Danny Mck

6 hours ago, oafcprozac said:

I hope the OP doesn't mind me bringing this into the mid-late 80s. My first year was 86-87 and our most successful year in 13 years. The next two seasons were a struggle at times before excellent second halves of the season saw us pull into mid-table by scoring plenty of goals - not too dissimilar to this season being that we couldn't defend for toffee with a keeper that was pretty inconsistent for part of that time in a young Rhodes. The pitch wasn't an issue as we were on the Plastic Paradise. The team evolved rather than revolved through the door. Of course we sold to survive, in those first three years alone we sold McDonough, Futcher, Goram, Henry, Linighan, Flynn, Wright etc.. but we also replaced them with similar if not better Ritchie, Wright, Rhodes/Hallworth, Barrett, Warhurst, Bunn and brought through youngster Nick Henry. There was a sense of trying to build a future, the team could be guessed walking over Chadderton Way with my dad (Somehow the programme was always wrong though!)

 

Dad was always very frustrated with our attendances in the mid-late 80s, we fluctuated between sub 5,000 to about 8 or 9 if Blackburn or Sunderland or similar where in town. But often when Plymouth or Swindon arrived the town seemed to desert us en masse..Dad would shake his head and say 'Does this town want a club? We're the most entertaining team for miles yet they still don't back us, but they come crawling out of the woodwork when we have a big game'. He was right, perhaps a bit harsh, but he was equally frustrated as he struggled in and out of work during the glory years and he would often have to queue up at the crack of dawn due to not having a ST back then - 'Bloody band waggon, jumpers he'd moan!' As a fan during those heady days, it all felt like a dream, there's never been a sense of entitlement from me, although the years after relegation from the top flight and the first three or four in this league I felt as a club we deserved better. And we underachieved massively, it was like the club accepted it was forever to be shit. We were badly let down by Stott and co, who arguably have more to answer for than Corney and his chums. If we'd brought in investment as the Premier League dawned, who knows? Having said that the council equally let down Stott and co, with the Sports Park 2000 failure. Who knows where we'd have been in a state of the art stadium, not the Blue Peter version suggested at Failsworth.

 

Do I expect more now? Yes, prior to arriving in this league we were in the top two divisions for 23 Years very much punching above our weight, however by the late 70s we were battling it out in the top half and save for 83/84 and 84/85 we were troubling the top half year on year. That's not punching above your weight, that's a well established second tier team. We blew the golden goose by not investing after the Great Escape in '93. We limped along and cut our cloth too fine. The advent of Bosman and the increased power of the PL has killed smaller clubs like us, forced to be grateful for the minute crumbs flicked from the top table means we have to rely on loanees. We can't produce too many home grown players as it isn't cost effective given that the bigger clubs can snap them up and pay minimum compensation. The TV deal and solidarity payments to League One clubs are minuscule and in prior times would relate to a starvation wage. Without real investment the club is going nowhere. However, investment does not guarantee success but investment in infrastructure is a beginning.

 

My biggest issue is the way the club has been run in the last 10 years, so many clubs perceived as smaller than us have built teams on shoe strings and had success, Colchester, Southend, Burton, Luton etc.. have all had their days in the sun. We've simply been told to be grateful for survival in the third tier, with no hope of a challenge at the right end since 2007. That for a club of our size and potential is criminal, we have no divine right to be successful but surely we have a divine right to be allowed to compete? The infrastructure of the club has been allowed to rot, ok the stand has been built, but that it has transpired is not FULLY benefiting the club. Previously we had directors like Norman Holden and Peter Chadwick, local men made good - directors who would put money in when they could. The local links have died in the boardroom, although the appointment of Mr Snoddy may be a return to that.

