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

Come on Mr Sheridan, we are all waiting for these players who you are interested to sign!!!

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?

So are you saying that Ritchie is a carbon compy of Mr Silence and Charisma Graeme Sharp!!! Sharp said in his autobiography that he got rid of Ritchie as he was too much of a personality in the dressing room who would oppose him. Ritchie would not have stood by whilst the clubs silver got sold off, whilst Sharp even though not happy to do so didn't actually do anything about it.

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.

What if Joe Royle had recommended Andy Ritchie as his successor instead of Graeme Sharp?

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.

Andy Goram Mk11, Ronnie Jepson, Guy Branston, Darren Sheridan, Super Sean McCarthy (just his head), Andy Barlow (well he should be cos of his diet)... Graeme Sharp... and am i going crazy or did John MGinley play a couple of games on loan for us...?? maybe i'm going crazy....

 

What a team that would be

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

Or if my memory serves me right, Milligan had not lost the ball, rather than blasting it into the stand.

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.

Can't see it. Tony is this club's prized asset, in my opinion. It won't be long before a big side come in and offer him a contract; the work he's doing with the young lads is phenomenal. I don't think we'd see the best of him if he started working with the first team.

 

If we did offer him a youth coach contract he would probably be there to give the lads more attention.

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!!!

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Apart from that, good list and you can add Paul Moulden to it...

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 challenge. Here's some stats.

 

01/09/2007 Hartlepool 4-1 Oldham

15/09/2007 Oldham 0-1 Southend

22/09/2007 Walsall 0-3 Oldham

06/11/2007 Tranmere 0-1 Oldham

10/11/2007 Oldham 2-2 Doncaster

17/11/2007 Oldham 1-1 Port Vale

24/11/2007 Bournemth 0-3 Oldham

01/12/2007 Oldham 1-0 Crewe

04/12/2007 Oldham 1-1 Luton

08/12/2007 Oldham 1-1 Doncaster

15/12/2007 Millwall 2-3 Oldham

22/12/2007 Southend 0-1 Oldham

26/12/2007 Oldham 0-0 Nottm Forest

29/12/2007 Oldham 0-2 Walsall

01/01/2008 Leeds 1-3 Oldham

05/01/2008 Everton 0-1 Oldham

12/01/2008 Oldham 1-1 Brighton

19/01/2008 Yeovil 0-0 Oldham

22/01/2008 Gillingham 0-0 Oldham

 

This includes all games where they have both appeared (not researched whether they both started though, or whether one replaced the other). Might undo my own argument here but ...

 

P19 W9 D8 L2 equates to a full season of P46 W22 D19 L5 = 85 points (3 more than the promoted Forest, 6 fewer than Leeds would have got in 'normal circumstances').

 

3rd place behind Swansea and Leeds, and Hughes wasn't fully fit for a number of the games.

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

Who cares that he's signed a one year deal?

 

What we SHOULD be talking about is the fact that on that free news bit ont fissial site, Lids says we're thinking of swapping Davies for a microwave and Eardley for a toaster surely Davies is worth atleast a fridge?

 

STUDYING TIME, DAUGHTER!!!

Well we have no wingers who meet that description. Lids can cross, i can't think of anyone else we have who can in our squad.

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'm not asking why Liddell should get an instant place in the side. I didn't say that. I said that if Taylor/Smalley suffer a dip in form, why should Liddell just be a bench-warmer?

 

You've just indicated to me that you'd have Lids on the bench all the time, and start either one of two players no matter what. It brings into question your views on man-management etc.

 

By the way, I also rate Taylor and Smalley quite highly. I agree that their pace is very handy, and it's proved to be a real thorn in the side of some teams. I'm not talking about each of the 3 players' main qualities, I'm on about why should a player never actually be considered if other players are out of form.

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.

Smalley is more likely to tire himself out at the moment by running down the wing and being unable to put in a decent cross when he's done it, waste of time. Wouldn't mind Taylor on the right but we'll have to see if Shez brings anyone in on the left.

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.

So, Smalley goes straight into the side? What if Liddell performs more consistently than Smalley/Taylor? He still shouldn't be in the side? Of course, if Lids' form dips, then sure, give someone else a chance, but we can't just say 'bench Liddell' for no reason, surely?

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?

all as i excepted beside since when has corney been a scout? lol

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%

You don't need pace if you can make the ball do the work and those around you do have pace.

 

Oh, and ... "Beckham runs back to pick the ball up" ... not any more he bloody doesn't.

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!!!

I agree entirely with that, I would love to see us play like that every game and if we can find players who can do that and create chances then I'm all for it. Liddell can't play with pace but he can and does create chances and I don't think there's anyone else at the moment who can create as many chances as Liddell can.

 

With my comparison with Beckham, yes they are different players but they are both right-wingers with no blistering pace but in my opinion very important players for the sides they play for.

 

Pace isn't everything.

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.

Interestingly a team who play in red made a cup final last night. The difference? A moment of quality from an ageing, experienced player (whose legs have apparently gone) after pace in different areas of the team helped present the opportunity.

 

Mike, pace alone does not win football matches. Pace within a team is essential yes but not in every position.

Can anybody clarify for me, does Lidds ALWAYS pass backwards or ALWAYS 'slip' the ball in behind the fullback which in turn drags our centre forward (and presumably opposition centre half then) out of position? Also, which of these provide the massive amount of assists he is credited with?

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.

Liddell has to stay, he is a quality player. You don't have to have 'the legs' to deliver quality crosses into the box and create chances although I do appreciate it might help! It must be more entertaining to see a quick winger like JJ, Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips run down the wings beating players for fun, but what about their delivery once they've done that? Oh but he beat all those players, what for?!

 

I think this dislike of Liddell is a bit like the dislike of Beckham playing for England, both aren't quick but if Beckham didn't play in the World Cup in Germany we wouldn't have got through the group stages FACT.

 

I would love our wingers deliver quality crosses AND be able to beat their man with skill and pace but if I had to choose one it would be to deliver quality crosses, something Liddell and Beckham are very very good at and your pacey wingers mentioned above aren't!

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.