Bluemood

Met Josh Stones last week , said he won’t play again this season

Think some latics fans are still living in the dream were a league side. We played a team last night that not only got to the playoffs last season but have been in the top 3 all this . we restricted them to very few chances and created 3-4 excellent chances ourselves especially in the first 15 mins. Yes the 2nd half was a bit turgid but although they stepped up a little Hudson had little to do. Yeah you can argue poor finishing but so was ours in 1st half . MM has made it clear that he doesn’t have a particular style of play but plays a style to suit the players he has and to try & win the game . This season after the DU spell we would all have taken a play off spot so who cares how it’s achieved. If we don’t go up this season I’m sure that MM will sort out what he needs in the summer. Time to stop moaning and start supporting.

Yeah exactly my opinion , very weak in the tackle and lost several that he should have won. Gets in some good positions but doesn’t know what to do with it when he gets the ball. Lot to prove for me.

Interestingly a top ref from today’s premier league was asked to watch it in full to see how many cards he would have given out , 11 reds and virtually every player would have got a yellow. On the day I think only 1 or 2 yellows were given - how times have changed.

The players we have particularly in midfield are just not good enough for this league . Also we don’t have any basis of a formation we are looking to build towards. Our line ups change every week I guess as the manager is desperately looking for a system that works. Thankfully we have defenders that can do a job in this league and forwards that can find the net given the opportunities . All our weakness stem from midfield. The only way we will get into the play offs is to grind out results like last night . Not pretty but it’s our only strength we have at the moment. IF we’re still in this league next season then all our budget must go into securing 3-4 decent midfielders that can galvanise this team into a top challenger.

Just hope we finish 6th or 7th at least that way we don’t get a home game.

Yeah and that’s how we lose possession so often , by the time they control it the defender is on them , so frustrating when it should be easily fixed.

Throw ins are an area I’ve long advocated that we need to practise on. Our ball retention on throws is extremely poor , lack of movement & options. Also something simple is how we throw it as well . Most teams throw it to feet so they can control it easier, we throw it so it bounces a yard in front of the player or at his chest who then struggles to control it . It might sound trivial or pedantic but we rarely retain possession then we’re under pressure.

Every time we play well it’s always because Sheron & Lundstrum are playing higher up the pitch , can’t we start like that !!!!!!

That’s why we needed 5 CH’s , to hold on

City haven’t won for 4 games and they think they’re in a mini crisis

I’ve a feeling Kitchin may be suspended on Sat for 5th booking last night !! Think 1 or 2 others maybe walking a tight line , Norwood for one.

Think it’s the first time I’ve seen him smile after scoring , he must be enjoying it

We’ve had the same problem for the last few years now , most of our defensive & attacking problems stem from a poor midfield. Nobody to protect the defence and not one midfielder who can pass forward & create chances . Hogan , Hobson & Kitchin are more than good enough for this league . Norwood , Nutall & Reid good enough for this league , what’s missing !!!!!!!!!

Some fans ( loosely said ) were a disgrace today & it seems that a certain number were obviously only there for trouble. Think both teams & the police need to learn because these were scenes from the 70/80s that we don’t want returning . 1 - Latics were responsible for part for selling tickets on open sale from the start , crazy. 2 - Dale for putting 4 stewards in front of the stand with over 3000 fans in it - really !!!!!! Latics had more in Chaddy end watching home fans last week. 3 - Police , didn’t appear on site until there was trouble - far too late. Also they should have kept us in for 15 mins at the end . They allowed all the Latics fans to walk down past the Dale fans exiting at the same time then wonder why it all kicks off. Having said that , we must try and identify these idiots who call themselves fans and get them barred. They are just giving the majority of true Latics fans and the club a bad reputation.