JoeP

11 hours ago, PeteG said:

He never really endeared himself to the fanbase for whatever reason, the crowds never went up when he took over which i still find strange given how many have turned out and supported Frank 2 divisions lower down.

Just on this - and I can't speak for everyone else - but my concerns started when I first heard a Football Agent (who aren't exactly known for their decent scruples) from Morocco, with no connection to Oldham who I'd never heard of and wasn't an agent to one footballer I'd heard of wanted to take over.

And it was downhill from there...

53 minutes ago, PeteG said:

Is it? Tell me yours then, because he certainly inherited an absolute mess of a football club. He provided decent budgets in the early days and i'd still argue that the squad that got relegated from League 1 was far superior to some of the ones in the previous few years that had stayed up. If we had stayed up, it may have worked out differently but i suspect not. He never really endeared himself to the fanbase for whatever reason, the crowds never went up when he took over which i still find strange given how many have turned out and supported Frank 2 divisions lower down.

After some relatively petty squabbling for quite some time on here, I think you're actually bringing us all together!

Great work! Keep going!

11 minutes ago, nzlatic said:

He knew who the manager was when he signed though? Mellon had already been here a couple of months. 

I guess he might have thought he was going to be the cente-piece for a change in style.  What's the point in Mellon signing him if he doesn't fit into his system? 

What a pickle we're in..

9 minutes ago, Lee Sinnott said:

Style of football...

Well that isn't going to change while Mellon's here. Not good. 

1 hour ago, Lee Sinnott said:

It was me, they were stood behind me at Ebbsfleet. And yep, they said that...

Did they say why? 

14 minutes ago, LightDN123 said:

Oh come off it. Both are in their 30s, go compare their careers and come back with a valid argument. 
 

Compare Fondop to Nuttall, Kurt and Reid if you want. 

Cheers for letting me know who I'm allowed to compare with whom. 

Couldn't give a shiny shit who's done what in their previous careers. It's about what Oldham Athletic need now.

2 minutes ago, League one forever said:

The problem Mikey has got is he isn’t capable of consistent 90 minute performances week in week out. He’s got a poor engine and that lets his touch down when he’s tired. He can be great in a one off game, or even better as first sub- someone who will run tired defenders ragged and rough them up a bit. I would definitely offer him a deal, but it would be first sub- not first team regular. 
 

It’s a massive if - but if we can offload Nuttall/Reid/Kurt. I want some pace next to Norwood, someone to do his running like stones did. 
 

Norwood & AN other as first pick. 
Garner & Mikey as replacements. 

Not one player we have is capable of consistent 90 minute performances week in, week out!

I think - when the camp seemed a bit happier - and we were 5th, him playing for 60mins with Garner worked well.  I concede he tires, because he does so much running so would have to be first sub off, I would guess.  We'd need someone else with his energy to finish the job, though.

5 minutes ago, nzlatic said:

I think you’re slightly overstating Fondop’s abilities there! But he should 100% be getting a new deal. My question is over his record in delivering in big games, so personally I wouldn’t have him down as a constant starting striker. But as a sub or an occasional starter he is a really important player to have. 

I'd have him starting, to be honest.  If the club do make the mistake of not offering him a new deal, they need to sign a better version of him and that could be hard to come by.  We need a hard-working unit who will press the defence and cause problems, run at defenders and work hard to get on the end of Green (or AN Other's) crosses.  I'd pick Garner over Norwood every day of the week, but they are too similar a player to work as a partnership.  We don't need another like them.

Just now, Crusoe said:

Got a clearer version or link?

No and I didn't think anyone would care enough to ask! 

5 minutes ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Fondop is rubbish? Good one

It is funny what some people define as "good", isn't it?

Rubbish = someone who's a nuisance, scores from range and close-up with his head and feet, defends (FFS!), runs at players and holds the ball up.

Good = someone who sulks and "will score 20 a season" but only if the ball is played in a very very very very VERY specific way to him.  And he takes all the penalties.

5 hours ago, AndyGortonsMatches said:

If that was offside, Bryan Robson was a country mile offside against us with the old rules.

To be fair, Earl Barrett was off-side in both new AND old rules!

20 hours ago, oafc1955 said:

More experience then!

