youngen

On 6/3/2019 at 11:13 AM, adamoafc said:

Considering everyone was pissed off when we released him as he had scored loads of goals in the youth team. Appears the decision was probably right. 

Also see Jordan Bove, Scott Spencer, Ryan Sugden

Das Boot the fucking ball in the net O Grady, you shit

On 5/23/2019 at 2:54 PM, Monty Burns said:

Rangers, Barça, Frankfurt, Lazio, Linfield and Brest.

On 5/26/2019 at 3:03 AM, oafcshuck said:

We’ve got tears at Blackpool, QPR, Wrexham and at BP against Shezterfield.

 

They’ve memories of an 80 minute winner with ten men to return to the Football League and a 119th winner to win promotion.

 

One thing they’ll never have with Rochdale and Bury though is the Premier League.

Some bender on Saturday. Hope you've recovered from dreaded 2 day hangover

Ajax - load of mates there after meeting on ROAMs stag do and they're a great excuse for a trip to Amsterdam. Was nice to see them get some hype this season. A bit like Frankfurt, we definitely got the best of the "club swap" deal.

Viking FK - partners family support them, bounced straight back up with promotion to the Eliteserien last season as Champions and started season well, although got hammered 5-1 off Molde on Monday night.

Fremad Amager - . Lived round corner from stadium for 2 years and ventured over a few times. 1 stand, 2 small terraces and a fence around the pitch, but the atmosphere was always great. A true working mans club in Division 1 (2nd tier) of Danish football. Started quite poorly, but find themselves in 3rd place with 1 game to go (away to Viborg in 2nd). If they finish 3rd they qualify for promotion playoffs.

Union Berlin - Former work colleague was a huge fan and attended a game with him. German football is so good to attend. They beat St Pauli 4-1 that day, and have just qualified for the playoff match vs Stuttgart for promotion to Bundesliga starting tonight.

All in all, my other teams keep me happy by being successful, whilst OAFC fuck it all up.

24 minutes ago, Bristolatic said:

I've looked long and hard at this "Vision and Plan" and the thought was that it's over 12 months too late. Had AL produced something like this a hell of a sight earlier, it could, but not guaranteed, have saved a lot of angst and division among the fan base. It's well written, perhaps by Adam Morallee or someone in his profession and, whilst it is a concise document, it does carry some worrying signs. So here's my two pennorth.

1. Fast paced and tactically and technically good quality football - in that case we need more technically gifted players than we currently have. I certainly wouldn't put the likes of O'Grady and Branger in that bracket
2. League 1 status should be achieved relatively quickly - the word "relatively" shouldn't come anywhere in that statement. We can't flounder in a League 2 that was so poor last season. Even the top 6 or 7 teams weren't that brilliant
3. A commitment to try to achieve League 1 status within 3 years, hopefully sooner - with a settled and balanced team and management, we'd already be there. Looking at three years does not suggest ambition
4. Championship football is best considered as realistic within a 5 year plan - if he's aiming at League 1 in 3 years, hitting the Championship within another two is pushing it a bit. Get promoted into League 1 immediately, and it is a little more realistic, but still a hell of a challenge
5.  The club's financial situation - so many times have wages been paid late, HMRC on our backs, bills not being paid I don't see a quick fix no matter how much he's pumping in. If the income stream, ie STs, fans through the turnstiles, programme sales, food and drink sales etc, stays the same or, even worsens, he is always behind the 8 ball and won't catch up to stabilise
6.  Currently subsidising the club from his own personal resources until a more stable position is reached - is he writing off what he puts in or will he want it back? Because that presents two very different scenarios. 
7. Commitment and enthusiasm of fans - he has already gone a long way to destroying that by various actions that need no further emphasising here. STs are down, gates are down and long standing battle-hardened supporters have turned their backs on the club. Now that will take some rebuilding
8. Begun assembling a Board of Directors - it's about bloody time, but what the hell is Barry Owen doing there again? Hasn't he done enough harm? On the Board, off the Board, on the Board. What's that all about? ML as Sporting Director - this can only be jobs for the boys because his (and AL's) recruitment thus far has been pretty underwhelming. I have a funny feeling that they really do believe that "their players" are far too good to be playing at this level. They're wrong. Here's a novel idea; how about trying to appoint someone with more than a passing/fleeting knowledge of football. That might help
9. Recognises that the budget is restricted - that's not the 100% quote ratified, is it?
10. Ownership of stadium, land and buildings - he didn't know they were owned separately?  Yeah, right. Is he aware that a fan led group are aiming to do something about this? He's not mentioned it if he is
11. The value of the squad has declined significantly - anything to do with the AL/ML recruits? No? OK
12.  12 Declining commercial income and fan base - well done for bringing in Pat Cluskey to address the former, but the declining fan base is partly down to the deteriorating level of football and the way the club has been run for God knows how many years with little, if any, evidence thus far that it will improve
13. Radical reorganisation of the football club - it's certainly been radical. It's almost impossible to count who has been ejected through the revolving door, whether it be playing staff, management/coaching staff, office staff, ground staff. So many have gone and we only found out from other fans and Twitter/Facebook. Is the tea lady still here?
14. Working to appoint a Chief Executive - at last. It's taken far too long
15. The quality and value of the playing squad has already improved compared to previous years - see #11 above where he contradicts this. Last season was one of the weakest squads I can remember, so thank God we had the loanees or we would have been in trouble
16.  Open to recruitment of players from across the globe - that's a worry if they're anything like Sefil, Menig or Kyeremeh. Are there no players available in the UK?

