Ex_pat

I think you can listen to Radio Alty, see link below https://www.radioalty.co.uk/listen.html

I hope you are right. What worries me is that Altrincham have won 6-1 at home 3 times this season. I think the score might be closer to that than 0-1 to Latics. I want to be proved wrong.

I have no insider knowledge of any offers to OAFC to OAFC players that have been made, or what offers have been turned down in the past by player or club. However, my impression is that Tolitt is considered surplus to requirements by Mellon. Seeing this is Toliitt's second loan, he seems to be willing to go out to clubs regardless of their level to try and get a game. His contract runs out in the summer, so he could have just whiled away his time until then.

I'll give Toilitt credit, at least he is willing to go out to clubs to play games, rather than while away his time until his contract runs out. Respect. Good luck to the lad.

Agreed from a players/squad point of view, but the rest of the organisation looks geared for EFL. I guess many championship clubs that get promoted to the EPL feel underprepared when the cool reality of playing "big" clubs with a perceived better team (yes I am looking at you Man U) kick in. I'd take promotion and worry about the team/squad for next season later.

Go Cats!

Fans should be happy. Norwood is smiling on the merch.

I bet you were not thinking like that after the Bromley game. What a difference 2 weeks in football makes. My own opinion is that I would like to see us in the playoffs, but our ball retention and passing ability has to improve for that to happen.

Commiserations (about the Lions that is)

Are you going on a tandem bicycle?

10GBP sent by PayPal

You are correct. A losing finalist has never won the league the following season. As you say there have been a few losing finalist (4) who have got promoted. These are the clubs are: Exeter in 2007/8 Grimsby in 2015/6 FGR in 2016/7 Tranmere in 2017/8 As a side note: Wrexham were losing finalists in 2012/13 and won the league in 2022/23 (11 years). Luton were losing finalists in 2010/11 2011/12 and won the league in 2013/14 (2/3 years). Stevenage were losing finalists in 2004/5 and won the league in 2009/10 (5 years). Aldershot were losing finalists in 2003/4 and won the league in 2007/8 (4 years). Dagenham & Redbridge were losing finalists in 2002/3 and won the league in 2006/7 (4 years). History is not on Chesterfield's side to win the league.

None! However Accrington, Dagenham & Redbridge, and Barrow all won the league after finishing 10th the previous season. Macclesfield did it after finishing 11th. Lincoln did it after finishing 13th and Sutton did it after finishing 15th Hartlepool got promoted from finishing 12th the previous year. Cambridge got promoted from finishing 14th, and Newport got promoted from finishing 19th the previous year. There is always hope

What a great test match that was. It ebbed and flowed each day. Great entertainment. I can understand the declaration. Try and get a wicket in the short batting spell the Aussies had, but It did not work. It's hard to judge how many more runs England would have got in the 1st innings if they had continued. It could possibly ended in a draw, seeing the weather on the last day. I don't think it was a turning point. I think it was a gamble by England to select Ali, as he was a little wayward. Did he have the finger injury before the game? I am not impressed with Bairstow's keeping. That could have had more of an affect on the result than the declaration. I think some of the comments above come from disappointment England fans are feeling. Most of the 5th day England held the advantage, but it slipped away at the end. I can imagine the England fans groans as the winning runs were scored, just as I jumped out of my seat with arms in the air at the same time. If the whole series is going to be like that we are in for some great entertainment. Whoever wins the Ashes.

Keep on dreaming @lookersstandandy

We need to win this FA Trophy, so that the current quote: "The first former premier league club to play in the national league" that I am forever hearing on many match day broadcasts, will eventually change to: "The first former FA Trophy winner to play in the English Premier League" sometime in the future. NB. Wycombe Wanders are the highest place club that have won the Trophy.

Thanks to @oafcmetty for all the efforts running this prediction league. In my opinion one of the best organised prediction leagues going. It deserves more members. Well done to all those who won leagues/got promoted. For those that did not do so well, next year you will be able to come back stronger to show this season was a blip. On a personal note, from winning it last year, to just avoiding relegation this year. It just show how tough the top league is getting since more people joined up a few years ago, and it was structured into 3/4 leagues. I wish you all well for the close season, and commiserations to those England cricket fans after losing to Australia in the up coming (Northern) summer.

Paul Murray? Or not young enough?

If more fans take your attitude then we could have a new manager next year. Ronnie Moore took us from 19th to 10th in league one, but he did not have the fans on board and season tickets sale were slow for the following season. Corney got rid in the summer for financial reasons. Could that happen again? The report from the BBC at the time is below. Managing director Simon Corney explained in a statement that Moore's exit was "for financial reasons". He said: "Clearly, a lot of fans had not taken to him (Moore), and season ticket sales have been very slow. "People seem to think we have vast sums of money, but unfortunately that is not the case. "We have to work within certain constraints, and at the end of the day it was a financial decision. "It wasn't a pleasant job telling Ronnie, and he was shocked.

