UpTheLatics

Same as Xander, I will be getting it tomorrow, but not at 9am. I'll wait for the crowds to die down...

Mouldy Old Dough and Seven Nation Army ( ) for moi. FanFare is boring.

7 strikers at one club is absolute madness. I think we've done all we're gonna do with the strikers, and I'm very happy with what we have. I can, however, see Wolfy moving on within the season. He's obviously at the back of the queue, and I think it's about time someone told him what his deal with theclub actually is. I feel sorry for him because he won't demand football, and for his own career he needs at least a loan spell. The beauty of our strikers is that they're also versatile. I do think Smalley will be used more of a winger next season, so he's got a good deal there. The only reason why we lacked firepower last season wasn't because we didn't have the quality. We did. Davies would have surely scored 20, Hughes, if even half-fit would have ended upin double figures, and we probably wouldn't have seen the likes of Lewi and Smalley in much depth. As Shez and Tommy are perfecting the balance and depth, I think we'll definitely see more fluency in our play, which, hopefully, will transpire into that free-scoring mode we had 2 seasons ago. Having 6 strikers at this level is a massive bonus. I have doubts as to whether any other side have that many in their side. From looking like the thinnest side in the division last year, for all its negatives, we now look like one of the stronger sides in terms of depth - and we're not even done - and because we had to throw Smalley and Lewi etc into the deep end, it has actually turned out to be a very positive thing. In terms of this side being built, maybe last year was a blessing in disguise... For me, we don't need another striker, as this would create way too much competition.

Well, I think even if we take him on trial, he needs a work permit for that trial, so I'm guessing he'll already have one or just sorted it out.

That'd be brilliant, but for goal celebration. Dunno about entrance, but for goal celebration: a recording of 500 Latics fans singing "who are ya!" at the opposition fans. played for exactly a minute. Or not... I've always enjoyed the classic Tom Hark really.

If there was a big enough crowd, say a good 50 people, the charity aspect is great, and it'd be more successful, but we'd also get on Sky Sports News.

Oh, whatever happens next season, Shez will get his pickers from some of our lot. However, I really don't see why Shez needs to be looking over his shoulder, worried that he shouldn't sign a few kids who could become something. Who says he'll be sacked after this season if we don't go up? It's a challenge for him, yes, but he's better out of it if that's the sort of pressure he's under. It's been mentioned: he's creating depth, something he hasn't had yet, and that, to me, is a positive, because that's what's hindered us under Shez.

Bet they were going for the football posts too. I know they nicked a load at Radclyffe School, then cleared off. Swines. Or do we just not seem to rate CCTV?

I haven't heard of him. However, he certainly seems to be rated. I'm looking forward to Shez's first interview back. We'll get a clearer picture on all 4 of our new lads then, and he likes about them. EDIT: Does anyone see a cross between Wolfy and Paul McCartney in him?

Do you mean the 11 games he played under Moore or his first full season under Shez? Either way, I must disagree. He might not be continously taking the entire left/right wing on, because, like most wingers, they get worked out. Instead, and if anyone can deny this I'm shocked, Taylor has developed other areas to his game. The fact that he's areal threat at the back post, the fact that he can cut inside now, and can do what he's done in terms of dribbling around defenders. He's now a goal threat, and he can still take on the left/right wings. I side with Shez, Grayson and O'Drsicoll in their rating of Chris.

Right, I'm sorry, I have to ask - do you live in Oldham and attend our games often? If not, your opinion is void simply on that basis. If you do attend, you can argue it - but Jesus Christ! You've posted 7/8 times here, and I'd like to quote you on everything. I'd be even willing to take into account what you was saying if you didn't just sit there making a list of his faults, which let's face it, he has so many of from your point of view, but you didn't even base them As I see it, he's come along very well under Shez. He's got him coming in centrally, and he's a bloody threat. How many times did we nearly score a beauty at BP after January, when he came inside, took a few on, and unleashed a thunderbolt? Quite a few. Also, showing how well he's done in the middle, his goal against Orient at home. Lovely finish. More pace at home to Gillis, got in behind the 2 CB's, and scored a lovely finish. Lacks foreight does he? Huddersfield at home rina a bell? He did very well to get the first move going, allowing Constantine to get some space. Our 2nd goal - Taylor tackled Sinclair, took him on, showing dribbling skills, and again, more imagination when he got to their CB, he squared to Conny who tapped into an empty net. 3rd goal? Taylor, centrally, won us the free kick. Why he even scored the 4th goal. What about Tranmere at home, with our 2nd goal? Very foxy, got his head to Conny, and he then darted through themiddle. Yeah, lucky deflection - he scored the goal too - but he showed foresight there, IMO. Which brings me to another point. His atatcking at the farpost has been excellent for us. That goal, B'mouth away same thing again. Donny at home last season, did it twice. Lack of crossing ability - crossed under-pressure for Conny's leveler at home to Millwall. Can't run as a winger. Bournemouth at home, got us that penalty, Crewe away, got Macca his goal (lucky deflection maybe). What about Forest at home last season?! Did it all game. You get my point by now. To attack him like you've done is totally unfair. You can have an opinion, but to say he's absolutely useless is extremely harsh. I agree his temper can get the better of him a few times, but I, personally, think that's more because he bloody cares about this club. We'd all be the same if we played for our club we supported as a lad. His 2nd half to this campaign was excellent. What's he supposed to do with an unbalanced side like we had? How can he deliver balls to 2 strikers who like to roam? We got settled, and he was fantastic for us. On the general topic, I wouldn't sell. I'd push them all the way - £1.5 million or nowt. He, along with the other youngsters, can fire us to promotion given some decent backing from Shez, the other coaching staff, the players, and also the fans. He'll be more valuable that way, and that's a certainty. Sorry to hone on, everyone. Whilst typing this, I think I warmed to Conny more too! He was involved with a lot of stuff there.

