoticed a lot of the time.

If we're using this logic, when Nuttall came into the team last season we went from being relegation candidates to 3rd in the form table...

Where should we be looking? Where are we finding someone who can score more than 16 goals in this division (in two ordinary/crap teams btw)? Considering we already have a couple who potentially could anyway. And penalties are still a goal. You can't just pretend they're not to suit your agenda. Having someone who can consistently score penalties is a bonus.