UpTheLatics

At least the season isn't over... yet. There's this silly hope, but hey, we have to believe. However, let's not get our hopes that high up cause we end up blaming the manager and players...

Looks decent. However, it's common knowledge that Shez doesn't want Davies in the wings. He wants him in the box, because he regards him as a striker. Also, restricting him to the right also means, when he does drop deep and moves into the channels, he won't be able to get onto the left of the park. I don't think we'll see the 4-5-1 much next season, tbh. I think it was used because it's all we had which fitted naturally with the lads we had at the time.

I get the finance thing, but we've narrowly lost to Leeds and Swans this year, beaten them both, and remained undefeated against Donny. I can't see Blackpool coming down. Scunny will provide a nice little trip for us again, Colchester is a bit of a trip, but I bet we'd all travel to Leicester or Coventry - Coventry are broke, and Mandaric wouldn't be willing to dig that deep - so one of those would be a fantastic day out. From below us, well they've all bottled it. I really have no idea who are gonna come up, but Rochdale would get a right reaction from us. I think MK are a little too far ahead. Hereford aren't anything major in terms of spending, so those 3 would be ideal.

Well, Allott scored, and Eardley forced their 'keeper into a very good save. They could've had a goal apiece there, and we also looked a threat in other positions, so I don't think goal-scoring would be a problem.

I think it was a knock too many. No point taking silly chances. We had the usual backline on the field, it was a simple change. My MotM today if I'm honest.Thought he was excellent all game.

I suppose losing 20-goal Chris Porter or the 'fantastic' playmaker that is Wellens is Shez' fault? Shez had to replace 2 players which teams would pay well over £300k for, with what exactly? He didn't have the sort of cash the owners tried making out. If he did, he wouldn't have just spent under £100k. He brought in Davies, who would have got 20 goals this season if it wasn't for his injury, and we've hardly been pleased with him, have we? If he had better decision making, he's a 25 + goal scorer, IMO. A disruptive season, you say. Who's fault that? I've made my feelings clear on who I blamed for us losing not only £750k +, but 2 probably key players to our relative short-lasted success last season. Nowt to do with Shez - he would have had them sign in December, which was when the owners should've pulled their fingers out, and got them sat down with Hardy. They didn't - it cost us promotion, I've always said. The fatigue, yes, but the frank pathetic performances Porter/Wellens put in from the point their names were linked with several bigger clubs - especially Porter. Again, we've got a few out of contract in the summer, probably not such an headache, but I'd rather keep Lewis and Deano, because they could be worth summat in the future. If you're correct, which I'm not denying you aren't - I actually agree, but I think that Shez seems to be getting the blame here - we'll have a worse season than lthis year's, well in your view of this season. Maybe, just maybe, if I'm correct in reading into Sheridan's words/actions, he's noted what happened last summer. We, after all, have been heavily linked with that Yantorno fella, and we've had the trialists in. So perhaps he's not going to have what he had last summer, and started early. He said that himself, of course. I don't recall seeing players in the stands, trialists in the reserves 6-7 games from the end of the season. I suppose you can say we weren't entirely sure which division we'd be in. Then again, a month ago, we certainly could have made this year's POs, too. The trialists were in the reserves at that time...

That's a good point. Well, maybe those who want him out then.

Ok, but I want entering into the competition, 'cause obviously it'll win. JJ: "Hands up for "Shez in" for next season. He's done a good job." TS: "Yeah, he has had injuries this season, lets be fair. He gets my vote." Ref: "I'm on the fence, meself. You're all right, JJ, but Kalala... Thompson... that's some poor buisness. He needs to learn."

I've a little thought, save making a thread in the general area, where few frequent. Us Oldhamers love to be negative and chat about the axing of managers. So, Sean O'Driscoll spent a fair bit this year, and Donny are sitting in 3rd, and may not even go up this year. Should he then be sacked? Surely, because he spent like he did, he ought to have lead the South Yorkshiremen up automatically, nevermind via the PO's. So, say they stay in this division, should he go? Going off what the general consensus, he should, yes? Same applies to Colin Calderwood, I imagine.

Can't believe it. I was gonna do one last night, and forgot. I think I should get to be allowed to PM mine to you, S_W.

I'd reply to that but I don't have a clue what you're saying. What legendary plan? If you look, we've had a small squad for 2 year under Shez, and last season we finished 6th, and this year we've been mentioned along with the other PO hunters. Now excuse me ignorance, but isn't that more near the top then the dreaded trapdoor? We lost players last year, replaced them with players - not necessarily those of better quality. We have a bigger squad than last year when they're all out on the training field. How? We introduced players from the youth. I think we have more promise than last year. Then again, we could get together a bunch of pessimists, get them down to BP, shout "Shez out!" and whatever you can think of, go along the rows on a Saturday afternoon spreading the 'bad word', and just then sit in a pub looking a glum as I imagine you do when you're typing. Or, we could at least say something positive, spread some form of optimism, and at least believe we'll go up next year... or the year after that... or the year after that... I'm in that basket who say we'll be celebrating promotion next year.

