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After last season's inept displays especially upfront, in where if we conceded 1st the best we could hope for was a draw as there was no way we were scoring twice. LJ has had to blow pretty much the entire budget on changing our forwards and midfield. He probably thinks Tarky is good enough for league 1 and likes Mellor as a ball playing centre back, in which given a run in that position may improve his positional sense and awareness. I'm just hoping for mid table and entertaining football which might just entice some stayaways back.

I reckon we're gonna be in for a good season. I'm not talking about promotion, but I honestly think we won't be in a relegation dog fight, which is a refreshing change for me as usually I'm pessimistic before the start of a new season. I look at our attack and I don't see many better in our division. We have guile, pace, and strength. Our midfield is fairly solid with enough creativity and pace to cause teams problems. Our weakness is our defence but I'd imagine a few teams have similar problems and even if we don't add to the defence I don't think it's by far the worst in the division. On top of that we have a manager who seems to have a set way of playing and has bought players who will fit into the system, he also seems to have a plan a, b, c and so on. My only really worry is we have a really young squad and if we suffer a bad run of results it can often affect youngsters more than more experienced players.

I think we've a good chance to finish above them, if we can get a decent centre back on loan then I'd expect us too.

I couldn't make the game due to work, so who were our stand out performers I presume Montano was one. Were we good value for the win etc.

Don't think we have the budget for an experienced centre back, getting a young inexperienced defender from a premier league club is probably our only option. Just got to hope we find a gem.

I think LJ is the start of a new breed of English managers. Gone are the days of 4 4 ffing 2 and get rid of the ball ASAP. From what I see are young footballers comfortable on the ball who want to play the right way. I'd say they're a few teams far stronger than us in this league, but with the manager factor alongside the surprise factor, considering many are tipping us for relegation I reckon we might surprise a few and sneak top 10, maybe an outside bet for play offs. Dickov might have been a young manager as well but he was far from revolutionary. Reading the Accrington Stanley forum was a good insight as it seemed they too were mightly impressed with what they saw from our young team. My only concern is the defence and Mellor playing centre back but I see what LJ is doing there trying to get a ball playing centre back, if they can work on Mellor's positioning then we may just get away with it.

He's gonna have to, especially when he's chasing a ball played over the top.

As much as I like Byrne it's pretty clear that LJ wants to play a high defensive line. Yesterday we got caught a few times with balls over the top. Central defenders with pace is a must. Byrne doesn't fit into that category. Let him go back to Scunthorpe and use his wages on a more mobile defender.

Smith was very good, Baxter had a good game and I like the look of Sid. The defence though seems a major concern I reckon any decent team would have a field day against us.

Playing pretty well, concerned at Mellor as centre back, twice he's had to dig himself out of a hole from his own mistakes.

I wonder if it would be possible to make it where supporters have an option to contribute when they buy a season ticket or pay on the gate. Last year I took the kids to Chester zoo and you had basically two entrance ticket prices, one which included a donation to some wildlife charity and one without. We could do something similar like an option to pay £20 more when you purchase a season ticket with the money going to playershare and an extra £2 donation when paying on the gate. Not every fan would contribute but I reckon you would get a significant amount that would.

Brian killer kilcline I always found watching him trying to play football entertaining.

Didn't our very own Dayton spend some time at the soccer school. Sure I read it somewhere

I'd imagine buying a football club is somewhat different to most people's everyday purchases. So discussions between MK and SC were held a few weeks ago. That Fir me doesn't mean it's no longer going to happen. I'd imagine before committing to any purchase of this magnitude you might wanna have a good think about it considering it's likely to cost you millions in the long run. There is every possibility he's taken the time since the meeting to do his homework and to see if buying OAFC is a viable purchase and if he's likely to see a return on his investment. Just my thoughts as I'm not really in the position to buy football clubs.

Yeah I guess your right, but after hearing LJ speak and witnessing our end of season resurgence I've never felt as optimistic about a manager since Dowie was in charge.

Just checked on the topic in question and yeah you did think Brown wouldn't be a bad move, I said I'd have more faith with you in charge and you asked if I'd accept a Stallone/Brown partnership. I'd do a copy and paste but I'm on the phone so can't do it or don't know how to. Well it's all worked out pretty good in the end and I doubt any of us would have been happy had LJ's name been linked with the job before he actually got it. Yet that's turned out pretty good.

For me it was a toss up between Pointon and Barlow, but Pointon just edges it.

Although I do remember you suggested at the time that you thought it wouldn't be a bad appointment, and I replied to you by saying I'd have more faith if your good self was put in charge.

Well at least they had the 'new manager honeymoon period of better results'. What was it 1 win in 8. Thank god we didn't employ him we'd have been certainties for relegation.

I reckon even if season tickets were £100, you'd not get 5000 supporters taking up the offer. You'd just end up with an even worse budget and relegation. The price for me seems reasonable, unfortunately I work Saturdays so only attend midweek fixtures so I won't be getting one. I don't compare watching latics to other forms of entertainment though and the prices they charge, firstly its very rare you get entertainment, secondly latics is about love for the club so if by keeping the prices the same allows them to compete at this level then I'm all for it.

No of course not, but it shows if anything never ever rely on other teams dropping points regardless of who they're playing.

Seemed many on here didn't think Scunthorpe had a chance of winning their last two remaining games. Good job we didn't have to rely on it.

I think there is very little difference between the teams in league 1, I don't think teams such as Yeovil have a better squad then ourselves. Seems to be fine margins between success and failure. If you have a manager that does their homework sets the team up right, gets the players believing in themselves and manages to build up a head of steam, where winning breeds confidence, then anything is possible. I wouldn't be at all surprised if latics are pushing at the top end of the table next year, and teams such as Tranmere get dragged into a relegation dog fight.

I wouldn't want a merger to happen, but if it did I'd probably support them at the start and see how things go. I have no affection for any other club, so can't see myself choosing another team. I enjoy live football though so for me it would have to be the new club. Like I said though I wouldn't want it to happen.

You could be right, but like I said I'm more than happy enough for LJ to decide what changes are needed. Like I said in my OP in this league it seems the manager is the crucial factor between success and failure. I don't think for one minute the players enjoyed losing, but poor management and low confidence resulted in a relegation battle. I would imagine many Bournemouth fans would have been happy to see the back of many of their players before Howe returned, now they'll regard them as world beaters.