nzlatic

To be fair, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. Those wins were in amongst a few defeats. They struggle massively with consistency. Dunn's big call was that there were too many players in the squad comfortable at this level or league 2 - happy just to be a pro. If this is true, and it certainly makes sense, then we need more players who are hungry to be at a higher level. Do we have anyone currently who shows this? If you're going to compete at the top of this league you need a few players like this.

5th in February often gets used as an example of what this team can do with the right management but that's not an accurate picture. Our form had been awful from the end of November onwards - similar points per game to Dunn. We were only 5th in Feb because the league was utterly :censored:e. This team had a great run from end of August to end of November, then when the going got tough with the Evans affair they absolutely bottled it and turned in some disgraceful performances. It was a miracle we were still in the play offs and a crime that Corney didn't see what a :censored: league it was and throw everything behind a more experienced manager to try and turn form around and keep us there.

It does look a foul on the video to me, their guy looks like he deliberately backs in and impedes him. Although I'm not convinced he would have got there if not blocked. It's a great corner and it looks like he got under it a bit.

Agreed

Didn't you say a draw at Coventry would be a great result? I get why you go on and on with your personal attacks on Dunn when we lose. I may disagree with most of what you say but I can see where it's come from. But to be slagging off fellow fans who are enjoying a late equaliser away at a team who's form and position is pretty much the exact opposite to ours is totally bizarre. We've had a :censored: year, and today has hopefully given the team, management and fans a small pre Christmas boost. But yet you still come on just to put up several negative posts again. Why bother? For most of us the majority of our latic supporting lives have been mostly disappointing with the occasional spell or moment of enjoyment/excitement. Today was one of those. What's wrong with enjoying that? Doesn't mean people are booking their Wembley hotels for May.

Higher than we probably all thought we'd be before kick off.

Coventry 2-0 Latics (HT 1-0) 14895

He's openly said he's been trying for a while but no one is available. Kelly had the whole summer and scores of out of contract players to choose from. Dunn has only had loans and free agents to go for, so understandable there might not be many about. He might have a bit more joy in January with the transfer merrygoround happening and someone becoming available, but a long term solution might be tricky to find before next summer.

We do need an enforcer/leader type. But the problem with us signing a big lump is that the moment he does his first big lump forward there'll be groans from the stands and calls of the biggest donkey ever to play for us etc on here.

Completely agree. Barnsley had a clear tactic of throwing bodies directly at him on set pieces. Bradford (I think) did the same thing. What he needs is a leader in front of him protecting him from that sort of stuff. Our current defenders just seem to let it happen.

If the budget is there to fund the multitude of short term deals we have at the moment then I'm sure, if we bin some of them off, we'll have the scope to bring in what Dunn feels we need. It shouldn't need a fire sale to fund player recruitment. Although it might be needed to fund the stand etc. Personally, I think we should be ok with the keepers we've got if they had a solid defender/leader/organiser in front of them, Coleman especially.

It was in the chron that officially his deal runs out on Jan 1st or something but he has a long term injury anyway. So I don't think he's even a consideration.

Although not exactly a glamour tie, what English football do Sky normally show on 3rd round weekend?

My view on the players listed (or not) in the Chron today: Fulton - don't keep Burn - don't keep O'Connell - don't keep Higdon - sign for season to compete with Cassidy Dummigan - sign for season to be 1st choice Rasulo - sign for season as a bench impact player. Whether he or MK Dons would accept this is another thing Yeates - sign for season Fuller - don't keep. Unless Higdon doesn't stay and his wages are cheap enough Eckersley - keep if cheap Wellens - sign for season as long as fitness ok Murphy - keep and put him straight in the team alongside Higdon or Cassidy Lafferty - re-sign for the season as 1st choice left back new signing - centre back with a bit of experience and a lot of balls J Wilson - sell if needed

How does it explain the attitude of the players in the last 12 months?

Depends whether it's constructive or not

The point I was making was in his last 13 games (similar to the time Dunn has had in the job) this squad got a point per game, a goal per game and conceded 2 per game. That's actually slightly worse than Dunn's return. How the :censored: we were still in the play offs when Johnson left says more about the league than it does about our form or what Johnson was doing with this team. If Johnson had have stayed it would have taken a big turn around in form to keep us in the play offs. That wasn't just a blip, it was about two and a half months of bad results including some shockers like mk Dons and Yeovil. Yes we're obviously in the :censored: and Dunn has a lot to do to prove he's the one to get us out of it. But this team goes into hiding when things get tough, and it's been doing it long before Dunn got here.

Last season we had an average start, then had a great run from the end of August to end of November, then after the Rochdale game we had 4 wins, 1 draw and 8 defeats. 13 for, 25 against. All under Johnson. So the rot had well and truly set in and this group of players were delivering similar to what they are now long before he left.

No I don't think he did deserve to be dropped. But we dominated the game, won and higdon and Winchester both played really well.

Totally agree that higdon and poleon should have had more game time together but it was higdon not being allowed to play against Sheff Utd that broke the partnership. He then played Winchester in behind higdon at Swindon which worked really well so a bit harsh to criticise Dunn for those changes.

No that's the odds for 0-0. In a moment of unusual positivity yarddogs thinks we're on for a draw! ?

It feels like when I was a kid they picked the matches based on possible upsets or matches between 2 heavy hitters. Maybe I'm wrong. Just in case anyone was in any doubt they pick these ties based on anything other than pure ratings... Chelsea and Man Utd at home against League 1? No Eastleigh vs Bolton, Oxford vs Swansea, Salford/Hartlepool vs Derby. I get why they do it, they pay money for the rights so want to maximise ratings, but just another example of the sad sellout. 7.55pm Friday 8 January Exeter City v Liverpool – live on BBC 1 12.45pm Saturday 9 January Wycombe Wanderers v Aston Villa – live on BT Sport 2 5.30pm Saturday 9 January Manchester United v Sheffield United – live on BT Sport 2 2pm Sunday 10 January Chelsea v Leyton Orient or Scunthorpe United – live on BT Sport 2 4pm Sunday 10 January Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City – live on BBC 1

If Higdon was available to sign permanently he'd be in the team ahead of Cassidy all day. He's on a big wage though so can't see it happening.

Can't see Higdon staying on after his loan ends so all about trying to get as settled a side as possible for me.

I'd pick Coleman and tell him he's got a run in the side. But he'll probably stick with Cornell. ... ... ... ... Coleman ... ... ... ... Dummigan... Dieng... J Wilson... Mills ... ... Kelly ... ... Wellens ... ... ... Poleon ... Jones ... Yeates ... ... ... ... ... Cassidy ... ... ... ...