joe_lead

Off to Download tomorrow - Let there be rock!

So the Chron believe all things point toward the new manager having ......... knowledge of the inner workings of the club. I suppose this is because the club ethos is so unique that to include the other 95% of potential options would be too risky? We're not Liverpool, we're a badly run club on its arse FFS

that's only got 551 pieces ;-)

Think you're right it was Durkin, seem to remember that the hotdog had the desired effect and resulted in the Ketchup plastered official disallowing a Chelsea goal

Iain Swan is a definite 0 Points if Pointless ever had a question relating to people who played for Oldham Athletic

Pen to Luton - SAVED !!!!!

HT 0-1

.. or by wide man are we talking more Windass than Croft?

really enjoyed the updates guys, muchos gravies. sounded geeat

It appears that there is no longer any common adhesive that binds all the supporters to this club, it's lost it's identity. We are left arguing about our reasons for going or not going, whether someone deserves to be called a supporter or not based on their level of attendance. It's so sad that this is what it's come to. The demise is not our fault, it's not the players fault and neither is it Dunn's fault, the blame lies solely with the Board. It is them that thought you could ignore the supporters in its decision making and it's them that believe that you can buy cheap without adding value and the product will still maintain its attractiveness..

Primary skill of a manager/coach is to motivate and instill confidence into individuals such that they can perform to their potential. it is clear that the current set-up is incapable

Ooops, 2 years of Penney would have been unbearable, it just seemed like it. I've checked the 10 shots per game this season against BBC site and it seems correct. Must say I was quite surprised too unless they include the warm-up.

Column 1 - Points after 20 games Column 2 - Final Position Column 3 - Final Points Column 4 - Total Goals Scored Column 5 - Avg goals scored per game by Oldham Column 6 - Home Wins Column 7 - Home Goals Scored Column 8 - Avg goals scored by Oldham at Home per game Column 9 - Avg shots on goal per game (Oldham only) Column 10 - Avg Attend Column 11 - Managers 2015/16 19 pts - ?? - ?? - ?? - 22 - 1.1 - 1 - 11 - 1.0 - 10.0 - 4,391 - Kelly & Dunn 2014/15 30 pts - 15th - 57 pts - 54 - 1.2 - 8 - 32 - 1.4 - 11.0 - 4,349 - Johnson & Holden 2013/14 22 pts - 15th - 56 pts - 50 - 1.1 - 7 - 23 - 1.0 - 12.7 - 4,413 - Johnson 2012/13 23 pts - 19th - 51 pts - 46 - 1.0 - 8 - 25 - 1.1 - 12.1 - 4,129 - Dickov & Philiskirk 2011/12 26 pts - 16th - 54 pts - 50 - 1.1 - 9 - 26 - 1.1 - 11.3 - 4,433 - Dickov 2010/11 29 pts - 17th - 56 pts - 53 - 1.2 - 7 - 29 - 1.3 - 12.3 - 4,392 - Dickov 2009/10 21 pts - 16th - 52 pts - 39 - 0.9 - 7 - 23 - 1.0 - 10.6 - 4,630 - Penney 2008/09 36 pts - 10th - 65 pts - 66 - 1.4 - 9 - 35 - 1.5 - 14.1 - 5,636 - Shez & Royle 2007/08 27 pts - 8th - 67 pts - 58 - 1.3 - 10 - 32 - 1.4 - 14.3 - 5,326 - Shez 2006/07 35 pts - 6th - 78 pts - 69 - 1.5 - 13 - 36 - 1.6 - 14.5 - 6,334 - Shez 2005/06 28 pts - 10th - 65 pts - 58 - 1.3 - 12 - 32 - 1.4 - 11.9 - 5,796 - Moore 2004/05 pts - 19th - 52 pts - 60 - 1.3 - 10 - 42 - 1.8 - 12.4 - 6,462 - Talbot & Moore 2003/04 pts - 15th - 57 pts - 66 - 1.4 - 9 - 37 - 1.5 - 11.4 - 6,566 - Dowie & Eyers/Shez & Talbot 2002/03 pts - 5th - 82 pts - 68 - 1.5 - 11 - 39 - 1.7 - 12.8 - 6,699 - Dowie 2001/02 pts - 9th - 70 pts - 77 - 1.7 - 14 - 47 - 2.0 - 12.8 - 5,800 - Richie & Wadsworth 2000/01 pts - 15th - 58 pts - 53 - 1.2 - 11 - 35 - 1.5 - 13.1 - 4,972 - Richie

