StipeTripe

Yup spot on FMS. I seriously can't believe some of the folks who post on here. He will build a team for us, its what Joe does. I say that not as a misty eyed sentimentalist but from his track record in the game, full stop. Despite Coconobs splendid posturing I'd say its a dare bet that any clubs in this or the division below looking for a new manager would give owt to get somebody of Joes calibre and experience in, and the fans would be, as they say, over the moon about it. Yet here at Latics everything must be poo-pood, everything slapped down, the worst case scenario applied to anything and everything. People say all football fans are the same, but no they're not, we must have some of the most joyless miserable whinging fans anywhere. Regardless of the rights and wrong and timing of his arrival he is here now, we have the chance to appoint a successful experienced manager, a very different manager I suspect from the one that left 15 years ago, I really hope he accepts the challenge, it will mean that some of the dregs on here will be disappointed and outraged but collateral damage like that is totally acceptable.

Precisely LL, its about the here, now and the future.

Oh come on DS its either reasoning's, thought provocations or bumblings, make yer mind up man. Why do old people dither so much?

No I get it DS we don't. Oh and its a ":censored:" discussion.

I only just said stick to the conclusion, after pages of bumbling. You say potato I'll say patato. Especially as the ubiquitous and utterly otiose 000 has suddenly decided to enter the fray.

Ohhhh is it? No its no more an outcome than him making a success of his return, if he indeed chose to.

Oh I see we can only pass comment on conclusions now, not the reasoning behind the conclusion. Isn't it all one and the same?

Well why not just stick to that then, instead of bumbling on about it not working out for Joe resulting in nasty people shouting nasty things at a legend.

But you are being misty eyed, and you don't want that misty eyed vision ruined for yourself by Joe taking the job just in case it goes tits up. Not mind because it will go tits up, just in case it does. I suggest DS that you stop crossing the road, just in case a car hits you like.

Ride a white swan DS, its easier than a high horse.

Yes he ""had"" a lot to learn, don't you think people like Joe would pick up info quickly with and undoubted network of contacts within the game (big name comedy chums like "Big Ron" aside) ? Which is why I said what would that knowledge be like by August? The way you expressed your "doubt" I read differently, and still do, you can't, none of us can know what his willingness and energy levels for the challenge are? Maybe he's more enthusiastic about this challenge than anything he's done before, I dunno. You and DW are assuming that JR will be a failure, that he won't achieve anything and if he doesn't he'll get abuse. How very disconcertingly negative of you, perhaps we should just wrap Joe in cotton wool, or maybe not. I'm sure Joe is a big boy now and would be prepared for the pitfalls of taking this job on, his shoulders are broad enough to take it without the simpering hand wringing of those amongst of wishing to preserve the memory of his past achievements. Actually I'm beginning to get the impression is it your own memories you want to preserve in aspic, its you guys who want the mist eyed version of Joe to remain forever constant. If Joe takes it on and it fails, it is what it is, life moves on and if that spoils the memories of a few rheumy eyed old gits so be it. Lifes about taking a chance, not saying I'm not doing that because it might not work out.

Thats alright then. As fer red cast offs, haven't a scoob, not one scintilla of a notion who's there (or at any other Premier team for that matter). Never heard of the young chappie that scored a Sunday for example. Watching MotD these days is usually accompanied by a chorus of "who" "where'd he come from" and so on.

Blindingly obvious isn't it? Stan Ternent, said it weeks ago, just the man. Well its no worse or stupider than the some of the other choices on this list.

No And isn't that the function of any message board worth its salt, that it can go off in a tangent?

You're trying to be realistic DS, but surely by projecting stuff onto the man that you have no way of knowing. Nobody knows what his knowledge of this division is, and for that matter what it would be come August! Who are you to say whether he has the "willingness and energy at his age" to walk the walk? Have you sat down for a pow wow with him, consulted his physicians? Or for that matter asked him what his motivation and ambitions are before he calls it a day in management? I'm not saying he is or isn't worthy of being the next manager, if he wants it fine I've not a problem with that because if he does I think he'll give it his all and whatever happens his reputation will never be diminished or tarnished. The one thing that gets me is the condescending remarks of some, like those for example who suggest that wanting JR to take the job is some kind of misty eyed nostalgia, it isn't, its an opinion and one I can quite easily form on my own. One simply doesn't need recourse to the past to form it one simply needs to look at the events of the last few months to see that the footballing side of the club needed sorting. In my opinion Joe has the experience and steady hand thats needed to achieve this, and whats more the charisma and wit to move the club on in the future too. Its not a "fact" that appointing JR will be a success, no more than its a "fact" it'll be a disaster and tarnish his reputation. Its an option I believe and for what its worth, a positive sensible option for the future of OAFC.

