Dickie Down

A very good, long and detailed article about Southend in today's Guardian.

The only time I've ended up wanting Latics to lose a game.

Barry Hartle.

Jack Rowley got around 16 months. When Jimmy McIlroy was manager the chant was ' Sack Mac , bring back Jack!' So we did The chant was subsequently reversed.

Might be some interesting pickings from Hartlepool.

You wouldn't sign Hart from Sutton. Third relegation from League 2 in five years.

Slow, overweight, one footed, can't tackle or head the ball.... but the best footballer in the division. A modern John Robertson.

Hogan seems a very flawed leader with his favourites, who he doesn't challenge eg Kitching, Norwood. His treatment of Sutton , who we know struggles, is very poor. Aggressively bawling him out repeatedly is something other than leadership. He confronts the refs and pushes them into a corner rather than working to get them to give us a hearing. He has one clear error a game in him at least eg he started the rot against Fylde at home. He also has a vested interest in staying at this level as it is the best he's going to get. Given the options locally, I fear we are stuck with him.

It was Freeman's last game.

He was . Then again, Rochdale hardly tried to cross the halfway line.

Cian Hayes. Played very well in the Spotland game.

It may be he would take less at Cheltenham for a longer contract than he has with us.

Fondop renegotiated in autumn 2022 after a burst of form and will be on much more than £800. Both Tollit and Norman did so at a similar time.

I think Fondop will get a deal somewhere else. The only one I might have re employed, but happy for him to go.

The font used for ' Retained List' was different to the one the club uses. Amusing, though.

I think it was a hoax.

I remember the clang of John Platt's head on the goalpost when John King barged him into it. Awful foul.

A good question. I presume we'd get something. Probably have to offer him a contract which he then rejects and go from there.

I'm thinking they might have a deal to a big club lined up for Atherton and don't want him injured. Or perhaps his agent has? Just a hunch based on no information.

A cameo from the Joe Royle stand yesterday during the second half. Harrison McGahey miscontrolled a ball that went for a throw. A middle aged man a few rows in front sitting with what appeared to be a family group got from his seat and abused McGahey for around 10 seconds, concluding with ' Fuck off out of our club.' There was pretty much an embarrassed silence until Mike Fondop, who was nearby, came across and gestured directly for the man to calm down. This brought a muted round of applause.

The win at Rochdale very much epitomised the strengths and weaknesses of the side. Once the goals dried up, we were left with only the weaknesses.

Finished above Rochdale. Heady times.

I've already had my ' I saw us lose at home to Hendon badge' designed.

Windass's dad voting now apparently.

An interesting selection from one person to retain Windass. None I'd keep.