Frankly Mr Shankly

As much as I'd love a return to the nostalgic days of when players would stay for 10 and 15 years with the club it's a different kettle of fish these days. Wellens obviously went for more money, but then so have a lot of players in the last 10 years but only a small handful get criticised for it. I think the crowd's reaction is more because they know he's a great player, and was fondly thought of when he was here so to see him ply his trade at what the fans concieve is a club who's probably at the same level as us is a bitter pill seemingly. I thought his snidey money gesture was a bit uncalled for though. Especially considering we had him in our midfield's pockets all game. I just get this feeling that we may end up playing Donny in the play-offs come May. Now that would be somewhat poetic.

This is the point where you just can't be taken seriously o'voice of reason. To say he should definitely had stopped the Luton goal just sums up how ridiculous you sound. The goal came from two mistakes: (i) by someone, presumably Hughes, in our back line for playing him onside and (i) Davies missing his header in the box. Don't even TRY to make it sound like it was all Crossley's fault just to add justification into your argument. You go on about someone making a subjective comment when your posts are riddled with conjecture and hypocrisies. Get a grip.

I was kinda expecting a Crossley post from yesterdays game, and suprise surprise there was, and I could have predicted it'd have come from Slurms too. I don't by any stretch of the imagination think he's a brilliant keeper. He was pretty good a few years ago which explains a near-on 20 year career in the top flight. But he's still a decent choice and although not in prime condition he contributed yesterday where we really should have had all 3 points. They may have look unspectacular and perhaps they were 'bread and butter' saves but with rain lashing down with a slippery ball they were good saves which kept us in it. I can certainly understand it if Norm had frittered us away quite a few points but in reality he hasn't. Our bad finishing all season is the sole reason we're down there. We're keeping goals out, creating chances but not being ruthless enough.

No, this is constant sniping at a keeper who has let in 2 goals in 4 games, both which can't be deemed his fault per se. It's quite clearly you've never played in goal before. Even at the lowest level you shouldn't just rush around leaving your goal unguarded, hence why you have to have an understanding with your defenders about what ball to go for and what not. That's why you hear "my ball" or "keepers ball" being shouted when coming to claim. According to your theory you'd not need that because the defenders would know the keeper is coming for it. What you're trying to do is make something black and white when it isn't. Going off your theory, what happens if the keeper doesn't see a cross early enough (perhaps another player obscuring his line of sight)? It doesn't matter how fast you are, you can't cover 10 yards in a second. The bottom line is you're nitpicking at a keeper than isn't really doing too much wrong at the moment. Sure, he's been a little wobbly early in the season but he's doing OK know IMO. And obviously Shez's too.

The blame on Crossley is ludicrous. There's absolutely no blame whatsoever on the keeper for that one and to suggest that EVERY ball within 10 yards of goal is the keepers is a complete joke. If you employ that 'rule' you get lots of miscommunication for balls whizzing by at 8/9/10 yards and they're either getting left or running into each other claiming it. It's an instinct thing; the defence know what balls to go for and so does the keeper. If you've ever played in goal before you'd know this. The fault was entirely on the defence on not keeping their line and also Davies for missing the header (he ducked right under it). I wasn't in line with the defence but could see that whilst most of them kept a high line (i.e. towards edge of penalty area) someone (apparently Hughes) played him onside. We switched off as a unit and it cost us. The criticism of Crossley does my head in at times. The blokes held his hands up this season and said he's had a fairly poor start but since he got back into the side he's been very good and well protected by the defence. As a UNIT we've played well and that includes the goalkeeper.

May be pushing it to get to Lime Street for 18.10 for your return. It is a bit of a trek from the centre innit.

£25 is a bit steep but I was kinda expecting that from Dirtyleeds. I don't think we'll sell out that entire allocation but I've a feeling it'll be close to it. I don't think BigfinLatic understands. It isn't always possible to pre-plan, in fact it's pretty difficult for me to get to the ground during opening hours and that includes on a matchday. Usually I have to get my dad to pop by if he's able to or rely on friends to pick mine up. It's never usually posed that much of a problem as there's only a handful of games in the last 10 years which have been total sell outs.

Was Comic Sans your idea Rummy? Shame on you. I've fallen out with good friends because they sent an email in Comic Sans once.

I always thought it started around 89-90, officially anyhow. But yeah, nice idea and it's a great flag mate. That font looks suspiciously like Comic Sans though. Please don't tell me you're a Comic Sans kinda guy Mark.

What's the 1986 for Mark? was that the year you started going or was it the year OASIS was created?

Awesome.

To the tune of "Go West" Bashforth, you're an utter c*** (Repeat many times)

Hehe. I've passed on your good feedback mate! I'll get him to do the stats on the traffic expectations for that lunchtime!