I have been in the “stick” camp with Unsworth longer than most, but leading into to Christmas I was on the fence. I did not expect to win at Notts County, but I thought things were improving, but the 4-1 defeat made me I fall off the fence into the “twist” camp. After the 2-2 draw I wondered if I had been hasty and maybe most new mangers find it hard to get a team on track. Therefore I made a list of all the new managers engaged after Unsworth’s appointment (up to the end of 2022) in the top 5 divisions, to compare performance to Unsworth. There are 26 managers altogether. The question now is how you rank/compare the managers? Win percentage, league position change etc. Below are some of the top and bottom 10 of each ranking. Only league games were considered. Win % 1. 82% Carlos Corberan (WBA) 17 games 2. 73% Michael Carrick (Middlesbro) 17 games. 3. 67% Unai Emery (Villa) 6 games. 4. 60% Dean Holden (Charlton) 6 games. 5. 53% Slaven Bilic (Watford) 17 games. 6/7/8/9. 50% Paul Warne (Derby) 16 games. Julen Lopetegul (Wolves) 4 games. Rob Edwards (Luton) 4 games. David Webb (York) 4 games. 10. 45% Danny Schofield (Doncaster) 11 games. 26/25. 0% Ross McNally (Aldershot) 4 games. Kolo Toure (Wigan) 6 games. 24. 17% Neil Critchley (QPR) 6 games. 23/22/21/20. 20% Michael Nelson (Scunthorpe) 5 games. Matthew Etherington (Crawley) 5 games. Nathan Jones (Southampton) 5 games. David Unsworth 15 games. 19. 24% Matt Taylor (Rotherham) 17 games. 18/17 25% Mark Jackson (MK Dons) 4 games. Graham Coughlan (Newport) 12 games. Loss % 1. 11% Liam Rosenior (Hull) 9 games 2. 13% Paul Warne (Derby) 16 games 3. 17% Unai Emery (Villa) 6 games 4/5. 18% Carlos Corberan (WBA) 17 games. Michael Carrick (Middlesbro) 17 games. 6./7. 20% Dean Holden (Charlton) 6 games. Mark Cooper (Yeovil) 16 games. 8/9/10. 25% Julen Lopetegul (Wolves) 4 games. David Webb (York) 4 games. Graham Coughlan (Newport) 12 games. 26. 100% Ross McNally (Aldershot) 4 games 25. 80% Nathan Jones (Southampton) 5 games. 24. 75% Rob Edwards (Luton) 4 games. 23. 67% Kolo Toure (Wigan) 6 games. 22/21. 60% Michael Nelson (Scunthorpe) 5 games. Matthew Etherington (Crawley) 5 games. 20/19/18. 53% Matt Taylor (Rotherham) 17 games. David Unsworth 15 games. Matt Bloomfield (Colchester) 15 games. 17. 50% Mark Jackson (MK Dons) 4 games. Change in league position (-ve = lower) 1/2. 17, Carlos Corberan (WBA) 17 games. Michael Carrick (Middlesbro) 17 games. 3. 7 Slaven Bilic (Watford) 17 games. 4. 6, Dean Holden (Charlton) 6 games. 5. 5, Unai Emery (Villa) 6 games. 6/7. 4, Julen Lopetegul (Wolves) 4 games. Liam Rosenior (Hull) 9 games. 8/9 3, Paul Warne (Derby) 16 games. Mark Cooper (Yeovil) 16 games. 10. 2. Matt Bloomfield (Colchester) 15 games 26/25/24. -6, Matt Taylor (Rotherham) 17 games. David Unsworth 15 games. Matthew Etherington (Crawley) 5 games 23. -5, Neil Critchley (QPR) 6 games. 22. -4, Ross McNally (Aldershot) 4 games. 21/20/19. -2, Nathan Jones (Southampton) 5 games. Kolo Toure (Wigan) 6 games. Gary Caldwell 11 games. 18/17. -1, Lee Bell (Crewe) 8 games. Michael Nelson (Scunthorpe) 5 games Goal difference 1. 17 Paul Warne (Derby) 16 games. 2. 11 Carlos Corberan (WBA) 17 games. 3. 10 Michael Carrick (Middlesbro) 17 games. 4. 7 Slaven Bilic (Watford) 17 games. 5/6. 4 Unai Emery (Villa) 6 games. Liam Rosenior (Hull) 9 games. 7/8. 3 Dean Holden (Charlton) 6 games. Rob Edwards (Luton) 4 games. 9. 2 David Webb (York) 4 games 10/11. 1 Julen Lopetegul (Wolves) 4 games. Mark Cooper (Yeovil) 16 games. 26. -14 David Unsworth 15 games. 24. -11 Matt Taylor (Rotherham) 17 games 23. -10 Kolo Toure (Wigan) 6 games. 22. -8 Ross McNally (Aldershot) 4 games. 21. -7 Mark Fotheringham (Hudderesfield) 17 games 20/19/18. -5 Nathan Jones (Southampton) 5 games. Matthew Etherington (Crawley) 5 games. Neil Critchley (QPR) 6 games. 17/16 -5 Michael Nelson (Scunthorpe) 5 games Danny Schofield (Doncaster) 11 games. One thing that I noticed was that Aldershot are in a bad way, and could soon be below us, but that is very little consolation. Unworth’s comparison summary Pros: Not in the bottom 10 for goals for per match. Actually 11th. 8th highest draw percentage (27%). Cons: You can see them above. Joint 3rd worst in goals conceded per match I think the data above just reinforces the “twist” camp. A pity we could not have interested Michael Carrick at the time. (and yes I need to get out more).

Can you have 3 numbers on the back of the shirt?

Thanks @oafcmetty. Please count me in for next season.

Thanks very much @oafcmetty and @Bristolatic for setting this up and all the hard work that has gone into this for the members. I like to think that it will help me to improve my predicting (but that's the kind of fantasy world I live in). Love the banner as well. Once honed and greased, this prediction league will be the envy of the EFL/EPL.

Bradford 1-0 Oldham [HT 0-0] - 15305

FGR 3 - 1 Oldham (HT 2-0) - Branger - 2659