oafcprozac

7/9/91 Won  2-1 Glynn Snodin and Ian Marshall. Sheff U had two sent off. 

November 22nd 1986 v Crystal Palace (H) W1-0 

I’d gradually been getting into football bit by bit throughout 1986, my attention first gripped by the magnificent football ‘86 collection by Panini, so obsessed were we in Junior 2 at limehurst our evil teacher Mrs Talentire would not only confiscate our stashes she would rip them up and even had a special pair of scissors to cut up the shinies! (Bitch, glad she got sacked for locking a kid outside!) 

Then it was the ‘86 cup final Liverpool and Everton. They had dominated the mid 80s and dad whilst exasperated at Latics during the mid 80s always had a soft spot for the blue half of Merseyside. I watched the whole day enthralled at the build up. Gary Lineker playing snooker with Willie Thorne the celebrity kickabout, Jimmy Tarbuck et al, then the main event a cracking game littered with players who would become many of my boyhood heroes. As a nine year old though by the end of a pulsating contest I had been seduced by the reds of  Liverpool. From that moment I was a football fan.

During that summer I was mesmerised by the skills of Maradona, Platini, Elkaejar, Laudrup et al and I had two new heroes Gary Lineker and the Soviet Union’s giant goalkeeper Rinat Daseyev, after the tournament my dad started to tell me about his team,(he’d gone Week in week out from ‘62-83 before an enforced sabbatical through apathy and unemployment - cheers Maggie) the same team I remember that when I was smaller he would regularly leave the saturday tea time washing up half done to stand leaning on the back of the settee pot towel over his shoulder waiting for their vidi printer result on grandstand. His reaction to a defeat or draw mainly was ‘shite!’ Before trudging back to finish said washing up! If we’d win he’d react with his usual ‘get in!’ Before finishing his pots!

Whether it was the World Cup or the fact we started the season well or probably because he found work again, dad began going again early 86/87. When he told me, I mithered like hell, he eventually relented with Latics top of the league a week after winning 2-0 at Leeds. I’d be become increasingly football daft watching whatever highlights or the occasional live game. I had moved schools and began playing for the school team in junior 3 at St Pats. I decided I wanted to be a goalkeeper my heroes were the afore mentioned Dasayev, Neville Southall and Bruce Grobbelaar. 

So dad decided to take me on 22/11/86 to Boundary Park I was 9, my 6 year old brother came too. From entering the turnstiles on the crisp, freezing November day I was hit by a wall of senses! The cigarette and cigar smoke, the oxo - (far superior to Bovril) meat and potato pie (only one choice in those days). The roar of the crowd 6,000 sounded like 100,000 the funny quips, the seeing hardly anything so then clinging to the fence. The teams running out seperately , the  magnificent Spall kit our best ever  Mouldy old dough, the bog rolls thrown to greet the team, you’re shit aaaahhh that was aimed at the veteran George Wood in the palace goal. 

An early Latics goal and bedlam ensued. Tommy Wright scores it and a lifelong Latics hero for me was borne. I was awestruck by the brilliance of our own goalkeeper - Andy Goram. My other enduring memory of that day was how cold my feet were by the second half. I was cold but enjoying the game whereas our kid was moaning from about 20 minutes in! I think dad gave in after about 70 minutes, I was gutted, we Started the long trek back to Sholver on the 404 which stopped on Chaddy Way in those days. On arriving back to my grandad’s he had made homemade meat and potato pie waiting for us.

I was hooked, on the whole matchday now and when it was time to see my dad again a fortnight later, Dad took me again v Shrewsbury but our kid didn’t come! Just like the previous game dad left with 10 minutes to go as he was worried I was getting hypothermia! I cared not a jot! I was already obsessed and wanted to stay. Dad’s premature departure saw us miss two late goals one as we were going down the chaddy end steps and a third which we only found out about when dad went for a Pink Final later that evening.

Last season’s opening day - my first without dad was tough, I was on holiday in Greece and today I’m away in Turkey. It doesn’t make it any easier going into a second season without my dad. Without him none of the above would have happened. Fantastic memories and I was so privileged to start following Latics at the start of those glory days and sharing all those wonderful days and nights with dad. 

It'd be great to to create more memories this year..

As I begin my 33rd season following Latics like many others I’ve seen it all, unbelievable highs to lows, so low that you felt like you could parachute out of a snake’s arse. Usually on the seaon’s eve I lurch from suicidal to eventually becoming very optimistic no matter how poor the squad looks, ‘you just never know’. This year feels very different, get it right we could be on the way back up the leagues. Get it wrong and it doesn’t bear worth thinking about. 

