nzlatic

What I like about how we're playing is that we're on this unbeaten run with a lot of clean sheets without being an overly defensive team. We're looking to win games. Often when you have teams that are defensive, become hard to beat and don't concede many goals it's quite a jump to suddenly change that style to try and score goals. Seemingly we're not all that far off and maybe a tweak here and there to tactics or 1 new player might do it, rather than a disruptive change in overall style.

Notts County 0 - 2 Latics (HT 0-1) Forte 5988

Their second was pretty much top corner but because of the angle would have hit the middle of the net. Plus the power was incredible.

Paul Murray scored a cracking long ranger against someone sometime.

They played an offside trap but forgot to tell one defender, so he was left marking about 7 players!

That's the impression I get. Media only referring to manager's quotes when asked, whereas usually they are fairly quick to dismiss unfounded rumours themselves. Still, I don't see it happening myself, but my fingers are crossed anyway.

Ha, yes totally agree! I'm not a fan of the if, buts and maybes. I was mainly thinking about fine lines and how tight the league is really. If we can keep this run up for a few more games then the top end of the league and the extra buzz and confidence that goes with it should be a reality. (aaargh, another IF!!!)

Terrific performance last night. Dayton's goal was an absolute screamer. The ball was rolled to him (badly) from a free kick, he adjusted and belted it in the top corner. It looked in from the moment he hit it and it's right up there with the best latics goals I've seen live. First half we weren't great, but Swindon looked a really good side. They moved it round well, everyone looked comfortable on the ball and their right winger no.3 (Byrne?) was brilliant. Still, for all their play they didn't create many chances, but they just felt dangerous. Second half we came out and dominated from the start. Our pressing was quality and we snuffed out the threat of Byrne. I didn't notice a massive change in tactics that cancelled him out, maybe it was just the pressing improving. Winchester came to life and Phillskirk was a menace everywhere. We got in good crossing positions but either a poor final ball or a good one that didn't have anyone on the end of it cost us. Their goal was another belter and against the run of play. Good fight from the lads to keep going and not let their heads drop and it was refreshing to see both sides going for the win right til the final whistle. Crowd - awful from Swindon, not a peep. Good volume from the latics fans and I love a Lee Johnson's blue & white army chant that goes on for ages. Must really boost the players. Dayton getting a chant of "used to be :censored:e, now he's alright" after scoring a goal like that was shocking. Probably supposed to be funny but it isn't and must be a bit of a kick in the teeth for him. Poleon looked promising but is still clearly lacking in match fitness and sharpness, once that comes he will be a real threat. Special mention to the ref... awful. Really fussy and seemed intent on giving a free kick and yellow cards every time they hit the deck. Especially the number 8 who was disgraceful with repeatedly diving then rolling around and at the same time looking at the ref. The refs performance was summed up when giving a free kick to Swindon for an off the ball shoulder charge, then moments later completely ignoring the same challenge on Poleon in the box. Nailed on penalty that - surely it doesn't matter if it's a shoulder if there's no intention to play the ball (which was nowhere near them). Things are looking promising - if Morgan-Smith had scored that sitter against Gillingham and Wilkinson had squared for him last night when clean through we could be 4th!

Mine was Wolves away at the start of 90/91. Had a look for the team but can't find it. How the Latics sucked me in with that start!

Swindon 1-1 Latics (HT 0-1) Philliskirk 6405

Yep, winning football is the only thing that will make a proper difference. I don't buy the theory that free flowing attacking football at home would make a big difference to crowds either. Drawing 3-3 all the time but hovering around 13/14th will not bring as many in as top 6 and keeping clean sheets.

Or judgement!

This is exactly where I'm at. Not having confidence that you'll keep a clean sheet puts extra pressure on midfield and attack. It seems the focus is on clean sheets, maybe the next step is building from that and trying to score more. If we just jumped straight to all out attack we could end up back where we've been before and having to score 2 to stand a chance of any points.

You might be right. And I don't go enough to know for sure either way. But what I'm essentially saying is that I don't care about their personal goal/assist stats IF the team as a whole is creating enough chances and someone is putting them away.

But surely the point is that the team created chances with the system as it is? So if we're keeping clean sheets and creating chances, the problem lies with the finishing.

The only absolute is whether or not the ball has crossed a line. With offside its possible for there to be doubt about whether someone is interfering with play for example.

Latics 2 - 0 Gillingham (HT 2-0) Forte 4045

How could it work though? This is the bit I'm struggling to get my head around. All other sports go to video technology to review something that happened just before play stopped. Not so in football, the game could go on for ages before the next natural stoppage. And what happens to all that time played if a non-penalty call is overruled? You could be having 10/15 minutes of video replay related stoppage time each half.

As Blatter has brought this up again and it's going to get some media coverage, I was just wondering what the general take on it was? Personally I'm dead against it. I can deal with goal line as it's an absolute that is resolved instantly and isn't open to interpretation. But as for reviewing decisions in the middle of a match I can't see how it can work at all. I stand to be corrected, but I can't think of any other sport that uses video technology that can go for ages in between stoppages. Rugby only uses it for tries I believe when the play has already stopped. If this proposal goes ahead you could have a contentious penalty decision, then a few minutes of play carrying on, maybe even someone getting sent off for a professional foul, then when play stops we go back and review the penalty call. Replays are often inconclusive so there'd be a long stoppage whilst it was looked at umpteen times and then what'd happen to the red card if they went back and gave the penalty? Too much open to abuse and causing unnecessary stoppages. Be interesting to hear other people's take on it though. Or if there is a way of doing it that doesn't ruin the game.

Good stuff, enjoy it, it'll be amazing. Despite being a huge fan since the mid 80s I've never actually been to a race. Cost more than anything. Planning a trip to Spa next year though.

Lucky enough to have won VIP tickets and all expenses paid trip to the Monaco GP?? Nope, unfortunately not!! Congrats, that's a great prize to win! I've been for a mooch round Moncao on a non-GP weekend before and it was very exciting for a big F1 fan. Great to walk round the historic corners and through the tunnel. Probably not so exciting for the non-fan that was with me - basically just bits of red and white curb in a street.

Think it ran its course years ago. Awful show.

Wants championship or above. From soccer am this morning.

Latics 1-1 Fleetwood (HT 1-0) Poleon 4015

Exactly. Plus by having him train with us and trying to develop a good bond with other players and manager he might over time be tempted to drop down a division and play for us. Something he'd probably just say no to if asked outright before allowing him to step onto our hallowed training pitch.