slystallone

Derek, you're a tool. It's fine to have an opinion about players, some i rate; others i don't; that's always going to be the case - but your constant, one sided anti Taylor posts have now gone from mildly annoying to down right pathetic - we get it, you don't rate Taylor. End of. I don't rate you, but i don't post every week about it! Give it a rest please. rant over

I cannot think why we WOULDN'T be invited back next year - the atmosphere we created was top notch - i had a great night & loved all the chanting & signing! Of the masters stuff i've watched on the TV before, the only crowd noise that usually comes across are the kids as the clock counts down from 10 sec to go - this time we bossed it, and actually created an atmosphere - i would imagine that the Masters organisers loved it. And, apart from the fat muppet who kicked off at the end of my seat row (what a c0ck!), there was no trouble & the banter was taken in the right way. All in all i thought we were all a credit to the club - and what a top night it was!!!!

Perhaps the concern is the attitude of some others in the squad if Phillips is seen as coming in with a guaranteed start despite the rest all having to fight for a place? That may be a corncern - what if form dips / a formation change is needed etc and Demar is on a garenteed starting place? I don't think it will be an outright stipulation that he has to play in every game - but more likely the agreement will be he has to feature in x number of games by the end of the season. Remember Tomaz Cywka (spl!) from the plastic latics?? we brought him in and then preceeded not to play him, which in turn put Jewells nose right out of joint and he recalled him, having made 1 start & 2 sub appearances while here i think? Think Stoke are just wanting to cover themselves in asking for him to get games with us; not just subs bench / sqaud - and we (shez) are being controlled & calm in weighing up whether Demar Philips is the right answer on the Left afterall. I for one prefer this approach to the panic last minute loan deals we've seen in the past (Malongo anyone??)

Thats just a taster for the dale game I will be made up with my (inforced!) switch to the RRE if the atmosphere is like that every home game. I know beer had alot to do with it (i was pretty well sozzeled by the time i got in there!!) but if the same vocal support can be created at BP as it was at the MEN, then i don't think we'll be able to quantify the boost it will give to the players on a match day. Plus th chants for Ernie were awesome - i'm in no doubt they'll be sung home & away this year

Hughesy has to start if he can prove fitness, but that's the "if"...he hasn't had alot of minutes and has been out of action for months on months. O'Grady is fit & firing, and on the Derby showing is right in the mix for a starting spot. Davis has had longer back in training than Hughesy, and so should be fitter. He could have a big season for us this year if he takes on board what everyone is trying to tell him; stay central!! Lewis will feature from the bench for me until form / injuries etc mean he gets a starting place, which i feel he is more than worth on ability & potential. Throw in Smalley (though i see him more as a RW) to that mix and its looking rosey. Wolfy is the one who misses out for me; dead wood IMO and needs bining off - at the least on loan, but for good for me; not up to it i'm afraid. All in all i think this is the best we've looked for strikers in years, there's options for 4-4-2 / 4-3-3 & anyone coming in will have to impress as the cue is big for the starting spots; which is healthy!!

As for Lids, I like him. Yes, he probably won't play 46 league games this season, but anyone who can deliver a ball like the following - without having to run, may I add - is always a danger, and will always be in the back of my mind. - Probably one of the best balls I've seen from an Oldham play in a few years. Again, something we missed last season was a winger with the real ability to cross the ball well. We scored very, very few goals from wide positions, which was opposite to the season before. Just to add - O'Grady + Liddell or someone who can cross = success. He'll probably be used more as an experienced winger, who comes on say with 20 minutes to go. How many silly fouls do sides give away when they're 1-0, there's not much time left, and they're nervouse? Quite a few. That's exactly how i see Lids being used this season too. The swansea game at home last season i think will be the benchmark for Lids appearances this coming season, coming on for the last 10-15 mins to pepper the box with crosses from wide. With O'Grady on the pitch, it'll be criminal not to look to whip balls in from wide and get him to attack them, a la Chris Porter in his purple patch. If we want a rampaging wide right winger; we have 2 of them already in Taylor & Smalley. If we're looking for an experienced old head with great delivery; then step forward Mr Lids. It's a good balance with options for the manager and i like it!!

I think that's a cracking idea - as i feel this new stand may be a long time in the making..this would tide us over, and i could watch the odd from my old seat to boot!!! It will also block some of the gale force winds that will be side sweeping the pitch this season!!!

I'd agree with that, i can think of dozens of more suitable players to label sh1te before i got to JJ. His ability wasn't in question when running with the ball; his finishing was though. Which is why he has become a very useful winger for sheff weds; starting games but also coming on as defenders are tiring. I'd be bricking it these days if we played wednesday in the cup or something; it alomost a nailed on certainty that he'd have an absolute stormer against us, tearing our full-backs to shreds!!

just joined, MouldyOld Doughnut at your service, prepairing to walk the league (ish!) Confession time: i've no leeds or tranmoore players - 3 oldham & 2 sarf-enders!!!!!

Just collected mine, and can confirm they are indeed pants tickets!! I'm more worried about the 'perforated' bits on them, i've just had them folded in my wallet and they're already coming off! Judith siad to watch out for that as once they fall off (which some already have just by handling them) they're null & void so be careful out there with them!!!!! They really do make our tickets look like works of Da Vinci!!!

