lookersstandandy

It's my lifetime.

......or 1 in 45!

....Latics' promotions are once in a life time events!

We have played this lot a few times in recent years. Our overall record against them is; P 55 W 22 D 14 L 19 It might be somewhat surprising to learn however, this coming season will be the first time we've both met in the 4th tier. Here are two Prediction examples from when we both met in the 1st tier; 18th August 1993, County Ground Swindon Town 0 Latics 1 [HT 0-0] First Latics Scorer: Paul Bernard Attendance: 11,940 7th December 1993, Boundary Park Latics 2 Swindon Town 1 [HT 1-0] First Latics Scorer: Rick Holden Attendance: 9,771 Interested in taking part? All you've got to do is; Pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the following Participants thread; Then, please keep revisiting this thread over the coming weeks, where I will explain more about; How it works/What's new, Who the beneficiaries are, Tactics & Mind games.

Well I can’t argue with that. However, I can barely muster a fk to watch England most of the time, yet my little division 4 football club still gives me butterflies when I go to a game. England are like the posh girl at work that everyone fancies, but Latics are my wife that I love no matter what.

Multi million pound prima donnas - and only every couple of years, assuming the withering mard arses have qualified - plying their trade for the greedy premier league that gives no fks about us & has all but ended any hope we have of being able to compete above the bottom two tiers, or our own players, turning out for my beloved shirt, badge and club, every week, every season? Latics. Always. And forever.

Yep, like deyeres says above, Abdallah's absence from the statement is telling..... While he undoubtedly lost his way during the run in.... I was initially really impressed with the freshness of Wellens' early interviews..... while not the most sesquipedalian of orators, I found his communication skills clear, concise and thought provoking. Similar to Lee Johnson in many ways. I also appreciate some people's view that he was a little too quick to offer an opinion.... and some suspect he may have been leaking information to the Press. However, my initial gut reaction to being impressed with him, still leaves me concerned that the main problem(s) he encountered were not of his own doing.... and may still be an influence this coming season. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but Lemsagam worries me to death. I'd still like to hear about his motivations and his Plans.

There's a veiled dig in here if you wish to pay it attention; "It was the right time for us to part ways and for me to move on to the next step of my managerial career. I have learned a great deal from the experience and hope to find a role with a club that matches my ambition and believes in a long-term project; to develop players, a club identity and a playing philosophy."

The final, we haven't played them in a while [well, in league game at least] opponents, is Lincoln City. The bulk of our contests have taken place in the bottom 2 divisions, where we have an imperious record again them; P 38 W 23 D 5 L 10 The last time we played them in the League however, was before the turn of century, the correct Prediction that day would've been; 6th February 1999, Boundary Park Latics 2 Lincoln City 0 [HT 0-0] First Latics Scorer: Stuart Thom Attendance: 5,220 In looking for footage of the featured games this week, I found this from another of our League 2 opponent this coming season, from the week following our last league meeting with Lincoln, correct Prediction being; 13th February 1999, Moss Rose Macclesfield 1 Latics 0 [HT 0-0] First Latics Scorer: N/A Attendance: 4,038 We've only ever played Macc twice - in 1998/99 - and lost both games. Interested in taking part? All you've got to do is; Pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the following Participants thread; Then, please keep revisiting this thread over the coming weeks, where I will explain more about; How it works/What's new, Who the beneficiaries are, Tactics & Mind games.

Another team we faced with regularity in the 2nd tier at the end the 70s & early 80s was Cambridge United. Our record against them is better; P 26 W 9 D 11 L 6 During our halcyon years, Cambridge themselves enjoyed a renaissance again reaching the 2nd tier with the likes of Dion Dublin, Steve Claridge & John Taylor playing for John Beck & Gary Johnson. They reached the FA Cup Q/F in 1989/90 in the other half of the draw to us, succumbing to Palace. They also beat us in the League Cup in 92/93. Anyway, I digress.... ....the last time we played them was in League One in 2001/02. The correct Prediction that day would’ve been; 30th March 2002, Boundary Park Latics 2 Cambridge United 2 [HT 1-1] First Latics Scorer: Dean Holden Attendance: 4,957 Interested in taking part? All you've got to do is; Pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the following Participants thread; Then, please keep revisiting this thread over the coming weeks, where I will explain more about; How it works/What's new, Who the beneficiaries are, Tactics & Mind games.

