rictic

we have more than enough decent players .

Only if we're playing 5 a side.

he stood up to morais, but second half he was beaten far too many times and whenever he got the ball the 'move' slowed, stopped and went backwards. all were guilty of that, but byrne was more than most. to be fair to him, he did well at CB but when i saw Brown warming up i fully expected Byrne to be brought off not Tarky.

 

Brown will be a good back up though, looked lively.

Tarky was taken off because Dickov had seen enough, it came a minute after Tarky sold himself out right giving their lad a clear run at goal. As for Byrne and others slowing down moves that's because there was nothing to hit in front of them where we were static for most of the match. Very noticeable when we took throw ins as well.. Better to retain possession that give it away and there was no way Byrne was going to be taken off. The lad's decent at this level.

Byrne - slow

 

Byrne's done OK for me, covers well, a solid defender.

Regarding Simpson, he needs to start playing the ball instead of looking to foul the defender all the time i lost count of the number of stupid free kicks he gave away.

Man City at Maine Rd in the Prem. Redmond playing right back overlapped and got to a couple of yards from the dead ball line and knocked the ball BACK towards the penalty spot where Milligan (stood outside the box when Redmond centered) headed in. In fairness it was the plank of a linesman rather than the ref but still an unbelievably bad decision.

massive over reaction, England were not fancied going into the tournament, thought we were outclassed by a much better side tonight, maybe tactically Roy got it wrong but we all know he doesn't change his formation, IMO most of the players gave it their all but just were not good enough.

 

I do agree about Ashley Young though he was crap.

Given that most of our players fall short of world class I'd credit Roy with getting his tactics spot on. We can't out football the top teams so we have to find another way and if that's sitting back then so be it. It's a very fine line and if Rooney had knocked in that overhead kick then the tactics would have been fully justified, All if's and buts of course but one trait England teams have had for many years is that all important lack of mental strength when it comes to the crunch time of penalties.

Any good? Apparently we've signed him...

Morais is a player who will always divide opinion, on the credit side he's a talented lad who could play at a higher level

On the debit side his work rate all too often makes Frank Gallagher look a grafter, loses possession far too easily and rarely lasts beyond an hour. And before a game you'd be well advised to introduce him to the opposition full back as all to often he doesn't seem toi have a clue who he is.

What's the craic on the stand?

What's the craic on the lease ?

 

We played some lovely stuff at times.

You must be referring to the music at half time.

Yes the very same.

Oh dear, I really was hoping it wouldn't be him, I really am so sorry the hear of his death he was a cracking lad. A gang of us went on holiday to Torquay in 74, had a great time but I met my missus soon after and we went our seperate ways. Funny, but in all these years I can't remember seeing him at BP and assumed he'd given up going. And, as Alec mentioned the Asshton Arms, that's were we did our drinking all those years ago, happy memories.

RIP Bucket.

Another Latics Legend has died. Brian was a truly loyal supporter in good times and bad and, as the O/S points out was Latics first Fan of the Year.

 

I went to school with Brian , though a couple of years older than him, and travelled with him to many away matches. A native of Denshaw his loss is one that all supporters should feel.

 

RIP "Bucket",

Firstly, RIP Brian, a sad loss.

Secondly, Pete, In the early 70's I used to knock around with a lad we called Bucket who was from Saddleworth. It's a long time ago and we lost touch and I'm wondering if it's the same lad. Was he a mate of Pete and Graham Holden also from Denshaw ?. He'd be aged 59 ish. Just curious. Cheers.

KMB could be a very good player but is clearly an idiot, maybe Dickov is taking him out of the limelight to get his head sorted. Reid shouldn't be anywhere near the bench.

I think Reid's last home performance sealed his fate. Centre backs usually mark strikers and not visa versa but Reid made a good job of hiding from the game by marking his man. It's a rare occurence but Derrick Parker, our alleged striker from the 1980's was an expert at it.

He denied us a penalty for the most blatant unpunished shirt pull too- their centre half nearly had the shirt off Reid's back. He bought their conning as well in the first half some very very soft free kicks.

Indeed, the sad fact is you have down for most refs to give a penalty. The shirt tug at Rochdale last week wasn't as bad as the Reid incident but their lad went down as if he'd been poleaxed and got the pen.

Well I have and I expect I am mostly preaching to the converted as well... Go take a peak at the welfare bill...

 

We need to either dramatically increase the tax take or reduce the overall welfare bill...

No you haven't, you've just made a cheap soundbite "The young are being mugged by the old and it can't continue" You haven't explained how a basic state pension of £102.15 is mugging the young. How exactly ? How low would you like it to go to ?

As for preaching to the converted, you assume quite a lot there. So pardon me for assuming that people would like to see tax loopholes for the wealthy closed and companies such as Vodafone pay their tax liability of 6 billion pounds before taking money off OAP's. Yes, the welfare bill is too high, what do you expect when employers pay their staff minimun wage and the state picks up the bill via tax credits ? Osborne has just reduced the 50p tax rate under the bizarre assumption that the rich who avoided paying tax at 50p will now be quite willing to pay at 45p. The man's in cloud cuckoo land, or more likely he just wants to dole out more dosh to his rich chums.

