JoeP

I think he was having a bit of a bad night....I don't even think he was even refering to the majority of our fans, just the five of us who kept standing up at the back.

Indeed they were! And while we're on Saints-knocking, their head steward was the most obnoxious mini-hitler I've ever come across. Appapently our fans we're, and I quote; "worst than Pompey's!", in terms of causing the stewards hassle.

Yeah, he's signed some shockers, but he's also made some good signings, just like Sheridan did. Any manager has to be given a chance to build a squad - admittedly it's taken Penney a bit longer than the fans would like, but I think we're starting to reap the rewards of not getting rid of Penney earlier. I think he's earned the opportunity to be given the early part of next season to show these recent performances have not just been a flash in the pan. I hope the TTA have learnt from the Moore saga that they shouldn't just make decisions based on fans throwing toys out of their pram. To get rid of a manger when the team is playing well is stupid. A new manager could also mean as bad team performances, which could mean even more fans stop coming - then what? Sack another manager just because the fans are unhappy?? Too much of a risk I reckon.....

Really? I disagree. If the team finish this season strongely and carry it on to next season, I reckon many of the missing 1,000 will come back.

Yeah, I kind of fall into this category now a bit. I'm always willing to give a new manager a go, but I think we all agree there's been stages where it's been the worst football for decades this season. However I now think (considering how bad it was) there are signs of movement in the right direction. Maybe if Penney stays in charge, there's a chance this could carry onto next season? Appointing Gannon won't guarentee immediate success, because it will take him an age to put his mark on the club, (which it also is taking Penney) and we''ll be back to square one; rebuilding. Appointing Gannon also doesn't guarentee we'll sell more season tickets - regular season-ticket holders have to give nothing in blood to say they will buy one for the following year. For me it all depends on what we do for the rest of the season - even after safety is achieved, I hope we carry on to try and win every match, like we have been doing recently and only blood youngsters when necessary. Penney's been treated like s**t by our fans and I think has been entitled to give a bit back through the press, but no one can deny he's stuck to his task and it hopefully looks to have turned the corner. A good end to the season, I would hope, would mean fans and manager could wipe the slate clean and both feel positive for next season.

Last away game of the season should be a better atmosphere, though - plus we're more likely to win (maybe crucially!) against Yeovil, than Charlton.

Think I heard in the background on Latics World that there was 659 Latics there. Not sure what the total was.

Indeed. He's served his time here - I think it would be cruel if the club refused to let him play at a higher level.

Agree with all of this. He's certainly testing those fans that still support him. If he doesn't view these as "must win", with what attitude does he go into the matches against Saints and Charlton?

Having spoke to Dux a couple of times I would say (thinks of how to put this politely), he’s not much of a thinker........... As for Gregan - it’s probably not an exact science, but don’t players that manage generally manage how they play? In which case the return of attractive, attacking football could again be postponed if he got the job.

Maybe we're just sold on any sign of enthusiasm on view these days! I still say, if TTA were to go for the cheap option, he'd be a more sensible option than Dux/Greegs.

Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't the likes of these and F.C Liverpool (or whatever they're called) just formed on a knee-jerk reaction of the repective American takeovers? Fans are the only thing permanent about a football club, so surely the brains behind forming these teams realised that the set-up they were protesting against would never be permanent? If the set-up back at Old Trafford/Anfield becomes more agreeable, then surely these splinter clubs have been set up for no reason as the fans will simply return to their original club? It seemed like toys out of pram time just because some fans disagreed with the hierachy. Surely these splinter clubs open the possibility that there may soon be a mass of semi-formed, abandoned clubs in the league, just because a few fans didn't like their original clubs owners (or maybe even managers, players, etc!).

I'd say a ten-fold better option than this Gregan/Duxbury combo idea, but hey-ho, just a thought.......

Yeah, around the time Penney was doing his alledged hand-to-ear gesture to the seated fans at Exeter, Grey over giving our standing fans generous applause. Maybe a next manager possibility?

Seemed more up for it than most at Tranmere! Of course we dragged his enthusiasm down to the right level soon after that.....

Well, if Penney were to get the boot, I don't think TTA would look to beyond the short-term anyway. I reckon someone would be put in temporay charge and then a decision be made at the end of the season with regards to a permanent appointment. So, apart from passing on recommendations as Big Joe did, there's a fair chance that any assessing would be pointless....as what happened last season!

Didn't really work last season.

Aside from Gregan, the only players who have seemed to show any desire over the last couple of weeks have been Price, Flahaven and Guy - and none of these are actually ours!

There's no point in getting rid of Penney now, but if we did, only Ritchie or Philliskirk out of those options would be viable for me. The fact that people think either Duxbury or Gregan or a combination of the two would be the answer is a concern, especially given that TTA have reacted on fan opinion in the past.

What about the Man City win under Talbot?? Agree about Ronnie Moore. Gillingham away was an awful win - 1-0 thanks to a Killen header.

No he's had his chance! O'grady, however......

I'd say 3 points and a little closer to safety is another positive, but don't let that get in the way of a tedious moan.....

Or, to put a positive (gasp!) spin on it, maybe we've learnt to win ugly, we now need to build a squad over the summer that's also capable of winning on a grander stage.

What were you expecting?

Like the most fickle of football fans, I’ve changed my mind about getting rid of Dave Penney. I'm actually starting to see a few positives in Penney's work here. While Latics teams under say Sheridan would go and get a result at places like Elland Road, the same side would then more than likely go and lose a game like tonight’s. We seem to be picking up points in games where we "should" be doing so under Penney. If we go on a bit of a run now and get a few wins from the remaining games, I'd go as far as saying Penney might have cracked the "all we need to do is turn up" attitude that have spoiled past seasons. If Penney can build a decent squad over the summer and believe his teams can go and have a go at the likes of Leeds and Norwich , who knows? Maybe we've made the right appointment!