 

When I first started to come to games in the 80s the club had a real identity, we played in blue and white no gimmicks. Home fans were in the Chadderton Road Stand, we played two up front and set out to win EVERY game, bog rolls greeted the team onto the pitch and the whiff of tobacco, bovril and piss purveyed every sense. The Old Chaddy End was a thing of beauty, the wit, the moaning, the clinging or sitting on the fence. Many a late winner was sucked in. Arriving home to Sholver on the 404 and Grandad had made his meat and potato pie, arriving home to a lovely warm house. If we'd won he'd greet us with "What a team!" if we'd lost 'Wouldn't pay 'em in washers'. 

 

Sadly we will never return to those times, what I hope we get under Mr Lemsagem is investment in the infrastructure and we are allowed to build the club again so that at some point in the next two or three years we can have a bloody good go at promotion again. We can all remember some of the good times, wouldn't it be great of some if those young lads that go everywhere could enjoy a bit of success - a promotion season?!

 

 

 

 

In the event that I may 1 day become famous, please can I ask OAFCProzac to be my Biographer?! You have succinctly illustrated almost all of my life. Super Stuff!

4 hours ago, lookersstandandy said:

The Rose of Denmark..... it's about a 10 min walk from Charlton station;

 

https://whatpub.com/pubs/SEL/10892/rose-of-denmark-charlton

Heading there too mate. See you there. 

Andy, me and Sniffer are jumping on the 12.02 from Swindon to Temple Meads from Paddington. We will head for Sportsman. Hope to see you there.

Merlin, 12.30 onwards....Happy Birthday Andy!

Prepared to give him time but that's 20 odd games without a goal. It's definitely relevant and a bit concerning.

His "game" last night was a few minutes at the end. His remit would almost certainly have been to defend from the top and help out when we have a corner against us. Unfair to consider that a "game" for a striker. We really shouldn't count last night as "another game without a goal" for Cassidy.

Totally unnecessary negative swipe at a good squad player as we try to rebuild a positive team based approach. Chapeau. Sounded like Jake defended well for the cause and the team when he came on for the final few last night.

Selling your top scorer to a bottom four rival is genius

Absolutely. Don't forget the timing of some of those goals and assists either - Swindon, Chesterfield and Coventry. I know we are in a mess but where would we be without those vital late strikes when most had given up?

 

It'll all depend on what time I get out of work..... 50/50 at the mo.....

Meeting Sniffer in The Merlin at 6 if you make it Andy....

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday. I get in around midday to Birmingham, Olly Senior and Junior around about the same time. Sniffer is also travelling.

Surely........ Neil Adams

Thank God someone else noticed the most notable absentee from these lists. Neil Adams, for what he did for Latics ( sorry he hasn't a Champion's League medal ), was by far our greatest loan signing. In fact he is the only one that I can remember the Chaddy urging Joe to sign him permanently with "Sign Neil Adams" being a regular chant during his loan spell.

Now try to stop picturing THAT goal Vs West Ham....

I am reassured by the fact that I thought that Sadler came across as an amiable, reasonably intelligent lad and that the OP reached his own conclusions.

Apologies for cack handed posts Stargazer! You get my drift hopefully!

17 seasons is Division 2(the Championship today) was terrific . Frequently punching above our weight , with struggles in many seasons but always with a squad of solid journeyman , ageing former top flight players and some terrific purchases , I loved every minute of it.

 

18 seasons and counting of Division 1(Division 3 in my book ) of journeymen and loanees I have frequently never heard of , constant ridiculous turnover of players , with only 1 realistic attempt at promotion , which of course lead to the destruction of the club .......is tedious .

 

Better than being out of the league like other similar clubs ,yes .

 

I reckon you must be at least 25 to have any recollection of a relegation & over 30 to recall a promotion .......the younger generation of fans deserve a medal for sticking with the club.

17 seasons in old school Div 2 really was terrific when you look back doesn't it? We were always happy! We rode out the threat of relegation several times, had a few comfy mid-tables and then had those 3 glorious cracks at it. Whatever the outcome, we were very happy where we were.

 

if we won a few, we put a few on the gate, lost a few, lost a few on the gate - but it worked itself out. Then when we went ballistic, so too the fever and the crowds....

