stewrat

II thin k I should be one of them.It is the only way to stop me going and suffering the pain they have been inflicting since 1953. See you there today though. We are definitely putting seven past Fleetwood.

I too thought the performance of Bove who is a youngster showed up Murphy. He showed better positioning and more fight. With the exception of one moment in the box in the first half he was always off the pace. In the second half when given a chance to play Philliskirk through unmarked into the box he tried to hold the ball and lost it. That left a very angry Philli who would have been one on one with the keeper and far enough out to pick his spot. I think it was that failure which finally led to his replacement.

Thought when Bove came on we looked far more dangerous. Murphy looked as though he could not care less. That should be his last appearance if he can;t do better. Bove on the other hand put defenders under pressure and should far better control when he was on the ball.

Most of you seem to have missed the clear elbow in the face of Poleon which got them the ball for the first goal. He gives that there is no first goal and they are down to 10 men. Poleon was still laid out when they got back to the kick off. He was only 10 yards away with a clear view but did not "see it". Then after all his capers with the spray he gives us a free kick in a dangerous position. Puts down his spray and then allows a player to charge down the kick by running out too early. He was only four yards away by the time Jones struck the ball. Clearly should have been retake and a yellow card. Still it could have been worse, the England Ladies team had a referee who did not know the rules regarding penalties. Gave a free kick for encroachment for a penalty in extra time. The teams had to go back and replay the penalty and remaining extra time a couple of days later.

One of the best keepers I have seen at Boundary Park since my first game in 1953.Allowed us to keep a high defensive line as he swept behind the back four.

Watching the goals I am more convinced than ever that when Forte was injured it was as a result of one or both dangerous challenges on him and it should certainly have been a penalty and a red card. Korey Smith Kicks him at knee height and there goalkeeper slams into him two footed with his studs showing.

Yes they should. This shows just how little knowledge of football you have. Its called tracking back. Look next match and you will see that when we are defending we get two lines of four not a diamond. The other two players including the forward should be looking for a defensive player from the other side overloading our midfield by making a run through. Johnson used to just let them go and his pass completion was ratio was poor. You cannot be an attacking midfielder unless your team has the ball. Thats not to mention the fact we have been playing 442 for the past 3 matches and he has not been the attacking midfield player but 1 of 3 central midfield players, Connor Brown being left to look after the right wing with assistance from whoever is the nearest and Jones playing wide left.

I still remember the number of goals we gave away because Johnson was watching the man he was supposed to be marking from the other half of the field. The same applied to Baxter. Neither of those to would make themselves available when the ball was in a difficult spot and both gave the ball away more than Philliskirk. Maybe we should issue him with fluorescent boots and then his critics could actually see how much he does for the team without having to watch too closely.

BBC reporting Coleman has a calf injury and we may have to get an emergency loan in. They also say Rochdale will be unchanged for third match on the run.

Bobby Johnstone. put thousands on the gates. First match when defending tight match with 5 minutes or so to go took the ball into the corner and played keepy uppy till the final whistle. The fattest and most skilful player we have ever had. Mre recently Locky. That man cn organise a defensive line.

No there was no problem with the tackle He only put boot to ball and no part of his anatomy touched the winger. He did not slide in just kicked the ball.with the side of his foot. The winger was just unfortunate to be at the other side of it and fully committed. Wann was not even running at the ball. In truth a man of his bulk did not run. Even today a referee could find no fault with that tackle. On the other hand virtually every other tackle in his career would have got him sent off today

The hardest in my sixty years was an 'hopeless player called Sandy Wann. He had thighs bigger than any other footballers chest. I remember arriving after half time at York with Oldham 1 goal up. (train had derailed). As I walked onto the ground the York winger took the ball past our fullback and went into a tackle with Wann. Both players had a foot either side of the ball. There was an explosive crack and a scream. With a perfectly legitimate tackle Wann had broken the wingers leg in two places. No subs in those days so after a very long stoppage York had to play with ten men and just tried to defend. Oldham happy with one nil just defended and it was the most boring half a game I have ever watched.