Hopefully it'll be more about character than experience. I don't care what they've achieved in the past - I just want better people in the team, who want to do well and bring others with them. 

There's an argument that we should even avoid winners of this division, because they've been here, done it and might not be able to replicate the hunger for it....

FWIW..

Our first goal on Saturday demonstrated exactly why Fondop and Green should be kept on. We're not going to find first- choice AND back-up better than them. 

Keep. 

20 hours ago, oafc1955 said:

I was Told today that Norwood & Conlon won’t be here next season.

There was two simple passes yesterday that Conlon made a complete hash of.

26 minutes ago, yarddog73 said:

Bromley (3rd) and Barnet (2nd) move straight to a home semifinal so they can't benefit anymore than that. 

 

Normally;

4th plays 7th

5th play 6th

 

For me Alty (4th) should get the bye and play Bromley away for a place at Wembley and Solihull (5th) should host Halifax (7th) with the winner playing Barnet away.

 

Saying that this is NL so anything is possible.

Sorry, yes - this is what should happen.

2 minutes ago, GlossopLatic said:

 

So you'd actually prefer the main stand moaners than actual professional manager running the club?

I mean there's a bit of tongue in cheek there that you've obviously not picked up on, but I do think it's quite funny that the predictable "gerritforward" line you've used there in reference to the "Main Stand Moaners" seems to be the same mindset of whoever decided to bring in loads of strikers that we don't need...

Surely it should be Bromley that get the bye, given they finished the highest? And Solihull and Alty have to play each other...

1 hour ago, GlossopLatic said:

 

Exactly why oh why oh do we employ people when we've got ready made tactical wizards sat in the stands who could tell us all we need to know

 

gErrItForWaRd!!

They'd probably be as useful. And certainly a hell of a lot cheaper!

1 minute ago, Guy Branston Pickle said:

This has it 60/40 the other way. Not conclusive but it's a decent sample size, I'd say most posters on here are level headed 

 

 

I voted not to sack him, but I'm not sure if that poll might need another voting option - "No real strong opinion either way".

Really can't call it..

4 minutes ago, GlossopLatic said:

 

I'm tempted to agree that telling people with such a simplistic view of football too F-off is a valid response.

 

It's a simplistic view that our supposedly qualified recruitment department adopted earlier this season.

As many strikers as possible = more goals. 

41 minutes ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Not saying it's right. But it shouldn't come as a surprise. 

 

The players and managers have had abuse hurled at them for a while now. 

You are right, but I think reactions should be reserved for when the point of view offered is completely unjustified.

Shouting "you should stick a striker on to try and win" during another completely inept performance doesn't justify being told to "fuck off", in my opinion.  That's criticism shouted, not abuse.

I've always wondered if I was a footballer/Manager how much I would really give a shit what someone who's possibly never kicked a ball in their life would think.  You've got to have a slightly thicker skin.

If Mellon can't stand the heat, he might have to get out of the kitchen.  

3 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

Without any meat on the bone we can only speculate.

 

Has he been told Reid has to stay involved with the first team to avoid negative headlines? Some interesting rumours about Norwood earlier, has that had an effect?

"Great bunch of lads" though according to that interview/Father Ted...

9 minutes ago, kowenicki said:

Confusing and depressing interview. 
 

Repeats the budget and contract situation, which is fair enough. 
 

Says the owners and DR are the nicest and most helpful people he’s ever met. Goes on to say the players are all great lads, honest and hard working. 
 

“impossible job” 

Echo this.

DR might be a nice person, but he's either directly responsible or has employed the wrong people to oversee recruitment.  How can the money we've spent result in such a lack of competency in the team?

I'd love to know what the "other stuff" is.

I don't know if it is "impossible" or just impossible for him..

29 minutes ago, Guy Branston Pickle said:

Who would we want as a replacement then?

 

I don't want Parkinson. Don't think he'd get the Time or patience he'd need

 

Millington at Halifax maybe?

 

There's not a lot of choice out there. And I'm struggling to see why a lot of managers would want to come to Oldham

Whoever we get, we need to do a proper recruitment process.

Invite applications, then interview.

In spite of what anyone may think of Lee Johnson, he was bloody find at the time and came from nowhere..