So where am I as 2018/19 dawns? Well I’ve seen a fair bit of pre season and I went to the meet the manager night the other week. Tbf we’ve had so many similar events over the last ten years they all merge into one. BUT you can’t deny Bunn and Rhodes’ enthusiasm. They genuinely want to be here and have a yearning to bring a modicum of success back to BP. Both have my backing 100% I don’t think they’ll go down the route of blaming individuals - they want to create that fantastic team spirit we had all those years ago. That will be important as will a siege mentality. The press are seizing on every little leak from the club and there’s some within the walls of BP and those recently removed that seek to upset the Apple cart. 

I believe a lot of the negative stuff has come from Corney and his inner circle, he wanted to stay involved. It was the right decision to get him and his cronies out if the club. A fresh start for the club, time for a can do attitude rather than the austere make do and mend mentality that culminated in our inevitable downfall last May. No matter what, relegation was Corney’s doing whether he was here or not, he sowed the seeds and we reaped the devastation.

I’m not 100% trusting of AL , I think given what happened with Moorex & the three asset strippers it is right to be cautious, but we have to give AL a chance to get it right. If he stays out of the dressing room and allows Bunn and Rhodes free reign whilst running the club correctly that’s all I ask.

Oh yes, the football! I have to say after Curzon I was concerned. I never get too upset about players leaving - especially the sheisters who let us down so badly last season. I wasn’t sorry to see any of those offloaded go BUT the rabble at curzon three weeks ago looked a million miles away from being a team. However from FCUM onwards I saw Bunn’s plan, a pressing game, big lads up top and runners from midfield. Throw in a threat from set pieces and we look like we’ll be ok. 

The signings of which many were on trial first suggests they want to be here.

Iversen looks decent enough particularly in narrowing angles and spreading himself.

Taylor, has experience and brings a calmness to full back. 

Missy impressed me from the word go.

Bangers looks a threat.

Graham oozes potential and gas pace, that’ll be a rare commodity amongst league two centre backs.

Coke has started slowly but I can see him doing a lot of the ugly stuff. 

Benteke whilst the jury’s out for me could be a real wild card.

surridge I haven’t seen but if Bournemouth are loaning him they must see summat in him. Looking forward to seeing the lad in action. 

O’Grady for me despite his slow pre season you won’t get a better target man in league two. He won’t score many but he’ll hold it up until the cows come home.

Miller a real enigma he could be awesome he could be shot at. From last week’s reports he was the former.

How will we do? I genuinely don’t think we’ll trouble the bottom 2, I think we’ll start slowly as usual and I think we’ll lose one or both of Hamer and Hunt by the end if the window but we’ll bring in a couple  more possibly with the X factor. If we can get Byrne’s head sorted he’ll be an asset but I think we’re looking to get rid. 

Baxter and Gardner are the key if the latter stays we have the quality in CM at this level. Baxter we know how good this lad can be. God willing he can still do his thing over a sustained period. 

Im excited about the young new talent in the squad too Edmondson has come on leaps and bounds and he’s got a real leader alongside him in Clarke. Dummigan is remoured to be out for 4 months so will be a loss as he gives us so much going forward.

so how will we do? Notts County, Lincoln and Mansfield are chucking the money about. Franchise, Northampton and Bury will be up there. The rest though are much of a muchness and I genuinely think FB will have us organised and hard to beat. After a slow start I think we’ll reach the play offs as Baxter, O’Grady and Miller get their match fitness. The previews writing us off are simply taking note of the many negative reports. The interviews i’ve seen from players and management are upbeat, optimistic and looking to prove a few people wrong.

Gutted I’m not there today, I’m going for 1-1 Gardner 

Come On you magnificent blue barstewards!

the season is a blank canvas, let’s turn it into a beautiful masterpiece!

Ishmael Miller....let me go..

ishmael Miller..let me go...

26 minutes ago, OLDHAMADE said:

Safe signings that'll do a decent job in League Two, feeling a hell of a lot more positive that we'll be in the mix to return at the first time of asking

Definitely and to put our transfer window into a wider historical context - last time we were relegated we made one signing that summer.

Lee Sinnott!

4 strikers and Baxter two big strong fellas, Surridge big and mobile, Benteke wily and a but of pace. None likely to score a bagful perhaps but options nonetheless if they want to play they’ll need to be effective and bag. Jose supplying the bullets and the lads in midfield look like they’ll chip in and I can see us being a threat from set pieces. 

The fact most of the signings have been here on trial means they’ve bought into what Bunn and Rhodes want. Could we actually start a season by hitting the ground running? 

Gutted I’m not there Saturday...

Don’t mind Sam Smith’s lager tbh Taddy is a great pint 

Back in the day I used to like Carling Premier, before I started the health crusade I would purposely avoid regular carling, Fosters etc.. brother in law’s pub did Dortmunder Pils on draught and Dortmunder Union Vier which are excellent.

agree with Lees Lager and Holts, awful lagers...