Apologies for layout, gone Pete Tong, but you get the idea: Column 1 - Team currently in bottom 4 Column 2 - Current number of games played Column 3 - Current number of points Column 4 - Position finished Column 5 - Number of points finished with Column 6 - Team actually relegated Column 7 - Number of points relegated with

(*) = relegated 2015/16 Pd Pts Barnsley 21 - 21 Colchest 21 - 20 Oldham 20 - 19 Crewe 21 - 19 2014/15 Pd Pts Final Psn Final Pts Relegated Colchest 20 20 19 52 Notts C 50pts Yeovil* 21 20 24 40 Crawley 50 Orient* 21 19 23 49 Orient 49 Crewe 21 19 20 52 Yeovil 40 2013/14 Steveng* 21 19 24 42 Tranme 47 Notts C 22 18 20 50 Carlis 45 Crewe 21 18 19 51 Shrews 42 Bristol C 21 16 12 58 Steven 42 2012/13 Shrew 21 19 16 55 Scun 48 Bury* 21 19 23 41 Ports 42 Scun* 21 17 21 48 Bury 41 Hartle* 21 9 24 41 Hartle 41 2011/12 Walsll 21 18 19 50 Wycom 43 Rochd* 21 18 24 38 Chestfd 42 Wycom* 21 17 21 43 Exeter 42 Chestfd* 21 14 22 42 Rochd 38 2010/11 Plym* 22 20 23 42 Dag & R 47 Yeovil 21 20 14 59 Brist R 45 Dag & R* 21 18 21 47 Plym 42 Walsall 21 17 20 48 Swindon 41 2009/10 Bright 21 20 13 59 Gilling 50 Wycom* 21 17 22 45 Wycom 45 Tranm 21 17 19 51 Southd 43 Stockp* 20 14 24 25 Stockp 25 2008/09 Bright 21 20 16 52 Northam 49 Cheltn* 21 19 23 39 Crewe 46 Herefd* 21 16 24 34 Cheltn 39 Crewe* 21 13 22 46 Herefd 34 2007/08 Cheltn 20 18 19 51 Bournm 48 Luton* 20 16 24 33 Gilling 46 Port V* 21 16 23 38 Port V 38 Bournm* 21 6 21 48 Luton 33 2006/07 Bournm 21 20 19 52 Rothrm 48 Orient 20 18 20 51 Chestfd 47 Cheltnm 21 18 17 54 Bradfd 47 Brentfd* 21 18 24 37 Brentfd 37 2005/06 Blackpl 21 21 19 53 Hartle 50 Rotherhm 21 19 20 52 MK Dons 50 Bristol C 21 19 9 65 Swindon 48 Swindon* 21 18 23 48 Walsall 47

