RodgerWylde

I was lucky enough as a kid to play with both Brendan Burke (3 years younger than me) and David Platt (same age). Both released by Man U at 16. Brendan took it badly, Platt got his head down and went to Crewe and the rest is history. But who was the better player? - Brendan Burke by a mile - like you say BP if only.

if over the next week or two we signed:

Doherty or another experienced centre back

Taiwo or Oakley or similar

Croft

Paul Hayes (just an example of an experienced striker available on a free)

and then Reece Brown plus a young prem striker/winger on loan at the start of the season I think we should be happy with that.

Winchester/Mellor going to have to cover RB/LB and Hughes/Millar as back up on the wings

Glad he's gone to Stanley - was a little concerned...didn't fit with Dickov signing strategy at all

linky:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9144935.stm

25 November

Will Atkinson [Hull - Rotherham] Loan

Abdulai Bell-Baggie [Reading - Crawley] Loan

Leon Cort [burnley - Preston] Loan

Andy Coughlin [Tranmere - Fleetwood] Work experience

Ian Craney [Fleetwood - Oldham] Loan

Ashley Eastham [blackpool - Carlisle] Loan

Rory Fallon [Plymouth - Ipswich] Loan

Joe Jacobson [Oldham - Accrington] Loan

Chris Kirkland [Wigan - Leicester] Loan

Simon Locke [Reading - Dagenham & Redbridge] Loan

Josh McQuoid [bournemouth - Millwall] Loan

Eddie Oshodi [Watford - Dagenham & Redbridge] Loan

Tom Parkes [Leicester - Yeovil] Loan

Cameron Stewart [Manchester United - Hull City] Loan

Neal Trotman [Preston - Oldham] Loan

Marcus Tudgay [sheffield Wednesday - Nottingham Forest] Loan

Andrew Tutte [Manchester City - Shrewsbury Town] Loan

Rowan Vine [QPR - Brentford] Loan

Michael Woods [Chelsea - Notts County] Loan

Gianni Zuiverloon [West Brom - Ipswich] Loan

Being reported on BBC transfers?

I don't think those of you who are saying the club shouldn't have announced they were in for Feeney are being very fair on the club.

The BBC (supposedly the most reliable news source in the UK) reported yesterday and quoted Feeney (not the club) as saying he was going to sign for us.

It has also been reported through the day in other media sources that he has signed.

If the official site sits back and says nothing until all is done - they will get slagged off for not keeping us up to date and now they get slagged off for reporting " yes we are interested but so are other clubs and we will keep you posted" and then " we're expecting a decision today"

damned if they do/damned if they don't.

What I do agree with this it is typical Latics!!! Also I agree probably is agent trying to squeeze a bit more from us.

Can't get the pic to upload but follow this link and go to 1957-9 and that's it.

From my v good source - I don't have many

I don't think Alan Hardy has done anything but "state the bleeding obvious" but we jump on him as though he's told us the club is folding... I agree he could have put it better but he can't afford Max Clifford!!

The quality of the football has been poor this year and there still is/has been a recession. How many clubs will be increasing the budget this year in League 1 and 2 - you can probably count them on less than one hand.

Why has the quality of football been poor? Well I think its a combination of injuries to players who the manager thought would be first teamers this year - Abbott, Holdsworth, Purdie, Taylor, Worthington, Jacobson plus squad players Smalley, Lomax and Alessandra. This leads to a lack of a settled side and then when results go badly a lack of confidence - obviously the vociferous support of the Boundary Park faithful helps!!!

Plus a 2 or 3 bad signings - Parker definitely. But for the first few Royle years he signed 2 or 3 a season.

And a bit (but not a lot) of bad decision-making by a manager under pressure - never made a mistake in your line of work? - join the club obviously!!!

I think if we can get all of the above fit for most of the season we will be okay next year. But if you were faced with this problem as Penney was, plus the vocal minority in the crowd who want Penney to go you would go for "safety first" football - its not pretty but we're still in League 1 and believe it or not I think there have been very few occasions when the players haven't tried - individuals yes but collectively I think the team has given the effort most are demanding. Oh and Penney is from Yorkshire!? - guess what Royle was a scouser but we didn't hold that aginst him when we were getting done at home and away by Shrewsbury or thrashed 5-2 at Oxford.

The rubbish about TTA written on here is enough to drive them to distraction. They pump in half a million plus every year so we have something to do on a Saturday afternoon. I don't get all this "they are ruining/taking my club down to League 2" because unless you've put in the millions they have I'm afraid you don't own the club - you support it - I reckon over the last 35 years I've spent up to £10K in tickets and kits but that's it - I'm not counting away games because we don't get that money. Their investment is nearer £5M possibly more in 6 years. I am grateful for their continued financial support. Yes our ground is crap and we desperately need to move but unless you're Vince Cable no one predicted the financial meltdown that occured and we can't expect TTA to not suffer either in terms of their own business interests or in terms of the land value at BP and therefore they don't have a magic wand to wave at either the team or the ground. Yes the supporters will (possibly) be around after TTA have gone but they (TTA) are trying despite the economic climate and inspite of some "supporters" to leave a legacy for us to enjoy in the future. It's not as quick as any of us (and I include TTA in that) would want but it never is.

I've bought my season ticket for next year and I'm already looking forward to the "theatre of nightmares and the occasional dream" that is Boundary Park!

