Gannonpassmaster

I've not been on this board for months but came on after reading a facebook post by JohnnyPunkster. I don't read the Chron anymore and didn't realise how dire the situation was until I read Hardy's quotes. The first game I attended was Leeds United in the play offs all those years ago. I was 7 years old and loved it. From there I followed us for 3 bad years of getting stuffed at home by Chelsea and Bradford until out of nowhere, the miracle happened. The following 4 years were fantastic and are still what I remember when I think of Latics. After relegation, I carried on going to every home game and many away for years. As the football got worse, I didn't really mind as the atmosphere was good and we used to have a really good laugh. I still can't believe I got to see a player of the quality of John Sheridan play for Latics. Football has changed though. In fact in changed 6 or 7 years ago. I remember being disgusted when talking to a friend (a well known local character) who told me he tried speaking to a Latics player (I wont name him, suffice to say he has an attractive wife) and he would only answer questions through a friend stood next to him. This is a 3RD DIVISION PLAYER! Just a little incident but it was the start of the end for me. As the admission prices went up, the standard of football dropped dramatically. The stadium was exactly the same as our first game after relegation v Charlton in 1995. The players were earning over £1500 a week (fact) for serving up this dross and none of these players cared which team they played for. So after 13 years I stopped going. I didn't miss it. I still don't. Unless I've had a bet or see friends on a Saturday night I don't look for the results. I just lost all interest. My reason for this is simple. What is the point in paying £20 or more to watch a team who can only ever, at the absolute best, become a good League 1 team. Watching the same mercenary players working their way round all the clubs and getting overpaid for it. Moving to a new stadium would make it even worse, watching the same dross in a big empty stadium. Sadly, I know people like me are to blame if Latics go to the wall. Even sadder? I just don't care. I don't watch the Premier League either before I get any of those comments, my thoughts on Latics apply to football as a whole. I hope it keeps ging for you genuine fans but sorry, I wont be coming back.

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Such contradictions and blind faith. 50% SAY - Dickov will use contacts to bring in promising loan players. 50% SAY - We have too many loan players in the squad. 50% SAY - We want passing football, Penney/Moore/Talbot's style of play is terrible. 50% SAY - Taggart is a good appointment. 50% SAY - TTA need to either spend some money or sell. 50% SAY - Dickov's a good appointment, not the cheap option. 50% SAY - Could be the boost we need for a really good season 50% SAY - I'll be happy with top 20

Paul Dickov & Gerry Taggart.......I wish them all the best and I hope you guys who still pay to go have a great season but if we're being honest, thats laughable.

Paul Dickov was always a horrible, nasty, arrogant little sod who never stopped complaining. Remind you of any current managers? Fergie - nasty, Mourinho - arrogant, Wenger - complainer. Could be a masterstroke.

I'd have thought they would all find Championship clubs. Lookers Carl; did you get my message?

I don't go anymore so I wont comment on the performances but results speak for themselves. The stadium is half demolished and decaying. The crowds are tiny. Poor quality players with no loyalty make up the team and there is no money or ambition to change this. The supposed new stadium is never gonna be built and even if it were, would latics survive the 2/2.5 years it would take to build? I sadly fear that we are in the last 12 months of Latics continuing as a fully professional league team and whats even sadder? This once fanatical fan isn't really bothered.

Personally, I live in Chadderton and deny any relation to Oldham when asked. I always say Greater Manchester. I am not proud of my hometown. Its a run down, dying mill town which has no pride in its sports teams and is letting itself go to ruin.

Your obviously not a long time fan. My name refers to John Gannon. Your idea is ridiculous as it requires somebody to actually be buying tickets for that to happen.

Could be. Doesn't look like a leak repair though, looks like the set of Grand Designs.

Drove past this morning and it looks like the main entrance is being rebuilt. Bit pointless in the grand schme of things.

Soccer AM hasnt been funny for 3 years. When that bloke with the big nose left, that was the end of that.

Simple. Play 2 games in one day. I know the straight laced Latics obssessed will dismiss this as a stupid wind up but please read my benefits list. Obviously, this is assuming we are clear of relegation. £15 for 2 matches would get a big crowd. It would provide excitement to an otherwise dull and pointless end of season. It would obviously mean the youngsters get more of a run out. The players would carry momentum from a good performance into the second game. A player on a hot streak gets 2 games instead of one. A player out of form doesnt play 2 consecutive matches in a week, he is replaced for the second game. Now, I know your gonna say "but the players will be tired blah blah blah". This neednt be a problem. In the first game, play half the first team and half the kids. In the second game, play the other half of the first team and the kids. The players can play in both matches as substitutes. There isn't a single downside to this. I stated that the games would take place once we are safe from relegation so it won't have a negative effect in that way. It would create a lot of attention and maybe gain new fans. Tthe inevitable criticism will follow but there isnt a single bad point to this idea.

Something we're all missing here is that a season ticket to watch one of the 30 worst professional teams in the country (about 40 for the nitpickers who will include conference teams) costs £340. An ridiculous amount.

According to that guy who was just on Talksport, they expect a 30% increase in sales. LOFL So he thinks he would find 1000 people in Oldham who dont already go watching Latics who would accept what is in effect an even money bet on England to win the world cup? Take the £340 and you can get 6-1 at the bookies.