UpTheLatics

I don't disagree, actually. But nor do I want to see every side playing a dull passing game. I want players to play the game of football. I want players to play with imagination, which means using the football field. I'm simply saying that Moore/Blackwell are called bad managers because of their style, not their results. I'm OK with saying Moore coaches a scrappy, direct style, but is a bad manager in terms of his results? Not really. He did well with us and Tranmere without that much to spend. I'd like to see a variation of styles. We can criticise the old direct approach, but needlessly hogging possession is also irritating to watch. Take Ian Holloway. Now there is a man that doesn't demand every pass be along the deck to a team member 3 yards away. But he wants attacking football at pace. That can be achieved, as it is at Blackpool, playing short, long, wide and narrow. Look at Manchester United. They've never been a team that passes too much. Ferguson wants to attack and the only way you attack is by looking forward not sideways. They're a surprisingly "direct" side. Anyway, my original point was that Blackwell, despite how we perceive his football, has a decent enough record for Bury fans to think they'll stay up this year. I'd take him over Penney. He simply wanted clean sheets. Now that is dull.

Very good argument to the contary.

Call me silly but a 3-1 win.

Going off the first paragraph, that's nonsense. You have to take into account every job and the plain facts are he got them one game away from the Premier League. To disregard that - and to blame those two losses on him - is a tad foolish. The Luton job - we could say he "failed", and perhaps you're right, but considering the mess they were in - plus the fact they entered administration during his first full season - it's difficult to say either way. I was harsh on Peter Reid actually because he took Plymouth over and they were a sinking ship. Few managers would have saved them, Portsmouth or Luton. All three are where they are because of the sour side of the game. There's no consistency with the general criticisms of managers by some. Moore's football was crap, perhaps, but Sheridan didn't have us playing "by far superior" football. We played very well for four months. Then it went down the pan for the next two years. The same has happened with Dickov, actually. When I say he is being backed, he has been backed a lot more than previous managers and I don't understand why. When was the last time you was entertained by Oldham? On that basis, he should have gone a long time ago. I actually disagree. It's not pure entertainment that gets my vote. I like to see some, an excitable tempo, progression and results. This is League One. We can't demand it, and there aren't many examples of clubs like ours playing it. Stockport under Gannon is a decent example, but the group they had was very talented. With regards to Blackwell, would i have him here? I don't know. But what is undeniable is that he has had three previous jobs and budgets aside (we're talking about the Championship where half the clubs have sound budgets) he did well. Would anyone take Westley? I know I would. Afterall, I'd call six goals goals against Colchester and five against Sheffield Wednesday or four against Swindon and five against Hartlepool fairly entertaining. Of course it is different views on the game. I just like to see an old-headed approach when it comes to the players attitudes. Having the toughness to succeed has never been a bad thing and is something we certainly missed last year. Nor am I one for a "style". Nice passing and movement is good to watch, but a strong, physical player with an intent to win the ball is equally good to watch. Flooding the box with aerial balls is tiresome, but so is watching a team knock the ball about in their own half while declaring "we play good football". But we'd have to ignore every manager since Royle.

That's my point with Blackwell - is he, like all those other names mentioned, simply disregarded for his style of football? Direct? Yes. Negative? I don't see how. The ball is aimed right for the opposition box. It's not pretty, I agree. But this is the biggest fault with Oldham supporters. We demand this wonderful football over results. We had it for 5 months with Sheridan. We hounded Moore out for his ugly approach, but what is Dickov coaching? Let's be honest here - the football is woeful. Moore's style was to coach a system, a system that has worked for him at every club, and if he had been given a season longer (he'd have stood an excellent chance now because it's obvious a lot of our fans have had a divine intervention) he would have taken us into the Play-offs. I do think it's proof that it's Dickov's name that is blinding fans. We've seen Blackwell, despite taking two clubs one game away from the Premier League, and other names criticised (more or less on perception), yet the one man we all know (Dickov) is being backed to the hilt. I don't mind supporters backing him but I think we all more or less agree that what we're getting is lacking both in quality and results. Some wish to support Dickov, but when it comes to the hard facts then we have to agree that what we've had so far is not good enough. Most of those names mentioned will have a much better win % than Dickov.

Luton were second bottom when he took over. In March. Guess who were below them? Leeds United. Personally, I don't see the evidence against his reputation.

What's wrong with Blackwell exactly? He's had three previous jobs, of which he's taken two of them, including the notoriously difficult Leeds United, to the Championship Play-offs.

