spanishfly

There'll be quite a few surprises before the start of the season. The whole spine of the team needs solidifying and I`ll be very surprised (and bemused) if Conlon gets the captaincy, as someone has intimated on here. Norwood won't be in the plans for next season. Midfield needs a complete overhaul and defence coming under scrutiny too. Enjoy the summer everyone, I`m dipping out now and just going to observe how it all pans out.

I`ll agree with that nz. When I first joined here, you almost had me convinced we were like Brazil away from home, whilst I was witnessing Breeze Hill at home games. The Breeze Hill side of us eventually won through

Interesting that you put Big Joe relatively high at number 6. It has been intimated to me that Joe has far more influence within the club than people might realise.

Isn't the consensus though that MM doesn't like/trust younger players BP? People have often said he goes for older, experienced heads first and foremost. I`m in your camp, though. We definitely need some energy, pace and excitement adding to the squad. Oh, and some quality wouldn't go amiss.

Hi Mark, my "I heard similar..." comment was in regard to having been told a couple of weeks back that the board were going to back MM and a clearout had been sanctioned in the summer "by hook or by crook". I`ve heard nothing in particular regarding Norwood and Conlon but I think it's quite clear neither wants to be here in any event.

Probably not BP but if you wanted a change of manager, an absolute proven leader with the heart of a lion, you'd be as well gambling on someone like Peter Clarke. Chris Lucketti said of him "I know all about him, he's a real man, he's a leader" Wouldn't be a player/manager at his age I know but what a leader.

The plan has effectively gone out of the window as we had planned to be promoted by now is what I am told. You'd have to say that something has to change internally, though because recruitment has been dire. I don't know who does what but perhaps the "4 eyes" rule will be brought in before sanctioning any more silly wages for this level. Like I said, Latics appear to have been well shafted here.

Personally I think wasted. Better players available throughout non-league than what we have. Probably for far less money too. It sounds like "spend spend Viv" had a stint at BP for a few months previously!

Don't think either want to be here, so no bad thing if that's correct.

Yes I heard similar a few weeks back and posted same on here. It can only be back him or sack him after what's come out of the woodwork.

He's spot on. Midfield needs at least 2 quality additions. Our weakest area. A winger or two, a right back and left footed central defender and we wouldn't actually be too far away.

From what I can glean Frank should be viewed more as a philanthropist for the Latics and the town of Oldham rather than someone out to make money. We have an awful lot to thank him for and he should be the last person to come under scrutiny in my view. It may be however that he has to take a long, hard look at who he is entrusting the football decisions to. If the wages being paid to some of the players are anywhere near as rumoured, that's almost criminal. That's where the focus should be. Who has sanctioned the wasting of Frank's money?

Having listened to MM's post match there are only 2 possible conclusions I think 1) The board back him and sanction a clearout a) all those out of contract gone and b) some bad apples who are contracted paid off and gone too. Then, in the summer, recruit some specialists as MM calls them for the required positions. This option is expensive 2) There is a mutually agreed parting of the ways. This option is cheaper, certainly short term. I say the above because he's clearly stated that the group of players is not good enough. Once you've said that, you can't keep operating with that same group next season because they simply won't play for you when the going gets tough. I agree with his "I don't understand why people don't understand" comment. Since I started watching us again against Woking at home, all I have seen is an average non-league team. I couldn't believe some of the rumoured wages we were paying. The club has been shafted good and proper on that score and that would indicate considerable naivety at board level surely? It could be argued good management could have got more out of the group. He probably has squeezed them for all they had, though, because weren't we absolutely shocking under DU? Therefore, we have done better under MM, only not what we expected for what we had spent. It looks like we threw a huge wad of cash at the DU experiment and it's failed. MM shouldn't carry the can for that. One player I have seen who definitely exhibits the required attitude, fight and passion is Fondop (and I said it almost from day one of watching us again). If anyone had watched Norwood, for example, just since end of January (as I have) you'd be hard pressed to identify him as a star striker. I don't think he wants to be here at all personally. It's a mess ok and MM mentions "other stuff going on" or words to that effect. Trust him to do his job in the summer, for me.

It's quite surreal. In any normal circumstances, with this being an absolute must win game and us still in with a chance of promotion with just one game left after this, we'd take thousands wouldn't we? (even though it's at Chesterfield). It just shows how little faith is actually left. If we do win, will it be a sell out on Saturday I wonder?

I`m still hoping my recent £50 wager on Latics being promoted at 100/1 comes to fruition