We do face very hard choices but hitting out at the most vulnerable in society isn't the answer.

People who are currently complaining more than OAPs:

 

Transport workers

Middle class folk getting child benefit reduced

NIMBYs

NHS workers

Teachers

Middle class folk getting child benefit reduced

Hansard reporters

People on enormous benefits (housing benefit and others)

Motorists

Drinkers

Middle class folk getting child benefit reduced

Smokers

God botherers scared of cockfun

People who get parking tickets

and Middle class folk getting child benefit reduced

And oafc0000, who still hasn't explained how he's being mugged by OAP's, who "enjoy" the second worst state pension in Europe.

What fighting Nazi's has to do with dealing with an ageing population is beyond me but hey ho...

 

Nothing to do with divide and rule, it is just looking at the numbers plain and simple. The current elderly population will pass away with little of no hardship being imposed upon them compared what will follow. Its future generations that we need to think about and deal with and set the system up for them. I am already planning on there being little or no state pension I can retire on so will be making my own plans. I ain't whining, I am taking action to make sure my own arse is covered. I suggest others wise up quick, stop whining themselves and expecting todays and tomorrows youths to fund your arse in the future, because its not going to happen.

 

I have no idea where you get the idea of self pitty from... Your looking in the wrong direction there... If anything I am being an hard arse on the issue. Time for people to wise up to the future problems. The whining from todays elderly is what is unbearable...

"I have no idea where you get the idea of self pitty from"

I got it from your own words "The young are being mugged by the old and it can't continue" which are plain rubbish. I'm some years off state pension age and I've worked damned hard all my life, average of 50 hours a week mostly start times of between 2.00 am - 6.00 am. The only benefit I've had is child allowance, never claimed dole ect. Most OAP's I guess are of the same ilk, please explain how they've mugged you ?

"I am taking action to make sure my own arse is covered"

Good for you, exactly what I've done. The only "crime" todays pensioners have commited is to take what was on offer to them which for some reason reaps your criticism.

"The whining from todays elderly is what is unbearable."

Oh the sweet irony, complaining of others whining whilst whining yourself.

One day it will dawn on you that the people who have actually mugged you are the bankers and politicians. That day I fear is some way off. Perhaps when you've grown up.

 

The young are being mugged by the old and it can't continue... Yet governments are too scared of the silver vote to do anything strong about it...

Considering OAP's receive the second lowest state pension in Europe they aren't making a very good job of mugging anyone. Every generation of youth faces it's own challenges, my dad fought against Nazi's for the likes of you and me, I can assure you he didn't relish it. I don't underestimate the problems faced by the young today but only they can change their lives, you're not going to do it by making whining, self pitying posts on an internet forum. One problem we all face today is our politicians playing their "divide and rule" tactics. You've fallen for it hook line and sinker.

 

 

Why are people having a pop at taggart?

Personally I've no idea, fans say his coaching can't be good enough because we concede too many goals. I don't think it ever occurs to them that the players we can afford just aren't good enough.

Tbh if Dickov does not sort the defence out (once in a blue moon we keep a clean sheet) he would need to go. We can't go on conceding so many. I think Dickov has a done a very good job upto now, and I would be sad fo see him go, but he just hasn't replaced rubes and greegs. If he can't sort the defence out, IMO he would need to go.

Tbh we need to sort the midfield out first.

Sorry did I miss something today,few nice touches offered no more than smith would have

I don't think you missed anything. A small striker either needs pace or a fair amount of skill and I didn't detect either. That said, it's early days and who knows what he could do if we played with a midfield ?

 

2. Bobby Johnstone (never saw him but better, older judges than me say he was out best ever)

 

I was only a young kid when Bobby played for Latics but here's an example of just how good he was. He took a penalty towards the Rochdale Rd. end. It was a muddy pitch and Bobby knocked it in off the post, the ball leaving a muddy splodge on the post. A Latics player must have encroached because the ref ordered the kick to be retaken. Bobby advanced to the edge of the six yard box, looked at the keeper and pointed to the muddy mark on the post. His meaning was obvious, in off the same post, same spot. Bobby took the kick and the ball went in off the same post, same spot. Not only that, the ball nestled on the very same part of the net. The genius of it was, everyone knew it would. The crowd went berserk, Bobby just strolled back down the pitch calm as you like. I feel priveliged to have witnessed it. We'll never see the like again.

You obviously need a clue!

 

A goal scoring legend who we sold at a decent profit.

Stainrod ?

Thought he was one of the best referees we've had for many years. Let the game flow whenever was possible and didn't give free kicks for silly little niggles. A lot of the tackles that went in today would have been given as free kicks by anyone else. And he gave us a pen! Won't be disappointed if I see him at bp again!

Fair do's, I thought the ref had an excellent game and plaudits to the linesman (Main Stand), probably the best all season. Makes a pleasant change.

Kuqi ran his socks off without any really end product

 

Kuqi is ploughing a lonely furrow up front with no one beside him. Simpson, as good as he is, is playing behind him and Kuqi is too often isolated. Not an easy role at the best of times but at his age ?

First game in 14 months today

Thought Morais was superb

14 months on LSD must be a danger to your health surely ?