Gary1906

18 minutes ago, singe said:

All if, buts and maybes.

You pay over the odds if you do it early, from a weak negotiating position. Players wait,  so often the better players are later. Our last minute signings have been due to  lack of funds ando so earlier targets would be out of the question anyway.

it remains to be seen if we get the funds this window.
 

Pay over the odds? I doubt we’ll be paying anything anyway. More likely to be loan signings I would think. Bury have already got Peter Clarke and James Hanson snapped up, still leaving scope and time for more. Good business in my opinion.

7 hours ago, maddog said:

 

It’s the 3rd of January. 

7 hours ago, maddog said:

 

It’s the 3rd of January. 

And??? ......... on the 30th January, if we haven’t signed a striker, they will ‘unveil’ someone with a goalscoring record of 10 goals in 100 appearances for 12 different clubs and expect him to get us out of the mire. I’ve seen it before. Surely you have too.  All I’m saying is that they should do their business early and so not be left with players that nobody else wants. Makes sense to me.

44 minutes ago, mikeroyboy said:

 

The club appear to be clearing the decks for something. It may be an act of capitulation, but I doubt It.

 

28 days left.

In another 27 days we’ll probably still be saying that we need another striker, and we’ll end up with Michael Ngoo or someone of a similar class.

Get your act together Latics instead of being left with the dregs. ?

12 minutes ago, Buckshawlatic said:

Can’t help but think we will regret this move. Wish Clarke nothing but the best, can’t see him staying past the summer once the loan is up. Great professional, top guy, best captain since Gregan and will always be remembered for Chesterfield away! 

Agreed! You don’t loan your club captain to a rival club when there’s a probable relegation fight on the cards, you just don’t.

Plus as per normal loan agreements we’ll probably be paying part of his wages as well. How mad is that!!! ?

Just now, yarddog73 said:

Letting Clarke go makes zero sense to me, relegation rivals despite what some may think. 

Agreed. Can’t understand it at all. Bury have signed James Hanson as well. We need to get our act together quickly. 

3 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

Gerrard and Wilson are the experience.

Wilson is a utility player, not a proper centre half in my opinion.

Just now, Flemboy said:

I wish Clarke all the best for the rest of his career.He was outstanding and I for  one  will never forget that last minute goal at Chesterfield.He Iwas a great captain and  has my respect.Just hope he misses the game against us!!

Couldn’t agree more. Signed a two and half year deal last season. Archetypal club captain. He’s great cover to have on the bench and he should be nailed on for a future coaching position at Latics. Can’t see the sense in helping out a possible relegation rival club.

3 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

The whole defence has struggled Gazza.

 

I think the lad has talent.

He probably has got talent but we shouldn’t be turning to a youngster who really struggled earlier in the season. I think we need experience for what is looking like a relegation battle again.

Also we desperately need a goalscorer as well.

30 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

Believe it is.

 

I can see him having a big part to play in the second half of the season.

 

 

Edmundson? Yeah coz he was really impressing before he went out on loan to two non-League clubs!! Dearie me!!!

i hope we are going to recruit better than that. We need experience, not someone who was struggling at this level before he was sent out on loan!

17 minutes ago, yarddog73 said:

Unless there are plans to bring in a couple of more mobile strikers to suit the way RW wants to play?

What exactly is the way? We were playing great football with Doyle & Davies up front, and scoring loads of goals. We lose one of them through unfortunate circumstances, so we let the other one go for a small fee? Who the hell would we bring in with our finances??

Portsmouth offered a ‘small fee’ for Craig Davies. If Latics accept a small fee they are short-sighted in the extreme!!

27 minutes ago, Lee Sinnott said:

A lot of people being very sentimental here. Yes, he was excellent last season. But this season, he has looked like he has never played football before in his life. He should have retired immediately after the Carlisle game at the start of November...

What a ridiculous thing to say!

2 minutes ago, whittles left foot said:

So we keep him to the end of the season and then release him-he may not play much for us and he does seem to be someone `who wants to play'. Still can't see how you think we are treating him a bit shabby?

You don’t need to see, it’s all about opinions. Bury’s gain will be our loss. He should be kept as cover. He played every minute of every game last season. He’s not past it, and I reckon he’s quicker than the younger Gerrard, and he certainly doesn’t get turned as easily.

Wellens should free up some of the wage bill by letting the likes of Flynn and Green go. They add little or nothing to the squad.

On 29/12/2017 at 1:41 PM, BP1960 said:

According to reports on twitter Latics are linked with free agent forward Alex Nimely.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Nimely

 

 

For crying out loud. 15 goals in 80 games, and he’s supposed to be a striker??

Whats Michael Ngoo up to these days?

