outoftheblue

I think it's safe to assume there are few people likely to visit BP that are held in such contempt.... ideas anyone?

Runs a very close second to 'Keep The Faith'.

I know what you mean. I have been promising my 5 year old daughter that I would take her all season, but I want her to enjoy the experience, and I can't see that being the case. Also, I too sit in the lower main stand, and I wouldn't want any newcomer to have to put up with the likes of me and my mates! (Moans, abuse, endless farting and coarse comments - I'd rather not admit which of those I'm responsible for!).

I will, of course have the uttermost respect for him as an ex Oldham manager, and ensure there is no phlegm in the spittle that I deliver at him as he passes

Like others I have seriously considered not renewing my 20-odd year season ticket next time. It's not the money - It's about enjoying my hard earned weekend off. I have watched Latics over 35 years because I like football and they are my local team - Always will be. However, this is the first time I have wished I was doing something else on a Saturday, and believe me, I have seen us field some poor sides. It is more than likely that I will renew next season (In the annual hope that things have improved), but if I don't I will quite happily be a cock - because I will be a cock who is enjoying himself on the golf course and not sat there thinking what another waste of money this is. I know a lot of fans who would go home and away every week with me, they have drifted away and no longer miss going to the games - I'm pretty sure I wouldn't miss it either at the moment. The club have had many thousands out of me in tickets and sponsorships, and may possibly get plenty more - but the moment I feel I am not enjoying being there, and would rather do something more entertaining I will be happy to be labelled whatever any 'true supporter' wishes to call me.

Nail on the head. It's about recognising your mistakes and ensuring you don't go down the same road again. Joe could be stubborn at times, but you knew the football was going to be entertaining. Unfortunately the footie at the moment is far from entertaining and Shez appears to be either foolishly stubborn or a slow learner. Here is a man with the ability to attract good players, but the inability to get them to play together - maybe it's a different right hand man he needs?

Isn't that an oxymoron?

posted in reply to futchers briefs reminding us that Taylor and Eards are 19 and 21. At 21 a player will generally have been professionally coached for 9 or 10 years, and an international has experienced game levels higher than most 31 year old experienced club players. Badly written I'll grant you, but not worthy of your nitpicking Agreed with everything else in FB's post but I really do think that schoolboy errors should have been coached out of players by the time they hit the first team.

The 'punch me' season

Thought Eardley was pretty solid in the first half, but his game dropped heavily in the second (Typical of his inconsistency I'm afraid), but I could never subscribe to that "he's still only a kid" mentality - At 21 a player will generally have been professionally coached for 9 or 10 years, and an international has experienced game levels higher than most 31 year old experienced club players. Eards is far from a favourite of mine - I think he is overrated - but occasionally he shows us what he can do, and what he should be doing consistently, and that makes him a very frustrating player.

Occasionally frustrating, no doubt about it. At one point last night though, Taylor took the ball into the mainstand / chaddy end corner, drew FOUR oppos to him and still got the ball across a goal area packed with Latics players who couldn't capitalise on a dearth of defenders. Teams regularly stick two players on him - that surely shows they consider him a danger. Maybe if Shez stopped yelling at him and playing him out of position he might improve his confidence and ability. Two belting crosses from CT last night could easily have led to goals if 'Zebedee' Constantine had manage to spring more than an inch off the turf.

Back on topic - Constantine has the ability to kickstart a decent attack on a playoff spot, but what's all this about him banging the goals in for us?? Surely Shez has signed him to play at Left Back ?? Ok. I'm all trolled out now - it won't happen again

Shez has no need to go - he could do with explaining some of his decisions though, cos I find him baffling at times. Like others, I believe he has a long term plan and should be given time to implement it, but improvements need to be seen to be being made, and at the moment it doesn't look that way. At the January transfer window NEXT SEASON, we will have had a much fairer length of time to assess him, and then we can decide if we're going anywhere with him. The only problem with that though, is people DO vote with their feet and may need to see some changes by the end of the season to persuade them to renew ST's.

Me touchy?? Listen fella, I'd tell you what I really think of you, but you might take exception again and complain to the mods like last time. Trolling it certainly aint.... I'm just sick of other people's opinions being laughed at without a valid point offered in reply. You have called people w..ers, idiots and many other abusive names, yet complained to the mods when I jokingly reminded you that you'd said you wouldn't be posting here again because there are too many clowns who didn't agree with your opinion. Only a week ago you had to fend off a few heated accusations from other posters that you couldn't take opposing opinions, and no doubt you considered those people trolls too. I have more respect for you now you've added a constructive response, but you really are wide of the mark if you think I have any vendetta against you personally - I just think you need to grasp what MB's are about. I've NEVER insulted anyone or their views on this board, I've always followed my posts up with reason for my opinion, and some might say I've even been helpful and generous on this board - but you think I'm a touchy troll.......oh well! At least I'll respect your opinion of me - wrong or right. You might want to try that.

And your reasons? Are we to expect a well considered but critical response as to why you disagree, or just a simple line of ridicule at someone's opinion? Personally, I don't agree that selling Trotman was bad business as we were strong in cover at the time, but I hoped the side would be strengthened in the transfer window allowing us to put a balanced side out with no-one having to play out of position. Before we hear that same old rubbish about Sheridan trying but failing to make decent signings, other teams appear to have managed to successfully strengthen their sides.

To be fair, I don't think there's many fans who want Sheridan out. There are many people who sit near me who are infuriated by some of his decisions, but I suspect the majority of those would be happy if he learned by his mistakes. After all, no-one could deny that the style of football has improved under Shez - It's just the lack of goals that's making people itchy (And tetchy by the look of it! ).

You're quite right. Our ambition seems to be measured in terms of how good our new stadium is, rather than how far we are prepared to go in signing capable squad players.

I have too many memories from way back when we hated each other to ever change my opinion - I'd be glad to see them drop out of the league. It used to wind me up how they always got re-elected into the old fourth div despite being crap and potless. Never liked them - even though my dad used to play for them!

Font of knowledge you are Prozac. The memory will all become very hazy when you reach 40 though - trust me Don't think I'll ever forget that Littlewoods cup final victory over Forest though

That's cleared that one up then. Cheers I could have sworn he got dismissed down at Stoke in that season, we got beat 2-0 by a poor team that day. Allan Smart's punch at the Britannia is another sending off I remember clearly remember (That was AGAINST Sheridan a week before he signed for us).

That doesn't ring any bells, you sure?

Now you've got me thinking.... Stoke (League)? Cheltenham (FA Cup)? Blackburn - along with Allott (Worthington Cup)? But what was his other? It's driving me mad

I think it was clear to anyone who watches properly that Jarrett had an off day, but I certainly wouldn't drop him on the strength of one performance. His passing today was probably only around 40 % successful, but some of his tackling was excellent and he has already shown us what he is capable of. So you surely couldn't drop a player after one off day?

After listening to the drivel that typical armchair manure fans spout after believing the media hype, I wondered if there was a club for the Collective United Newspaper & Television Supporters? (I suppose an acronym would be difficult to make up for them? ).