And we didn't score. 15 league goals in the last 21 games. I don't understand some people. Everyone wanted Penney out, but where was this patience for him? He could have turned it around, afterall he had promotions under his belt - a proven track record, we could say. Is it because we didn't win enough games? Or the fact we didn't particularly play good football? Or how about we didn't score enough goals? Funny that, but all three of those questions can be applied to Dickov, who has had 18 months longer. His statistics are abysmal. I struggle to understand where this new-found sense of loyalty and patience has come from. We said that things would improve when the likes of Furman and Wesolowski came back. That we struggled so badly because we didn't have the players. We didn't score or win because of it, some said. What's your excuses now? No doubt some will come up with a couple. Just like Dickov, some seem content to hide behind excuses. I saw Dickov mentioned his "brief". What a gutless thing to say. With the squad he has he knows full well that relegation shouldn't even be in our minds. We all knows Corney mentioned the top six, so why is he mentioning that his aim is to keep us in the league? That's wrong. He's under pressure and we can all see it. He's only started to fire up when he's realised his performance as manager of this football club is the worst some of us has ever seen. Give him patience, but he doesn;t deserve it.

Of course. I would never wish defeat on the team if it meant Dickov going. I'd be delighted as the next man if we managed to turn things around. On the flip side, how many smug members will we have to face should results improve? The middle ground would be to be happy if Dickov got us winning, but those still supporting him to understand the concerns of the fans who don't. I will instantly lose respect for anyone who says "we told you so" - on either side of the debate, actually.

Indeed. Yet he's probably held in high regard by Darlington and Doncaster supporters. That list of names doesn't prove a thing. There are some very, very poor managers, but what makes a success story is a whole host of factors, such as settings, personalities and structures. Penney succeeded somewhere, but wasn't taken to here. Tilson got Southend promoted twice yet he's now with Canvey Island. All I know is what Dickov has brought to this club and how capable he is of progressing us. Most of us don't know much about the majority of those other managers, so we can't instantly write them all off. BritsolLatics has provided a bit of information I wasn't aware of: his brand of football. I hadn't really noticed it, but there again I remember he used to set his team up very well at Boundary Park and ultimately take the three points back home. The brand of football still plays a major role with this club. I can't many Tranmere fans moaning about the nature of Moore's style, particularly away from Prenton Park...

So the consensus is that we stick with a man, whose record is abysmal, simply because nobody fancies some of those on that list? That list isn't up to date; Steve Tilson (who I'd take) is at Canvey Island and Paul Buckle manages Luton. I'd personally take Paul Trollope, but he's currently at Norwich City. Did well with Bristol Rovers, has five seasons under his belt,and is only 40. Certainly had it over us during his time with Rovers. I'd also take Tilson, but it'd take a compensation deal and will ultimately be a drawn-out process, which can be disastrous. Dyche has only a year's experience (which goes against the "experienced" line some take) and Billy Davies commands the Championship. Unless it is one of League One's biggest clubs, I can't see many even contemplating him.

Despite my feelings on the situation, I have, to my mind, only failed to clap the players off at an away game on two occasions. They were the 4-1 loss last season at Colchester and then that horror show at Hereford a few years ago. There may be more but those two have been the stand-out harrowing experiences in recent times. At home it is a different story.

Ok, but explain today. We seemingly had a platform to build upon in terms of performances. We had three games unbeaten before today. Where is the momentum and consistency? He may have swapped things about but only after A. being out-played in the first half and B. realising his words during the break had, yet again, absolutely no effect, Today we return to long periods of flat football. There seems to be no clear aim to our movement as a club. We just stutter to each game, perhaps get a point, then fall into the next match. An improving team improve. This is League One, not the Premier League. In the Premier League, an outclassed club, such as Stoke and Fulham, improve season by season. In League One it isn't acceptable and nor can a manager be so foolish to believe he is entitled to a year to turn a result against a club like Scunthorpe from a loss to a unconvincing draw,

What is this evidence? He's added players to his arsenal so the fact he can turn around to meet players older than 18 to throw on so him making a substitution is him improving? I was taken in by the Notts County performances, but since then what is there? We can't ignore that first half against Scunthorpe, surely? The second half was hardly blindingly superb. And then there's today, which was drab. This season we've recorded one victory in nine. We haven't won a game since we made three extra signings. What is this evidence?

How many games have you attended this season? Or last, for that matter? I recall you said on Tuesday that that was your first this term. I do think it's easier to turn a blind eye if you aren't there. Having to watch 90 minutes every week for the past 18 months has been as difficult a time as I've experienced since I've supported this club. The players we have are good players. Some have played at a higher level and some have been linked to a higher level. This idea that this squad is poor and that money hasn't been spent to assemble is one that bores me. Those that criticise Dickov may irritate you - well, their arguments - but that sorta pro-Dickov stuff doesn't wash with me. It's actually foundation-less. I'd love to shape things like you do but when you look at the basic facts on offer he hasn't a leg to stand on. His performance as the manager of this football club doesn't deserve praise. He deserves patience, and given the time he has had with the results he's produced he's done well to fend off what I generally believe is a restless, quickly irritated crowd, but when things don't change after so many games questions must be asked. New players but still few goals and victories. Yes, he has Derbyshire and Baxter, and yes, despite my dwindling support, I would like to at least see a little bit more, but how much time does he expect to receive? He's a daft, foolish bloke if he expects the fans to sit idly by as he stumbled his way through the season.

