Andy Barlow’s dietician

Yes, I agree. Scrape a few wins and we might make 7th, but this lot aren’t going to start miraculously performing in the play off games. Im probably ready to be put out of my misery. Get beat today and then I won’t need to be let down anymore this season. Maybe then we can have a look at a couple of the youth and those hopeless, experienced, highly paid ‘professionals’ can start thinking about their holidays followed by some contract termination negotiations.

Biggest wage bill largest playing squad 2nd best squad measured by experience and EFL pedigree 18 months of investment and effort in the football enviornment by a committed board and a magnificent family ownership Two highly paid managers recruited, both backed to the hilt to have whichever players they wanted the best and most high profile centre forward in the division Based on all recent experience today is the day when all the above is finally chucked in the bin (for this season at least). A footballing lesson awaits from a team with a playing staff earning about a quarter of ours played on a ploughed field surrounded by some cowsheds with a fan base of a couple of thousand, oh and it’s live on TV, so lots more people get to witness it. The utter shitshow of the last few weeks all stemmed from that disgusting display v Kidderminster. Teams with anything about them do not lose on days like those, it does not happen. Our lot simply did not have it in them to win that day, and in doing so, as a collective (management included) showed to us what they were all about. of course the squad is imbalanced, but the 11 he puts out each week (even with Macgahey at right back and four centre mids) should have enough about them to win when it matters and get the points needed (from where we had ourselves pre Kiddy) to finish up about 5th. The gaps in the squad is just an excuse and covers up for some clearly deep seated problems within the playing squad and/or the relationship with the coaching team. I don’t know what they are, but it’s baffling that 15 or so highly experienced players and a manager of the experience and intellect of Mellon has not been able to fix it. They have been together for months now, and cannot blame any external factors for their failure. That group, have royally fucked things up, and I hope in time we find out what has happened to cause this, because to me it is a mystery. Play ugly but win was clearly the game plan, and with the tools available there is nothing wrong with that plan. Why has it not happened?

Just 2 points in our previous 3 home fixtures and then downing tools at Aldershot has taken us from a position where a home play off game was a real possibility to now playing catch up for 7th place. it is probably systematic of this group of players that at the point when performances needed to step up (both because we are into the final part of the season and because we had a tricky run of games) they chose to ease up. it has felt all season that the squad cannot really be trusted and for all the league table progression since Unsy got chopped there has always been a ‘could do better’ tag to a group of players that has the second best pedigree in the division. it’s not just a groups of faded has been either, many of these were regular L1 and L2 players over that last couple of seasons, and individually most of them should still be playing at that level. Collectively though they have no way reached the levels they should have done. The only mitigation is a lack of balance in the squad (ie pace and wide players) and a manager who increasingly refuses to release the shackles. This though is not enough to excuse the players. With the qualities we have we should have found a way to perform better, especially at home where we are a good 10 points light. I don’t think there is that much love between the players and the fans either, and this is also a big issue. We tend not to trust them to pull out the stops when it is needed most and they probably sense that the fans are not really with them (btw the fans remain incredibly supportive of the club, I just don’t think we particularly like this group of players). so what should have been a free hit tomorrow now becomes a must win. In all probability though Chesterfield will have an armchair ride and stroll to a 2-0 win. The moons really will need to align for us to get 3 points tomorrow, and I just can’t see it happening. Then what? Well then we are playing catch up and would need at least 4 wins, possibly 5 from the last seven to make it. Being honest, I don’t think this group of players has the will to muscle 5 wins from 7, and even if we got lucky and scraped in with 12 points from the last 7 games do you really see this lot going to Gateshead then Bromley and winning them both?

I have no clue what Willoughby’s role in this team is supposed to be. It would help if he could reinvent himself as a wide player who takes on full backs and crosses the ball

The other point I was going to make is that I am struggling to figure out who is the best option to play alongside him? Nuttall should be the best choice, but he appears low on confidence and is strangely unwilling to get into a physical battle with the centre half. That puts Fondop into the frame, but Mike often struggles when starting games and as well as being a liability at times he is a limited footballer and so may struggle to get onto Norwood’s wavelength. Maybe Reid is due a few games to see how that works out; this may be more successful at home than away?