Wimchester also injured

I cannot understand this anti Phili mentality. He was not the one giving the ball away. Mellis Jones and especially Kelly were, Kelly was the one responsible for their first goal with his lousy clearance path. If you were not looking through blinkers you would see the difference when 2 of those 3 were replaced. Able to get decent ball higher up the pitch meant he suddenly became effective. The front of the diamond player should not be blamed when the three behind pass backward or just hoof it. Mellis in particular had a really lousy match. He consistently failed to find a blue shirt and against a better side would have given away a bag full of goals. Get a grip and watch the match not your prejudice,

Being really ancient I can confirm that this chant was used by supporters of the West German national team in the World Cup and appropriated by our supporters from there. We originally chanted OI, Oi, Oi, as did the German supporters but it was quite a lot of years later changed to Athletic. I was still at school at the time so I am thinking it must have been the 1958 or 62 world cup.

Another sick bed day for me. 4 weeks now of listening to Latics in bed on the player. Please body recover by Saturday.

At least on a foggy day they should still be able to spot a teammate to pass to.

Well those with a short attention span can get along to the real Old Trafford starting this Saturday at 7pm for floodlit T20. All other home games are the same time on Friday nights. Bars are open all through the game and it is cheaper than football. Take the kids and they run games for them and other activities. DJ on at every game and some live bands. Get a T20 membership and it is even cheaper. Won't interfere with football season and there is just a possibility that Freddy Flintoff is going to play for Lancashire.

Well the Southport match was cold but the Ipswich match has to take it. 2 Ipswich fans were taken away by ambulance first half suffering with Hypothermia. Alll through the match there was horizontal sleet carried on the gale force wind straight into RRE. It was a police decision to move the crowd from there before any other fans succumbed to the conditions.

Its a deliberate ankle tap. The player doing it does not protest but walks away trying not to get sent off. All the protests were for Rooney being offside. Camera was in a bad place to catch it but referee for once was perfectly placed. I thought for the first time this season the referee did a really good job all through. His only fault was taking too long to book an Oldham player for time wasting.

Was not really a miss as the flag was up for offside.

I would prefer it without the sound, and with someone who knows how to use a camera and editing. Other than that........

I don't think we were the better team. but for long periods we were on top. Our fans seem to forget we had quite a few good chances. Montano's shot in the first half was brilliantly saved and if six inches to the right of him would have gone in. Tarky missed the sitter of the match. several shots just wide of the post that their goalkeeper would not have got. More corners from us. Referee inexplicably gave them a free kick right on the edge of their box when it was Tranmere who handled in a perfect position for Baxter. A good performance by the team against the best team I have seen in this league for some time. More worrying was the performance against Bury. If we had played like this against Bury for the full 90 it would have been an easy victory.

I usually spend a couple of months or so of the season in Christchurch. This year it may add up to 5 months. It is not continuous though so usually I am at least partially on UK Time and so I can get up and listen to Latics Player. I have been told I have to go back to Christchurch as they were winning whilst I was there and now thy are losing. If it is my fault then rest easy as after Christmas I will only be in England for 1 month till the end of the season. Watching goals on Latics Player is the only way to keep in touch,

I am 12000 miles away in Christchurch, New Zealand at the moment. What a difference here. Stadium unusable because of earthquake, The council have built a temporary 20000 seater stadium. It took them 2 months. It has everything including corporate boxes and TV studio. The two side stands are covered and there is even a lift to the corporate boxes. Behind one goal is a very small temporary stand which can be extended for big matches. It hosted a world cup qualifier on Tuesday and today hosted the semi-final of the provincial rugby premiership finals. I parked on the street nearby and my grandson and I paid £10 for both our seats. Even though it was a semi-final they still sold "Take a kid to Footy " tickets which cost less than a ticket for and adult on their own.