It is the blue body with white sleeves v neck. Source don't want to reveal but as I don't post on here I hope as I have been specific you will take it as a very good one. White third kit may have some traditional colours on it - blue/tangerine - like Inter Milan away but still up for discussion might just be plain.

Sorry if this has been posted before but the new strip for next year will be based on 1957ish kit - singe if you have a copy to post that would be good. And will be worn for the last home game against Charlton. Plus an all white third kit.

Here's my guess:

Taylor to dirty Leeds for a £1M (based on Tindall's tear the club apart but later good and bad comment)

Why the delay it is dependent on Leeds selling Beckford to Newcastle for £1.5M (who need to get new owners and a manager)

Also Delph for £4M being sold to Man City and loaned back to Leeds for the season.

He doesn't need to be proven above league one if we are only taking him on a season long loan.

okay another dean1984-ism

Trotman - only 5 games due to injury last season

But hopefully you get the gist

Well done dean at least you answered the question and I don't understand why you are getting slaughtered on here.

However I do believe your answer proves the point that most people have been trying to make in your dismay at some of our signings:

Brill - keeper for a team relegated from league 2

trotman - unproven above league 1

furman - unproven above league 2

billy clarke - unproven above league 2

breckin and heffernan - good calls

and I think brill, furman and clarke maybe the 3 to sign this week (or whenever)

but the point is none of these signings and any DP is going to make is going to have us dancing in the stands at the start of the season - we just have to accept (once again) that it's rebuild time and back the team and the manager. There have been some grim times at Boundary Park in the last 35 odd years I've been supporting Latics but I don't believe this is one of them.

As you say it's all about opinions and at least you've had the cajones to answer the question.

The figures are Dean1984's guess work - whilst it's started as a "I can't believe Penney's not spoken to Jacobson" thread I think we'll see what Dean can do with Penney's budget (just thought maybe by not calling him while he was abroad penney saved a small fortune!)

Still back to the original question: which nine player would you (Dean and Corporal - the two that still think we are a Prem club) sign with a budget of £10K per week (and by some of the comments on here I'm being generous).

Go on just give us a clue: I'll start you with you first three that you've already said you'd be happy with: Furman, Clarke and Llera - you've got £7K(ish) left....

i wouldnt say angry i would say frustrated because i know its another rubbish league 1 campaign and yet again we will be awaiting league 1 fixtures on 17th june 2010 then 2011.....2039

So go on then Dean you've got £10K a week to spend on wages which 9 players would you sign I'll let you ignore the fact we've signed purdie, worthington and jacobson.

Which 9 for that budget (which is half a million per annum just in case you thought it wasn't enough)?

And you too Corporal?

I'll be getting a new season ticket.

Yes it's been a disappointing second half to the season but I'll be doing my 100 mile round trip next season.

You either go home on a high or you realise the rest of your week wasn't actually that bad! That's the beauty of supprting Latics!

The club was and still is losing money on a weekly basis. During the course of the season and with Latics looking in a healthy play off place, TTA have ploughed more and more money into the wages of the team in an attempt to get us outta of this league or at least in the play off's. At the same time refusing tempting offers to sell our better players. They. along with us have seen the slump in firm and ultimately are decline out of contention. Bringing Royle in was the last ditch chance to keep us in the play off's and the extra revenue that would have brought. Now it's looking increasingly the gamble of the extra funds and refusing the transfer monies as not paid off. Getting rid of Hughes now, who wasn't staying next season is just a way of lightening the money out burden, and why not?

 

The credit crunch as hit and will impact more on TTA business over next couple of years. Allied with the cotinuation in reduction of gate money they've already seen whilst here, they need to pull in their belts from this season's pushing the boat out. For the first time ever I honestly believe this coming season they will be looking seriously at their involvement with the club. Which this latest rumour snipet they are looking into a 3rd party investment option holds credibility for me. Should a 3rd party investor turn up who then goes when step further and say's I actually fancy a football club myself, I think they'll sell.

 

So don't be to hard on these guy's, yes they've made mistake and I think they'll hold their hands up and say so. Bloody costly ones to in the pocket no doubt! however all in all they have been great for this club and done untold amounts of good. One things for sure, when they come to write the final book on OAFC, it will be a feel good factor chapter this one in our history.

a fan and season ticket holder for 35 years I view but never post on here but I am moved to say that is the most sensible post I've ever seen on this board - well said Lags whoever you are.

I didn't know it was his dad at first. He said "he's off to Doncaster mate" when asked how Chris was, I am hoping it was for the Pork Pies as mentioned above. Looks like he will be going to Donny if and when an offer is accepted. As I don't know the bloke I didn't actually ask him anything about it and that is all that was said on the matter.

 

Whether he was talking b*ll*cks is another matter but we will find out over the next few weeks I suppose.

I had a conversation with one of the directors at Latics a few weeks back. He said they expected a bid from Donny for Taylor if promoted. Also said it was good news that Smalley had signed a contract because they were also sniffing round him. So let's cut Ritchie a bit of slack.

As for pork pies the current pork pie champions (allegedly but there does seem to be a few claiming it) are a butchers called Wilsons in Crossgates Leeds (I know not the right part of the country but still great pies)

Name? Mike

Location? originally from Oldham now living near Wetherby

How Long Supporting the Tics? 35 years

Best away match you've been to? Man City 4-1 win

All Time Greatest Player? Roger Palmer

Biggest Rivals (in your eyes)? Blackburn