outoftheblue

If it's any consolation, I LIKE the way you highlight in red - but I don't necessarily agree with you Brighton had been threatening to score for 20 minutes. Corners, 20 yard free kicks and more posession than 10 men should have been allowed. That was hardly shutting up shop. Brighton were given enough space in midfield to build a boating lake, yet were on us the moment a player received a pass. The reason so many posts mention they were expecting an equaliser is that we were being pushed back at home by a 10 man team who hadn't got the confidence of beating Everton to back them up like Latics had. As I've said elsewhere, the team had 90+ minutes of encouragement from me, but if we were to follow the example of Shez, we would have moaned all through that game. He knows how disappointing we were, and like any manager, will have to shoulder the responsibility - not blame it on the fans.

Go on Rick, at least redress the balance by admitting the performance was poor. You've said it's a 2 way street - the supporters have paid the wages and got a poor performance in return. It can't ALL be the fault of the fans can it?

No difference. The atmosphere was like that at Everton last week - As you'd expect when we're playing high flying clubs (Not checked actually, but I thought it was '89 anyway), but when things weren't going right in the old second division, comments were made. Much the same people who were stood behind the dugout then are still sat around there now, and you know what? They're still moaning at unprofessional mistakes like they always have. The defeat of Arsenal was pretty much the start of success around that time, but prior to that there was discontent. I still remember people saying Tony Henry (Joe's 1st signing?) was going to be a mistake before he'd even kicked a ball for us. Trust me, nothing's changed.

I agree there is no justification in singling out one player for abuse match after match. I still feel that if Smalley had been subbed at half time during that match he wouldn't have had to suffer the damaging level of abuse he did. It has shown great mental attitude from the lad that he has bounced back from it - many wouldn't. The point I was making though, was that we are using the moans and groans of people who are dissatisfied with the teams performance as a whole, as an excuse for tactical errors and a lack of commitment. Brian Clough was a fabulous judge of a players mental state. If Shez could add that string to his bow he would be a little closer to becoming a complete all round manager. As for Davies, he is just a little too desperate and frustrated at the moment - we know what he is really capable of.

Unfortunately, some fans think it is their mission in life to dictate how others should support their team. Personally, I rarely have a go at a player other than a " Think about your pass son!" or "You're giving your mark too much room", but I fully understand the frustrations of those who rant at the players to earn their keep. Those who insist moaners should find another club could just as easily join the Salvation Army if they want to be surrounded by happy clappers. There are also those who say "why come on the forums if all you want to do is whinge?" Surely there is no point going on theirselves if they don't want to listen to different opinions. Everyone has their own way, and if nobody moaned then we would all think that everything was ok, when yesterday clearly wasn't. Say what you think, because someone will always agree and some will disagree, but no-one has the right to tell someone what their opinion should be.

Let's stop all this nonsense about the moaners being to blame for poor performances. I have watched Latics for 35 years and there have ALWAYS been moaners. Yesterday for 90 minutes I shouted nothing but encouragement to a team that looked like they thought they'd done their seasons work last week at Everton and couldn't be arsed to concentrate. Everyone has a right to moan about that shocking performance against 10 men. Whilst I was shouting encouragement, who was the only person I could hear yelling abuse at the players? JOHN SHERIDAN that's who! He never once said anything positive, and at the end of the game I suddenly decided that maybe I might as well have just joined the moaners. This morning I have read all sorts of ridiculous posts about the terraces being too open, the fans getting on the players backs, the shirts being the wrong colour and more, but the fact is that NOTHING has changed in the last 35 years. Everything is still the same apart from the fact we are now clutching at straws looking for excuses. Quite simply, there was no motivation (God knows what was said at half time again), a team that to a man decided to go against JS' principles of playing simple football, and a forward who is that worried about possibly losing his place to Leon Clarke that he feels he has to score himself, when three assists would have made him a darn sight more popular. On top of that, we have a terrible home record that is clearly preying on the players minds (And maybe needs to be addressed by a professional psychologist - not a football coach), another ineffectual substitution, and a mis informed notion on the part of some players that THEY are OAFC and not the fans. I have seen all the highs and some much worse lows than we are currently experiencing, and listened to the moaners at home AND at away games at almost every ground in the football league, and the bottom line will never change - the players or manager must accept responsibility for poor performances. Latics proved what they are capable of at Leeds and Everton, and then didn't put half the commitment, effort or thought into Brighton - That is just cause for a good moan. By the way, I am considering walking round the town next week for ninety minutes collecting £18 off people who want to verbally abuse me for the duration of that time. I might even kick a ball around to pass the time. Any takers?

Just to be a little pedantic, the words are actually " No, nay, never".

NO! NO! NO! It has NEVER been '......here we go' it was ALWAYS '.....league we go'. Take it from one of the original chant starters!