 The rest of it pretty much reiterates what has gone before, so what does this statement mean to me? It tells me that AL has at last realised that he has to do something to try to get the fans back onside. He could not continue without a Board of Directors and losing managers and fans hand over fist for much longer. It tells me that he is making an attempt at trying to do his best for the club, but it doesn't really say anything that we didn't already know. I hope it works, I really do, because I don't want to see this club I have loved for so long go any further down the slippery slope than it already is.

 

I think some of AL's ambitions are pie in the sky and not as simple as he's trying to make out. What he needs to do, and do quickly, is get a manager/head coach in asap; one who will be his own man and not be dictated to. He's already got one new signing (Iacovitti) that he's not been involved with. He's lost players (Clarke, Baxter) that he may have wanted to keep. That rings alarm bells straight away because it smacks of "me and likkle bruv will get the players, you just get them to play". If they're not good enough and the new bloke finds it impossible to get a tune out of them, he'll be out the door as well and we start all over again.

 

As I said at the beginning, it's a well written piece and full of good intentions, but it's not too difficult to pick holes in it. Good luck, AL, I hope your vision becomes a reality.

Reorganisation is an interesting one for me. If he discovered the place was a mess, how can he trust the staff who were party to hiding that mess? Would you want to bring in people you trust, such as family/close friends? I personally dont see how a new owner changing staff of an unsuccessful company, to try to improve that company and turn it around and make it more efficient is a problem. The problem he has had is the way he has removed those staff, but thats a legal issue hes currently paying for. 

I also think he outlines a plan to bring in young talent, and unknown foreign talent for very little, and then hope to hit the jackpot in selling them up the pyramid. This hasn't quite worked out as yet, but that could change? We all had suspicions of his plans re manager interference and foreign imports, but again he states his plan for a head coach and world wide talent. He is trying an unpopular approach, which is currently very unsuccessful. He should just not lie about it as he has previously, and then he may get somewhere.

Until he proves his "plan" he will still be unpopular amongst the fan base.

22 minutes ago, Crusoe said:

Lewis Alessandra, Cedric Evina, Jon Stead and Dan Jones all released by Notts County.

Its no wonder they went down, they must all be about 40 now.

23 hours ago, BP1960 said:

 

Bit racist

4 hours ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Hope he's not too anal on small details. He may get annoyed quick

Depends where his phone is

Lee Clark has an impressive record, sure hes still unbeaten at Huddersfield in 28 years or so now.

16 hours ago, rudemedic said:

Sorry didn't make myself clear Shez got more points per game. However, as you say Sol Campbell getting that number of points per game at Macclesfield is an impressive achievement. 

Latics had a decent squad when Shez took charge, and a decent enough budget. You're also talking about a manger who had a wealth of managerial experience in Shez.

