eyres_28

LJ is far from Monty's biggest fan and only his excellent pre-season saved his Latics career IMO. Not playing great ATM but I still think he needs a run of games. As for Sidney I think LJ knows he isn't ready yet to start and is learning the English game. The lad has no final ball and is the only one if LJ's signings he is still not fully taken on. Let this lad loose. If he can be as dangerous as Scapuzzi (most Rangers fans suggest he is class) but with some proper backbone and work-ethic then he could have an huge impact even in this short time.

I for one would have Baxter back in our team any day of the week

Please delete this poll. It isn't as ridiculous as comparing Whittaker to arguably Latics best player since 2003. However, Baxter was a one-off, a footballing genius at our level who put me on the edge of my seat every game I saw him. Forget the 'we were better without him' statistics, I have always watched my club to be entertained, the result does matter, but having the opportunity to see Jose in a blue shirt was one of the highlights for me since the premiership days (Forest being the highlight!) Danny P looks extremely decent and is getting better every game - outstanding on Tuesday! He is not Baxter and like every other forum player vs. player poll this is an insult to both players to compare them.

If I have to decide, then in no particular order... 1) the penalty 2) the 7 mins at Forest will never be beaten for constant elation 3) the Leeds performance was incredible - Kilkenny immense 4) Olney's 2 late goals to equalise at home to Leeds in 92/93 - memorable for me 5) Being there at Ipswich at 6yrs of age sat next to the Latics fan with all the badges on - I think she was knitting! P.S. struggle to remember Pointon's goal at Wembley due to attempts to make that last 10mins and the aftermath a repressed memory.

It could have been given, he certainly touched it with his hand, a lad near me thought he had controlled it deliberately but not sure myself. Really pleased with the performance, particularly 2nd half. Tarky, barring a couple of Reuben Hazell moments, was a rock, Dayton was immense for 25mins in 2nd half until switched to the right, but my MOM was our captain; he was absolutely outstanding throughout, never gave anyone one a moments peace, it was like looking at 2 weso's with one of the twins having that extra class on the ball. It was a true captains display, well done KOREY! Special mention must go to David Mellor as well, who dealt admirably with the ever-changing Wolves threat down the right, composed, strong, not without pace and as we all know comfortable on the deck - his best performance at LB since the MK Dons match a couple of years ago. I'm still convinced he's our man for CM with Smith but for now he's doing a very sound job.

Big side in waiting. They are the sort of team that could run through the league now the monkey is off their backs. Jay Emmanuel Thomas is a player that I considered to have the potential to make the grade at Arsenal. SO'D is a manager who plays the right way and they could now go 20 games unbeaten. We could get pummelled. Cue a 1-0 victory with JCH bundled winner.

Brilliant post, despite it's clear flaws. Scholes couldn't play with either, so we'd have to drop both and play an attacking midfielder.

Did you go? He has the impact we want, bullies defenders and wins headers. What LJ is referring to is his terrible decision making. On three occasions he went for goal from impossible angles and just seems to want to smash the ball whenever it is at his feet. I'm not sure LJ is doing the right thing criticising our secret weapon, but I can see why he is frustrated. So much potential. I see JCH as the league one Balotelli. Everytime I saw MB play for City I thought he offers nothing as a team-player but has the ability to be destructive. JCH has MB's strut and attitude and can be very effective, he just needs us to be patient. Is LJ trying to fire him up? Is he playing tricks with the press and actually praising him in private?

Fantastic if he has an influence on the lads. We know a few are Utd fans which will play an even bigger role for the likes of Tarky. We all want him involved, and even if it is just for snippets like this it is definitely worth it.

They could have had many more against us, particularly 1st half, yet we came away still thinking it was a game we could easily have won, particularly in the first 15mins of 2nd half.

