Scapegoat

Latics 1-2 Posh (HT 1-0) Doyle 3104

Ferguson's win ratio is pretty decent - but arguably declining since Peterborough days and Donnie are only 17th.

Not sure what people's expectations are in terms of how quickly this deal should be done - but have read some criticism of SC et al for taking too long. Not sure what people's experience of mergers and acquisitions is - but it's often a slow process. I run a few businesses that the parent company is selling so I will give an indication of timeline. May 2016 I was informed of intention to sell October 2016 we informed colleagues of intention to sell and that we were now marketing the businesses and looking for expressions of interest January 2017 first stage bids in and process of comparing and understanding them commenced (not straightforward) May 2017 Short listed bidders identified and final bids requested and Due Diligence phase one starts July 2017 preferred bidders identified and phase 2 Due Diligence starts and final negotiations on commercial deal starts (a bit like having an offer on a house accepted - and then doing surveys and haggling money off because the flat roof looks a bit dodgy) We are now almost in October and all 5 businesses are still under our control. Some of these are close to being done finally, others will take until Christmas or beyond because there is an equivalent of a "fit and proper person" test because the areas we work in. And this is apparently pretty standard - we have a £5m budget for advisors / legal support to manage this process and they deal with lots of deals. Often deals seem to go quickly because people only become aware fairly late in the process. I get the sense that the deal to buy/invest in Latics was made public earlier in the process. Might be a while yet...

Not happy personally by many have stated we need an experienced British Manager than knows the game..... Fits that bill. Id prefer Pablo

True. Particularly for the opposition fans. For whatever reason - it wasn't working with Sheridan. In the end it doesn't matter if that was because (1) Behind the scenes changes distracted him, or (2) He couldn't get the players he signed to perform, or (3) He wasn't in charge of the players. The situation he faced was the situation he had to deal with. Performances, results and press conferences ended up not being good enough. For that reason it's come to an end and he will go back to professionally drinking whilst entertaining the corporate guests at Hillsborough (which according to a guy at work who is a well connected Wednesday-ite he really enjoys) until he gets another opportunity. Which if he does will be the last one he does get without getting some success on the board again.

Always entertaining the first few hours and maybe days after a sacking. Bookies bang out lists and the odds are very quickly based upon the money placed rather than any insider knowledge. Our options usually eventually fall down into the usual groups: (1) Experienced manager - with some success but more recently has failed (2) Complete newbie out for their first job (3) A Paul Scoles newspaper article This time we are able to add 2 new categories (4) Foreign manager we have heard of (5) Any mate / friend of the rumoured new owner

The oft made argument - there are only 92 managers jobs out there, no matter how bad it looks people will apply and there will be a few decent ones. Add into the equation a potential takeover and that there is 3/4 of a season to turn it around (including a transfer window) and I think we will do OK for applicants. Whether SC picks a good one is a matter of debate - but hopefully the investment might mean we aren't stuck with the bargain bin options.

I can see that some supporters have a really strong affinity with Sheridan, and also believe he represents our best chance of success (which has changed from Top half / sneak the play-offs - to survival again). I can understand the fear that SCs management appointments are less hit and more miss - and therefore people prefer the devil that they know. But that some people are claiming it's some form of heresy to discuss him being sacked - madness. Its his team, it's his tactics, and his selection and motivation - he has to be held responsible for that fact. The results are nothing short of appalling. I was / am a big fan of Sheridan and what he has done for the club - through he isn't Mr.Oldham (in his heart he is Wednesday) - but history is exactly that and he knows he will be judged on the present. The present is challenging and it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't in charge by Tuesday - or at the very best he has maybe another 2 games to start getting some results.

Minimum of 2 goals conceded in every league game - and after shipping in 5 today it's getting worse not better. He pulled together a team over the summer and it has not worked. Time for Sheridan to go - forever grateful for the last 2 great escapes but not time for sentiment, we are getting humiliated at the moment and if we carry on the gap will start to look hard to bridge. Only 3 points adrift at the moment.

I am getting more convinced that Sheridan going is not a bad thing. Another defeat again today and another defensive masterclass. 23 goals so far in the league. #ShezOut?

Rotherham 2 - 1 Latics (HT 1-0) Davies 7898

Bottom of the table and "league leaders" are Shrewsbury. 4 points from 2 away games (that we conceded 4 goals in and almost snatched 2 draws from winning positions) is not going to arrest the decline in supporters. Making a meaningful change in attendances will take a few months of good results.

