perfectOzblue

Simon Webster from (I think) West Ham was class when we had him a few years ago. Grobbelaar was great, just for the novelty value and as a reminder that players like that used to come to BP regularly in the Division One/Prem days. Actually, was he a loan or a non-contract signing? Worst - Adebola, Kabba, Ormerod, Hines, Ferreira (what that his name - lad from Chelsea last season?).

Now we're getting somewhere! Worst X1 of the decade (4-3-3): Chris Day Michael Clegg Mark Arber Guy Branston ? (crap left-back anyone?) Ricky Butcher David Lee Rob Scott (I'm sure he 'played' midfield occasionally) Matt O'Halloran Dean Crowe Maheta Molango

Okay, there's been too much nice nostalgia on this site recently, remembering when we actually had players who a) could play a bit and gave a shee-ite about the blue shirt. So let's get back to normality and bring on the casual abuse and general disgruntlement again. Who is Latics' WORST player of the decade? Base it on sustained rubbishness (ie at least five games), rather than occasional sub appearances from players who just weren't up to it (ie Matty Barlow). Some starters for ten: Mark Hotte Ricky Butcher Terrell Forbes Jermaine Johnson Any of the present squad apart from loan signings, Chris Taylor and Sean Gregan Delroy Facey David Lee Any more for any more?

youtube.com/watch?v=aJC7PJdaWG0&feature=related Found this while reminding myself of the genius of Partridge. Flamin' eck, Parker scored some crackers for Blackpool that season they went up. Is this really the same player we unfortunately have on our books now? Where has the talent gone?

4.15am kick off here in deepest New South Wales. Gah! When it comes to Latics, I laugh in the face of sleep deprivation.....

....actually really happy with how we are progressing this season? Okay, maybe I am just hyper-enthusiastic because I don't actually (as my user name implies) have to actually watch Latics these days (in the flesh). And I guess none of us are kidding each other that we are world-beaters by any means. BUT....let's have a bit of positivity here people! And a bit of praise for David Penney. I expected us to face a real struggle this year. Okay, that might still happen, but if you'd given me ninth now back in July, I would have taken it smart-ish. I think Penney deserves a lot of credit for what he's done. I can't remember when an Oldham team was so dogged and hard to beat. Every opposition manager seems to says that we are 'organised' and 'difficult to break down'. Compare this to how we were under Sheridan's latter days. Penney seems to have executed rule one perfectly...make your team hard to beat. Now let's see what he can do when we get our influential players like Taylor, Smalley and (maybe) Purdie fit. Like I said, I'm not saying we are Brazil yet, but I just think he's done a really good job so far.

Hiya, After spending last night out here Down Under taunting a bunch of Aussie blokes about their team's failure to crush mighty Oman (boy, it was uninspiring), I've got the urge to wear a Latics shirt around the place. Does anyone know if the online club shop delivers to Australia? Or would I be better off getting the folks to buy me a top and post it out here? Any help appreciated, Thanks muchski.

Scunthorpe, Blackpool, Barnsley, Colchester, Southend...all these clubs have shown recently that team spirit, good management and UNITY can get you pretty far, even if you don't have a dodgy megabucks owner. Okay, Colchester and Southend didn't last too long in the Championship, but I bet one or both will have a crack again in the next five seasons. We can be their equals and must try to emulate them. As for the Chris Moore season, I can't remember it being that great, to be honest. Even before mid-season, I'm sure there were rumblings that he wasn't in it for the long haul. Plus we had so many injuries (all to key players) which just ruined our chances. If we had been able to field our best team for most of that season (with Hall, Hill, Armstrong, Murray, Pogs, Wijnhard and Andrews/Killen all fit at the same time) we would have gone up, no question. Plus we blew so many points at home to rubbish teams. Yeah, it was great to see us actually challenging, but it was more frustrating rather than great for me. And the feeling on the tube after the QPR match......what a freakin' downer.

Yard Dog - that was my first match too! It was Pompey. Think it was February / March. I can vaguely remember standing about three-quarters of the way up in the Chaddy End with my Dad (the days before I graduated to hanging on the fence behind the goal). I can still remember being fascinated by the plastic pitch, the inflatable dogs still being waved...and the goals!!! I think a combination of Ritchie, Palmer and Wright put us 5 up, but then Pompey came back (I think) through a combination of Mickey Quinn and Warren Aspinall. Ah, that's put me in reet good mood now....

I have just read Gazza's autobiography (the one he did with Hunter Davies). I think it's been out for a couple of years but if you haven 't read it, I totally recommend. In turns hilarious (you wonder how the frig we got to the semis of Italia '90 - he makes the tournament sound like an 18-30 holiday) and and totally sobering. A total antidote to the throwaways by the likes of Lampard, Cashley Cole etc. Anyway, towards the end of the book he mentions how, just after he left Boston United in 2004, he was contacted by new owners of an unnamed club, who asked him if he wanted to take over as possible manager. He says he was keen but it eventually fell through when the owners realised the club's debts were six million, not two as they first thought. It got me thinking - was this Latics? I think this was around the the time TTA emerged on the scene. Wasn't there a rumour doing the rounds at some stage that Gazza was being linked with us, or am I being daft as a brush myself?

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you. Well done boys. Let's hope the season starts now. Clean sheet for Brill as well! Nice one son.

You're right Rosa. Supporting this shower of crud is taking it out of me though! Need something more than vitamins after this defeat. I've written off the 'we're all doomed' postings on here over the last couple of weeks as the rantings of loonies. But now I think we really are up poo creek. Really does remind me of previous relegation (or near relegation) seasons.

No shee-ite Sherlock! Probably because TTA let Sheridan blow our budget on total wastes of space. Now we pay with players who aren't good enough for this crappy league.

I totally agree TTA need some serious questions asking. Not just about the stadium row, but about a lot of their other decisions over the last few years (on-pitch matters - for my money that have got it a lot more wrong than right). But LaticsPete is right - without them we wouldn't have a club.

I know mate. I'm definitely not calling for Penney's head (yet). But come on - sticking together or not, it's not looking good is it .. (ALREADY COLLECTING AWARD FOR MOST STATING THE BLEEDIN' OBVIOUS POST EVER).How many mistakes is Reuben Hazell going to be allowed to get away with?

1. It's 2.10am here in Australia. Yet f@@@#$g again I have stayed up half the night (and thereby ruining another Sunday) follwoing the football scores and seeing Latics lose. 2. Bristol Rovers are without doubt the new Tranmere. Another last-minute winner. Bastards. 3. This is seriously reminding me of the 96/97 season under Sharpe. Strikers unable to put the ball in the back of the net, a woefully underconfident team with players simply not up to it, a manager who means well but who is already looking like he is swimming against the tide and fans getting increasingly disaffected. Under 4,000 at BP next week, you reckon? I'm pissed off.

And bankrupt ourselves? We offered the guy a contract we could afford. He knew he could get a better deal elsewhere. That's football. That's life supporting a :censored:e club without two pennies to rub together.