Pray for me As I’m on a bit of a weightloss crusade double whammy (3 1/2 stone off so far) with WW and ManvFat my drink of choice is now enduring bud light as it’s only 3 points per bottle or Becks. The pints have been knocked on the head and tbf it’s worked well. I’m alternating with pints of soda water too.*

*although I’m currently in Turkey and drinking gallons of EFES, still alternating with soda water to try and limit the damage on the scales when I get back ???☀️

Latics 1 MK Dons 1

HT 0-0

Gardner 

3645

Gotta say fellas, think I watched a different game I thought Maouche looked out of his depth Bunn bollocked him a few times for not closing down and he looked very uncomfortable in running around. All about opinions but if that’s what you for £4K per week then he’s stealing a living...

the fact he was the only HT sub, for me speaks volumes...

One of the more reasoned posters on here. Would bump into him regularly in Tescos.

faced his situation head on, lived every minute he had left to the full and is a much braver man than I could ever have been in dealing with the fate that awaited him. A true inspiration.

The Latics family diminishes further. Good night God bless Dave, thoughts with Chris and the rest of his family.

Nothing new really...

* Very happy to be here, wanted the job(s) for years. Rhodes gave up the job at SW because he wanted to come back to a club he wants to do well for 

* Wants to put smiles on faces of people in and around the club. Players expected to play their part - only wants hardworking good people in the squad 

* over stretched ourselves last season with a squad of 35 budget is challenging so likely to go for players that are perceived as 'past it' or under 23s on Loan. This might change closer we get to season 

* looking for players 1-11

* Believes in win at all costs 

* Best XI out there all the time 

* chairman in dressing room nothing new Hoyle at Hudds, Sheff Wes chairman did it at times

* Be crazy not to tap into AL's contacts BUT final decision is Bunn's. Liked the look of the two French lads but a Dutch lad on trial has been released - not good enough 

* Training morning and afternoon

* Facilities will not be an excuse, they're ours what we are faced with and have to deal with and we get on with it

* Clarke in his plans 

* New disciplinary regime in place said no fines so far but did say Jack Byrne will have to conform

*Fane broken leg and dislocated ankle

* Rhodes still assessing the keepers

* Would like a reserve team but not enough players yet

* Stott injured Gerrard carrying a knock 

* Three new targets in mind hope to see movement soon

* Not allowed to comment on TP situation 

*young lad from Sheff Wed in as FT coach, new fitness and conditioner appointed today and brought an analyst in too.

* Both admit limited knowledge of League 2, made lots of phone calls to likes of Martin Allen and Steve Evans 

Both come across well, Rhodes very articulate and likeable. A real infectious enthusiasm that if the players buy into who knows?

Who was #17 thought he was stand out of our lot...

With the money I saved on the two shirts I bought my daughter the away shirt. Bought a few swim shorts and a couple of t shirts and s few other items...

club shop would have been £119.97

still only £126 including next day delivery for the lot above...

Miss the first two home games as I’m in Turkey then Amsterdam. FGR is a new Away day the rest meh!

only two more new grounds in Cambridge and Newport.

Looked at that fixture list and thought FML....

Yet somehow Corney feels he’s qualified to still apply for jobs in football? 

? ? 

26 minutes ago, underdog said:

Sorry to be pedantic but Baxter has not signed...that's the crux of it.

 

"agreed in principle" is the official club terminology.  Wellens interviewed confirmed today that we need to off load players to get the balance right again.

 

Think deyers42 and singe summed it up on previous posting with regards to the number of players we currently have and we are able to do,not able to do until we get rid of some.

 

hopefully the manger and club are on it and things should moving a bit fast.

 

 

 

So why have the club announced it then? Doesn’t make sense if he can walk away if all he’s done is shake hands.

Thanks Simon...

If the club have announced it don’t see what the issue is. Corney’s not here anymore so there’s no foot on the trusts throat.

Baxter’s signing no one usually signs until 1 July anyway. 

If it’s someone else then fair enough if the club are keeping schtum. 

No end product, made of biscuits and been telling all and sundry since August he  wouldn’t sign a new deal.

ta-ta....no loss as he hardly played in the two years he was here...

From what I’ve seen on social media Jose is now in a stable relationship and recently became a father. Nothing makes you grow up quicker. 

He’s 26 with responsibilities this is his last chance and he probably knows that. Thanks to Everton, he won’t want to let them down either.

he looks every bit the doting dad from the snippets I’ve seen. 

Welcome back to your second home Jose if true...

5 minutes ago, BP1960 said:

 

Can't think who was Joe's assistant manager from 1982 -1984 who showed him the ropes..was it Harvey?

Those first two years in his education might have been vital.

5 minutes ago, BP1960 said:

 

Can't think who was Joe's assistant manager from 1982 -1984 who showed him the ropes..was it Harvey?

Those first two years in his education might have been vital.

Bill Taylor sadly passed away in ‘84 

What about somebody like Andy Ritchie as assistant? Would he even be interested?

Bill Taylor