OAFCMIKE

Read the rest of it. As long as the football was easy to watch and going to Latics was not a chore.

I disagree. And it can't be more diabolical than it was.

I think for all his faults Mr Penney may have lowered fans expectations to the benefit of his successor. After that nine months I'd be happy for a mid-table finish, as long as the football was easy to watch. All I want is for it not to be a chore any more and the people I go with feel the same.

I don't understand all these fears over Gannon. I don't care if he's as popular as a ginger-haired stepson, if he gets results crowds will rise. Surviving in front of 2,000?

Honestly? I'd say most of our fans now would be happy at two years in the Championship.

I used him to illustrate that some managers can work well with small budgets. There's only one for me - Jim Gannon. If they could get Howe from Bournemouth that would be awesome, however, I doubt he would come. Out of interest - where did you see us, say, in December with Penney still in charge?

Why,all of a sudden should those be our realistic expectations? A shot at the playoffs and a decent cup run shouldn't be too much to ask for. Nobody is going to do what Joe did for us again. Which makes trying to compare Penney to him even more ridiculous. A decent manager should be able to deliver a much better season than that utter, utter tosh.

Look at the teams in that Division, then look at the ones in this. And it's a league hiigher, for a start. Are you seriously trying to tell me that Dave Penney would have turned it round, given us the best football we have ever seen, two trips to Wembley and a spell in the Prem? Honestly? The guy was a bad 'un. End of.

Keeping us up that season was a damn sight more of an achievement than keeping us up this season.

Roughyeds come home on Sunday: http://tinyurl.com/25xw3x6 Be great to see a decent crowd to welcome them back.

I'm sick of seeing all this: "Jose Mourinho could be in charge and he wouldn't get us in the top half on our budget', 'All that will happen is that a new man will come in, be given a year and then fired off', and 'It doesn't matter who the manager is, the problems at the club run deeper than that.' RUBBISH Was Joe Royle's budget the first time round one of the biggest in the Division? Is Blackpool's now one of the highest in the Championship? What about Bournemouth? Howe couldn't even sign anyone could he? The fact is that there ARE managers out there who are better than others. Whose teams finish above others who have more money to spend. Big budgets don't buy titles. Ask City. That's the beauty of football. Jim Gannon worked wonders at County with nowt. Why can't he do the same here? League One is not rocket science, despite our outgoing manager making it look that way. Let's be honest. Penney was abysmal. He didn't fail because of the fans. Absolute tosh. He failed because of his own pathetic performance. What precious little he had he squandered. This is a pivotal point for Latics now. The right choice needs to be made.

If anyone is interested I shall be tweeting live from the Queen Elizabeth Hall tomorrow night for work. I'm at: http://twitter.com/mikekeeganmen I get all the top gigs...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...een/8660739.stm

To be fair, although I'd never condone violence at football, if you're a Palace fan and you invade the pitch at Hillsborough on Sunday you've got to expect a pasting.

Looks like he might have been a little premature..

I look forward to another hilarious European campaign.

Leeds looked poor last night for long spells but they also looked good in parts too. They've had a terrible time with injuries and will be there or thereabouts come October. The speedy James Graham said as much in his post-match interview. Saints looked good and with WIgan falling down to earth it's anyone's call this year. On a separate note the Roughyeds (who crushed Gateshead 64-10 on Saturday night) are looking for volunteers to help spruce up the Whitebank: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/new...ift_at_new_home

He looked like he had a 50p for a foot (and a chest) yesterday. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade and I'm sure he'll get better, but that was a shocking 45 minutes and part of the reason we were so poor in the second half. That said, I wouldn't mind seeing that towering centre half he was up against in an Oldham shirt next season. Highlight of the game for me (other than the goals) was when a group of around six Latics fans in the main stand paddock who had been abusing their whiny striker all game give him a standing ovation when he was substituted. That and the youthful abuse from the Chaddy End that seemed to unsettle Mildenhall.

I don't know if this has been posted before but I wonder if they have considered putting a little red rose on it? I know teams like Bristol City and Middlesborough have had St George's crosses on their kits in the past (never really understood why) but I'd be happy to see a little red rose on the sleeve or on the back near the neck.

If Penney remains in charge how many season tickets do people think we will sell?

'an unwelcome tug'.

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-fea...s-full#comments

Poetry. Pure poetry especially the 'that night' bit.

I think maybe the manager having a pop at his own fans was the final straw.