Can someone set up an event on Facebook? I'll send it to my contact list on there which is nearly 200. Out of that 5 or 6 may come along. If everyone who is on Facebook does the same the word will spread very fast.

Like others have said, I wholeheartedly applaud Alan Hardy for coming and even though he is still obviously quite emotional gave a good account on how everyone at the club is feeling. Hurt and betrayed by people who have now really nailed their colours to the mast. Well done Alan.

I'm sure the club have right of appeal don't they? But it doesn't look good whatsoever. I expect TTA will be gone by the end of the week and the future for OAFC look bleak. Very bleak.

Turn the words around to the gary neville song that they sing... [To the tune of London Bridge Is Falling Down] Neil Eardley is our boy Is our boy Is our boy Neil Eardley is our boy He hates Man U

What?? You've clearly said you've gone yesterday, yet we had the ball in the danger area numerous times but were missing someone with a bit of nous to be there, on the end of it. The same script at Forest. Defence we seem to have sorted. Midfield are starting to show signs of gelling, some great football. We're clearly missing a striker to be in the penalty area who's got something up there *taps head* and knows where to put himself. Hughes could be that man but it will take at least 10 more games for him to reach his peak. The young lads, Smalley and Wolfy are far too inexperienced to have a major impact just yet and are perfect substitutes. Like Exile, I've mentioned Jevons before. Fits the bill perfectly. Perhaps try for Scott Dobie at Forest or even Geoff Horsfield who's been rotting away in their reserves having been on loan at Leicester and Leeds in the past.

I've no idea whether it's true or not. But what I do know is that his mum does work in the Village Pantry on Oldham Road, Failsworth. Or she did do as of around September when I last went in. I was just confirming that part of it.

The butty shop where Dean's mum works is in Failsworth on Oldham Road. I know the owner, Alison and I've been going in for years ever since I worked down that end about 10 years ago. Lovely set of girls in there, always happy and they do a gorgous brekkie too. So yeah, a plausable source for this. I knew something had happened behind the scenes for Ricketts to go so suddenly. If it is true (of course, it's still hearsay and 'someone who knows someone else told me...') then surely there'll be an investigation and Ricketts could get sacked?

Aye. You're right. Change the slogan to "I was there when Chris Taylor played in his natural position."

Exile... Any chance of a run of "I Was There When Chris Taylor beat a man" tee shirts in time for Tranmere next Tuesday? ;)

Nah. Still Ice Cold In Alex. Every time I watch it it MAKES me go and get a beer at the end. No other film does that.

Both are on my 'to get' list, along with a couple of others. Amazon's lists are quite good!

I'm really into the kitchen sink dramas from the 60's of late. Poor Cow (1967) One of Ken Loach's early efforts showing the dark, seedy side to swinging London in the 60's. Absolutely stunning turn by Carol White and also John Bindon, as a mobster (who he was in real life, dying of a drug overdose in poverty during the 80's). Also, another which hasn't been mentioned here is Billy Liar (1963). If ever a film wasn't better casted it is surely this one. Every character in it is simply perfect but it's really Tom Courteney that steals the show with a brilliant turn as a daydreaming boy trying to turn his ridiculous thoughts into a reality which is a joy to watch. Julie Christie is really foxy in it and it has a wonderfully thought-provoking ending. Very much an influence on Morrissey and it's easy to tell. Also, honoury mentions for: A Room For Romeo Brass, TwentyFourSeven, Dead Mans Shoes, This Is England (all by Shane Meadows. Stunning.) Rita, Sue & Bob Too (Absolute genius, but this was WELL naughty when it came out!) The Long Good Friday (There simply isn't a better mobster film IMO) Get Carter (heh Alf Roberts; car park! Not quite as good as TLGF, but still genius) The Wicker Man (One of the most downbeat endings in a film ever) Gregory's Girl (Every schoolboy can relate to this!) A Kind Of Loving (More great Kitchen Sink) Georgie Girl (ditto) Small Faces (Underrated Glasgow-set coming of age film) Trainspotting (Don't tell me you've never seen it?) Nil By Mouth (A film version of a smack between the eyes! Amazed this was actually acted!) Straw Dogs (Deliverence if it were in Cornwall!) Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz (Great fun) Regeneration (One of the most impacting films for WW1) Made In England (This Is England but actually made at the time. A great modern history example) Brighton Rock (One of the first ever British Gangster films) Ice Cold In Alex (Personally, the best british war film ever made) Meantime (Mike Leigh at his best with an all star 'before they were famous' cast) My Summer Of Love (Very absorbing with Paddy Considine shining) Sexy Beast (Rare you'll see a more powerful performance than Ben Kingsley in this) Withnail And I (A student classic!) The Italian Job (Institutional)