Hemel latic

3 minutes ago, penrhyn said:

https://www.ctfc.com/news/2024/february/joe-nuttall-checks-in-on-deadline-day/

My word. I was starting to think that those of us that thought there was a player in there somewhere were deluding ourselves, but if Daryl Clarke rates him  

1 hour ago, adamoafc said:

If it is him surely a short term solution and makes Fondop redundant as I’m sure despite Garner being 5”11 was a target man and won loads in the air in years gone by but that may have changed. 

If Nuttall is completely persona non grata the we have no big lump cover for Fondop should he get injured. Don't think Garner (or another target man) would necessarily mean the end for GN9.

33 minutes ago, oafc1955 said:

I’d be giving them away!

From the wording of the Oldham Times article I expect clubs are making our players cheeky wage offers in the expectation we'll pick up the difference in a severance package.

The closer we get to the NL transfer deadline the offers may become more realistic if teams are in the hunt for promotion, or seeking to avoid relegation.  

Interesting views from Mellon reported in the Oldham Times on the attempts to move some players on. I suspect other clubs are trying to take advantage, knowing we want to move players on. Glad to hear that Mellon is standing his ground. Perhaps it's more likely players will move after the EFL transfer deadline has passed, or as we approach the NL deadline.

There is something intrinsically attractive in playing consistently winning football. It would bring with it a lot of the determination, aggression and commitment that we're crying out for. The players Mellon has brought in such as Dallas, Walker, Conlon and Stones don't suggest he is seeking a dull and attritional style.

We're still a work in progress. I guess a matter of some concern is that three out of the last four performances have been poor, one of those was the travesty against Hendon which perhaps can be discounted due to the team selection. Perhaps this is inevitable with new players to bed in, perhaps the uncertainty around players on the cusp of leaving is affecting morale.

Really hope we bounce back on Saturday, need to keep that feelgood play off places feeling going. 

22 hours ago, JoeP said:

 

Well done to Mr Elokobi.

 

The only Latics player I've ever known to do a lap of honour to thank the fans for coming, win lose or draw.

 

Top man...

Excellent interview with him and Mick McCarthy in the Times if you can get behind the paywall. 

8 hours ago, JohnnyPimp said:

is it being big-headed to suggest that a trip to Boundary Park is the biggest game of the season for plenty of teams in this division?

 

Our history, stadium and warm welcome give these players a lift. Nearly 7k there yesterday to watch us play Woking. It’s their Cup Final.

 

We’re not seeing the usual “Woking’s, Gateshead’s or Ebbsfleet’s”. We’re seeing inspired players, collectively playing one of their best games of the season.

 

We’ve got to find a way to overwhelm these teams at home and get the three points, because points, not performances, are all that matters when you’re not in the EFL.

 

Mellon’s got us on track as far as I’m concerned, despite the obvious blips like yesterday.

I think there's something in this. I suspect we also relax a little when we're playing "lesser" teams and we're not good enough to do that. We're normally on it against the bigger teams and have had good results in our big games (Rochdale, Chesterfield, Barnet x2). There are outliers of course (Bromley) but I think Unsworth had lost the dressing room by then.

12 minutes ago, LightDN123 said:

Kitchen, like Norwood, is crucial to this team. Both of which are 1 yellow away from a two game suspension ? 

Don't think that's right, Kitch is on 5 or 6.

1 hour ago, JoeP said:

 

It'll go Pete Tong at some point - it's Latics.

 

But I am struggling to think of factors that would result in us not at least making the play-offs from here.  Big squad, good manager, no night at the dogs planned...what am I missing that's going to catch us out?

 

Even with the big squad injuries to the wrong players (Norwood, Conlon already, Kitching, Sheron (Yes! Sheron)) would hurt. But let's keep our fingers crossed and enjoy the ride!

19 minutes ago, BP1960 said:

 

He offers passion, is a nuisence to defences and chips in with goals.

That seems good enough for the manager, even if he has signed Dallas.

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely, and a physical presence that none of the other forwards offers us. 

7 minutes ago, Dave_Og said:

Ah. thought it was more recent that Freeman.  But if we stay with three at the back surely you'd go Sutton over McGahey?

I do like Sutton and as I've said, I think he's got a relatively high ceiling. What I don't know is which of our centre backs would be most comfortable playing on the left side of a three. Raglan didn't look comfortable there and Hobson has always played on the right so I wouldn't put either of them there.

McGahey has a better passing range than Sutton, could be useful against Woking. Sutton more mobile and athletic. Honestly don't know. 

2 minutes ago, Dave_Og said:

Not bait at all.  By common consent he's played all his games this season out of position and now there appears to be a  clear opportunity to switch him to his natural role.  If he has the potential to play a couple of divisions or more higher, which plenty who have seen more of him than I have say is the case, than it should be a no brainer

Not sure what you point is Dave. Freeman played RB last time McGahey came in for Hogan, incidentally ahead of both Raglan and Sutton, in a 442.

On Saturday if we start with three CBs then it's a straight choice between McGahey and Sutton, I'd choose whichever would be more comfortable on the left of the three.