The fact that we did last season, only for the fixture pile up did exactly what it has done this season - tireda small squad completely out. Blackpool's squad was hardly the biggest, to be fair. They ended up finishing 3rd, and winning promotion, and they spent 30 games down in the lower half.

And when people want us to go up this season without deserving it is simply madness. The football hasn't been anything to shout about, not by a long stretch - Shez will be the first to admit it. And those who say it's about winning make me laugh. If people want to sit at any ground, paying whatever they do, to see any team stutter to a 1-0 win, then fair play. I don't want that. If we look back to last year, we watched some attacking football for 2/3 of the season. Wheras, under Ronnie Moore, Brian Talbot - the list will go on - we saw exactly what I do not want to see. Are you saying we don't stand a chance at going up ever? The Everton example was aimed at the managements' lack of motivation.

Ok, we'll just not talk about next season, then? We won't speculate on anything, no? Here's a fact for you, though: Everton 0-1 Latics. Nowt to do with Shez, though.

"Welsh" does. I mean, that's just perfect, isn't it!

Only motivated us to one of the biggest shocks in this year's FA Cup, but there we are. I honestly can't wait for next season. You see, all those going miles OTT, like you, will be sat there thinking "Jesus, I'm a tool", if we're top of the league, and looking a bloody strong unit. You can say we've gotta do it, I agree, but if that happens yours and others' replies will be priceless.

Well, he's learned by one mistake - sent to the stands twice last season.... not one this year.

I went for the 2nd option. I honestly believe that if we could have had a settled squad for the majority of the season, we'd be in the top 6. However, the games we've lost we've lost because of some absolutely daft mistakes from our lads - we've been our worst enemy. We haven't been torn apart because we're a poor side once this season, IMO. When we're all having a go, we're a bloody hard side to break down. Adding to this, we've lost 1-0 9 times this season. Frustrating, of course it is. Our lack of cutting edge, too, has hindered us. We've had too many games where we just haven't done our job - the balance of the side is down to Shez. He doesn't get any blame from me, barring a few decisions early on - before we even first kicked a ball - and I bet he rues them. Other than that, he's been kicked in the teeth all season, and he's been approaching games not even knowing the team, or how he's going to play, because of the players' injuries. We've had some pleasing factors, for sure. Off the field, we've seen our new plans for the stadium accepted - that's a major boost for the club and town. People will forget this. On field, we've seen some excellent performances (probably not Shez' fault, but more down to luck. But when we lose, it's his fault, eh?). We've also seen yet another successful Cup run, and we've made a fair amount from that. We also watched Trotman come in, and within 20 games, get sold for £500,000. Maybe not enough, but that's more money into the club's balance. And let's not forget the other young lads we've seen come into side - Smalley, Lomax (again), Alessandra. These players will hopefully have benefited majorly from this experience, and take that into next season, making us stronger, without having to spend. We even broke a new club record in terms of away victories. I'm disappointed because most of us believed we had a proper chance at getting into the top 6, and in reality, we just didn't have the depth to take on the demanding schedule (how many games had we re-arranged due to the Cup?). However, I can see a future with Sheridan. He's young, and it's very rare for a manager to mention learning from his mistakes. I look forward to next season. We need to strengthen, few will deny this, and I think we will. It's an important season for Sheridan, because he can't hide behind his inexperience. He's said we have to go up, so I'm certainly willing to give him a 3rd term with us. Then again, I'm willing to give him longer.

Surely this has gone beyond the bleedin' joke?! (I actually laughed).

Peterbrough have a very rich owner. We don't have that money. And I don't care what he says, Ferguson has other certain helpers apart from his Dad.

Oh, I thought he just over-kicked the ball to Lomax, wasn't it? If he didn't, that's just daft. Lucky not to be sent to the stands... again.

Thing is, Dowie and the scouts didn't, I don't think, just go out and looked. I imagine they heard something, then went to look around. It's very hard to get players from non-league that'll cut it. I know what you're saying, but it's very rare, and very hard. One good point being made is that we seem to be linked up in Scotland a fair bit. I also wouldn't be surprised if we put together a Scottish pre-season tour, where a good few games will be watched by the scouts. In yesterday's programme, Maurice Malpas made a good point - few clubs in this division have a chief scout; we at least have on of those in the form of Graham Brown. One simple solution, get to the reserve games, there's a guy who says he's a scout. People will know him, I bet. I find him hilarious, having been lucky enough to stand next to him at Doncaster last season, where he struggled to identify even our players!

Who did Shez have a rant at after the match? We walked as slowly as possibly down towards the exit, as I saw him waiting, but we got ushered down the steps. If he kicked the ball away he was stupid. He has to stop losing his temper, although I find it hilarious. Luton when he actually jogged to get at the ref at half-time.

What are you on about?

Sheridan didn't sound very happy, did he? His match comments gave a lot away. I think we could see a clear out. I'm not gonna say where we need to improve. I'm gonna sit back, and see what Shez is gonna do. "Players that play brilliantly last week and then play this way this week are no good to me, and there's that magic word again -- consistency," he said." He might get rid of the entire squad, then...