mikejh45

Just a couple of thoughts regarding some of the comments here: 1) Where does he want to play? I can see an argument to play him on the right because he is predominantly right footed. But I can also see a bit of Joe Cole in him insofar that he may prefer to play left so he can cut inside and shoot with his right foot. 2) To all the Taylor detractors! Why, during the season, did nearly every team that we came up against quickly double up defenders when Taylor got the ball? Would it be because the opposition see him as a threat? Not everything he does works out but he does make things happen. He pulls defenders/midfielders out of position, works hard and scores his share of goals. If I do have a criticism, it would be that he goes down too easily!!! And finally - DON'T SELL HIM. KEEP THE FAITH

I'm sure offers have been made, but nothing will happen until the respective agents have touted Oldham's offer around other clubs.

Was leaning towards the sweaties before the game started, but have to say the best team won. Did anybody else find that commentator an extremely biased pain? How long until the excuse comes up about the number of games played?

Big Joe recommended Sharp as Ritchie was too friendly with the other players and not ready to be manager. And how would Ritchie have stopped the owners getting rid of players precisely? The Lees brothers decided to trim back the club's overheads with a view to making the Latics look attractive to potential buyers. Ritchie would have either had to accept the cuts or resign and, in my opinion, he wouldn't have left. I have massive admiration of Ritchie as a player, but not as a manager. By the same token, Ritchie is hardly charismatic himself. I also some admiration for Sharp for saying he wasn't cut out to be a manager.

Wouldn't have made any difference!!! Just another great player who can't cut it as a manager!!! The board would still have told him to cut costs by getting rid of anybody earning more than £3.50p per week and replacing them with the league's scrapings on £1.20 per week.

Yes, he did but he wasn't on loan if I remember rightly.

Or if Joe Royle had brought on Andy Ritchie instead of Beckford. I remember a discussion between a group of fans along the lines of, with just a few minutes to go Sharp was kicking the ball out for throw-ins near United's goal line to waste time whereas Beckford couldn't/wouldn't jump.

If my drink addled brain serves me right, Dowie wanted Phyllis with him at Crystal Palace but he turned a big offer down because he is settled in this area and he loves his position at Latics.

What if Jimmy Frizzell wasn't offered the manager's job all those years ago? We had years of applying for re-election!!! KEEP THE FAITH

Had a bit of sympathy for Moulden. If memory serves me right, during our promotion to the top flight, all them years ago, he scored 3 goals in 3 games early in that season but was dropped to accomodate that greedy, useless lump - David 'chicken' Currie. Perhaps some-one with access to that years stats can confirm.

Good Call!!! How about looking at the same stats from other angles: Who was our best centre-back partnership? Who was our best centre-midfield partership? KEEP THE FAITH

STUDYING TIME, DAUGHTER!!!

So we have 3 players who are played on the wing who don't fit the bill. 1) Taylor is on the left and looks, in my opinion, to prefer cutting in for a shot. 2) Smalley is a forward who is tricky and can't cross. 3) Liddell is also a forward who can cross the ball (also a concession, Stitch) but can't beat a man and therefore is crossing the ball from a diagonal position instead of in front of the forward line. So who is the best option? I still prefer the Taylor/Smalley approach to drag defenders around.

I was merely stating my point; re: starting line-up for next season. And using Liddell for this impact role that other posters have told me about.

I think Taylor might look at himself doing a Joe Cole insofar that he likes cutting in from the left to shoot with his right foot.

I'll turn it around. What's wrong with starting with Smalley/Taylor? They are young, quick, mobile and more likely to tire a defence out. As has been said by other luminaries on here, Liddell can be easily marked out of the game. In my opinion, should we have Davies and Hughes fit next season, then we will have a front four to frighten most teams.

While he is an Oldham player, and so long he doesn't treat the club with indifference or disdain (in the way Ricketts did), I will support him. I have made my feelings known about resigning Liddell and hope now he's signed he will be considered no more than a benchwarmer. If we want someone to play at the head of a diamond, let's go for Jarrett. He's big, strong and more than capable of dishing out/ riding tackles. KEEP THE FAITH

Excellent news!!! Rarely made a mistake when he was injury free. Good keeper for this division. Any news on the young lad from Gretna?

When he was about 8 years old!!! Still wears the shorts and reveals his woggle at private parties by all acoounts!!!

Austria. Still have lots of relatives out there. Aunties, uncles, cousins. Cousins who could be uncles. Aunties who could be nieces. Family parties are great fun.

Based on the responses on this subject which has reached a bit of an impasse, here is the final result. 1) Make Liddell a first choice starter - 15% 2) Keep him as a squad member - 84% 3) Get rid - 1% But taking into account the Robert Mugabe method of counting and ratified by the Zimbabwean courts, the result is now: 1) & 2) - doesn't matter 3) - 106%

Are we watching the same Liddell here? I read some of your musings and that a fully fit Liddell is somehow going to be the answer to our midfield and attacking problems. Amazing!!!

You are correct, pace isn't everything. Sheriden proved that, even his brother proved that. But Beckham has always been a wide right player who even now has decided where his team-mates are and what he is going to do with the ball before it has reached him. Wide right is not Liddell's natural position. In my honest, humble opinion, Liddell's influence on the game next season will be negligible. I just see an ageing player who will get marked out of the game by a good, solid defender.

Again, we are talking about a different sort of player. Yes, Scholes is getting on but he still looks to attack and move forward but he's always done that because that is, his and always has been his, natural position. Liddell, in his day was a quality centre forward and, if my memory serves me right still holds the record for goals scored at Wigan. I don't think he had a happy time at Sheff. U. when he got moved to the wing by Warnock because he isn't a natural wide player. All the talk on here to keep him is to slot him in here or there with an expectation he's going to produce a bit of magic. For the crosses from Liddell to be productive, we need a big centre-forward who can muscle into the right places in the way Porter did. We don't have that sort of player at the club at the moment. I go back to the Huddersfield game, admittedly against poor opposition, but we played with pace AND skill and that is the benchmark we should be aiming for.

Stop comparing the game of Liddell to Beckham, fer gawd's sake!!! It's a nonsense argument. Beckham runs back to pick the ball up and move it forward and when brought on as a sub (i.e. Croatia) made a massive impact by changing the game, by looking for the ball, by getting involved. Liddell gets the ball and 99 times out of a 100 passes it back. He is not the player he was 2 years ago.