Instead of that frankly useless little sentence, why don't you explain more. I really hate these rumour threads, because they don't give any real detail. Seeing as you was there, why don't you give us a real quote?

Have we missed out chance to escape League 1? Now, I’ve been wondering about this, and the transfer of Robert Earnshaw from Derby to newly-promoted Nottingham Forest made me create this thread. Anyway, I’m one of those who believe football has been ruined by money. The whole ruthless chairman act is spreading, the competition is just out of control, and the toughness of the EPL is ridiculous now. That, too, is spreading, I think. Last year, Scunthorpe, Bristol City, and Blackpool all contested in the Championship, after winning promotion the season before. Sadly, only Scunthorpe returned to us. Instead, we were handed Colchester, who for some reason came down, and Leicester, a really big club. Season before last, we were given another mighty club, in the form of Leeds. What I’m getting at is Swansea, Forest and Donny all have the money and the facilities, proven by the fact that Forest, riddled with debt, still will spend money. They have the real ability to all survive this year, and we could be handed another 3 decent Championship sides, maybe another with a status like Leeds or Leicester. Hopefully, though, Bristol City, Blackpool and Donny get relegated, as that wouldn’t be that bad. League 1 is currently at its toughest, in my opinion. There’s money flying about, and for me it makes this division very unhealthy. Have we missed out chance to escape this division, when it was more open, didn’t have a load of big guns flying about, and was generally, well, easier. Obviously, we need the challenge, but there’s an obvious divide in the clubs now. Just like the EPL, you can say where teams are gonna finish. You know that the likes of Cheltenham, Crewe, and Hereford etc are gonna struggle, and you know that Leeds, Leicester etc will be up there, but the points gap won’t be exactly massive. We're not one of these big clubs who can spend their way to promotion. The likes of Doncaster and Forest did that. It's now so tough for us to get promoted. The only thing on our side, actually, is the fact that we now have a very good potential. Our side could be one of the brightest, and one of the youngest to break out of this division. It won’t be easy, it never will, I know that, but with the current state, it’s gonna be one of the toughest years, in my opinion. However, if Shez and the lads can break out of this division at last, as this division gets harder, does the Championship get harder? Just a little thought.

Interesting. It certainly sounds believable for once. However, could people start telling us where they hear these rumours? Most will be from mates, but even so, basing it would help.

His goal against Bury. Skiiill!

Check the highlights on World if you have it. EDIT: There are 9 on there scored by Chris.

To be fair, though, the lads have dealt in facts. They said there was a player having a medical - Fact - there was also a hitch with paperwork - Fact. They can only deal with what they know is fact, and considering they're not told it all they can't really give us every detail we long to know. At least they continued to update. They could have seen some having a dig at what they releasing, and after the hitch, they could have not even mentioned it. They surely did us a favour by letting us know. Oh dear Lord. Yes, the official site's gonna completely change their set-up on the basis on 7 missing votes, or even the poll on its own on this messageboard. It hardly bloody matters, does it? Then again, it must to you. Unlucky.

I don't think we can really judge him as yet, because if any of us are saying we've watched him for longer than 20 seconds on say the Championship Goals thing on Sunday, I'd call them a liar. As long as we don't start punting the ball to him, then I'll be happy.

I don't see the problem. It's funny, everyone here would have wanted some form of news on transfers in January, as they were moaning that we didn't sign anyone. At least the site tells us we're expecting things. I would have though the official site was there to keep everyone up to date. They said we'd have a signing last week, Lee signed only a hour or so later. A few hours later, Fleming was unveiled. I would have thought those who run the site are as clueless as us. They get a few facts together, get it up for the fans, then wait for the officials to tell them the rest. I have no problem with the updates.

It looks as though Shez is tryna get that type of player back in, assuming we have signed him. Still young, though, so that's on his side. To be fair to him, Porter didn't exactly score that many for Bury, so I'll have to retract a comment further up, and give him a chance. Again, assuming we've signed him...

So... it is O'Grady then? If so, and if he's just a back-up, then I'm not very happy at all. We're spending money now on back-ups?! I thought Corney said if it's the right player, then we would spend...

... ... You've made a point...

Apologies. Still, I really don't know who to go with. I really don't want Conny, tbh.

These odds have no basis whatsoever, they're there to get a decent early bet - which many of us will take advantage of. Come August 9th, then we'll see a clearer picture.

Ah so these are to win the league out right. Still, though, certainly worth a fiver.