help_shiny

I'm torn between wanting to see justice done and wanting a new striker. In my opinion only doing 3 years is pathetic - I'm sure we'd all think the same if we knew the bloke who was killed. So I'd rather he stayed in there but for some strange reason I'm not the Home Secretary so if the powers that be deem him fit for release then we sure as hell could do with someone like him. If they do release him in August I cant see him being ready for quite a while and when he does he's going to find it difficult - the stick he'll get will be tremendous plus he'll have all the usual problems of someone coming out from prison trying to get on with their lives. Am a bit confused with this one - I say bang him up for a few more years but if he's banging in our promotion clinching goal next May I'll be ecstatic. God, I'm a hypocrite.

I'm now the proud owner of 4 tickets for the Oldham section and 4 tickets for the Blackpool end. Piece o'cake this ticket lark ;-)

my advice in that case would be to get matey with a non Oldham based Latics fan who *has* to be at the game

has anyone decided to take the unpalatable decision to sit in the Blackpool end for the 2nd leg?

its just the Football Leagues rules for the playoffs. I think its 15% anyway, lemme see...................*wanders off into cyberspace.........yep, 15% it is. The only way to get around that would be to give us the whole of the RRE and stick them in the paddocks but that wouldnt work (plus it would spark outrage amongst those who like to get wet whilst watching footie)

I believe that the rules of the competition state that the away team can claim 15% of the capacity - the small bit of the RRE is less than that so we couldnt stick them in there anyway. I've got a train ticket up to Blackpool but think I've got f's sake of getting a Latics ticket - I had been made promises by a certain club sponsor but methinks he was speaking with fork tongue. Will be ringing Blackpool tomorrow and asking for a couple. If I dont suceed in that one then any southern based latic who is going and wants a train ticket at stupid o'clock up there and back then you can have mine.

"you're going to get your f****** heads kicked in"

thanks all - she's a 7lb joy! We're both ecstatically happy with her. Right, how do I get her into Boundary Blues...............

I'm a dad! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

piling in will get us nowhere - we wouldnt stand a chance. However, our rules of engagement need to change - once we've got the 15 back - so that the next time they try this on (and there will be a next time) they get hammered. That is do-able, rescuing the 15 isnt. I'd like to see the EU do something - stop exports to Iran for example. Too much to hope for though unfortunately

even if our lot know where they are I dare say they're in a very secure prison somewhere. While I think hitting the Iranians with a bloody big stick is a good idea if they try it on with us I dont think we should go bowling in and kicking ass! I suspect we'd lose a lot of guys. Plus world opinion might not be too pleased with us.

I think the yanks thought the same twenty odd years ago - didnt work too well

Yes, just what the Dutch like to tell themselves about Srebnica. If the Revolutionary Guard knew full well that if they turn up in their boats to kidnap people they are just about to get an imminent air strike on them then methinks they wouldnt do it in the first place.

we shouldnt be there in the first place. Its a catastrophic ballsup from start to finish. Blair,Bush, the lot of them should be up in court. HOWEVER...we're there, we're stuck there and if we just let the Iranians tip up whenever they feel like it and kidnap our servicemen without anything stronger than the Foreign Office getting a little bit cross then we are putting the safety of every single serviceman and woman out there at even greater risk. This is the second time this has happened - they can act with impunity and they will kidnap more and this time or maybe next time we wont get them back. They'll be paraded up and down on Iranian TV and then probably be given some comfy lodgings at an Iranian nuclear power plant. Kidnapping our people in Iraqi waters is an act of aggression - doing the Ghandi act wont work with this lot.

it looks like they're going to be held as political pawns for the time being. How delightful for them to be held as 'guests' of the Islamic Republic. Once we get them back then the next time they try and pull a stunt like this we should vapourise a couple of their patrol boats and say 'oops, sorry you were five miles within Iraqi waters and we thought you were an Al Qaeda suicide squad. Sorry, wont do it again'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6484279.stm ifteen British Navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says. The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars. The Royal Navy said it was doing everything it could to secure the release of the sailors and marines who are based on HMS Cornwall. They were said to be carrying out a routine patrol in Iraqi waters. Gulf map The Ministry of Defence said: "The group boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters. "We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level. "The British government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment." It is understood the men being held are safe and well. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in an attempt to get the sailors and marines released as quickly as possible. HMS CORNWALL FACTS Multi-national force flagship in the North Arabian Gulf Type 22 frigate Crew: 250 (Max 301) Length: 148.1m / 485.9ft Speed: 30 knots Source: Royal Navy In a statement, leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, also called for their immediate release. "Whatever the rights and wrongs of military action, British forces in Iraq are now there with the authority of a UN security council resolution... and the Iranian government should be left in no doubt of the serious implications of their action," he said. In 2004, Iran detained eight British servicemen for three days after they allegedly strayed over the maritime border. The UK claimed the men were "forcibly escorted" into Iranian territorial waters.

I cant remember that trouble at all. I must have assumed it was Chelsea fans and cast it from my mind - strange men turning up in the Chaddy and fighting was a regular enough occurence back in the day. Eeeeee, kids today - dont know they're born. Racking my mind the only 'out of context' football fights I can remember are Carlisle in the Oldham end at Bradford and Hibernian fighting Sunderland at Roker Park along with our own delinquents. Oh, and Oldham at Bolton - I was there purely coincidentally I assure you - when they were down in Div4.

and let us not forget that if we end up in the playoffs we will lose in the semi's. For it is written.

I was up against the fence in the Kippax (1990 semi replay) separating us from the scum. It certainly was not friendly as they were donating large amounts of coins to us. Outside the ground afterwards wasnt pleasant - BAS****S! The first 1990 game I know there was some serious serious trouble at that big pub that used to be right at the very end of Oldham Road in Manchester (next to the old Daily Express place) The first '94 game ............ah sod it, I cant face typing anymore. I HATE THEM I HATE THEM

WEMBERLEEEEEE WEMBERLEEEEEEEE. Anyone who prefers the Millenium is a dangerous subversive. Saying that we wont need it as we're going to come 2nd. BELIEVE!

howdy! enjoy the Theakstons.

I reckon they'll be at Wembley - the Football League was supposed to confirm with the Millenium Stadium by the end of February but they're still stringing them along. As soon as those idiot builders finally hand the keys over (which hopefully should be this year!) I expect the FL to announce Wembley as the venue. Not that we'll need them as we're going up in 2nd place.

thanks for the welcomes y'all. 'fraid not Lees, not so easy these days as you say. Maybe somewhere in equatorial Africa might offer better prospects?

Asian Goddess sought by debonair, athletic male. Hold of terror over millions of followers a must. Extra arms an advantage. Will travel. Box OL8141