Yes, I saw it that way too. He just took a touch and the sight of goal then became blocked so he looked for Nutall. I did expect him to score, but it was a little bit of quality that created the chance to begin with. He is miles ahead of any of the other forwards so we have to set the team up to play to his strengths. That means getting it into his feet for the flicks and the one twos rather than lump it up there and expect him to win headers and chase lost causes. He simply is not that type of player and hopefully MM knows this. He plays on the shoulder of the centre half and will score plenty of goals if Gardener can stay fit.

This is a fair assessment. Overall it was just flat and disappointing. Newport didn’t look much of a team and didn’t really threaten us, although McLaughlin took both of his goals well. The early sub was a good decision from MM and we were better thereafter, until they got the 2nd goal. What we seem to lack is composure and decision making when in possession, and players who can carry the ball. In that respect I was disappointed in both Lundstram and Freeman, the former never looked to make an incisive pass and seemed hurried and uncomfortable on the ball and the latter never wanted to carry the ball. Instead he played long and didn’t seem to get high enough up the pitch to help Hope. I mention those two because I hadn’t seen either previously and hoped they may add a bit of quality in possession. Yesterday they did not. That better calibre and choice of pass is what we need to get us into better positions on the pitch, which in turn will improve Norwood. We have to get the ball to his feet, or allow him to play on the shoulder of the centre half, and get in behind (that great chance in the 2nd half illustrates this, the ball went into the pocket behind the defender, he got there first and we were in). Our current style is to try and hit him long or simply ignore him short in preference for a pass to the centre half or a misplaced ‘switch’ wide. In Norwood and Hobson we have two players of real quality, but I am not sure we have anyone else who would be a regular in a top of the table side. The squad is OK but lacks wide options and midfield creativity, this is something we have all known since the start of the season. Gardener would solve the creativity problem, but sadly can’t be relied upon (even in ten minutes yesterday the difference he brings to the team could be seen - he carried the ball and passed it forwards), only Green offers pace and width, but I am not convinced at all by him. I think the squad is top half, but miles away from top 5 levels, and it will take some good fortune with injuries and a couple for players to hit unexpected levels of performance (hot goal streak from Reid or something like that) for us to scrape into the playoffs. The manager’s hands are probably tied with recruitment as there is a sense that players have contracts that don’t give them much of an incentive to leave (thinking Tollit, Shelton, Nutall, Dickinson, Fondop etc). It’s not really possible therefore to just ship 5 out and bring 3 quality players in. So aside maybe from a loan or two we are stuck with this lot for the season (cheers Dave). MM has therefore got a tough job to win over an (understandably) impatient and frustrated fan base.

Undoubtedly the squad is collectively not good enough and there are clearly some players who should not be getting anywhere near the 11. However, I do think more could be achieved if we accepted what we have and keep it simple so our mostly limited players are not over exposed to their weaknesses. for a start, it is so clear that Clarke and Anglo are not wing backs. Clarke gets plenty of criticism, but if he was just left to do the job he is best at (ie full back in a back four) he would likely improve. The same too for Angol. that then means it’s four at the back, so pick your two best centre halves. We’ve got loads to choose from! then a solid midfield two who stay close together, get up and down the pitch and play as a partnership. From what I saw today, Sheron and Cooper would do a job, it’s not a dynamic midfield that will drive us into the play offs, but my God we look so exposed in that area and it needs sorting out. then you can play two ‘creative’ wider midfield players, both of who, still need to support their full backs (eg no Bahamboula type performances allowed) and hold the shape when we don’t have the ball. Tollit is clearly one of those players, take your pick on the other. Then it’s two up top. Abraham played well today, and he put in a proper shift. Him and Fondop could do a job, and there is still the Bolton lad and perhaps Hope is a week or two away. after that revolting cameo from Rooney today (completely responsible for their second goal), I don’t see where he fits in. If he doesn’t work (or isn’t fit yet) then he doesn’t get in, however lofty his reputation. we need legs, desire, organisation, simplicity and a bit of skill. We’ve got enough OK players to get out of the shit and bumble around in 15th, but if we can’t sort out the basics and continue to play like we did today then we are going to get sucked right into the relegation mix.