FWIW I think Campbell performed a miracle keeping Macclesfield in the division, especially with how tinpot that place truly is. Them and Morecambe are more than punching above weight.

Just now, Kusunga_Is_God said:

Sol fluked it at Macc. Does the manager even matter anymore? Even Paul Scholes couldn't stop AL from interfering... there is no point to any speculation until AL leaves.

Based on absolutely cock all? He did excellently to keep them in the division, and they were very well organised against Latics, albeit we were crap that day. Its bizarre to say he fluked it.

That would be a huge shame, really enjoy the prediction league, and cannot for the life of me understand why people would get upset at how its run considering its managed for free!

Who are these people? Lets gang up on em!

30 minutes ago, Ex_pat said:

I would like to thank the other 56 predictors for making this prediction season happen.

 

I like many of us have had my ups and downs. But I am very happy to have won the Premier League (again).

 

I special mention to @south east latic for accumulating the highest number of points for the season.

Comiserations to @lookersstandandy who put the wind up me late on in the season. I would like to think my experience in those types of situation saw me through.

 Well done @mick26 for winning the cup. This is a competition I covet but perform badly.

 

A special mention to @Bristolatic and @Stevie_J for well organised competitions.

 

Stevie, I am going to try and reject the payment as I would prefer the money to be used in the following way.

 1) pay my entry for next year.

2) 50% of the remainder to go to OWTB

3) 50% of the remainder to go to @Bristolatic charity.

  

I will PM you if I am successful. If not I will find another way to get it back to you.

 

Thanks

@Stevie_J I second this, as per my post above

I will send you the money back if that is easier for OWTB, and then just pay as usual for next years participation.

I simply find it amazing AL is still here and hasnt sold up his business, what with the pressure that letter must have put on him.

Expectation for next year - Giles Coke to play 5 matches.

Realistic for next year - Giles Coke to be ever present, despite only having one leg

Excellent news, clung on by the skin of my teeth. All thanks to a spot on attendance prediction. Can challenge relegation battles in the big time next year. As I feel so lucky, I will donate the winnings, less my next years entry fee, back to OWTB please. Great work Bristol and Stevie

On 5/4/2019 at 6:42 PM, mick26 said:

Err, I had 2-2 Dave no idea what you put.

Must have been a 1-0 if I've won?

Sorry just looked at the Northampton thread, unlucky Dave a very hollow victory on the day (still chuffed though!)

Can’t argue getting beaten off the eventual winner in the semis. Well done, you join an elite club

Latics 2 Northampton 1

(HT 1-0) 

Lang

6000

Newport 0 Latics 2 (HT 0-0)

Lang

3876

1 hour ago, Diego_Sideburns said:

 

 

Brilliant!

5 hours ago, Dave_Og said:

 

One of your favourite memories is of pissing yourself on a minibus?  You must be looking forward to old age - every day will be a party!

It was a “proper” away day. Not a fantastic memory of the day, but the day itself was fantastic! Change of clothes in the car at the rifle so it turned out sound, it’s like I knew it would happen!!

1 hour ago, Worcester Owl said:

God I remember that Hereford game. Got to the ground and I remember how pleased I was that it was a standing terrace behind the goal. Then the match kicked off........

Dean Windass calling us balloons, the fat cunt

Wycombe away - 2012, 2-2 last minute Simpson penalty to basically ensure we stayed up. Pissed myself on the mini bus outside Tesco as I just didnt make it in time.

Pompey away x 2 1-0 first game with montano/og, and then the 2-1 last year was an amazing show of how not to police a football match, like what I imagined football in 70s/80s was.

Bury away - Collusso last minute, my first memory of an away game.

Sheff Wednesday when Sheridan came out of retirement, bagged a penalty, and got us a point at the favourites whilst playing on one leg.

Leyton orient away last game of season, Baxter nutmegging for fun, and a baby waving at the away end from the apartments on the corner of the stadium after chants of "baby baby give us a wave"

One for @Lee Sinnott - Jesus died for Connor Brown to bag at Col U away!

The list is endless, for all the moaning and the shit they do give us some great days out!

Exeter 1 Latics 2 ( 0-1 HT)

Lang

5852