During the 70s, 80s and early 90s I almost religiously travelled home and away to watch Oldham the team my Dad supported. During the later nineties my work took me away from the area resulting in me going to less games, but I would still make every effort to attend about 20 games a season. The noughties (stupid word) saw me move even further away and start a family since when I have been able to attend only a dozen games a season on average. However, like ones true love I would still think of Oldham every single day and stay in contact by whatever means available to me. I grew up much closer to Maine Road than Boundary Park. My Grandad would take me to watch City on the occasions when my Dad couldnt take me to Oldham. I could have supported City but in those days you tended to support the team your Dad supported, lets call it an arranged marriage. Living in Manchester none of my mates were Oldham supporters, so when I started going to watch Oldham without my Dad I had to make new friends. So I found new friends and what started as a common passion for Oldham grew into family friendships where we now share visits, holidays, birthdays, weddings and unfortunately funerals. When I look back I thought it took a lot of guts for a young lad to go and watch Oldham when all his mates were off watching City every weekend, but I know that I made the right decision even though at the time my love was blind and my dad wouldve kicked me over next doors back wall if Id chosen otherwise. There would be a dozen or so of us who would meet up all those years ago in the old 2nd Division. Like my City mates we all grew up with a common allegiance to a club, we sang on the terraces around the country, like them we had heroes that we idolised. But thats where the commonality ended. We got to talk to our heroes when they were warming up or taking a throw-in and wed meet them at the open days and possibly again in the street or at a petrol station. We truly believed we were part of our club, we could access our club and talk to players, club officials and Directors, whereas my City friends could only reach out and barely touch theirs. Our club promoted a family image, an image recognised across the country, yes there were other family clubs but it meant we were slightly different than the norm and it was a badge we could wear with pride. With the family image came a personal responsibility to consider those around you and moderate your language when giving the opposition and officials pelters, but this meant that the patter was generally humorous rather than abusive. There was also the word unfashionable that prefixed Oldham which we always assumed was aimed at us for wearin the same T-shirt and jeans for 3 seasons when everyone else was wearing Fred Perry and Tachinni. Whatever it meant, it gave us a unique identity. Winning wasnt everything to us, because our love wasnt shallow it was forged by a close association with club and fellow supporters alike, it was in our genes, or more likely it simply drained out of us after 40 years that saw us win only 2 promotions. However, our alternative to winning was a sense of pride that for many years we were associated with playing attacking football. I recall our goal scored was regularly one of the highest in all leagues. Admittedly our goals against were equally the highest but that never mattered because it was entertainment and there was lots to talk about post-match. I can also remember feeling smug when people would never put us down for a no-score draw because there were long periods of time when 0-0 was so infrequent. Our history is peppered with characters who kept you talking after the final whistle, not blessed with world-class skill but more of honest endeavours. I admit that there were also dismal times, but you always knew that there was a commitment within then club to turn things around. All of the above were positive attributes that founded the strong association between club and supporters. I accept that Society has changed and I accept that Football has changed but most of these attributes are maintained through a top down club ethos rather than any amount of financial input. The performances on the pitch for several years have been a direct reflection of the (lack of) leadership shown by those at the top. Outside of minimising expenditure there appears no visible strategies for improving the entertainment offered. It has been painful watching something you have grown up with being treated with such frivolous contempt. Weve been through a lot of turmoil in recent times but even up until 2005 there were six or seven of the original dozen would meet up for a couple of pints before and after the games. Last year only two of us attended matches this year theres been only me. The strategy of (over) reliance on lone players has been counter-productive eroding the connection between supporter and player, and preventing any opportunity for continuous improvement. Recruitment of borderline competent footballers and managers intent on playing low-risk, dont lose anti-football has reduced the entertainment value to zero. A family image that took decades to build up was cut down in one week of the Ched Evans affair. For all of us there has been a gradual cutting of the positive identity that originally bound us to the club, but worse than this, any hope of the future return of these values have now been replaced with a belief that this rudderless ship will be a haven for any workshy fop that wants to earn their coin for the near future. My love has stopped and my respect and admiration replaced by dislike and irritation. The final but strongest bond that motivates me to attend is now my Dad. He took me to my first game for which I will be forever grateful, and he still goes regularly as he has done for nearly 80years. Circumstances over the last couple of seasons have meant that Ive been in the area for many weekends which have allowed me to attend many more games, and just like my informative years I go along with my dad. We sit and put the world to right and blether about the past players and the characters in the crowd and how we would all stand in the same place in the paddocks, the banter youd have with the linesman and players. This weekend at Crewe we were reminiscing about the lies people would shout to Ronnie Blair about what the opposition winger had said about him, and Ronnie would give you a knowing wink after hed sent him into the advertising boards. Just as wed stopped laughing one of our own supporters shouted a tirade of abuse at Brown from behind. Neither of us said anything, I could see my Dad shaking his head though, in fact he shook his head that many times on Saturday Im surprised it didnt fall off. It wasnt a nice atmosphere at the end of the match and I was glad to be going home, and as we slowly walked back to the car my Dad turned to me and said Do you only come to the games because of me? I replied Not really, I enjoy the time with you and its just like what we did all those years ago After a few seconds he stopped and said I think thatll be my last game, I dont enjoy it anymore, lets create some new memories just you, me, (your wife) and the grand kids. My eyes filled up as I realised Saturday was probably the last time Ill ever watch Oldham with my Dad. So with that final tie for me attending matches being severed what about my relationship with Oldham. Well weve been growing apart in recent years, in spite of the difficulties weve faced I can honestly say that I tried to make it work but it is now clear to me that we want different things and are going in different directions. I do not see any of attributes that originally drew me to Oldham, and none of my friends like her that much anymore. The increasing arguing and bickering, some of it in public in front of our friends, has become tiresome and destructive. All the good times and laughs are clearly in the past and I will always treasure them however I dont see any future in trying to make it work when all you do is ignore the people that have cared about you. I think its time for a trial separation. Ive no intention of finding another club. I think this has come at a time when football in general is losing my interest and has been sliding down my own set of priorities for some years. There's far too much football being broadcast and far too much money involved in a game which ought to be primarily about participating rather than spectating. I may be enticed to return if there is a change in ethos at the club, an ethos that would set us aside for being different and doing the right thing, the suggestion of food collections is a small but important step in the right direction.