Unfortunately last night was utter garbage and possibly worse than most listening on GMR / Latics Player can imagine, and I still remain an optimist (JUST!) The night was destined to end badly with the traffic problems and dreadful ticket office staff causing a late arrival in the stands. I hope there was something in the first 5 minutes to enjoy because our first half performance was the worst under LJ by far. We were worse than all-at-sea in defence, with Grounds lacking any sort of leadership skills, Kusunga failing to read the game in any way and instigating heart attacks when facing his own goal; FFS make a decision! The 2 young full backs looked nervous and out of their depth defensively, with CW also looking unsure going forward (a real shame after Saturday). Other than a woeful defence and the aforementioned mistake LJ made (and rectified) up-front, the main cause for exacerbation amongst the travelling army was the sheer lack of intensity in closing the opposition down. Wes and Korey lost the midfield battle, and the former looked way off the pace, his performance on Saturday seemed light-years ago. Dayton might as well have been in the stands during an anonymous 40 mins which is becoming his trademark, and Rooney and Millar were outmuscled, outpaced and out-thought. JCH did make a difference and with his arrival came a little more energy throughout the team, with Smith suddenly driving the team forward. When the goal arrived we could and should have been 3 or 4 down against really poor opposition. The goal itself came from Danny P and Smith playing out from our half and then a decent deep cross from Dayton; Rooney had peeled well off his marker and headed into an empty net after their GK had been caught under the flight of the ball. The second half began in a style more closely matched to previous performances under LJ. The passing was slicker and we moved the ball around well. JCH was shooting at sight and Mellor became more involved as an attacking threat from LB. Danny P was heavily involved cutting in and Dayton, following the sort of burst that had us excited from YouTube videos, should have done much better when in a great shooting/crossing position. We were way on top but the defensive frailties were there to see when Winchester was caught under a high ball only to be saved by an offside flag. Did we learn? NO; Mellor stood off his man and a deep cross was completely misjudged by CW allowing a free header for their no.15. It got worse after that as horrendously slack defending allowed McGregor to have about 5 chances to shoot before finally firing past Oxley. JCH made it interesting with a rasping free-kick and the usual time-wasting followed from the opposition with the referee oblivious until, yes you guessed it, the 89th minute when he blew his whistle and did that annoying rolling of the arms. Book the keeper when he first does it and then it wont continue, just like Oxley at Rotherham. We were beaten by dreadful opposition, and this reliance on a 21yr-old CB in his first 'full' season (as first choice) to organise, control and lead the defence is increasingly worrying. We will not go down, of that I am confident, however I had and still hold onto lingering ambitions of doing more than simply surviving. With the players we have, and the exciting brand of football LJ is instilling in his players we can still do well. Montano needs more games, the same can be said for JCH, and LJ needs to discover a way of ensuring the players retain that same work ethic and intensity that won us the game against Swindon on Saturday, without that we look a run of the mill bottom half side and expose our shaky backline. Keep the Faith

Please not a wide player when we've got 2 of our own not getting game time. A striker with Charlie Mac out is a possibility and a defender

what did he say?

thought they might have lowered the admission slightly for a re-arranged Saturday game. Lots of away fans book time off as soon as the fixtures are announced and a 75% admission would attract more fans. Too logical that probably. No-one seems upset at £24 where as £27 at Posh was outrageous!

Swindon possibly the best side (barring Derby) at BP this season. Very strong at the back and with excellent ball players in midfield. For once it was us that WON the game, it wasn't handed to us. We harried them NON-STOP, passed it when we got it and then added that physical approach second half with JCH. Wes, DP and Winchester absolutely outstanding for 90 mins, while Kusunga and Tarky kept a championship/premiership class CF very quiet for large parts. Best performance of the season for me. Well done LJ and good luck Swindon, keep playing football the proper way.

He needs to stick with Rooney for a few games and definitely Danny P and Winchester as a right-hand side. Dayton will start again and is solid enough for an hour, Only changes would be JCH for Millar and the enforced change at the back with Mills/Mellor coming in at LB (Grounds CB for Tarky who again was immense).

Played as if it was a cup game and my god I enjoyed it. That is the LJ blueprint IMO. To say we changed our style is a little strange for me, yes they harried, yes they mixed it up at times and played a little direct, but for me some of the passing football particularly down the right and through the middle was sensational. Paul Dickov's woeful coaching of Carl Winchester might have put his career back 3 years, but so glad he proved today he has outstanding 'pure' footballing ability. Comfortable with the ball at his feet (well his right peg!) and linked brilliantly with Danny P, for me this was his best performance in a blue shirt and has been so long overdue. Well done LJ for giving the lad his chance (he promised us that in the first meeting) and onwards and upwards. P.S. Please give JCH a run of games LJ!

Under PD the young players never got time and a 5-game run in the side and then were labelled not good enough. PD has been proved wrong with Tarky, Mellor and to a lesser extent Winchester and Millar. Now we are saying that he needs to chop and change until he finds his best XI. Well I'm saying it's impossible to find a first XI without giving the players a chance to embed an understanding, which means sticking to an unchanged side where possible for a good few games.

Stevenage, Preston, Peterborough, Port Vale 2nd half, 1st half vs. Derby. It was quick, vibrant, energetic and exciting. unfortunately it isn't the norm. At times against Derby in that first half we were scarily good for a league one side, JCH, Monty and Dayton were key to that and none are in-form = stagnant football at times.