Just now, whittles left foot said:

How is it sad? He is leaving to go to a club he knows and he knows they want him. A good move for both I would say especially at 36 yrs old.

Say what you want. I think it’s a sad way to treat a club captain who along with Ripley last season was partly responsible for a record number of clean sheets in a team that largely struggled all season. I hope it is a good move for him. He’s been great for us!

2 minutes ago, jorvik_latic said:

I’d have mixed feelings if Clarke went. He was immense last season, pops up with goals and is great to have around the other players apparently. On the other hand, I reckon he’s on a decent wage so is a waste to be on the bench and last season took it out of him a bit. If we can get cash for him too, that may be a bonus. 

I agree with all of that, but Gerrard will be on decent money as well. I know he’s younger but I just prefer Clarke. Only my opinion but it’s Wellens’ opinion that counts and it looks like he’s being shown the door. It’s a sad way to go though for someone who was so immense for us last season. 

2 minutes ago, robboman said:

He’s probably on too much of a decent wedge to be sat on the bench

I don’t actually think he should be sat on the bench personally.

Unfortunately I think Clarke is on his way. Wellens clearly doesn’t fancy him. It’s true that he’s not been at his best like last season when he was outstanding, but personally I’d keep him. He’s the club captain, he leads by example, and worth retaining as centre half cover if nothing else. 

Andy Mangan would be underwhelming looking at his goalscoring record. A typical Latics signing of the past few seasons.

IMO the Gillingham game showed how important Dan Gardner is for us. When Byrne and Gardner were on the pitch we had two players in midfield who wanted the ball and who could be creative with it.

Once Gardner was subbed on Saturday we was left with only Byrne who actually wanted the ball in the middle.

Green is nowhere near as creative as Gardner or Byrne and to be honest I thought he looked slow on Saturday in comparison and gave the ball away too often in the relatively short time he was on the pitch. 

Fane breaks up play well, and is good at what he does but I think he’s the most awkward looking player with the ball at his feet that I’ve ever seen! He is getting better though, and definitely worth his place in the team.

Jack Byrne catches the eye - and rightly so most of the time - but don’t underestimate Dan Gardner’s contributions. He’s got pace, excellent control and distribution, and he can put a tackle in.

Wellens for me. Although if it’s someone else it should be a proviso that Wellens is guaranteed the No2 role, assuming he would be happy with that. 

I think he’s done enough to be given the job though. He comes across really well, and sounds like he’s really switched on.

18 minutes ago, Johnboy3981 said:

Don't know if it's be mentioned on this thread, but what formation did we play? Did we still play 3 at back - i.e. Dummigan replacing Wilson or did we revert to back 4 with Hunt and Dummigan as full backs. Wasn't at the game so just curious. 

Pretty much 4-4-2 I’d say. Dummigan RB, Hunt LB, Clarke and Bryan CB’s.

Byrne and Fane in the middle with Gardner and Nepomuceno out wide. Davies and Doyle up top.

They interchanged a little but basically that’s how I saw the formation. They look a lot more solid now that’s for sure!

Latics were just fantastic yesterday. They played like the home team. The Sky Sports App stats at half time showed us having had 16 shots to Pompey’s 4.

Doyle’s finish for his second goal was sublime, really hope we can look at getting him permanently in January if we have the money from the investment.

Every player was excellent though. 

It was the best performance I’ve seen from a Latics team in years! And to say we were the away team makes it even better. Let’s hope we can keep up this momentum.

I think the fault lies fairly and squarely with the defence. Perhaps bring Fane back into midfield to provide a bit more tackling, other than that I like Gardner, Byrne and Bryan, don't know who I'd leave out.

Playing 3 at the back only works if the wing backs can be decent full backs as well, but too many times Edmundson and Gerrard are being exposed on the flanks. Time to try to get some stability and play a back four in my opinion. Brian Wilson must come into the reckoning, and maybe Rob Hunt. Leave Gerrard out for a while and possibly Edmundson too. 

Felt sorry for Shez in his post match interview, he needs to be tougher with those that aren't pulling their weight. Looks like he realises that now, but it may be too late for him.

COYB!!

There must be a reason why Shez didn't do the pre match interview or the post match one. 

IMO some of these players have been forced on him through the new investment. He said that he needed 5 or 6 new players and that's what he's got, but every manager wants to bring his own choices in not someone else's.

Also, why did he dash down the tunnel at the end of the game without shaking hands with the opposing manager and bench?

i think his days are numbered to be honest. 

If we are to have a new majority shareholder then they usually want to appoint their own manager, unless the team is already near the top of the league.

We are bottom so it would be a decision that could be justified by any new owner.

Personally I hope he stays and the new investment enables us to keep the successful loanees come January, but it looks like all is not well behind the scenes.

What does anyone else think??