BlueInAus

I have to say, if we can keep a reasonably small injury list, I am looking forward for us to be pushing for automatic promotion. If the new physio can backup his comments on soft tissue injuries, and if we have a bit of luck with avoiding serious injuries, we have a fantastic team on paper. As with other people on here, I think we need to bring in a couple of left sided players on season long loan. Not because I don't think we have the players that could play those positions, but because I think those players would be better utilised in their natural positions. Even if that is the end of the signings before the start of the season, I still think Shez and the board have done an outstanding job. I feel better about this season than I have of any since the premier league days. Really, I would like to pass on my thanks to Shez, TTA, board and everyone involved at Oldham (including the players, new and old) for giving the fans credible hope for the new season and building the foundations for Oldham Athletic to potentially rise again. Hopefully they will read this.

As has been already said, as long as we get paid well - it is a fact of football that players move. I have never believed anything written in the Sun tho. Surely the offer would have to be too good to refuse though for TTA to consider selling. They have been very vocal that we need to be playing Championship football sooner rather than later, and a fit in-form Hughesy will be a big factor in that. I would rather risk losing him on a free this time next year than sell for a cut down price. Surely the potential for a promotion season outweighs a nominal sum of money. As for being a SPL feeder team, I don't see that as a bad thing. Oldham has always had a long association with north of the border players, and scouting goes both ways. If up and coming scottish talent see Oldham as a credible route to the SPL, that can only be good. Lets face it, until we are in the Prem again, we are not gonna be able to keep excellent players at Oldham. We just have a bad taste in our mouth from Porter. Macca and Haining, I have no problem with at all. Killen just couldn't play for us for whatever reason - kiwis can be temperamental!

This reminds me of the Red and Blue hoops days and the JD Sports letters on the front. They were made of a furry fabric that did not take too kindly to fluff of any kind. White as well, they were a right bastard to keep clean! Edit: I still have the Home, Away and Goalkeeper shirts from that season. Took them all over with me to Aus. My parents are sending me the yellow one (once they have them back in stock I guess)

Nope, don't see that one. Wimbledon service as in tennis? Pat Cash? 1987 called, they want their quiz back!

I thought of that but couldn't make the service connection

A putrid pig = OLDHAM Wild Dogs wolves = WOLVES Cowboys have them = Spurs Professor on rollers = Doncaster Males meadow = Mansfield Dirty Water = Blackpool Males together = Man Utd Push Weight = Preston Steel city day = Shef Wed Always one hundred = Everton Famous for their buns = Chelski Cash service A prison clock = Celtic Famous football brothers = Charlton Lock the door = Bolton Fill the harbour = Stockport Ask about ill parent = Motherwell Brick after cotton factory = Millwall Car outside Spanish house = Aston Villa To put under ground = Bury Famous President = Lincoln Animal Car = Oxford Lastest fort = Newcastle Famous jockey = Leicester Vital organs = Hearts Smashes things up = Wrexham Collection of arms = Arsenal Organ on small lake = Liverpool Bottom of a ship = Hull Not eastern beef = West Ham Greedy pig = Fulham Opposite of dull/off = Brighton 1 of 3 R's = Reading Harbour with a gorge = Port Vale Cannot get cash service

I am happy to be corrected, but it was my understanding that Torex were merged with iSoft, then bought by an Australian company (whose name escapes me). It was the Australian company that then took legal action against him. I never meant that TTA took legal action against him. Again, I am happy to be corrected as this is from my very flakey memory. Edit: I have no doubt you are right, cos you would have to have your story pretty straight while at BP, just incase anyone found out your wife works for Torex!

If the mighty latics sold one, I would probably wear it!

Did it involve Anus?

Yeah, Bovis Lend Lease are huge. Far too big to sponsor us again unfortunatly.

Or Hovis, the can make the half time sandwiches

Yeah, I am sure they will be queuing up! Sponsor Oldham and kiss your business goodbye! Seriously though, our recent sponsors have not faired too well. Torex Foundation - Moore put us into administration and nearly killed us, killed Torex and had legal action taken against him by the new owners. Horners Motor Group - Local dealerships closed / sold Hillstone - In administration apparently If this trend contiunes, I for one hope Manchester United FC Ltd sponsor us. It would be worth seeing the scum on our shirts for a year for them to go into administration.

Sorry to bring up an old post, but I felt compelled to reply in an AFL thread! Can anyone think of another sport where you get a point for being in the right general area with your shot? "Now it wasn't a goal, but we can see what you were trying to do, so you can have 1 point" It also rewards teams for finishing bottom of the ladder by giving them first pick of the up and coming stars. Once teams accept they are not going to make the top eight, it is who can play the worst to finish bottom and get the number 1 draft pick! Then you look at the entire AFL salary cap for all players combined being less than Lionel Messi's weekly wage, you will see why it doesn't attract those natural sportsman that could play pro in a range of sports. (Apart from Shane Warne, he is an AFL reject! That probably had more to do with him being a tubby sack of lard ) I live in AFL country, but I cannot stand the sport. I can watch most sports, except golf, but with AFL it has to be an excellent game for my brain not to give up and go down the boozer.

I very much doubt it, unless the other clubs fighting over him are Ashton United and Stalybridge!

Also, if a player is "not for sale", it usually bumps up their price. You can hold out for that offer that is too good to refuse rather than be bullied into a take it or leave it offer. When you think about it, Man City are the ones who paid his wages and paid for his development. They want to get a great price for him, especially as they lose a portion of the transfer fee to the mighty latics!

Just asking, not trying to cause a fight, do you enjoy annoying some people or do you feel these people are overreacting? I have never heard you as I have been exhiled in Aus for the last 6 years, but I am on my way back in the next couple of months and will buy a season ticket each for myself and my wife. I am sure I will hear you soon as I always preferred the RRE, even when we were in the Prem. Didn't like getting kicked out of there when the away fans took the whole stand. I hope your drumming adds to the occasion, and doesn't annoy me like it does with some of them on here.

Most of the below average performances he has put in this season have been while he was carrying injuries. If we had a credible number 2 at those times, he would not even have been playing. You have to give the guy credit for playing in a few of those games, and not just telling Shez "You're gonna have to play a kid!" He has been incredible for us in the second half of this season and we need him for next season. I know if I was a young keeper who was League one / championship level, I would jump at the chance to learn from an ex-international player like Norm. Lets face it, our best shot is to try and sign a promising younger keeper, possibly on season long loan from a Prem team, and have Norm mould him into a competitor for the number 1 shirt.

I am a big fan of clubs like Oldham who don't come close to filling the ground to give out free tickets to schools, youth groups etc. Not just a one off, every home game where less than 80% capacity is expected. Growing up I wasn't an Oldham fan properly until I first went to BP, aged 10 I think, even though they were my local team. I think the passion for a football team builds slowly, unless you are born a passionate supporter, and if you can get local kids who don't support Oldham to turn and find a passion for Oldham, that could turn into extra revenue (tickets when older, merchandise, etc) and build up a greater supporter base. Even if this only works with 5% of the kids, it is better than having a half empty stadium!

Name: BlueInAus (Mark) Location: Albury, NSW, Australia. Orignally from sunny Ashton How Long Supporting the Tics: Since primary school when I broke out from the family Man Utd supporters club. Best away match you've been to: Man Utd. 0-1 Neil Adams if I remember correctly. All Time Greatest Player: Stitch or Gunnar Halle Biggest Rivals (in your eyes): Man Utd, even tho we don't get much chance for it recently!