Chuffed for Fury but that was a very poor Championship fight by 2 very average boxers. Fury was like someone pretending to be Ali with his arms down constant talking unorthodox stance and circling around but Wlad didn't want it and didn't adapt his plan and must have thrown only a dozen rights in 12 rounds. Poor fight but well done Tyson, World Champion ?

(strokes chin) so I'll be in the Scottish Premier League next year where I have a chance of reaching Champions League Qualifiers or do I go for a League One club whose management team are working to a strategy to take them to League 2 and beyond. Doris, I'm struggling with this decision I could really do with some help here!!!!!!

Can't remember it but my dad said he took me to it. Amazing that that was the last time we succumbed to a non-league team, 43 years

Best of luck George, hope you have the support around you to beat your Demons. Some fights are harder than others but my thoughts are with him in his battle ahead, so hope he plays at a high level in the future

Took the missus today for first time in years, from 20 mins in all I got was 'How long's left?' ..........after the umpteenth time of asking I gave her a sharp reply along the lines of 'it lasts 90 minutes work it out yourself!' she replied 'it's bloody irritating isn't it, now you know how I feel when I'm watching Strictly!'

Attractive football, backing your manager, home grown players and a pleasant stadium, it may work across most of northern Europe but this model will never work in Division 1. The bloke's a madman. Fans want to see new faces every few months, players who have played for/loan to 6 or 7 clubs by the time they're 24. Players who have a record of mediocrity is what we want, we want certainty that a bigger club is not going to come in for any gems we would have otherwise developed and offer silly money. We need to establish an ethos of 'not losing' above entertainment because fans are results focussed and care not how this is achieved. Balmy I tell you, balmy.

Sorry, I can't hold it in any longer........... What's the effin point in voting 'Don't Know' in a poll. FFS if you do not have an opinion on a matter why inform others that you don't have a preference, we don't want to know. It's a poll FFS. And Mr Pollster, don't give people a cop out option in future. Can I suggest that all 7 of you spend 5 minutes considering both scenarios then choose which you prefer and vote accordingly - it's called decision making, it's what life's all about and it's effin easy. Going to the effort of voting simply to say 'I don't know' is a waste of time and makes you look stupid so give yourselves a shake and get off the fence. Anyone got any thoughts on what to have for tea tonight, I can't decide

Think I'll try encouraging for 90minutes, apparently its what supporters tend to do and it seems to work elsewhere

Pleased with the start to date compared to seasons past. 4 games in, undefeated, 2 goals against and developing an ability to grind out a victory/draw when would previously have lost. Anyone who is gonna start attacking the manager and his tactics 4 games in needs to give himself a shake. We have started off well by making ourselves difficult to beat which is a great platform to build from. We can get out of this League this year but we as supporters have our part to play and it is not by being over critical after 4 feckin games as I tried to explain to the prick sat behind me today.