This week, I thought we'd have a look at some of our opponents in League Two, whom we haven't faced for some time. When I were a lad, we used to face Grimbsy in what is now the Championship with reasonable regularity, and our record against them is in deficit; P 69 W 27 D 12 L 30 However since the turn of the century we have faced them in only 1 league campaign, 2003-04. One of those games however was rather memorable for a number of reasons; 8th February 2004, Boundary Park Correct Prediction: Latics 6 Grimbsy Town 0 [HT 5-0] First Latics Scorer: Scott Vernon Attendance: 13,007 'Celebration Sunday' was the beginning of a new dawn. Administration and Chris Moore behind us, The Three Amigo's allowed everyone in for Free and there was a real feeling of optimism. Let's hope Mr. Lemsagam can bring that feeling back this coming season. If you fancy yourself as a decent Predictor of Latics' fortunes and fancy trying to win some prize money, Prediction League is for you. All you've got to do for now is; Pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the following Participants thread; Then, please keep revisiting this thread over the coming weeks, where I will explain more about; How it works/What's new, Who the beneficiaries are, Tactics & Mind games.

You had to open your gob didn’t you....

Everton. 1995 FA Cup, last Cup or Promotion. Won with our fkin manager the year after our world imploded at the same ground against the same opposition. It’s as if the football gods really have it in for us.

You’d think that was sorted now seeing as they’ve accepted an invitation for a pre-season friendly?

Good man. An OWTB stalwart such as yourself would be a very welcome addition. All you have to do for now is pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the following Participants thread; Then, keep popping into this thread over the coming weeks while I explain how it works, the tactics, what's new et al...... and you'll be good to go come 4th August.

With us beginning life in division lower than we've become accustomed for the first time in a generation, some would be forgiven for hoping we might be challenging at the right end of it next May, We now hold the unenviable record - after Coventry's promotion via the Play Offs last season - of being ranked #1 of 92 league clubs, for the length of time passed since our last promotion/cup win. On the opening day of that season 25th August 1990, the correct Prediction would've been; Wolves 2 Latics 3 [HT 1-1] First Latics Scorer: Ian Marshall Attendance: 20,864

From this.... ....to this.... For me, this is a thing of beauty. Some of the best days of my life were spent in here;

@Bobledgersheart @Smiler13 @TheBigDog ....and you 3, who I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of being acquainted. Please keep reading this thread over the coming weeks and I promise I’ll convince you.

Right you two.... as respected OWTB contributors & lovely people to boot.... OWTB Prediction League and it’s many benefactors require your contribution. Please join up.

....better than Ron Futcher?

So, MK Mongs (H) it is on 4th Aug. We've played them - post the theft of Wimbledon - 11 times at home in the League and boast a record of 6 wins and 5 losses. Biggest win was in our first meeting on 28th Aug 2004. The correct Prediction that day would've been; Latics 3 MK Mongs 0 [HT 2-0] First Latics Scorer: Jermaine Johnson Attendance: 5,066 What do you Predict will be the outcome on 4th August? Visit the OWTB Prediction League Forum where you will find a description of the rules; http://www.owtb.co.uk/forum/78-owtb-prediction-league/ All you have to do is pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the following Participants thread; ....afterwhich, a thread will appear for you to place your Prediction, no later than 10 minutes before KO on Saturday 4th August. Please keep revisiting this thread over the coming weeks, where I will explain more about; How it works/What's new, Who benefits, Why you should consider joining in.

....are you paying attention @JoeP? #1819OWTBPL

Good afternoon Ladies & Gents, The 2018/19 Football League fixtures are out tomorrow at 9am, where will find out who our opponents are to be on the opening game of the season, which Kick's Off at 3pm Saturday 4th August in a little over 6 weeks time. For those of you who've; Participated before but, for whatever reason, elected not to continue, Have watched from afar and are curious about what OWTB Prediction League is, Are new/infrequent visitors to OWTB and haven't paid it much attention before, ....please revisit this thread in the run up to August 4th, where I will explain; How it works/What's new, Who benefits, Why you should consider joining in, Out of interest, our last game in the 4th tier of the Football League was at Boundary Park on 1st May 1971. The correct Prediction that day would've been; Latics 1 Stockport County 1 [HT 0-0] First Latics Scorer: Jim Fryatt Attendance: 11,988 Programme Cover & Teamsheet from that day, plus 70/71 Team Photo in front of the Chaddy End;

I think Udders were influenced to ditch the running cost of their Academy by the likes of Aaron Mooy. The view being, all the glamour clubs collect and hoard the best youth talent and then ditch the ones they deem surplus for like the of Udders to pick up, which they believe will be better than the youth Udders could develop on their own. It seems a bold policy for sure.... but I guess when you have Premier League money to sign players you can afford the gamble.

....which was it’s original intended purpose. The whole reason why there is a 2nd story on a single tier stand is so the space has a panoramic view of the stadium. The fact it goes unused, shows the contempt the owners of it, have for us.