They have, but I think that as the money in football has increased and increased - the difference between being in and not being in the CL for the top clubs is becoming more and more significant. Eventually the 'big names' of Europe will get fed up with the risk of 'rubbish small teams' like FK Qarabag, Apoel Nicosia, Leicester and Celtic taking their place at the table - and come up with a new competition that they set the rules for. I think it will take a new media option (Amazon, Netflix for example)..or Sky (an an attempt to get back the 'big European nights') to be willing to offer a ridiculous TV Deal to a new competition and it will be done.

As for the OT - why would City want to invest in our stadium under any deal? Training facilities - maybe - some players - certainly, but anything above that seems ridiculous.

I think you are a right - there is a desire for the big clubs to have access to a secure and guaranteed income level and a dedicated non-relegation super league is the answer they want. United, Chelsea etc running the risk of not having the CL TV money is too high a risk for 'big businesses' (not football clubs) - and eventually they will work out a way of protecting themselves. The Premier League did it 25 years ago - and it will happen again. For most clubs, the removal of the top 3 or 4 sides out of the English format, will mean nothing anyway.

I'd guess either SC or the new owners if they materialise.

To be fair, I think the comment refers to the best manager at grinding it results in a relegation battle - which is where we might well be - rather than being the best manager. The thing is, he came into dire situations, added some loans, and got a backs against the wall siege mentality going. That is far harder to do when the dire situation is of your own making... I can see Shez getting the sack, ending up at another League One relegation club and keeping them up - hopefully not at our expense.

Oddly confident about this one.... Latics 3 - 1 Shrewsbury (HT 2-0) Bryan 4321

I have no evidence to say that they are either - but wonder why you think they are not? TTA are a good example that it's difficult to get out of a football club even when you want to - unless of course you do the Chris Moore way and just let it go bust.

Sheridan might be able to get us promoted out of League One without investment - though 4th bottom after 7 games means that you have to be an optimist to think that might becomes a will. Without any investment - I am not sure there are any Oldham fans that want to see Shez move on (though if we were bottom 4 at Christmas it's inevitable that some people would start to call for his head). However the reason why I would accept Sheridan leaving if it was deemed necessary by the new investors is the long term hope and ambition for the club. Without investment even if Sheridan could get us out of this division - the long term hope for the club is unlikely to change. We'd almoat certainly be relegation candidates - potentially circling the drain for a few seasons before the inevitable relegation follows. A new owner with moment might mean we'd have a realistic opportunity of establishing ourselves in a higher division

Shez out. Investment in. No brainier for me if it was a black and white choice.

Quite a narcissistic Instragam feed he has there

Sheridan has pulled off a good few miracles in his time at our club. As a player under Ritchie he managed to keep one of the worst sides I have ever had the misfortune to watch up - without the ability to run! Taking over from Ronnie Moore - who was sacked because of very low season ticket sales because Latics fans couldn't face watching the drivel he served up (successful or not) he got us playing some of the best football I have seen in this division (recently LJ produced similar) and achieved the play-offs (although we got battered in them). He then pulled rabbits out of the hat 2 seasons in a row when we looked doomed. So I can see that in the modern game where affection for players and managers is hard to come by due to the short-term nature of most of them - why many fans are found of him. But at the same time he has blotted his copy book a few times as well - the infamous fight at the dogs and at the time rumoured dressing room unrest and drinking culture. The proving that there is no loyalty by ditching us for Notts County. The simply awful start to the season - that at some clubs would have got him the sack. We are seeing some improvements in the last 3 games - but some of that is due to new players that it was rumoured were nothing to do with Shez, and we are still not out of the mire with a few tough games coming up. On top of that his record elsewhere isn't fantastic - if he'd had success elsewhere he'd have moved onwards and upwards and be after the job(s) he really wants (Wednesday or Leeds). Nothing is black or white. When Ritchie was sacked many (myself included) felt it was unfair and not right - but it didn't take long for Dowie (after the odd Wadsworth interlude) and a good season to make people forget. I would feel similar now. I wasn't convinced Ritchie would make a good manager (and I don't think he ever did - a short success at Barnsley apart) but felt he deserved the chance to try with CMs money. I like Shez and his ability to galvanise a team to be more than a sum of its parts when the backs are against the wall. But part of me doubts that he is the man to blend a team of better players (if money does come in) and earn promotion and then do well in the Championship. Thst said, I'd give him the chance and see how he does. But if the potential new owners want to change it - I won't give up on Latics, I won't scream and shout. I'd get behind whoever came next and hope that they have a good young coach that can take over when they get sacked ;-)

Probabaly mine that.

I think that the success or not via VPN may be down to the quality of the connection. I used a free VPN for a while and it was Ok for doing downloading overnight, but poor for steaming. Now used a pay VPN and watched last nights game in the UK via the App on an IPad and was decent. I think you can get a 30 day trial / money back on some paid VPNs and you can buy a single game on iFollow - so you could try for very little outlay.