But the suspension of Hogan and the availability of Dallas may prompt a formation change.

McGahey came in last time Hogan was suspended.

4 minutes ago, L1onheartNew said:

Thats fair. He is contracted. If he comes good, I will face the tribunal, but I simply cannot see it. You have likened him to Tarky previously. 

At the same stage of development, they are chalk and cheese. 

There was always something about Tarky that oozed class whereas Sutton seems to need to be in class.

I don't think he'll play PL but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he got as high as L1, possibly even the championship. He's a good athlete, playing as a FB/WB has improved him on the ball. He looked solid as a very young player at CB. We haven't seen him at CB since the 21/22 season, to a certain extent we all need to reserve judgment.

24 minutes ago, daniel said:

I read elsewhere he was on 9 bookings, so 1 more and it’s a 2 match ban. Same for Norwood!

I also had him down as 9 but this website has him on 10 and Dave Bradley also said on the phone-in last night that he's suspended on Saturday. A shame because he's in great form at the moment.

As above this could see us play 433 on Saturday with Dallas and Walker coming in for Hogan and Fondop. Having said that the 532 (352) looked really solid defensively on Tuesday and we created plenty of chances. Interesting dilemma for MM. 

Have to say, much love for Norwood tonight, deserved a hattrick. If you let a long ball bounce against this fella you roll the dice.  

We definitely improved as the game wore on. Came out sharp for the start of the second half which was a really welcome change. What a difference a footballer like Tom Conlon makes to the team, makes everybody else look better, Josh Lundstram in particular. He's going to be a massive fan favourite if he stays fit. Not a vintage performance but comfortably the better team against third in the league (and the referee).

Just now, GlossopLatic said:

 

Not insurmountable but unlikely. But without wanting to use the cliche of taking each game at a time let's just try and win tonight then continue to focus on winning the next game and see how far it takes us it might get us to the top 3 who knows but right now I'm not counting on it and getting into 4th or 5th by the end of the night would be a good starting point.

Completely agree! But if we do win I think the gap can be bridged, if we draw it looks less likely, if we lose it looks too big to me. But as has been said elsewhere, that's the positive position we're in, games are going to mean something in this half of the season, something more than a nervous look over the shoulder at relegation. Exciting times.    

1 minute ago, yarddog73 said:

Walker isn't a striker, he'd be useless in q two with Norwood.

 

If we go three up top then he might play Walker and Green either side of Norwood but the safe bet would be Norwood/Fondop in a two for me.

 

I'm hoping we don't go three at the back, invariably it just turns in to a five with the likes of Sheron and Lundstrum sitting just in front, that's got to stop for me particularly at home.

We played 442 when we beat Barnet earlier in the season, Barnet don't look like they've changed their set up since then although the wing backs have changed and may be more defensively minded. 

19 minutes ago, GlossopLatic said:

If we were to get into the top 3 its going to require either Barnet or Bromley to collapse stranger things have happened but it seems unlikely. But as things stand it's likely we will face one or the other in the play offs therfore laying down a marker by taking 6 points of them will put doubtvin the minds of both of them about facing us. So tonight is almost like laying down a marker and saying to them that they are not going to fancy playing us in the play offs.

If we beat Barnet tonight and win our game in hand on them that would put us 7 points behind, not insurmountable over 17 games.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I do love these personal memories of past players that are just names in the history book(s) to me, thanks to all concerned. 

We probably need to avoid defeat at the very least against Barnet tonight and win our game in hand to have a realistic chance of making third place. In that scenario we would have to make up 10 points over the course of 17 games, much more manageable seven points if we win tonight.

Agree patience may be required, Could see as many as five league debutants tonight, suspect it will be one or two fewer, and that may take time to bed in. 

We played 442 when we hammered them at their place. With the new recruits it's possible we may do so again.

9 minutes ago, Dave_Og said:

I'm perennially puzzled about why such expeditions deserve praise.  It's just a personal decision.  I got up at 5am and got home at 2am between Christmas and New Year to go to a race meeting in Dublin but I don't want a badge.

OK, it's not rowing the Atlantic. But given most of us on here are obsessed to a greater or lesser extent with a particular football team I have no issue exclaiming admiration/disbelief when fans complete a particularly arduous away day.

11 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

About halfway through the 1989-90 season, visiting fans with lower numbers were put in the Lookers stand paddock, which was divided in two at the halfway line. So they got the Rochdale Road end side of that paddock. It was always empty anyway so disturbed no-one and allowed us to use the RRE terrace for the newly-formed Bovis brigade glory hunters. This continued into 1990-91 except for Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham which were given the large section of the RRE terrace. When we were promoted, away fans switched between the large or small section of the RRE depending on their numbers. Some like Citeh, United and Liverpool were given the entire RRE if memory serves.

If some thought Oxford City's 20-odd following was low. I'm sure Plymouth brought a similar amount for a Friday night match in driving sleet in December 1990. You could count them silhouetted against the whitewashed wall of the paddock.

Plymouth to Oldham and back on a freezing Friday night in December, that is some hard yakka. They should run a "Where are they now?" piece on those legends the next time we play each other.