BP1960

Selling good assets like Trotman cheaply and probably replacing them with journey men will lead to nowhere only a downward spiral and disillusionment. Denis Irwin was a prime example of a family jewel sold the the cheap, Trotman could be another. Don't do it.

This is the kind of talent in non league Latics should be snapping up. Top non league prospect

Only Mr 'Bouncebackability' Dowie can answer that.

The Football league is littered with ex non league players, just look at the goalscorers week in week out and check their backgrounds. What annoys me is this season Latics haven't given any a trial when they have been running a very weak reserve team. There are plenty of Chris Waddle's, Les Ferdinand's, Ian Wright's and Stuart Pearce's still out there, they just need to be found and given a chance.

Actually Luke Becket was similar to Smalley in his younger days at Chester. Smalley has been thrown in at the deep end and isn't ready yet, but he will learn quickly especially if he goes out on loan to toughen him up. He needs to show more awareness and move quicker to the ball, when he adds those attributes he will be a big asset to the club.

3-5-2 GK - Crossley RWB - Eardley CB - Trotman CB - Hazell CB - Stam LWB - Lomax CM - Pearson CM - Allott CM - Kalala ST - Hughes ST- Adam Edwards (thats a shock for you..he's very quick, determined and hard working, he runs at defenders INSIDE the penalty area..well worth a chance considering the ineffectiveness of others).

That striker, like Andy Bishop of Bury, was playing well in non league a couple of years ago, so why weren't they at least offered trials at Latics then ? It's called spotting potential and moving in before other clubs do, so big fees or wages don't need to be paid if you back your judgement early.

Mark Crossley 6 Did ok Neal Eardley 6 Better than of late. Neal Trotman 7 Obviously carrying an injury,battled well Stam 6 Average Reuben Hazell 6 Out of position like a duck out of water Chris Taylor 6 Wasted corners, easily read by full backs these days. Kalala 6 Worked hard, his style is more effective in away games. Gary McDonald 5 Anonymous yet again. Mark Allott 6 Needs to be central to be most effective Craig Davies 5 Very frustrating. Deane Smalley 6 A loan spell might toughen him up. Subs Matty Wolfenden 6 Requires the right ball into the penalty area, unfortunately no one on the books can supply that.

Square pegs in round holes comes to mind with this Latics team.

Why does McDonald always escape criticism ?...anonymous yet again today.

They shouldn't be in the team then with that sort of temperament.

Huddersfield played new signing Page today, obviously he was brought in to fill a gap in that particular position (did well too), something that fans think should gave happened here once Ricketts left. They are annoyed when players leave or are injured long term and no replacements come in, just positional chopping and changing, which is only filling in the cracks.

I thought you were talking about the Latics midfielders and strikers until I read further.

Surely the time has come to discard the ineffective McDonald, ok he scored at Everton, but he's been subbed in almost every game since, yet always starts the next. He was very fortunate not to be subbed today as well as he was anonymous for most of the game. Not just him, but others have to look at their game too like Davies and Taylor, there's been no end product from either for a long time.

The manager picks the team, but there's too much imbalance IMO. No natural left full back. 2 holding midfielders at home. a slow non creative midfielder in between them. a left winger who is right footed and easily read. 2 strikers who spend most of their time outside the penalty area or wide, no wonder opposition centre backs have an easy time. No one in the team can take a decent corner kick. The only real balance is the 2 centre backs, no coincidence thats the strongest part of the team. Carry on like that and nothing will change, every match at home will be an advantage to the away side and finish a low scoring affair. It's not want the fans want to see.

Video footage is badly needed so everyone can enjoy the legends mesmerising skills forever. Some must be out there somewhere. Has anyone tried Granada TV or the North West film archives ?

I remember watching an away match at Bournemouth and they brought on a winger who tore Latics to shreds. I thought then if only we had a player like that at BP. It was the great Alan Groves, and of course my wish eventually came true. (I can't remember the other 2 wishes lol).

My words to the quick players, Davies, Smalley, Taylor - run directly at their defence constantly, they won't be able to cope with your pace. To McDonald, back up the strikers with runs into the penalty area, and yes you can shoot from distance if you want too. To the defence, Kalala /Allott, keep it tight as usual. Above all take the initiative from the start and don't let it go. After my talk it finishes 3-0 to Latics.

A very long shot indeed, but 16 year youth team striker Adam Edwards is IMO worth a place on the bench. He is very quick and determined, with a great attitude to want to make things happen. In the light of having already tried other youngsters with little results, I believe Edwards could be an ace up Shez's sleeve. Anyone who has seen Edwards will tell you he will certainly cause problems with his pace running at defenders INSIDE the penalty area, unlike players we already have.

Back Davies to score an opening goal screamer for the Match of the Day cameras.

If you were to give the Latics team talk tomorrow Diego what would your words be ?

Team up with me Coco, we can build an exciting team together. Your money used of course to buy them.

Can anyone find some old football footage of Groves and put it up on YouTube, if so it would certainly receive thousands of views ? I seem to remember Granada showing a wonderful sequence of his dribbling skills against Liverpool at Anfield in the F.A. Cup.

Sign a class midfielder with bags of charisma who will capture the publics imagination. Oh, I forgot we tried that in 1960 and Bobby Johnstone added 12,000 to the average gate in his first match. What's Jay Jay Okotcha doing these days ? Any suggestions ?

Rumours are Latics fancy Ian Moore.