mattsgrandad

And we are fortunate this season with so many Northern clubs in the division, if we go down the 2nd division won't draw many away supporters.

.....and potentially lose out on the Bolton game

I'm more cynical than most but I do think it has been built with fair(ish) intentions.

 

Always felt that they would be looking to see the benefits of it for 2-3 years then be looking to be away offering a much fairer valuation of the club.

I think this is a reasonable assumption. However, I cannot see any prospective buyer settling for anything less than the whole package i.e. football club & stadium & the land on which it sits. It then comes down to how much the various parties can agree the valuation and their individual shares.

Just goes to show how things can quickly change.

When he arrived it was 'all hail the king' amid much talk of a new CB, midfielder and striker.

Two games in - not much had changed (results wise) but we did have a promising new kid on the block albeit on a short term youth loan.

Then (seemingly), a light in the darkness with the arrival of the CB in the shape of Mr Gerrard and our first win.

Onwards and upwards we thought - now for the much needed striker before the close of the transfer window.

Looking good - the sale of an ex player should bring a windfall that will allow us to compete in the market.

Alas, not so, Latics had closed that door before it had barely opened and we now have to hope for a win on Saturday or else it's back to the loan market when it re-opens.

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The problem is we have been searching for a striker for months! Dunn couldn't solve it and shez has the same problem. This must be down to us having no cash, we will probably sign a striker who can't get fixed up elsewhere and is prepared to play a few months with us for bugger all.

Have to agree with that.

and ... the longer we leave it, the worse it can get.

- The number of games left to make up the gap diminishes.

- The cashflow gets worse and less money to attract anyone

- The players morale worsens

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http://mobile.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/article/sheridan-on-transfer-window-2934379.aspx

If we win on Saturday I suppose he will be vindicated.

If we don't ... and more importantly, don't score (again)..... then possibly probably... game over.

Id rather him settle and work with what he has than panic buy because he missed out on the targets he actually wanted.

But surely, the fact that he has said on a number of occasions that he needs 2 or 3 new players and we are not scoring enough goals is an indication that he feels 'what he has' isn't good enough and we should have brought someone in.

I can't help but feel this will add extra pressure to Saturday's game.

It's more likely the fact that Latics have been perhaps dismissive in attempting to negotiate a settlement with Newport. (I'm assuming JS was under contract with Newport).

It's probably the usual story with any dispute.

One party accuses the other of owing them money (a settlement in lieu of contract termination) and threatens to sue if they don't pay up.

The other party ignores the threat and ... lo and behold ... the solicitor's letter drops through the letter box.

Yet again, unwelcome publicity that they have brought on themselves through poor judgement.

Obviously - he's building for the future ....... in Division 2

Hard to defend it seeing as the evidence was plastered all over this forum ... and subsequently picked up by the Chron.

At least the Tarky sell-on money will help pay off the inevitable fine.

Much better today, we showed attacking intent from the off. Nothing between the teams really apart from yet another massive defensive clanger!! Plenty off effort but no question we need some quality injecting into that side.

 

As has been posted earlier, I think the losing mentality has set in now and it's hard to see how we can change that.

Have to agree with that.

The only other thing I would add is that whilst the effort is improving, there seems to be a distinct lack of passion for the 'shirt' - whether that's part of the losing mentality or the short-term contract aspect for some of the players I don't know. Either way I never feel that I'm watching an Oldham team but rather a collection of footballers who just happen to be wearing an Oldham shirt.

My initial reaction to our only (as yet) signing is one of huge disappointment but.... given our circumstances I've got to keep an open mind.

 

Have to admit he was our stand-out player and I can see why Sheridan rates him.

Unfortunately the influential players yet again turned out to be our goalkeeper and centre-back.

Pity the focus wasn't in this area - we might have managed a clean sheet for once and, coupled with a decent striker, possibly even managed a goal.

Division 2 is now a virtual certainty.

