Stainrod

So is Johnson not now the right man for us BP? Most of us think he's given us the best season we have had for years don't we, another bad result today and no doubt more to come amongst the good stuff. League one players are not consistent, the team that is is successful at this level, we all know this.

Having said that though Poleon didn't impact the game as much and he seems to be taking an age to settle in and produce what he promises. I'm inclined to try Turner too, if he is now fully fit let's have a look at him. Neither can do the job that Wilkinson or a Jabo would do though and that's our issue just now (and certainly don't ask Forte to play the target man)

Really unfair that on Murphy, his record suggests he's a poacher, he certainly isn't a target man and needs one to work side by side with. I'd be disappointed if he doesn't work well with Wilkinson (or Jabo) so he must be played in 4-4-2. I am confident he'll score goals for us one he's settled, he played in poor performing team on Saturday as we all know.

Wasn't he simply a replacement in effect for Murray? three coaches all season is working for us.

Surely being sat in a play off position suggests not a lot needs changing. Are you forgetting where we have been for the last five seasons?

I was bit confused why they brought on Poleon, a striker, and put him on the left, and left Forte, who we all know is more effective coming in from the left, down the middle. Maybe for his height but he's never going to get much from a good league one centre back. I also think putting Murphy without being partnered with an out and out centre forward is doomed to fail, might work very well with Wilkinson but you can't give him a hard time, he did make some very good unseen runs and will be ok with the ball at his feet. Lack of height however is why he us where he is.

Shouldn't that have been borrowed from a pretty lady with a phone? Anyway, 28 played, 15 of those away, 13 at home, that should be a good thing.

Top man BP. Now everyone, what do you think of that??? That's what you call a distinctive kit.

I started with Latics in the seventies, Wood, Whittle, Brycleland, Bebbington, Fryatt, Heath, Shaw etc. Nothing comes close for me to the tangerine, blue and blue. You can't say many have those colours. I know it wasn't for very long but I loved it. Even bought a replica a few years ago, dreadful material in those days but could be done great now. Anyone got a colour picture from then that they can put on here so everyone can admire it.

Spot on, you don't get many opportunities, I think both the management and the board believe ours is now. Given our dreadful earlier run it's incredible that we remain so close, shows how tight it is. We have genuinely had the better of teams in most games this season, at least in the key stats, a bit of belief and bit of luck and who knows? Great to see we are giving ourselves a chance though.

In every town In every port He scores a goal and his name is Fort(e) Sorted. Next....

Agree with the sentiment but on this occasion I would be very disappointed if Mills was on the bench and Brown at LB. Doubt that would happen however.

Mills is a far better left back than Brown surely!!!

Dieng and Wilson in the middle, Elokobi to left back and then Mills back in when suspension ends. Brown only used as back up for Brian Wilson.

Agree about the post match interview, I was seriously fed up at the end of the match but LJ was buoyant and put things in perspective. My mood lifted, if he can take it on the chin then so can I.

Shouldn't we have put Dieng in the middle and moved Elokobi to left back, Dieng is surely much more match fit than Mellor. It's such an up and down way to be football fan supporting Latics. Every time I tell my wife we let a last minute goal in she comments that 'we always do'.

This is just a chapter in Latics rich history. It will soon pass, nobody really cares about us and this will be old news soon. Yes he will get stick from away fans just like Hughes did but it will lessen and will be forgotten before we know it. This is a good club, some may not like what the current custodians are doing just now but we need to attend to enable the club to survive, it is bigger than any one player and any one board. I don't doubt that the board have considered the ramifications here, they would be incredibly incompetent if they haven't and are making this decision in the long term interests of the club. Let's not let it spoil things for too long, let's take it on the chin, support the team and cheer the team and the club when Evans scores, we eventually acknowledged Hughes for what he was and we need to try to do the same again now. It's really going to be too miserable if we don't.

My view is that we will sign him, I think if we weren't we would have said so by now. The fact they are in the process of tying up loose ends seems to suggest the deal is nearly there, a no would have already been announced surely.

Agree with this, Latics weren't ready on Sunday, PFA let it slip. As not all matters had been ironed out by Monday the board have been forced to run the gauntlet and have refused to make a decision until ready to do so. Either that or they are incompetent.

Mills was our stand out player in what was good team performance, poor result but without doubt a good footballing performance.

Daniel Johnson can get a goal though, we can't afford to have a hard worker in there that doesn't score, Philliskirk rarely look like he has a goal in him and so Johnson must be first pick in that role for me.

Overeaction perhaps??

Would anyone else prefer it if LJ didn't read and interact on social media? They are often filled with bile, offensive knee jerk reactions from supporters not really equipped to make pertinent tactical comment (I include myself and 90 per cent of fans). The comments are put out there as if they represent the majority of supporters? Ignore much of it LJ and get us back on track. Message boards are great but I'd hate to think the clubs coaches value our opinions really!

1972, number 1 in the charts. 42 years ago!!!

Agreed, only got the (Sheffield) commentary yesterday and it sounded like he made some very good saves, collected the crosses well and distributed quickly. Experienced keeper, we'd need to have a lot of confidence in a replacement.