Hmmmmmmmmm are you refering to the qualities of another former manager there Derek? One who had an "saurus" at the end of his name? If so are you comparing JR with same cardboard cut out? I do hope not DW! I'd have classed RM in the Paleozoic, probably Lower Cambian, whereas Joe would be more Cenozoic, and in the Holocene bracket to boot. A vast difference I'm sure you'll concur. Anyway as one of JR's original disciples, one of the children of the revolution and a real 20th century boy I really think Joe could get it on. I say that as a real mental guru! Maybe we'll get some more solid gold easy action to further enhance Joe's legacy? Right I'm off now in me jeepster.

OR Next season could be the second coming. Joe took us to Wembley, took us out of the 1st Division (in old money) as Champions. So perhaps a glorious hat trick and swansong could be his in extracting us from this bloomin' awful division next season? Depends on yer point of view I suppose if you look for gloom you'll find it!

Agree with that Prozac, when I've seen him play for Youth/Reserves he always looks sharp and is always willing to have a go. I'm sure on his debut he came on as a sub and ended up on his own up front. After chasing down a long ball ended up taking a first time shot from an wide angle outside the box which beat the keeper all ends up, yeah it did go just wide but the fact that on his own with no support he took it on shows the natural goalscorer that lurks within. Also the goal he scored at Accy, natural instinct? If we can keep him fit and he gets a run I think you're right he will score goals at this level. Wolfy makes it 3-2

Yeah 3 days on and I'm still over the moon with it Bob, yeah that and the fact Liverpool got a late winner and Citeh lost and........... no hang on who gives a flyingferk about it? Latics lost, end of! It pigs me off no friggin end this kind of she-ite. After the Tranny game there were knobs leaving the Chaddy celebrating Fulhams win ffs, in a "thats alright then" kind of way, who cares?????????? We lost, to Tranmere, making the play offs a million miles off. For all I care manyouknighted can win the lot, everything I didin't and don't care one flamin' iota. If you give me the choice now that 5 Latics wins would sneak us into the play offs by some miracle bestowed on us by the gods of football, and the pay off is that, well then fine, lets have it. Agggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

But with different images Mr K? Not that it matters a jot, the only ripping that matters is that of pish out of the Stokies.

One more, and appropriate for the present, 6 games to go and all that. Although for the pedants out there this time a promotion chase instead of a relegation battle, but the spirit of it should still stand?

No the one before the Crimbo Edissue for Dec 89 / Jan 90

Yes early 90's Leyton Orientier, they also tried to encourage a song "We are mad, we're insane, we eat Mars bars on the train na na na na etc", but maybe they ripped that direct from Viz too, like it matters a one iota !! It was merely an amusing thread that ran for some time mocking the general chubbiness of Stokies. Let he that has never plagiarised cast the first stone eh?

Aye had a few bits and bobs in BTB, mainly re hashing the articles wot I rote for JK Latics, different cover - same old she-ite !! Talking of BTB I always used to enjoy the ramblings of Brassneck meself, who was a man of mystery I believe, I'm sure Pete told me that he didn't know the identity of Mr Brassneck and that articles just turned up in the post. Maybe I imagined that tho'. Wasn't the edition of BTB that caused offence with in the corridors of power the one that had Andy Rhodes pished up driving what looked like a Noddy car? After he'd been in trouble with the old bill. Again maybe dreamt this up too, but I'm sure I remember somebody in the Chaddy showing Mr Rhodes the cover and him having a right good chuckle whilst mouthing "you bastards" at the CE in general. I also used to visit Sportspages on a regular basis, as did Inspectormorose, I know because we were talking about it a few home games ago. There were some quality publications back them, in no particular order: The Flashing Blade - Sheff Utd Boddle - Sheff Wed - taking Wednesday into insanity, one edissue had a few tea bag, one a free sheet of bog roll. Leyton Orientier - quality writing but also excellent for the "They're happy because they eat Lard" spoof advert, applied to all (fatty) Stoke fans. Memoirs of Seth Bottomley - Port Vale, possibly my favourite, some excellent writing. The Tea Party - Stockport Grorty Dick - WBA A Love Supreme - Sunnerlan WWYATS - Bury, a bit thin at times, but still no bad. Note to self must have a rummage in storage boxes and get scanning.

Wilson? Clive Wilson, used to play for Citeh, separated at birth those two !!!