Wardie

1 minute ago, True Tic said:

True, but it’s a priority for me. Bottom of the league, barely won a game and they looked good and Imposed on us all the way through . That’s surely about mindsets. 

And it's surely about the quirks of football as well.

4 hours ago, League one forever said:

If he wanted players on his level, he should have stayed at Barnsley. . 
 

But wait- we offered more money. 
 

So if he’s happy to take the money, he should be happy to adapt to the level, and lead by example. Not throw his arms up - with a ‘why is everyone around me so shit’ 

Do we actually know Latics offered more money? As a striker of his age maybe he thought a drop down would benefit his game to goals ratio and be less punishing on his body. A good way to play out a career.

*sorry - double post, somehow!

19 hours ago, pcassist said:

As most of you know I don't post much, but I'm an avid reader on OWTB. I've only managed a couple of home games this year (as I now live 130x miles away from Boudary Park in Worcester). However, I have managed to watch all the available games on the National League for the UK watchers My point is what does Norwood bring to the team? He appears to run around the pitch like a headless chicken, never beats defenders and never ever wins a header. OK, he might score a few goals, but nothing like I was expecting. Maybe his teammates hear what he's supposed to be being paid and don't like it. Just my thoughts and I'm not looking for an argument, but big Mikey has more get up and go in him than JN could only hope to have. Lofty (ex PC Assist)

I have avoided reading the thread as I think the opinions of others can sway my own. My take on Norwood is that we have been given an option up front which many other teams would bite our hand off for. We also have at least two other strikers who I feel would walk into any team in this league. With age and experience comes expectation from both the player and the fans. He obviously wants to score as many goals as he can and for that, he needs to be greedy, needs the service and a good, consistent strike partner. As I see it, he isn't getting either on a regular basis.

You may have seen his tweet when Mellon joined, a manager who he worked with previously and whose style of play Norwood probably feels will benefit him. We have to give that time because it isn't going to happen overnight and Norwood has to re-establish his relationship and understanding with the manager. It's Mellon's job to get the players to provide the service he and his strike partner will need.

To me, Norwood is a big, big fish for this league and Latics have to utilise his skills and experience otherwise we have a very expensive [I assume] 'white elephant' in the room. Fondop is a brute of a striker, however, he is a liability when starting games and I would much rather he came on from the bench to attack tiring defences.

I'd rather Norwood be with Latics than one of our rivals in this league.

2 hours ago, oafc1955 said:

It really was a completely wasted year under Unsworth wasn’t it?

Plus the rest.
Let's face it, this season's opportunity is gone.

9 hours ago, True Tic said:

Just had a look at the table - to think we were joint favourites for promotion at the start of the season…

It's out the window mate.
We have to get over it.

11 hours ago, Charles or Eddie said:

Where did I write that?

My apologies, I read it wrong.
You were referring to the team and the performance.
I typed before the sensibility reached my brain.  

2 minutes ago, Sloshed Joe said:

5 ‘decent’ strikers for this level and we play the oldest one for 90 mins in a team that suffered a red card, and no sign of the other 4 getting a sniff against bottom of the league. Bit confused about that one MM.

Oldest maybe, deadliest yes.
He needed service, not to go chasing the ball.

2 minutes ago, GKing521 said:

A serious amount of work to do. Anything similar ever again and I expect his P45 to be swiftly handed to him.

That can't, and mustn't, happen ever again.

What, and we go through the management-merry-go-round yet again?
Are you fucking nuts?

You'd think it was life and death the way you react.

It's football.
Grow up.

2 minutes ago, Ritchierich said:

nope, I’ve made other arrangements. This is not one night, this is the reality of this squad, they are spineless and not a chance I am going to waste any more money on them. 
 

As for “Football” that requires a bit of passion and effort. Almost none of our players understand that. 

I still ask the question, did you think that last Saturday at Rochdale?

2 minutes ago, BP1960 said:

No excuse, he just didn't compete and just shrugged when beaten to the ball.

Sorry BP, I have to disagree.
The expectation of the striker is to be fed the ball.
Isolation will result in frustration.

2 minutes ago, Charles or Eddie said:

Well Mellon inspired nothing tonight. Rubbish , absolute guff

Jesus fucking Christ!
Two games in and you are binning him off?
The malaise of the modern football fan.

Just now, BP1960 said:

 

Norwood going through the motions with a poor looking attitude.

Big signing or not that's not acceptable.

 

Isolated up front is probably not his style or expectation.

2 minutes ago, Gaz_Oafc said:

We turned up thinking we'd steamroller them. The opposite happened, they hit us straight away and we couldn't handle it.

 

One upfront Norwood didn't win a ball all night and just fucking moaned at everyone else. We desperately needed someone to hold it up.

 

3 in the middle but everything for them went wide for them and their wingers had the freedom of the park.

 

Awful 'performance' 

Yep, the 'wingers' Mellon harped on about in his interview.
He knows what he needs to do, let's hope the board backs his requests.

Just now, Ritchierich said:

This entire squad needs to fuck off, they simply do not care about this club or their profession. 
 

No desire, no application, no passion and no improvement. It is a disgrace that they get paid a decent wage and play football for a living when most of us have to work far harder doing something we don’t love.

 

I’ve finally been defeated by them and not going to bother going for a while, it’s sad but there is simply no point anymore.

The feelings of a disappointing night.
I bet you weren't feeling that way last Saturday?

Of course there is a point, it's called football.
See you Saturday.

1 minute ago, latics22 said:

Could be the end of Hogan, similar to Clarke last season if raglan comes in and performs.

So be it.

2 minutes ago, diggleblue said:

Sutton???

So, Freeman at left back?

Where the fuck is he??

2 minutes ago, BP1960 said:

Well that's Sheltons last game surely.

Poor management keeping him on when it's obvious to anyone he's not the answer.

I hope Mellon tells it as we saw it.

Cheque book out Frank for several players with some dynamism or this lot will be down at the bottom again soon.

Maybe Mellon gave Shelton the opportunity and he has failed, so should be his last game. New players are needed, we all know that and hopefully Mellon has his targets. I honestly cannot see Latics near the bottom again this season. Mid table, yes.

Just now, GKing521 said:

If being pasted by the league's supposedly worst team doesn't warrant being worried then I'm lost.

Their not the worst though, are they?
And pasted by ourselves is probably more apt.

Just now, TwistingMyMellon said:

No and it is a chance to see someone else at centre half..

And who will that be?

3-0 in extra time.
Not what we expected but at least Mellon now knows what he has.

6 minutes ago, GKing521 said:

Very worrying evening for the football club.

We are absolutely miles off being able to mount any sort of promotion push. Just how many years are we going to be down here?

"Very worrying evening for the football club."

What??

GK, you only seem surface when we are losing. Your post is a rash over exaggeration and you know it  but you appear to revel in the bad results, which is exactly what this is. It's football. you win, you lose, you draw.  Get over it.

We are the mighty Oldham.
Yeah, right.

Just now, Only Blue said:

By just focusing on him you are letting all the other players who are playing badly off the hook

Fact is, OB, Shelton has been consistently shite.

Just now, Worcester Owl said:

That’s one of the most outrageous decisions for a second yellow I’ve ever seen.

It's all perception and easy for us to pass opinion on a slow motion replay. I imagine real time was more ambiguous but the club should rightly appeal the decision.

1 minute ago, wiseowl said:

Sorry. Didn't see this coming tonight. 8 unbeaten and playing like schoolboys. Dreadful.

It's a blip, Mellon, with his experience, will sort this out.
I think Southend will overtake us and make the playoffs. Kudos to them.