TrikkiNikki

I'm enjoying my time off, wishing it was summer so I could top up my tan. I hope they enjoy the movie.

I have to say, Geordie Blue, that, like Hughes as much as I do, I agree with what you say. If he wanted to stay that much I suppose he would have signed by now. I can't blame him for wanting to end his career with as much in the bank as possible, but I also have to wonder that, if we hadn't worked so hard to sign him etc. when he was due for release, would anybody have done so? If he goes we lose a player that could be the difference between promotion or not. If he wants to go, but stays, he might not be that player anymore. We should let him decide, say thank you very much for the goals and get somebody else in with the money. Only, we need to know soon, going on the last day of the transfer window doesn't leave Latics any options.

Get Porter back! He'll be used to it by now!

So do Brazil. And there, the similarity ends.

This couldn't have come at a worse time for Eardley. Lomax will, more than likely, move to right back, with Goldbourne dropping in on the left. If it works, Eardley will have to fight for his place back, which in itself is no bad thing. But, that then means that we have no competition for the left back slot, again. These situations show just how sparse we really are at the back. I don't think Hazell is the right choice, as that means Stam and Gregan in the middle. Whatever the decision, Sheridan now has another defensive headache and will have to get it right, otherwise he will be under fire again. Lomax's lack of confidence may mean he is not up to the job.

On reflection, I think we turned up with too much complacency and expecting a win to be a foregone conclusion. Hereford, on the other hand, had not played a game in several weeks, were probably chomping at the bit, especially in front of a home crowd. They had a few new players (Ainsworth being the most notable in terms of performance) which were an unknown quantity to Latics and also they were the underdogs and had nothing to lose. It was reported that Sheridan wanted to "catch them cold" after their lack of match action. Unfortunately, it went the opposite and they certainly caught us cold - five times, in fact. Fair play to them for showing more professionalism than Latics did, they will probably never score another five in one game in the foreseeable future. The home games are definitely winnable if the right attitude and application is applied. Stockport are my main worry, but, then again, they may come here with an air of complacency after the weekend's results and hopefully they will be first in line for the backlash. MysticNikki

Why? To lose out in the playoffs - again - would be certain agony. To be certain of promotion, we need to make sure we take 2nd spot. At this moment in time, that seems highly unlikely. Still, a good run would see us right, but can you see that happening? We can't place all the blame on the one player. Surely, if the correct midfield formation had been picked in the first place, the service to the front two would have been better and reflected in the outcome. I can just see Windass returning to Hull with no goals to speak of.

Will this left back he's supposed to be closed to bringing in, be cover for Lomax, or will he now be a replacement? Surely we can't JUST blame one player for the shambolic display.

Are you suggesting..... a conspiracy?

Just seems like we have.

...said beleaguered Oldham Athletic manager, John Sheridan.

How many times have we seen that? How many times have we had umpteen shots and corners and not put any of them away?

It doesn't matter the fans think, it's what the directors think and what they do next. It doesn't matter if we've lost 0-5, it's what we do next that matters. It's a pity Tranmere and Walsall didn't equalise.

Having gone 0-5 down, I can see a bad day in the office for Sheridan on Monday. Explaining to Corney on how we managed to lose to a team 2nd from bottom in such a spectacular manner. Why his tactics are sh*t. Why, when we worked so hard to get Windass in, we can't get the ball to him. How he is going to motivate the team for the next match.

It seems that any team that plays with two wingers can beat us! Ermm...that'll be any team, then!!! Looks like Lomax will be the official scapegoat for this debacle and it doesn't look like Windass is getting the service he asked for. Cue the usual, spectacular second half of season collapse.

He's highly rated by the trannies. I would think he would want to move upwards rather than sideways. Probably just tosh.

They may know about our apparent frailty on the right, but we know about their obvious frailty all over the pitch. I hope.

Great result. Keeps us in there and hopefully 3 more at Hereford.

Sheridan is not going to drop Liddell, but it is strange that Stephens is in instead. Maybe he's done well in training and maybe Sheridan wants the option of an unknown quantity to throw on. Just my thoughts.

Would hopefully like to see what sort of an impact Windass makes before (if) Hughsey leaves. If he does the business, Hughes will not be missed as much, but if the two of them rip Hartlepool apart tonight, we will be even more desperate for him to stay. Poor Craig Davies. Bet he's pig sick.

That's a good line-up and should be strong enough to beat Hartlepool. It's got to be written in the script that Windass will score, given the interest Harlepool showed in wanting to sign him. No doubt he'll get some stick from their fans.

says Sheridan While I'm at it, a Happy New Year to everyone.

If Davies returns and goes on the bench, perhaps O'Grady will be loaned out again. Sheridan said Davies had a future at the club, this suggests he won't be sold and Davies will probably expect first-team action on his return. I just can't understand why O'Grady hasn't been used. Has Sheridan made a mistake in bringing him to the club?

Each to their own, then. The away-day preparations are surely paying off and trying to replicate those circumstances at home has been tried before, without any obvious success. I agree about the youngsters, they need some sort of pre-match regime to get them in the right frame of mind. I used to enjoy watching Dowie put the team through its paces, it gave the fans a sense of appreciation and a belief that the team mean't business.