Too many changes will happen again today. Now don't get me wrong in this post I do respect LJ and think he has been doing a really good job, and has been successful in letting me enjoy my Saturday's again, but the continual changes are not helping IMO. As I've mentioned elsewhere, 2-3 personal changes to the line-up can be beneficial on occasions to spice things up, but not every single match. The problem LJ has at the moment is that he really doesn't seem to know his best XI, there is no continuity up front (not helped by Charlie Mac's brittleness) or out wide. This links to the weekly issue of not turning possession and possible chances (crosses, through balls, etc.) into clear chances, particularly in those opening 60mins when Smith and Wes are most effective. The lads need a run together, for me it should be Dayton, Monty, Danny P and Rooney and give them 5 games together. The second, and most concerning, problem in the last month has been the changes in formation. 4-4-2 (expansive), 4-4-1-1, 4-4-2 (narrow) have all been on show in the last few weeks. Winchester in the hole, with Danny P (who is effective there) in front of him, was bizarre. If CW plays CM (which he has the ability to) as a 3, then we need 2 bombing wingers (Sid and Monty) and an outlet up front (C-Mac if fit). I hope he plays 4-4-2 with Rooney and Danny P and sticks with it for a while. We have the manager and players to play attractive football and do well this season, we just need LJ to give his players, his XI & formation the same time and chances we as fans are willing to afford him.

Substitutes 13 Bouzanis, 02 Mvoto, 17 Parker, 20 Scapuzzi, 32 Kuqi Subs today... Rachubka, Mellor, Millar, Schmeltz, Rodgers, Clarke-Harris, Rooney Not been as surprised by a Latics bench than when seeing Kuqi, Scapuzzi and Mvoto warming up on their own that afternoon. Tonight we have a equally strong bench IMO; Mellor is still suffering from his moment of madness, Millar was class on Saturday, Schmeltz offers pace, pace, pace, Clarke-Harris is still potentially our secret weapon, Rooney is top scorer, Rodgers (weak link maybe) can play, and ex-scum keeper!!

It was the sort of performance and result that latics fans, and those on this board in particular, have been crying out for all season. We were far from poor, but have certainly played much, much better this season and lost. The lads were quick out of the traps, with Smith pulling the strings, Wes everywhere and Charlie Mac's movement sharp as ever. When McDonald went off we took a wee while to get used to how to utilise Millar and Rooney as a partnership and the game suffered as a result for 10 mins or so. Once the goal went in (unsure about the decision at the time & still can't make my mind up after watching the ever thorough Latics part of FLS) we really grew into the game and looked very good, with Danny P in a roaming role from RM particularly impressive. Barring the marking for the offside miss by Amoo and one other twitchy moment we were comfortable and a less eager Millar might have made one of his half chances count. After the break again comfortable for the first 15-20 mins, just like Leyton Orient last time. We just don't kill teams off and Wes, Millar, Dayton all went close. The worry must be the lack of chances for Rooney, who actually was much more impressive in general play. Then came the statutory last half hour at BP, same as last week without an offside equaliser. For me, as soon as our captain starts to tire we lose all momentum, composure and tempo, Korey and Wes get deeper and deeper, the opposition build a head of steam and this is not a unique occurrence but the norm this season. LJ refused to change things in the 2nd half yesterday and I'm really unsure why with the options on the bench. Danny P had become a ghost and was providing no protection for Kusunga, who was increasingly narrowing our defensive line as his natural instincts shone through. Winchester at RB/RWB or a natural wide man on the right was a option, or alternatively JCH for the knackered Rooney were both options not explored or even considered it seemed by LJ. Not sure it was 'winning ugly', but it wasn't the flowing football witnessed at Posh, Preston or Stevenage. Onwards and upwards I hope, and looking at the difficult upcoming fixture list this win could prove absolutely key to our confidence and position come December.

Feel for Rooney a bit. He must have watched the first 60-65 mins and thought he was in for the sort of service he thrives on, i.e. passes into feet and chest. Yet as soon as he replaced DP it appears the players look at Adam Rooney and mistake him for Matt Smith. I'm not a massive fan of Rooney but neither will I abuse him here or at BP (again negative vibes) until he has been given a solid chance. McDonald has cemented his place today for me, and deserves a run in the side. Work-rate, movement and desire was great from Charlie Mac all 93mins. As for who partners him it's up for grabs. JCH needs to have a bigger impact off the bench to deserve a run (I know if didn't come on today before anyone starts), DP is a little too lightweight despite some fantastic movement (improved after HT today) and Rooney is still to fully impress. Against Preston I would again pair DP and CM and see if we can get a good understanding between the pair, although I can see LJ giving JCH a start. I hope he doesn't meddle too much with the line-up & am looking forward to seeing more of Winchester at RB, especially when fully match-fit.

Montano should have started.

he was loaned out last season, did well and established himself in CM. unlucky to pick up early injury. yes he has cost us today, but he will be a big player for us this season and is certainly not lightweight.