Good call! Sir Frizz!

It always winds me up to hear Man ure fans singing "Champione, champione....". It was Liverpool's song and should be "Campione, campione..." (Italian for Champions after The Reds' European Cup victory in Rome 1984). If you're going to steal a song, at least get it right you thick manc tossers. They also ripped 'Always look on the bright side of life' from Villa. No originality those lowlifes.

Christ! Take your pick...... Stainrod, Halom, Towers, Palmer, Stitch, Irwin etc. etc. And let's not forget Alan Smart (Tin hat firmly in place in anticipation ).

Unfortunately it's sell or die like it was when we were in the same position. Luton will understand that clubs will now pillage their assets, and will be hoping that a saviour (or three!) arrives before the money stops coming in. We can only hope they survive for the good of football. The annoying thing is, people like Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briartore are playing at owning football clubs with the bigger clubs like QPR when their billions would be far more use and appreciated if they were pumped into a few lower league clubs, after all, it's pocket money to them but a lifeline to small clubs and their players and families.

Are you trying to suggest we all forget our differences and concentrate on the main issue of supporting the Latics together? Wow! that's radical!

If the people I employ don't deliver the goods then I have a go at them. They expect it and respond to it. Similarly, if someone who's wages I contribute to doesn't impress me I have a go at them. I still draw the line at abusing players on the pitch though. As Shez said; "I am responsible for the players", so he, as manager takes the flak. Moore was responsible for poor motivation, bad tactics and ugly football, which is why he got continual flak.

I never stopped having a go at Moore because his tactics were shocking. If I disagree with Shez's tactics I will 'mention it' but I won't rip into a player.

Yelling directly at a player is going to do no good whatsoever. However, I see nothing wrong with telling Shez to "Go gee him up" or "Have a word" without getting on a player's back. I still say the treatment of Smalley recently was pointless and uncalled for, but Sheridan should have had the sense to sub him before the abuse knocked his confidence any further. That said, Shez immediately showed faith in him and boosted his confidence by naming him in the following week's squad. The senior players shouldn't be subjected to abuse either, but they should be smart enough to ignore it, unlike KK against Walsall. As for this growing divide between 'moaners' and 'supporters', it's time to band together and raise the roof against Brighton, be completely positive, and see if it makes a difference. If it does, the 'supporters' will have been proved right. If it doesn't we might need to move out of a jinxed ground!!

Remember the pic very well. I had a clearer copy on the wall behind my desk for a few years - only because that's me behind Southalls right boot. Never missed a game home or away for six seasons back then - what memories!

If we were to name it after Latics Legends we could have tried 'The Halom Arena' but I think Sheffield got there before us!

1. "King of all Geordies" 2. Mike Fillery 3. His dog bit him 4. Portman Road 5. Walked on to the pitch and sat on the centre spot

If you've already voted, it won't let you re-vote! All our opinions on this vital issue have disappeared forever into cyberspace

The little blue invalid cars parked up pitchside. The Chaddy End would roar with laughter when some big centre half walloped a clearance into one of them and would nearly knock it into the stands.

....Xiamen Lanshi (Chinese Super League)

The Plastics (Wiggin') and........

Smalley looked uncomfortable out wide on saturday, but by the time he came inside where he seems more useful, it was too late as his confidence was already shot. He has a great future ahead of him and is a very capable player, but he was having a bad day and Sheridan should have subbed him earlier, before doing further damage to his confidence. Sheridan's comments last night that a certain section behind him don't know better than him was a ridiculous thing to say, as he implied that they were on Smalley's back throughout the game, when in fact the moaning seemed to be entirely aimed at JS and his inability to recognise when a youngster was in danger of having his confidence totally shattered - it doesn't take a coaching badge to see that. I for one am fed up of reading Sheridan's post game comments saying we weren't good enough every week, and watching him stand on the touchline yelling (Sometimes abusively) at his players throughout every game with very little in the way of a pat on the back for a good pass or run into space. Sheridan's art of confidence building is no better than the boo boys he berates. It is totally pointless having a go at Smalley for a bad game when the manager is the one who is keeping him out on the pitch subjecting him to more humiliation.

If you are happy to watch players hoof the ball when they have 30 yards of space round them, then you have no right to complain about our predicament at all. It is about working the ball into an advantageous position and capitalising. NOT smacking it and hoping for a defensive error. As for Gregan, I agree totally - he does hoof it, which is why I prefer Stam, whose first seven clearances on Saturday all found a blue shirt, and the eighth was mis-read by Kalala. (I suggest Sean watches Stam as closely as some of us did on Sat). Trotman also kept a close eye on where he was putting the ball - the defence as a whole weren't bad, and Eardley is a promising defender - but he's got to start linking up with a capable winger, not punting upfield.