I'd love to share this view, and I admire whoever is still as patient as you, but there is no way other supporters will take your position. As a collective group we're up there with the most frustrated and easily irritated in football. There is no longer anything positive about having Dickov stood on the touchline. I'm beyond despair now. I will always attend games. Those ridiculous ones will always draw a number of idiots like me, but I can no longer handle the same feeling of sheer frustration. The football, despite what Dickov, the deluded Dickov, says, is possible the worst I've seen as an Oldham fan. You could point to Penney, or even Moore, but they had game plans. I'm still no nearer to understanding what Dickov's beliefs are. What does he preach? What's his ideology as a manager? I haven't a clue. He has failed to coach into his players what he says is "good football". It is often aimless. I've noticed a contradiction in recent weeks. A month ago Dickov mentioned how slowly we got the ball forward. Now, when Smith is on the field, he's criticised too many "long balls". We play "good football", or at least football with a purpose, when Furman plays very well. At the moment, he is allowing himself to be easily marked, and we can't sustain possession. What is Dickov doing about it? Nothing. He's allowed us, very much like Sheridan, to become a scrappy unit who wins by hook or by crook. It may get the odd result, but it's ultimately doomed. What has he done about our woeful starts to games, particularly at home? Nothing. Our preparation is much the same and it isn't working. Our home form is an embarrassment and has been the major factor behind fans' irritation. We don't create, we don't play at a consistent tempo and we don't score. Blame the players, but the manager is there to implement new ideas and to eventually progress the team to a competitive standard. Our ugly scrappiness is the main reason why we don't get battered 3-0 or 4-0 every game. Or luck has played a part, because we should have been torn apart on Tuesday. Yet we get fed this drivel by a man who simply refuses to be honest enough. It's a poor show when a man who is willing to hide behind "bad" decisions or look to 20 minutes of a match to defend his team. Tactics? I don't see anything what he does to change a game. Motivation at half-time? The worst I've ever known. The man himself? Lovely bloke. So what do we do? I hate to admit when I know in my head that the manager's time is up. I begrudgingly admitted it after the 6-2 debacle at MK Dons that was the doing of Sheridan, but he had to go. We're seven games into this season - nine if we want to look at the Cup games (which includes Chesterfield, so I'd rather not) - so, yes, it is early. But we're seeing the same ills that afflicted the previous two seasons. Nothing has changed. He still talks rubbish. He still looks clueless. We still look an ugly, disjointed side. We have scored 15 league goals in 21 matches. That is woeful. Nor have we looked like scoring many more. And then we return to the shockingly bad number of victories. Ironically, Mark Robins will stand on the touchline next Saturday. He saved Sir Alex's job, they say. Do we honestly see a saviour for our own Scot? I don't. It's sad, but there we are. Time's time. Sack.

To repeat Stevie_J - why? Let's not pretend this club is a big, chirpy love-in. Dickov, whilst I'm still behind him - just - has done nothing to deserve fans' patience. The statistics are woeful. Where has this new mentality come from? Penney didn't get this. Nor did Sheridan, and he had us top-half.

I'm half and half with your views prozac, but your last two posts I can't agree with more, especially your second. I'm bemused by some people's views on last night's game. I also believe there's a few who say they are "really encouraged" but simply putting on this daft mask of optimism. Personally, prozac, I don't think it's the "two defensive midfielders" that is the problem. I don't expect much more Wes when he's in the engine room, but Furman is irritating me. It's up to a player to find space for themselves. I didn't really see Furman do that. When he does and can command the ball, and when he does that he's an excellent player for us. Yesterday he was possibly the worst on the field, with Croft a close second. Those two are supposedly our better players, yet their start to the season has been shockingly inconsistent. I thought the pair were excellent on Saturday. Yesterday they were abject. I don't agree with getting on the backs of players but I found myself booing the players at half time. I haven't done that since we got battered at Hereford. But some fans seem to have brushed the first half under the carpet and focused on this last quarter (when Scunthorpe had settled for a point and were sat deep). We wouldn't have had any pressure to exert if we hadn't have been handed a lot of fortune. I must have been watching a different game, of course. We were very lucky to have escaped with a point last night. At home. Again. I'm not pushing an attitude of doom and gloom because I was impressed by the way we grew into the game, but only after Scunny had missed three glorious chances and Bouzanis had made two brilliant saves, one of them world class. If that is acceptable then we don't need to worry about the attendances dropping further, do we? But, as the managers say, we move on to the next game.

