thetramfixer

I've just been unloading the car and noticed the keepers seemingly staying on after training ... I did notice a black guy getting involved, but couldn't see if he was wearing gloves .. that said I did see 2 x keepers also .. maybe one was a youth team keeper helping out???

With regards to Ripley .. As much as it's a little strange to not having someone (1 keeper at least) in place by now, is it the window itself that's causing all of this maybe? I think someone else has mentioned it seems somewhat silly that the window goes onto the end of August (although i suppose it also helps out for early doors injuries etc) ... anyway ... maybe Shez does know a little more than he's letting on! Maybe Ripley isn't too happy with offers from other clubs as he doesn't want to be second fiddle, yet is holding out himself through loyalty to the OAFC (mad i know!) as long as he can for something to be sorted out? I still think that it may involve a deal whereas he signs for us but we lose out further down the line with regards to his sell on .. or even an agreement in place to allow him to move on when an opportunity arises elsewhere that he feels is more fitting for his career? .. Or the goalkeepers mafia have put word out about the club (lets face it there's been a few keepers this pre-season) .. and/or we can't offer what they want from us! Either way, I wish it would get sorted out one way or another .. roll on Saturday!

didn't Pogliacomi come here effectively as a trialist? .. on the strength of a VHS tape of his best saves or similar? if he was the last one, then that is a long long time ago!

I'll take the 200/1 for us to payback that dreadful day!

sheer cruelty mate! ..

ha ha ha ... but I'm glad I wasn't there to witness such a similar score tho!

that doesn't look like promotion season to me ha ha .. in fact on the match video as Jon Hallworth picks yet another ball out from the back of the net I rememeber seeing our group

personally speaking I can only think of the embarrassment i was subjected too when we played Oxford at their ground (promotion season iirc) and we got smashed 5-1 ... made worse by living down there at the time and taking a group of RAF mates to the match! i know we have played them since, but that game always seems to be the 'last' game for me ... so consequently nothing but an emphatic victory along similar lines will suffice! .. i wonder what odds I'd get for that exact score? lol

I noticed today whilst walking past Little Wembley there wasn't one keeper training ... ie i was still under the impression the german lad was still around?

.. everytime he does that i always remember back to Dave Beharell (?) and his mazy run from deep with the ball seemingly stuck to his boot .. resulting in it finding the back of the net!

I pretty much agree with the above and the 'it's not all doom n gloom' if we lose ... but for once it would be nice to hit the ground running so to speak! how does the saying go? " get into the habit of winning!"

tbh I'm not expecting one either, but it wouldn't suprise me either! That said, I was suprised at the attendance on Thursday what with us playing a La Liga team - its not often we get to play european teams.

Someone's obviously expecting a sell out i suppose! .. well we all know how they'll all come crawling out from under their red stones irrespective of it being a reserve team. Still, it'll be a nice pot of cash if so on the night ...

oh yeah!! does just finishing a 12hr night shift get me off the hook for not reading it properly?? ha ha ha that and the game itself still gives me nightmares ..

wasn't it Cardiff? The last time Oxford gave us a similar hammering was at their place (promotion season iirc)

Sami Hypia

I think we'll get neither of them! I don't think we've got any hope of Baxter coming back to ISZ for numerous reasons ... .. he'll be touted at a higher level if he goes out on loan, yet i honestly think the club won't take the risk with a 'loose cannon' after all the negative press we've had over the last couple of seasons. As far as Erwin goes, I think he's the only realistic option for us, BUT ... he'll remember the constant levels of abuse he got from our more moronic fans early on last season. I think that he may get several offers that'll be very similar and the above reason could/will be our stumbling block. That said .. and if he does harbour a grudge, a big if i know, then he may even get into the ear of the young keeper too! He'll be definitely the target for said morons if he doesn't become the wonder keeper from day one! only my opinion ...

am I right in saying he's had a spell with us before? .. iirc, assuming it was him I rememeber he was decent enough?

I think his remit didn't only extend to the first team either! IIRC, he 'coached' Dowie with regards to the pressure of matches etc All the same, he was an intergral part of making a team of 'Ok' players to a decent team that seemingly were scared of no one! .. In fact it'd be interesting how many goals were scored in the final minutes as we wore teams down for result?

You know i was only just thinking that a montage of his famous commentaries would be so good to hear right now .. a true legend ... I've always enjoyed our chats over the years, and he was always addressed as "Mr Lawton" .. my thoughts are with his family and friends .. RIP

when situations like this arise, I often think that players who 'may' be offered a chance to come back, could potentially remember the absolute dogs abuse he's received from the fans up until those last games where he showed what he can do. It would be a real shame if so!

didn't something similar happen a few years ago? player got signed up for a couple of years then pretty much walked straight out of the door? ie .. it cost them more for the player! not sure who said player was but could have been Scott Vernon?

He still had a quality touch as a manager too .. He was manager for Walsall (iirc) and dressed in a suit and brogues, caught a very high ball and trapped it with said brogues perfectly!

yeah, I've always thought that too .. i reckon that it may have been used to tie up a few loose ends, on the hope that sponsor money (perimeter boards etc) and usuage of the OEC and the like may be helping us through the summer! i guess we'll soon find out ha ha ha

as far as chanting goes, I don't think we have any room to talk .. some of our faithful can twist the proverbial knife at times ... in fact someone in main stand upper woke up long enough to REALLY have a pop at him when he was subbed. I think we need to remember that our skipper is as much a true professional as he is a hard nut who knows every trick in the book ( I'm not saying he wound him up, but he's not scared at giving his opinion out to a player who he thinks has gone a little too far!) it's great when we have decent derby games with our local rivals - come on, who doesn't miss Stockport and Tranmere? .. yeah, it was nice to silence the digs about Dale getting promoted AND relegating us at ISZ, but who seriously wouldn't enjoy winding said fans up if we were in their position .. If that's correct about Clarke putting a word in, then good! who knows they may have enjoyed a beer in the lounge today after the game - he's probably the type of player that puts games down as "it's all in the past" and cracks on with what is required on the day. Good luck to Dale IF you manage to get a playoff slot, but then again I'll look forward to the 2 games next season more! ... looks like Blackburn are joining us too ... simply put .... for a fan, there's nothing better than bragging rights at a derby!