The Chaplain

I couldn't see that from where I was, I thought the mistake was a rare one from Stam for letting the man through; but for me our young keeper had a very good match.

. . . . . . . . . . . . :toilet: :toilet:

He was training this morning - in the driving snow! I almost felt sorry for them, then I compared their wage packets with mine, and I stopped feeling sorry (under my umbrella). Anyway he seemed to be taking a full part in the fast-moving game that was going on. So that must be good news, mustn't it?

Latics - great! Warney - wonderful!!!

And at half time he was chatting to Smalley and Lomax as much as he was warming up. Obviously glad to be back.

He got a warm welcome when he drew the raffle; but then a standing ovation from right round the ground when he came on in the second half - oh and some comedy booing (I assume) when he first touched the ball. Then he ran around a lot but didn't do anything. Excellent all round!

Do you think there's a cheaper version without the folding paper sounds? I can make my own sounds.

Brilliant post! I had been wading through this thread, getting more and more depressed by some of the opinions expressed (let the reader understand) and suddenly a flash of light. Someone talking common sense, good Oldham common sense. Well done Bigfin. You put your brain in gear before engaging finger with keyboard. Thanks for the wisdom. Wait now for the ill-informed backlash (oops too late; see above). I hope you enjoyed the lie-down. Reason for edit: ill-informed backlash

I heard some moaners at Goodison. Just the odd "Oh, come on Davies" if he lost the ball. But I'll tell you what. Whereas he would have heard the moan at BP, he couldn't hear it in such a large crowd making such a noise. The only answer is outsing them, outshout them, outdo them in your zeal, outshine them in your ardour. (I'm preaching now; watch out, you might get converted).

Well the Lower Bullens wasn't any better! It's not environment, it's genetic.

Monday's Independent has a great article by David Instone and a good big picture across pages 56-57. Here's a taste: "Surely Oldham, 13th in League 1, could only have pulled off this remarkable seventh successive away victory with their goalkeeper performing heroics? Not a bit of it. Assured and calming though he was under spells of pressure, Crossley was seldom troubled following a fine save from James Vaughan during an initial onslaught in which he feared 'a bit of a tousing'. "He was rescued by a goal-line clearance from Kelvin Lomax - one of the team barely out of nappies when Gary Lineker's penalty was famously saved in the 1991 final - and by his post from Aiyegbeni Yakubu's toe-poke in the last seconds. "But Stefan Stam and Reuben Hazell, in particular, protected him magnificently either side of Gary McDonald's spectacular first-half stoppage-time exploitation of a much less convincing performance at the other end by Stefan Wessels. ... "By choice or necessity there were no Howard, Neville, Yobo, Arteta, Cahill, Osman, and until much later, Lescott and Yakubu. What no one should overlook, though, are the selection problems Oldham conquered in sending 6,000 fans delirious by reaching the fourth round for only the second time in 12 years. ... "Andy Johnson was subdued too easily by Oldham's outstanding defence. ... "For John Sheridan a magical managerial memory to go somewhere near his playing peak - scoring Sheffield Wednesday's winner in the 1991 League Cup Final against Manchester United."

The Independent's David Instone today has Stefan Stam as his Man of the Match.

Brilliant final sentence from the Independent report on the match:

I recognise that: is it Shakespeare?

A very merry Christmas greeting, and six points to all our readers. Roll on the 26th!!!

I used my brand new TeamCard at the ticket office this afternoon. Bought my son his Forest and Walsall tickets and was awarded 40 points. Alan Hardy said I was first to use it in the ticket office. In fact no-one was quite sure what to do!

My friend who can't get to the ground on his own buys all his tickets on the phone for postal delivery. He lives in Chadderton and cannot speak too highly about the ticket office's friendliness and efficiency.

It wasn't even new this season. My son has had a student card for the last two seasons. It's not worth his getting a season ticket as he can't get back when he's at uni. But he's looking forward to Forest, Walsall, Leeds and Everton while he's home now. What a Christmas vac for him! Of course his Latics student card is no good for away matches. Full price there.

No need. After the troubled waters of recent time, it will be plain sailing from here on in. Now don't be silly buoys. You need to go about, give each other some leeway, and stop gybing. Or no one will will be able to fathom you.

Safety in numbers. You know, from us yobs.

OK, no problem. All those in favour?

Diego - it was a privilege to be there with you. We all owe you a great debt of gratitude, for all the tireless hard work you put into this. You have encouraged us, chivvied us, pilloried us, castigated us, egged us on, told us what to say and who to say it to, given us your expert advice … and all the time you have kept commenting on the football – which is what it’s all about for most of us. Thank you a million times for your labour, for your persistence, especially when it seemed so few were responding (and we need to ask some hard questions about that further down the tracks), for your good humour and your wise advice. I hope you see tonight as a great reward for all you have done. Thanks Diego on behalf of us all.

A 2 hectare paddling pool at the civic centre.

Stu Vose's eyebrows went so high at that point I was worried they would leave his head.

I was there. I couldn’t manage the first one, so I had nothing to compare with, but I was fairly impressed with the way the councilors handled themselves apart from just the one. And since the meeting I have had an email from one of the council (not one of my own Werneth councilors, and not one I know personally, I think) telling me the result of the meeting. Now isn’t that thoughtful? He knows I can’t vote for him, so I guess he was just pleased and wanted to let me/us know!