 

That's the difference. It was never mundane, and we all knew deep down that we were in the 2nd tier of English football. Today it ismundane, the quality is often poor and we are in the 3rd tier with only the 4th seeming a possibility.

17 seasons is Division 2(the Championship today) was terrific . Frequently punching above our weight , with struggles in many seasons but always with a squad of solid journeyman , ageing former top flight players and some terrific purchases , I loved every minute of it.

 

18 seasons and counting of Division 1(Division 3 in my book ) of journeymen and loanees I have frequently never heard of , constant ridiculous turnover of players , with only 1 realistic attempt at promotion , which of course lead to the destruction of the club .......is tedious .

 

Better than being out of the league like other similar clubs ,yes .

 

I reckon you must be at least 25 to have any recollection of a relegation & over 30 to recall a promotion .......the younger generation of fans deserve a medal for sticking with the club.

 

17 seasons in old school Div 2 really was terrific when you look back doesn't it? We were always happy! We rode out the threat of relegation several times, had a few comfy mid-tables and then had those 3 glorious cracks at it. Whatever the outcome, we were very happy where we were.

 

if we won a few, we put a few on the gate, lost a few, lost a few on the gate - but it worked itself out. Then when we went ballistic, so too the fever and the crowds....

 

That's the difference. It was never mundane, and we all knew deep down that we were in the 2nd tier of English football. Today it ismundane, the quality is often poor and we are in the 3rd tier with only the 4th seeming a possibility.

I just hope we can appoint someone soon so we can all stop talking about the little runt!

 

I was gutted he left but he's gone and we move on. I wish him well in the future but I hope he falls on his arse at Barnsley if only just to teach him a big lesson.

 

We need a new manager now.

 

On a side note I'd hate to see any of you get dumped off someone you care for as you would be suicidal. Players\ managers come and go but Some of you mardy bastards act like he :censored: on your dinner, :censored:ed your mum and made your dad carry him to Barnsley.;)

Haha!! That is the funniest thing I have read throughout all of this!!

 

Yup. Organisation is such a big part of it, and Chubs did that. His record with us was very good, and we've been :censored: ever since LJ started pissing around with that, Kenny and now Kean.

 

He may have conceded some long range shots, but some of the goals we've conceded vs PNE and Barnsley would not have happened.

Totally agree and said it at the time. Some head-scratching moments this season and the first phase of the Rachubka witch hunt was one for me. And for the record, Johnson is a total :censored:.

Excellent. See you there Andy. Just on way to Bath.

Me and Osc get in at 13:16. Gonna get a taxi to The Arrow.

Swindon posse aiming for noon.

Technical last season was top drawer. set us up perfectly for Korey's touche and finesse.... I vote with the blue blooded Hamlet boys.

Still scored 20+ of the ugliest goals I have ever seen in one season which is what we need right now...the Winchester rifles and Jones free kicks aren't regular enough for me

His "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" hat-trick at Brentford as the perfect example!!

I still reckon he is what we need...(if his knees were up to it)

Porter had the knees of a Somme Veteran when he was at Latics years ago. They won't have improved.

See you at Orient Danny?

Andy, Orient needs negotiating. It falls on my weekend with the kids - I can't put them through that again after MK, Oscar still screams at night....

I should have been free for Gills but traded my sat for a 40th in Bath last weekend and it's therefore payback on saturday - I didn't realise she would call it in so soon to be honest. Caught napping, it won't happen again!

I therefore have my sights firmly set on doing a similar swap for Orient. Have a top top time.

Not coming across for this one lads - have a top day.

Took my son, aged 7, to see Latics v QPR (managed by Tommy Docherty) on 16 August 1980, sat in the front row of the Main Stand at Boundary Park. Ryszard Kowenicki scored a screamer, the only goal of the game. He remembers it as if it was last Saturday, when he was at Fleetwood.

That was my first game too Diego!! My memories of that game are clearer than more recent OASIS trips but there is good reason for that....

Took my daughter to MK away two years ago when we lost 2-0 and followed it up for my son's debut in Dec last year and we know the rest....