outoftheblue

He doesn't normally have a problem recognising where mistakes were made. I trust him to sort it.

That's usually the case before the first goal is scored Bad substitutions, lack of leadership on the pitch, and a pisspoor second half performance from Stephens doesn't make a difference then? Nah! Let's blame Brill for everything again......

They were unlucky not to take all three points in the end. They saw a weak point and exploited it. They were also a good footballing side when they were given time on the ball. They deserved a goal for the way they came out in the second half, and once they got it their confidence grew - I'd have loved watching that if I were a neutral, and I've a lot of respect for their character - It just smarts a bit at the moment though.

Even before they scored somebody remarked that Exeter were shading the second half, and I had to agree. When Dux came down with his tactical notes we said that our only weak point was at Right Back, and as long as we played with width we could continue catching them on the break and finally they'd roll over. Unfortunately the substitutions didn't appear to suggest that the bench saw things the same way. As for the knob in the Upper Mainstand telling Brill he should drown himself in the team bath at the end; 1. You're wrong. Ok he spilled a tough one, but he's been as good a keeper this season as any I can remember in the last 40 years. 2. Think yourself lucky you were upstairs and not within arms length.

When a three goal lead is thrown away, I presume they all have more questions to ask than from Saturday's performance?

A few spring to mind. Southend mid nineties on Stuarts (Wallerways) Coaches. Just outside Grantham the young driver, who was on his first outing ran right through the back of a Vauxhall Cavalier on the A1. One minute I was stood at the back of the coach teasing Chub, the next I was crumpled over the gearstick (Should've at least put a whiplash claim in!). We missed half an hour of the game, but more importantly we missed two and a half hours of pre-match boozing. A 5 hour drive in thick fog from Ipswich one tuesday night late nineties. Getting on the wrong bus back from Maine Rd after playing Northwich Vics there in 77(?) and only realising when the bus pulled into Stockport bus station. Standing 30 feet from the collapsing wall at Heysel during the European cup final in 1985 and hearing the screams of Juventus fans being crushed to death. The mother of all hangovers in Exeter one Wednesday morning after a night match in the early 90s. Woke up in a pokey room above a pub with Larry Smith singing 'Oh what a beautiful morning', Quent Cartwright lying naked on the bed next to me, and Dave Aspinall pissing into a box in the corner (Those acquainted with said persons would understand it all to be normal practice). EVERY Rose Bowl match I attended at Spotland in the 70s resulted in me losing the people I had gone with and having to run the gauntlet of Rochdale fans at the bus station. Watching Wimbledon stick their 5th goal past us at Selhurst Park before doing something I regret and being hauled off to a cell at South Norwood police station where a gobby desk sergeant with a Yorkshire accent kept opening the door to tell me how fecking Leeds were doing! Several breakdowns / lost drivers / bricked coaches whilst using Stuarts Coaches during the 90s (It wasn't only Barlows!!), and having to endure a pissed and annoying John (Rez) Bailey for most of them.

Very clever

Nice! We have indeed been honoured with many of the ales here in liccul Oldham, and my collection of hangovers is almost complete. Tonight I shall see what fine choices they offer, but not before a trip to the Ashton Arms to finish off the barrel of Hit & Run that I started earlier in the week.

Shared many a pint with Bobby around Hollinwood before he died, and he never tired of talking football. He was always quick to remind people how good he was, not because he was a boaster, but because he truly missed the days of playing football. The thing is, for all his talk of how good he'd been, he was actually better than he thought he was! When approaching his sixties, he was playing with a ball in the back garden of the Albion Inn, and NOBODY could get the ball off him. He finally chipped the ball into an outhouse doorway about 35 yards away to a huge round of applause from the other drinkers in the beer garden.

I'm sure Ryan would rather tell you the details himself, so I won't spoil it for him, but surprisingly your suggestions aren't even close! I suddenly feel old knowing I've become a Great Uncle - Young Zorrro has some apologising to do!

Congratulations on the new addition to the family. Well done Ryan and Lucy x

Nah! It turned too quickly

I stopped alongside their team coach at Hilton Park last night and made a point of looking for Greegs, but couldn't see him amongst the squad. If he did go, it wasn't on the team bus.

Maybe they think the multi millions of revenue from souvenirs, increased tourism and 'feel good factor' spending will cover the costs, whilst possibly triggering an economical upturn? Personally I think there are far worse things that we throw money at, and I would rather take this opportunity to congratulate Kate Middleton on being the first person to slip a finger into Diana's ring since Dodi Fayed.....

Oh, to be attending that poppy burning demonstration. With a couple of grenades and the blind eye of authority turned.

I've seen it all now. Members bickering over how many more posts they've racked up than others, like they should command more respect It's content rather than quantity that makes the difference (RoyleArmy anyone?). Everyone is different, or has different circumstances. The trouble is, many people don't understand this, and think that because they are posting on the same MB, they should be fighting for the cause in exactly the same way. Oasis lads can't get to all the home games, unemployed have to pick and choose, students would rather be wrecking London, I can no longer manage all the away games, and others want to be assured of entertaining football for their money every week rather than what we experienced last season. We're all interested in seeing Latics improve though, and nobody will tell me that the next generation of fan is any different to me whether they've just witnessed their first away game, posted their first opinion, spewed on their first BP cheeseburger, punched their first united fan or done 50 years of the lot. Elitism is for very insecure people with social ineptitudes in other areas of their lives. Latics together. (I'm not always this grumpy when I've just woke up!)

He was later readmitted to hospital with what appears to be a back injury, and as of 8pm last night, looked to be staying at least overnight. International duty? Not this weekend, son!

Like Palmer1 pointed out, even if you don't particularly see the point of Barry Owen (As I don't), it seems a little unfair for folks to insist he comes on here and give his opinion, just so other posters can rip holes in it. Maybe SC would explain the situation on here if he didn't think he'd be throwing himself to the lions.

Next up - "Mr Corney, could you please put your neck and hands through these holes? Oh, by the way, you don't have any rotten fruit allergies do you?"

David James? Watford Liverpool Villa West Ham (?) City Portsmouth

Not according to some of the clowns on here... There are some who still insist we should focus solely on promotion, whereas the sensible majority would suggest we put 100% effort into EVERY opportunity to make money. The Accy defeat was a financial disaster. Promotion is a much greater task, and whilst both are equally important, the cup game was our best chance of bringing the dosh in. Simple really. Not going to dwell on it further. It's over. We blew it, and not necessarily because we were a weakened side - we were crap on the day, when we should have been up for it. Time to move on - but I really hope we're learning from this.

That's more to the point.

Think you're being a tad over the top there Mr T. People are merely trying to make the point that it is right to be disappointed that we have rolled over so easily when there is potentially so much to play for. PD has done a fantastic job so far - the Accy game was just a hiccup that could have been costly. That hurts.

Completely agree. We'll never know now though, will we? As I said, a cup run was our only hope - now we haven't even got the chance. Think I'd rather have the Vale and Watford money -regardless of its size- with a chance of something bigger, than to be watching the draw as a neutral.