It’s going to be a long winter

Why can’t Unsworth see this? Threkeld having a shocker. He’s clearly not a midfield player anyway so we effectively have four centre half’s and two defensive full backs on the pitch. no wonder we are so lacking in midfield. Cooper doing about as well as could be expected. has to take of threlkeld, bring Carter on and put Heron in midfield. Roll it and Abraham wide. Four, four fucking two!!

I have almost got to the end of this episode. Thanks to Matt for all the brilliant work he does in bringing the podcast to us each week. It’s always entertaining, relevant and interesting and goes right to the heart of what it means to support Latics. The guests are always interesting to listen to and speak as fans but as realists too, always with a sense of perspective and without taking their support of the team too seriously. Please keep going for as long as you feel able to Matt. I can’t wait for the episode with Barry Mo and Marco when they explain why they reported Blitz to the police As for this episode. Well, overall I would say the club has a good CEO in Karl Evans. The way he speaks, the experience he has, he is knowledgeable, well informed and clearly has a professional motivation to succeed. These are excellent characteristics for someone to lead our club and help it to improve financially over time. it seems too, from what Karl says, that Al has perhaps settled down, relies on him, and is now prepared to act in a more non exec capacity. This should help with stability, so long as Al is there to critique and support (with his wallet and his network) Karl to deliver the non-football big tasks (eg North Stand and ground acquisition) that are the objectives for this ownership. The problems though are clearly on field. Karl, despite his insistence that he is not involved in football matters is being drawn into issues and decisions in this regard. For instance he talked about how he discusses football matters with HK (the underperforming top 10 squad stuff was delusional), and all that absolute nonsense he waffled on about DW. I do not buy this he’s not fit enough story line and neither does Mrs Wheater judging by her recent post on Twitter. He is 33, has played 300+ times at a far higher level than league 2 and is miles better than any other defender at the club. He would have been fit enough to play weeks ago, and even half fit and only good enough to last an hour would still walk into that team every week. Maybe HK doesn’t fancy him, but I doubt it. It stinks of Mo and or AL seeking revenge for having been wronged over a contract dispute 8 months ago. The fact that KE then has to spin this whole story just underlines the sub-culture in the playing side of the club. KE also mentioned about Mo being at training etc, and I think that was a slip up on his part. It is inconceivable that HK with his decorated career as a very top pro, and seeking to put into action everything he’s learned from Benitez Wilkinson, Houllier (maybe?) etc and from playing with other top players would ever give even the time of day to some bloke who used to have a kick about in Morocco and happens to know how to dish out a few back handers to get sub standard players contracts in the lower French leagues. It is absolutely farcical to think that would ever work. Is it just a coincidence that form has dipped now that Mo is back, and now we hear that Danny Rowe is down the road due to a bust up? Mo is the problem, Mo is the common thread. Maybe KE has been able to keep him out of the back office, and will improve things considerably with Mo out of the way, but he can’t keep Mo off the training ground or out of the changing room, and the team cannot thrive whilst an imbecile interferes. We know that Al won’t remove him, so we go round in circles. HK walking, or being sacked being a more likely next step than us making 3 strong additions (4 now we have to replace Rowe) and sneaking into the playoffs with 71 points. That was my take from listening to Karl. I wish him luck and I’m glad he works for us, but he won’t stick around if the team does not improve as he won’t be able to attract sponsors and grow matchday revenue when the team loses 12 home games a season and finishes 18th in league 2.