4-3-3 for me. We absolutely murdered Carslile with that formation at home last season; with a front 3 of taylor / lewis & deano. Change a few names to our 'strongest' players and it looks like a front 3 of taylor / hughesy & Craig D. With injuries and suspensions thrown in over the season, that could be changed to accomodate the likes of O'Grady / Lewis / Deano / Liddell etc - it looks really strong that!! Midfield 3 of Allott / Danny Whit & Lee; or Eardley if he's still with us and that looks strong too - i think it's the way t go

I'd not really disagree too much with that, possibly look for a little more upfront; £400-450k with add-on's thrown in would, in opinion, be too good to turn down. Big season for Deano this either way, he has the potential; it's what he does with it this season that will be the deal breaker. 1 season of experience gained, more competition for places etc - it could, as Coco says, go either way. I don't like to see our young talent sold off for peanuts - but if a fair market value offer from the Blades comes in for Deano, then i think the TTA will seriously consider it. But, i hope he stays; this will be OUR SEASON; i'm convinced!!!!

It's hard to not get over emotional with the tragic news of "our" ernie's passing, and i was talking last night to my mates about the possibility of naming the new main stand the "cooksey stand" as a tribute when it is finished.......but, as that will be probably 2 years in completion, then this suggestion of the bar is cracking intrim idea. It will not be a sleur on the other former players who have sadly passed on recently, as; has been stated elsewhere, the circumstances around Ernie's passing a just tragic & different to the others. The Hartlepool fan's post above is interesting too; they've named the goal of the season award after their young lad - its been mentioned that the rose-bowl should be re-named as a tribute to Ernie - i'd go along with that too. I feel having a pre-match drink in "Ernie's Bar" in the RRE , talking all things Latics and getting the atmosphere going is an apt way to remember a true fans favourite - RIP Ernie

I'm no oil painting myself - but do we now possess the ugliest squad in the league??? Allott / Danny Whit / Dale Stephens / Fat Josh Bell / Lomax / Lee / Flemming...........where's the model that is Chris Hall when you need him eh? Anyone got the number for Asda???

Bit harsh Leeslover, but i see where you're coming from. It's a weird one with JP, the Everton game proved he could cut it with Prem players, but it was a one off game in the FA cup where we weren't expected to do anything. His "crab-like" passing and lack of real 'on the ball' ability drag him down unfortunatley. It's a quandry that Shez has to solve - he's contracted to us, we are paying him a weekly wage, but he won't be playing unless we're struck down by a biblical-type injury crisiss. I personally think he'll be off before we reach the 10-game marker in the season, but if he stays; he stays - there could be worse players to have on our books, i mean we could have John Thompson............oh wait...........

They're good video's Rummy, especially the everton one. Does anyone know if there are plans to bring out a club DVD of the game? and if not, why not??

He's on the 2nd picture!!! Over Eardley's shoulder, you can see him! So, i'd say he's still with us at the moment!

I'd go along with that - there's a world of difference in terms of wages paid to a United youngster vs a Latics youngster....these lads didn't really get a sniff near the 1st team, but i'd bet they were pulling in wage not disimilar to that earned by some of our regular 1st teamers (Taylor/Eardley etc). If it was a choice between playing Black if needed, or bringing in this Michael Lea, then i'd plump for young Black....the remaining money we have is better spent elsewear, most notably an experienced LM / LW.

I think that's harsh - there are worse things to discuss! Although we haven't seen them play for Latics yet, we can speculate as to whether we think their signings are good ones or not. Personally, i'm happy with them - think potential wise they all seem mustard and if 1 or 2 really come good, then they will become really good investments. Flemming & Lee already seem very shrewd additions

I'm personally quite happy with this signing, i think its a very sensible one - he appears; from the the 1 game i've seen him play in & the info coming from the Vale boards, to be the type of midfielder we have been lacking - good passer / weighs in with goals / 2 footed / versitile. As said earlier in the thread - i'm liking the look of the midfield; competition for places / versitility & it appears we now have a plan b & c.....changes to the teams mid game & the possibility to change formations & personel are now possible it would seem LB needed and then i'm a very happy boy - feeling very positive for this season!!

he he, my mate sweetleftfootovic - i checked the Poland team vs the Krauts the other night and he wasn't even on their bench; a travesty! i thought he'd of been a shoe-in for the LM spot in this tournament??

here here, and KP even had to lend him a suit so he could go on the open top bus and get lashed up with the rest of the team - the 'powers' weren't going to let him on! And Jimmy Anderson carried the water crate onto the pitch a few times too!!!

Who???? And why the cough? are you not well??

Matthew Spring is the only one left who would add to our squad. Bell & Coyne would have been good additions but they went in the fire-sale last season. Apart from that, not really.

We'll maybe shy away from the whole nakedness thing, possibly while Will Hainings missus was around, but that 'bird' has flown now eh? On the randomness of some chants etc - me & my mates go on European footy trips, and when we were in Copenhagen catching them vs the mighty Viking SB, whenever Copenhagen won a corner or either a free kick or throw-in the final 1/3, all and i mean ALL the home fans got out their house/car keys - held them above their heads & just shook them.....really random.....no 'come on Copenhagen' chants or anything with it, just the shaking of the keys......now, i know it might not sound that impressive, but 5 thousand fans all doing it at the same time, it was pretty cool, by the second or third time they did it, me & my mates were swept up in it all, we asked what is was about, and the general response was 'why not?' Seems there no reason for it at all, but they are known throughout Danish football for doing it. Nutty chants or traditions, however random or 'silly' can breed notority.....so you never know, this whisk thing might just catch on - if it doesn't, there's always keys to shaken & jangled!!!!