Ackey

This week, I have mostly been listening to.... New Laugh Track album from The National (strange one - I like it a lot, but it's basically just Frankenstein... again) New Sea of Mirrors album from The Coral (belting!) New This New Noise album from Public Service Broadcasting, which is the live one from the RAH (fucking incredible - love them!) New(ish) The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons album from The Hives (best of the lot - album of the year already and they were fucking brilliant live recently) New Where the Angels Fall album from The Cat Empire (broadly OK - I think they've peaked and are a bit same-y now)

From the highlights alone he's set up a goal with some good determination/awareness and a nice pass. He's made a pressing run that's led to a good chance and done something else I already forgot. Even if that's all he's done in 90min that's a decent performance!

The most notable thing about Green in the games I've seen, even at Bromley which was a thankless task, is he wants the ball. He's been the only player other than Kitching who actually wants possession and is willing to keep the ball, look for a run or pass but without it needing to be immediate. His production wasn't always ideal (Bromley he ran down a dead end at least twice) but I'd be hopeful that comes with both patience and opportunity - if he makes those kinds of runs in a game where other players are also doing the same (which is what infuriated about Unsy ball most - it was so static) then he could be a very useful creative outlet.

They're building a new Spindles?!

Culture is a difficult thing. It generally speaking takes time and effort to build, but can also be fickle and change on a whim. And predicting which bit you're in is hard. Predicting when a whim may occur is borderline impossible. It's also not homogeneous. You can have pockets of culture within a wider one. You can have conflicting cultural behaviours. You can. You can. You can... With that said, it's also worth thinking about those pockets. Not because they are isolated, they influence eachother massively, but because we're in a time of change and things don't change in identical quick-step with eachother. Business Culture - Massively changed. The club as an organisation/business is barely recognisable from a year ago. We've seen huge steps forward in professionalism and more. Team Culture - Still a lot of work to be done, clearly not going the way anyone would want results-wise and some reasonable questions to be asked still. Fan Culture - Improved in general, came together well during the worst-of-times. Travel in incredible numbers. Home attendances brilliant for this level or the one above. Some really impressive strengths that could be capitalised on more. But, still plenty to do too - drawn to mood swings, toxic behaviour (see Chesterfield last-min) and more. Often the most evidently affected by the wider national culture and certainly the case in these polarised times (cliché klaxon sounds). Also the most readily affected by the Team's performance. Club Culture - An amalgamation of all the above and more. Probably better than it's been for 20 years. But still in a state of change and flux. Also one that's very vulnerable to other elements, such as Fan Culture. I could go on, these are examples not an exhaustive list. But the point is as a Club we need to keep picking away at all these elements one by one, improving small parts of them. We should make a LOT of them, but without assuming there's only one culture or that it's mono-directional. Keep improving small things in many areas and they will support eachother, improve eachother and eventually we'll be in a better place. Ramble over.

On the plus side you'll dick'um at the next pub quiz!

We've played a different system in multiple games this season and we're only four games in. Not defending him. Just think that's wrong.

My little icon is getting twitchy folks. It's a heated topic by its very nature, and I can see why. Don't let that heat boil over tho please, keep it civil and think kind thoughts.

Not sure he'd thank anyone for playing on Saturday - he's a forward (some would add "at best" but I've not seen enough to say). It was painfully obvious he was out of place in a winger type role last weekend and to his credit he didn't give up. He may be slower or more languid than we'd like, but there's a lot of players out there we've had, or have, who wouldn't have worked up and down the flank like he did. Can't really blame him for being out of sorts there.

It's actually something like 70%.... but I bet you won't change your mind!

It's pretty clear you're all embarrassing yourselves. You're fucking adults. Just stop it. It's ludicrous I have to talk to you like you're all 11 and can't hold a civil conversation. Christ alive.

It's a funny old game isn't it - because whilst I agree she's a very very skilled and clearly accomplished manager, today I felt like we got away with one. We bossed that game for a while, certainly first half, but their goal was coming and if not for a brain-fart from their defender to gift us the 2-1 lead I think they were on top and we'd lacked a change 5/10min in to the second half, when they were on top. But hey, who cares? WORLD CUP FINAL BABY!

I saw The Hives on Saturday night and someone's posted the entire 50min set online from one phone. If that fuck had been stood in front of me with their hand up I'd have snapped the bastard thing in half. Just live the bloody moment! Old man rant over.

That cab ride was one of the worst things I've ever experienced. It was about 40 degrees in that taxi, he drove like a fucking maniac and we had to cross London in traditionally dog-shit traffic. We should have just got the bloody tube. I had to do a tactical vom on the side Coach and Horses, like a real classy broad.

I thought it was you. I was pretty drunk and high on pain pills for what was basically still a broken leg at the time And I can't believe Mark went to Southend! Bloody glory hunter, isn't he?

From the lot that went on with you Lags, I know Alex and Alan still go irregularly (hard for us as we're all based in the south). I think Mark pretty much gave up on Latics, he is now a director on the board of Dulwich Hamlet (as part of their Trust (see here and here)). I'm blanking on who else went on? Joe? God it's been too long.

That's OK - this is OWTB. There is no free speech here. People are expected to follow rules (primarily being "don't be a dick"), if not they can't post.

David Unsworth - News - Oldham Athletic

OK -that's enough. Let's move on to talking about what is undoubtedly the most (contextually) exciting signing the club has ever made and not nitpicking posters, or posters talking about posters, or posters tal... you get the point. Please and thank you. (Context - I've hidden a bunch of pointless nit-picking of a person not their post, again and as always).

Willoughby if he's smart/well advised he sees this as a great chance to learn from someone like Norwood, who's got a good reputation (as a person) and thus could be a very good guide/coach to him.

"I'll just miss him... he was a great bloke!" Sounds like he's doing his best mate's obituary!

Can't believe we're relying on him, he didn't score a single goal for us in pre-season! Not even a penalty!

Oh, and given the BoE have put interest rates up again and say they could rise consistently for 2 more years, I wouldn't worry too much about predicting the exchange! Don't worry though, Shell made $3bn last quarter, so everything is completely fine, normal and nothing is wrong. Christ, I sound like Monty. Time to do some work.

If you intend to watch all the games (plus more) and have the cash available to lump-sum on a season pass then the financials look pretty straightforward (the complete unknown of exchange rates not withstanding). At least to me at quick glance.