Hometownclub

A good signing and very destructive batsman, especially for the 20/20's which is our best chance to do something as we are already out of the FP trophy and the County Championship already looks beyond our reach, although we still have the one day league still to come. I'm going to the 20/20 Durham and Leicestershire games at OT.

No, it wont work for me either. How do we find out the final standings of the last league?

Hi, are you the same Sloth off LaticsMad messageboard? If you are I'm the same name on there Hometownclub, I don't go on there much these days since I became a member on here OWTB. This is a much better board for Latics chat etc (and no numpty's from other clubs). Anyway, welcome.

Didn't I read on another thread that you thought Lesley would win Inspiral, 33/1 with Stan James (maybe worth a punt?). I don't watch it myself so I haven't got a clue.

I agree, to have done all the donkey work we have already, and also taken all the flak. It would be very unsatisfactory to now not get first dibs on him and see someone else jump in and reap the benefits of our hardwork.

To not even get his name right is a joke, they must be either be bone idle or dont employ any researchers.

I saw something on TV yesterday about this, it certainly does put an interesting slant on things. As for BB generally, what a total waste of time.

I've e-mailed the station to complain, the guy is an absolute balloon. How do cretins like this get radio shows.

I'd be annoyed that we'd not snapped him up, potentially a fantastic signing for us, based purely on footballing issues.

Well said S_W summed the whole situation up perfectly.

There must still be some questions to answer both mentally and physically of someone who has been incarcerated for 3 years, we are taking a real chance that he still has it in him. I hope we are going to get him for at least a trial period first until he proves himself still capable. Having said that he certainly was a quality player compared to what we are used to. Could be a real steal for a club like Latics provided he can still perform.

I certainly hope not, I've set my sights on someone hopefully much better than that.

I think the goals may have been taken down, they have on Merton Playing fields in front of where I live.

Ian Wood another player who played in the first ever Latics game I attended. He was one of the mainstays of Jimmy Frizzell's 70's team I grew up with. Very solid reliable full back who very rarely seemed to ever miss a game and a great servant of the club. He was part of the old Div 3 championship winning team in 1973/74 and then helped establish us in the old Div 2. Very dependable player, not atall flambouyant or outgoing just a very quiet reliable right back. Very solid tackler but didn't seem to pick up that many bookings so good was his timing in the tackle, plenty of defenders today could have learned a lot from watching him play. I dont know anything of him or about him post Latics but have very fond memories of him in a Latics shirt during my early years watching the team. Ian Wood and Maurice Whittle where our very loyal and long standing full back partnership for what seemed like most of the 70's. A great servant of the club.

Well done Rocky, you've gone above me (damn you ) I shall have to get back on and try and improve my score.

I quite like the new site now I've got used to it, just had to get past that change is bad stage.

Do you concentrate more on not losing wickets than on scoring runs !!

For me the Jury has been out and returned with a verdict on Glombard. Not good enough, I wouldn't want him to be offered a deal as I dont think he showed us enough during his stay here. As soon as he got the ball his head went down, and I'm not sure he knew what he was trying to do.

With regard to summer clearouts etc. I think we need to be a bit more realistic as I'm sure some people think that 90% of the playing staff are going to leave. How can that happen, players who are under contract beyond this summer will definately be staying unless Shez feels they really will not be in his plans for next year and then they will be released, but their contracts will have to be paid up. Then there is a whole host of players who's contracts will be up this summer, they will only be in two categories the players we must keep and those we dont want anymore. Shez I'm sure will go to great lengths to keep Wellens and Porter but that depends on them, we are not in a position to offer silly money. So I suspect for both players it will all depend on what other offers are made to them. The players who are out of contract and are not required will obviously be shown the door but suitable replacements need to be found (quite often easier said than done).

Didn't Gregan sign a 2.5 year deal, in which case it would be very costly to release him as we would have to pay him up, besides which he reads the game really well, okay he lacks pace but with Eddy at left back and a pacier centre half alongside I think he is easily good enough for League 1.

Bl**dy hell Bob we are all talking about seeing Joe or maybe meeting him once and you've topped us all by fighting with him. Can't compete with that

I was exactly the same as you Dave 100+ off 5 overs and then the spinners come on and it all goes pear shaped.

I think defensively the 2003 team are much superior to the 2007 team, but in terms of attacking ability, creativety and goal scoring I think the 2007 team is better. The only problems I think we have currently is a desparate lack of pace in defence and also up front. I would say the only two players we have currently with genuine pace are Eddy and Taylor. For me Eddy must play Satueday instead of Charlton solely for the pace he gives us against Parker. My team from the 2003/2007 teams would be:- Pogs Clint Hill Fitz Hall Gregan Armstrong Taylor Murray Wellens Eyres Porter Andrews Bench. Blayney Liddell Tony Carss Darren Sheridan Paul Warne

I think both Bishop and Dagnell are both decent calls, but so much depends on whether we go up or not as the goal posts move along way in terms of who we could get and also what we could pay, both in terms of possible transfer fees and wages. They are both more realistic than some names already mentioned especially if god forbid we dont go up.

Joe Royle Latics Legend til he dies and way beyond, it is impossible to under estimate what he achieved at Latics. 3 seasons in the top division (including being founder members of the Premier league) Littlewoods Cup Final 2 F. A. Cup semi finals Div 2 Champions. For the size of club we are and the fan base we have got, his achievements were remarkable. The thing that surprises people when they talk about Joe is they think he did all this overnight (not true atall) he became Latics manager in the early 80's and as every one knows it wasn't until the early 90's we had all our success. I personally think he had a good eye for a player, look at the players he picked up out of other teams reserves (for next to nothing) that became great players, Irwin, Barrett, Warhurst, Marshall and Holden to name just a few along with the likes of Henry, Milligan and Richie they formed the greatest Latics team we may ever see. A great motivator too and tactician, many's the time I was at Latics and would question his substitutions or tactics and he nearly always came up trumps pulling games out of the fire time after time, the team had great self belief and never say die attitude. The greatest days BP may ever witness. Also a really nice guy too, met him once and he was really pleasant and very genuine. Possibly the greatest Latics legend of them all IMO.