roytoner

There were some people on the pitch? Why didnt' anyone mention that at the time......?

ATHLETIC have defended their decision to allow top scorer Lee Hughes to join Coca-Cola Championship club Blackpool on loan for the remainder of the season. The Seasiders made a surprise move for 18-goal Hughes, who is out of contract this summer, two hours before yesterday’s transfer deadline for emergency loans. “This is not a sign that we have given up on trying to qualify for the play-offs,” said manager Joe Royle. “But we have not been scoring with Lee in the side, which is why I wanted to try something different.” Athletic have been unhappy with the form of 32-year-old Hughes in the second half of the campaign and it is widely expected he will move on this summer when his contract at Boundary Park expires. Chief executive Alan Hardy said: “Lee’s form since January, when there was transfer speculation about his future, has disappointed both John Sheridan and Joe Royle. “Lee was not included in the squad for tomorrow’s league game at Leyton Orient as the manager wanted to look at younger strikers. “If Joe was not going to use the player for the rest of the season, there is no point him sitting here doing nothing.” Royle added the decision to allow Hughes to leave was his alone and was not done for financial reasons. He revealed he had earlier made an unsuccessful bid to bring in Crystal Palace striker Alan Lee before he joined Norwich City on loan. Athletic have also confirmed that the January offer of a new two-year contract to Hughes, which would have made him the club’s highest-paid player, had been withdrawn some time ago. Hughes is being linked with a summer move to Leicester, the runaway League One leaders, while Doncaster, who tried to sign him in January, remain interested. Lewis Alessandra is set to replace Hughes for tomorrow’s game at Leyton Orient, where Stefan Stam and Ian Westlake, both ineligible in midweek, will also be in the starting line-up. Neal Eardley, a substitute in midweek, is on international duty with Wales, but Kieran Lee is included in the squad for the first time under Royle. Athletic (from): Supple, Fleming, Lee, Lomax, Hazell, Gregan, Stam, Jones, Taylor, Westlake, Maher, Allott, Whitaker, Alessandra, Kabba, Smalley, Liddell, Ferreira.

and your point is?

I dont agree. Sure, it would be interesting to know the ins and outs of all the contract negotiations, loan offers, bust ups that go on at the club but come on, get real, they dont have to explain every single movement they make. I would suggest that the owners of this club are far more transparent than many of their counterparts.

Yes, sensational news this afternoon........ however we have to put our faith in and trust what the manager and owners are doing at the club. On Latics World after the Cheltenham game, Royle pinpointed what we were lacking. A frontman to hold the ball up, or one to get behind the back line. In Hughes we had a great finisher, and in my opinion, a good worker and a battler. That said, he hasnt been effective for ages. Over the last few weeks I've felt the cohesion between midfield and attack has been seriously lacking. Royle assessed this quickly and has changed things. After all its about the team performance as a whole, not just one man. The second half at Whaddon Road was encouraging. I've got to admit, I'm no Kabba fan at the moment. He hasnt done anything to turn the fans on to him so far. That said, he comes highly recommended as a fast strong centre forward. He's done it elsewhere. Maybe we haven't seen the best of him. Maybe he needs to be the "main man". Only time will tell. Regarding Lewis, again, he hasn't had his fair crack of the whip so far. maybe this is his opportunity. For those who think the season has been written off, I implore you to reconsider. Things had to change. The run of form has been dreadful. If the manager feels that as part of that change, we should offload our "main striker" then so be it. I for one support the decision, and trust the reasons behind it were solid. 6 points in the next 2 games and belive me, its back on!

Steps back....takes deep breath.....shakes head...... What the hell are you trying to say?

Yep, I can second that. I looked in wonder in the first half at how separate our midfield and attack looked. They were miles apart, never on the same wavelength. Agreed, Kabba is rubbish, plain and simple. We are using Hughes incorrectly. Sending him down the channels on the end of long balls is not getting the best out of him. Smalley looks lost, time for a rest me thinks. Maybe use him as an impact player off the bench again. Rueben struggled tonight, particularly in the first half. He's been one of my favourite players this year but for some reason he looked a shadow of himself tonight, nervous on the ball (another early dodgy back pass wont have helped) The last 30 saw Jones bombing forward, Whittaker showing good mobility and Lewis holding the ball up well. 10/10 to the 30 or so Cheltenham singers to the right. Their Mexican wave was quality as was their K sera sera, we're going to Shrewsbury.

it was difficult to form a decent opinion of the lad tonight. Thrown in the deep end 30 mins to go with poor ball coming from Lomax. Sure, he was high octane and certainly keen. Headed wide at the back post, could have done better. Looks like he'll be fun to watch though. Whittaker was the difference when he came on. That and the fact Cheltenham sat back in the final 1/2 hour.