"2nd half immense". What? Seriously - Ok I get some who want PD sacked can go a little overboard but "immense" is a little too far the other way. If those two chances had not been created in the last minute a lot of tunes would be different. I'm behind Dickov. I don't know why, but I am. He's been given a new lease of life because of the trio that have arrived. But a very good side on paper were chasing shadows for 45mins. Is ignorance bliss or will some only look at the DECENT last 20mins? If Scunny had hit the target and Bouzanis had not made two fine saves it would have been a mauling. I thought we were terrific against Notts County. I thought we were frankly average tonight. Shockingly bad in the first half, average in the second. I won't defend Dickov on his inability to motivate a squad to contest a football match for its duration, not bits of it.

I was stunned to see what I did during the first half. We won't get anywhere if we play like that in every opening half of our matches. I struggle to find words to describe it so for those who were not in attendance here's a sentence that should paint the perfect picture: "If it had been 6-0 to Scunthorpe we could have had no complaints". Second half we were OK. Nothing more. The whole affair, from our point of view, was tepid, disjointed, slow. We have played the exact same in each of our four home league games. I thought we'd see something to encourage us further after that second half on Saturday. I was wrong. There are supporters and the players who are saying they are disappointed we didn't win. We escaped a utter thrashing. We grew into the match, but from 70mins. It's not acceptable. 16 victories from PD's 50 home league games.

It's a brilliant question. It's been a part of me since I was young. There's hope and belief. I don't think anyone truly goes through habit. It's a faith, very much religious-like. It's my one routine. It essentially is a significant part of my life and for that reason I don't ever see myself giving up on it. I'm sure we've all been fed up to a point where we've all said "I'm never going again". But then we're in the car driving on a ridiculously long trip to watch a football match. It's madness, but it's just another thing that distinguishes the human race. A lot of silly, almost pointless traditions. It's my one addiction, and one that I've never once truly wanted to beat.

Excellent stuff. I'm not happy we only have a point but we conceded two goals against 10 men. That is not good enough. However, we played some excellent stuff during the second half. I haven't been as optimistic coming out of Boundary Park for a long, long time. But we need to do it for 90 minutes. First half was dull, disjointed, scrappy. The second we used some imagination, we played clever passes through the middle (which we don't do enough of, in my opinion). We used to wide players very well (I thought Croft and Wabara were unplayable) - but look where Croft was again for our first goal! Play him centrally and I think we'll get a full game out of him. Positive signs, but also the same old stuff. Slow starts and shocking defending. We should have won so I hope Dickov - though optimistic with the performance - is frustrated and slightly irritated. I think a lot of supporters are looking forward to our next match - how bloody rare!

I'm trying to remain cautious, afterall Baxter is an unproven youngster and Derbyshire has stalled. However, very impressive bits of buisness. It's whipped up some positive air and will hopefully add a few to tomorrow's gate figure.

I agree Simpson is not a striker, but he has been playing between the lines and he's done nothing of real note. However, we do not have the weight in numbers to drop Simpson to the bench. If Wesolowski was 100% fit I'd be happy to see Simpson dropped. His attitude has been appalling. I'm seeing a different side of him this season and it's not at all positive. He needs to show a major improvement, but to be fair to him our collective lack of imagination hinders him. Matt Smith wins a lot in the air, but a lot of balls are wasted and when he's in front of Smith (with Smith back to goal) he won't see much of the ball. However, that is not to say he shouldn't be relying on that excuse. For me, Simpson doesn't look hungry enough. But, as ever, it's a clean slate. We got our first victory at Portsmouth, and tomorrow is a difficult game, but we can win it, and we'll certainly do our chances a world of good if we all have a positive outlook.

I've just read Rochdale's attendance at the weekend: 2,199. That shocked me because i didn't know things were so bad for them. So I scanned their attendances during the previous three years. Under Hill in League Two they were around 2,500 and then they began winning again and they crept over 3,000. When they were promoted they increased again, which is to be expected. But then they started to lose and look. The simple fact is too many football supporters abandon their club when poor form hinders their short-term success. However, I can't blame some. Do we enjoy the connection football supporters of clubs like Oldham Athletic, Rochdale etc had in the past? Sadly not. It frustrates me so many are so fickle but what is given back to supporters nowadays? Did anyone see the Cheshire Ground Hop day Macclesfield, Stockport and Hyde arranged for October 13th? Terrific idea. Essentially, supporters will attend all three games. One kicks off at 12:30pm, the next at 3:30pm and I think the Hyde game goes off at 6pm. It's an idea that won't exactly add long-term supporters, but I think it's being done to help each other out and try to attract the Mancs.