My initial reaction to our only (as yet) signing is one of huge disappointment but.... given our circumstances I've got to keep an open mind.

The posts on this thread after the Bury game should make interesting reading though.

Hope I'm wrong but 1 month youth loans are not what we need right now!!

Absolutely right.... but at the risk of sounding negative (again), it's probably all we can afford.

When did Shirtliff become third choice ?

As I said .... We can speculate all we like....

I just hope it doesn't turn into a 'jobs for the boys scenario' because that's all the budget he's allowed.

Worrying ? Hardly. Still ten days left, new manager working on targets....would you prefer random signings just to accumulate numbers?

I'd have liked to have a centre back in but have to put confidence in Sheridan to get someone in whom he rates.

Anyway one of Blackpools was Philly

Quote from the Chron regarding the choice of assistant manager "Kevin Russell, the Stoke academy coach.......is the man Sheridan wants"

Clearly - the fact that he's had to settle for second or even third choice (Peter Shirtliff) illustrates the disconnect between wanting and getting when it comes down to the reality of finance. We can speculate all we like but the reality is the club cannot (or is unwilling to) compete with other clubs for players of any quality.

JS is quoted on the website as saying that the new assistant isn't available for Saturday's game.

I didn't think he was currently employed by a club and last I heard Saturday wasn't a signing-on day at the Job Centre so why the absence from BP (sorry SportsDirect.com thingammyjig)

The other factor of course is that players agents know the situation at Oldham ... we don't have the means to pay transfer fees or big wages so they don't bother throwing any names into the media spotlight - hence no news or indeed media gossip. It's left to the fans speculation. Good luck with that one lads!

 

"1. Somebody out before he can bring someone in ... and I'm talking about a regular first-teamer not your Fullers of the squad"

 

Already done that...Danny P.

 

Point 2 is very valid though.

Wasn't the Danny P deal done before DD left though. My guess is that the Danny P deal funded the managerial sackings. Some more first team departures will have to fund any transfer dealings.

A couple of things to ponder?

1. Somebody out before he can bring someone in ... and I'm talking about a regular first-teamer not your Fullers of the squad

2. Team not being paid on time for the last three months is hardly likely to entice anyone in

Given the above....I'm not hopeful.

I'm not generally one to follow the Latics away from home but I did go to the Bury game when they were in need of support and indeed contributed to the bucket collection outside the ground and in all truth would probably do so again in the optimistic hope that genuine football supporters would do the same if the roles were reversed.

As with the previous comment, I wish every football team the best - except for the 90 minutes they share the pitch with my beloved Latics.

When Sheridan was mooted as the likely candidate I said it would take more than a new manager to change our fortunes and I still take that view. The squad we have is not capable of keeping us in this division and I have no faith in the club's ambitions to fund any decent signings to prevent relegation - indeed I'll stick my neck out and suggest we might even sell one or two of our more capable players to keep the club afloat this season to avoid administration and prepare for division 2.

The result today (1-0 loss to Bradford) and other results means we are now realistically 3 wins away from safety (and that's assuming the clubs above us don't improve their positions further) - can anyone see us making up that ground?

love the picture of Shez..... Full of joy.

That was the look of a guy who's just been told his transfer budget.

As much as I'd like to think Sheridan's return would prove to be a game changer it would be extremely unlikely.

Returning managers seldom live up to expectation and the most telling impact on the outcome is the availability of funds for transfers so unless Corney puts some realistic money on the table the incoming manager is unlikely to fare any better than the outgoing one.

There's a well established 'rule' in football.....

You don't change a winning team (except for injuries & suspensions - and neither of those would seem to apply tonight).

The half-time stats don't make for good reading - a 1-0 scoreline; 60/40 posession & 2:1 shot ratio in favour of the home side would suggest the changes haven't worked.

Problem for TP now is whether to persevere (& risk more of the same) or change again.

Anything worse than the Mansfield scoreline.