Paul Dickov would do for me

I know another guy who is carrying on coming too. 1998?

I thought it was BFJ blue and white budgie

So much for the blind faith for 9 games called for !!!! Why do the MOANERS get so much air time on message boards? Shut your door on the way out mate, you've had your 15 minutes...... You have no respect from me. Do you really think it worry's us true SUPPORTers what plebs like you think?

With the hectic weeks in Latics world, I am unsure as to where we are up to re Windass. Last I heard was that he was in talks with Hull and we were trying to reach some form of agreement. Is he still technically our player or have I missed something?

Great spot. Nice one Joe> The early signing means at least the lad will get to know the names of his defence before Saturday.

defo made in the noughties I reckon. Good work by the man in light blue !!!

Good interview. The guy's charm and optimism continues to be infectious. Chicken was very impressed with the fact that contracts hadnt been signed and Joe is here on a verbal agreement. Old school ! Fantastic, particularly after the past week or so of bad press.

Jones and Gregan were let down by Hines Eardley and the keeper in my opinion. Sure they weren't great themselves but the performances of the other 3 was diabolical. Hughes's workrate was good, again. Showed Kabba what to do. That guy really bugged me. When he came to the club I was fairly pleased. I thought we were going to get a fast lively centre forward. Unfortunately it seems he has been going through the motions. I actually thought he must've been carrying an injury as I hadnt seen any of his reported pace, until one period in the game at MK when he opened his legs for the first time to attract a poor tackle from their left back. All that says to me is that he had it in his locker but couldnt be arsed to display it. v poor.

I think thats the key mate. If you aint got anything positive to say, dont say it! I know people pay their money so have a right to blah blah blah, but just this once, just for the final assault, get behind em. In Royle we trust !

Not sure Jobbo would appreciate that !

I, like many on here, can remember. Those were heady days. Premiership, Wembley (back when playing at Wembley really meant something), travelling to Upton Park in a semi final with a 6-0 first leg lead, Ritchie's equaliser at the Dell in the 97th minute (thanks Roger for wearing the Mickey Mouse watch) all from the team from a town of Chimneys. It really was "pinch me" times. Just a fraction of that success would do me for now. That said, there were trying times even then as there will be now. Lets just get behind them, no matter what.

just imagine for a moment that we dont get the win we all crave for on Saturday....... What then? I know what may happen........"bubble burst before it even got blown up"......."wrong choice for manager"........."told you so, it never works the second time round" might be a few of the headlines on this board at 5pm. Please please please, lets just refrain from negativity for the run in. If you want to call it happy clapping, then be my guest, I'll be the first to happy clap. I prefer to call it unbridalled support....blind faith even! Some probable facts We wont win the remaining 9 games Some players WILL have stinkers during the run in Mistakes will be made The new manager may not play the right first choice XI (in your opinion) Despite the above, come on guys (and girls), just this once, lets get behind the lads and give them confidence to prosper. Surely they'll have a better chance of making the playoffs and ultimately Wembley with all of us behind them. .

Right choice or not, what you and your 2 Amigos show day in day out is that you try try try to take this club forward. Sure, knee jerk reactions from fans are easy, but when you really get down to it, you are the guys who really suffer from inept team performances. Thanks for your continued involvement. (its a much better hobby than swinging a golf club you know) Keep the faith.

A "jolly" good think about it huh? OK, you seem to be in the know far more than me. Evidently, "from the horses mouth" isnt good enough for you. The fact that he was on the short list (a short list compiled by Huddersfield) for the Huddersfield job means what exactly? My take on it is that they were considering HIM, not the other way round........fact. I think you may be suffering from a touch of the "Rafas"

Top of the tunnel, do a left down the corridor, second door on the left

Of course I'm renewing. Yes, I agree some of the performances of late have been terrible. But what we have is a club which is trying its utmost to reach the playoffs, a club which tries its best to satisfy the fans in every way possible, a club which gives fans access to lots of info which is kept in house at other clubs. This is football. :censored: happens. Form dips and then hopefully it rises again. No I'm not a happy clapper....I'm a supporter. I hated it yesterday, we were crap, but as an Oldham fan, I'm already looking forward to the trip next week. Thats what you do. Sure I understand people being pissed off. I can understand people having strong opinions about the manager, coaches, players etc. Do you not think Corney, Sheridan Gregan etc arent pissed off too? Unbelievably, we're still clinging on to a play off position. Can't believe the results of the poll so far. I suppose what it demonstrates is that a large proportion of the users of this board are fickle.