piglinbland

If every player in the league was coached to make the right decision all the time, then we wouldn't finish any higher. I'm assuming a case where we do it and the other teams don't.

Pages of unnecessary grief here as both positions are tenable. Internet really does bring all things down to 'diametrically opposed', doesn't it? Of course the goal was great and I'm sure PhilStarbucksSilkySkills enjoyed it as much as anyone. And I bet that on the spur of the moment, instinct kicked in and the wide pass to Winchester was lost from Turner's thought-process. But it's an absolute truth that decision making which encompasses maximum statistical success rate will lead to greatest success - and that applies in all walks of life. If every Latics player was coached to make the 'right' decision all the time, we would finish the season significantly higher up the table than otherwise and the football would certainly be anything but boring as success brings with it excitement. This is the point which I think PhilStarbucksSilkySkills is trying to make and I think it's a valid point..

Who remembers our short but intense rivalry with Leicester City?

Ronnie Blair was no softie...

"Used to agree to an extent. He's providing the ammunition recently though." Maybe the delivery is less than polished. I don't think the content of what he says is far from the truth, though. Including 'that' ramshackle critique of our attendances.

This board is beginning to look very silly in it's pathological aversion to all things Barry. It appears to now be a case of 'not what was said, but who said it'.

EDL claptrap!

Much as I respect and feel for those supporters who are struggling with their consciences right now, the club should be neither praised nor condemned for signing Evans, as they are merely employing someone with a criminal record. A necessary and mundanely routine action, given the high number of criminal offenders within the population (9.2million apparently). Because of the highly emotive nature of the subject it's easy to milk sex crime for profit and the media have been guilty of doing this for years. All crime is destructive by varying degrees and for each crime there is a victim regardless. What about the victims of Arson? burglary? or fraud? Evans is a convicted criminal who's crime was neither trivial nor heinous and we must treat it as such. The club have obviously decided that signing Evans makes sense, I'm not sure if it does and many supporters feel alienated by the lack of consultation between the club and it's fan-base. But one thing is for sure, they are not rape-apologists any more than I am for writing this. It would be wrong were the club be prevented from pursuing its lawful business as a result of online outrage, however it would be right to make future amendments to the law to accommodate public opinion.

According to government statistics, there are 9.2 million people in the UK with criminal records out of a population of 65 million. That's somewhere short of 20% of the population. To imagine that the rehabilitation of criminals is an altruistic act taken on by well meaning but ultimately misguided people is patently false - it's an economic necessity and always has been. This, and the fact that people are beginning to understand that to question the right of Evans to play football again (or his right to protest his innocence) is unassailable without also questioning the more fundamental building blocks of our justice system, actually makes the appointment of Evans (if indeed this happens) far less noteworthy than the press would have us believe. Take away the highly emotive connotations surrounding the word 'rape' and the demonisation of sex offenders and you'll see that when the smoke clears the fire was actually quite small.

Couldn't agree more. I think some people are genuinely shocked by the level of hysteria on social media and the disproportionate levels of interest.- I know I am. I have severe reservations about Evans playing for Oldham but to date everything surrounding the case is legal and above board. If we wish to change the way the justice system is run, it has to be via the ballot box or through specific, real-life pressure groups acting through acknowledged channels and pursuing real debate - in a dignified manner. Like it or not, this is the only option open to law abiding citizens. Online onslaught fueled by emotion and mono-dimensional templates will ultimately damage the cause of vulnerable sections of the community and already, in this case, we see the pendulum of sympathy swing back towards Evans. I would now rather the club sign the player than bow to this kind of pressure.

Ok, here goes...dispassionately- (Personally I would not touch Ched Evans with a barge pole.) He gets found guilty. I wasn't there but I'm happy because, although I don't have particular faith in the courts, I know they are there through taxpayers money to do the best they can. He gets sent down. Fine, I'm happy with that, if you can't do the time, don't do the crime. He gets parole. Mmm, he hasn't served very long but I suppose he must have kept his nose clean. He's on probation actually, part of the criminal justice system's scheme to re-introduce him back into the community. He'll need to get a job. Fair enough, all part of the greater scheme and all that, can't say I agree with some of these early releases but I guess the prisons are all full and what do I know anyway? He wants to return to football. Gosh erm... erm...is there any legal reason why he can't? nope, within the confines of certain parole conditions of course. Are there legal reasons he should return to football? well, I guess that, as part of his rehabilitation (which is concurrent to the original punishment, which I applauded, remember?) there is a duty to return him to work, so why not his original profession - if he so wishes - after all, it's what he knows best. (now it gets tricky) so what moral objections do I have to his returning to football? Straight away It's a kick in the face for rape victims and women in general. And as a sports personality he risks been revered by youngsters. This doesn't sit well! And he's unrepentant! Well, actually no, he's proclaiming his innocence, he has a right to do that (thank goodness). Well, he's a sex offender! yes, and it's strange how we all have a pathological hatred of them buggers, but Evans the sex offender displayed neither violence nor traits of recidivism and certainly no predisposition towards children (if he had, he'd be nowhere near football) How about I try and find moral arguments for his return to football? Well, you could say that his rehabilitation as a footballer will reform his ahem character and people will learn that compassion can change people. But he's a rapist and a role model! an unrepentant one at that! No no, I've already said, he's proclaiming his innocence. In any case he can still become a shining example of someone who's turned their life around , he could even preach the virtues of temperance if his rehabilitation kicked in really hard. He's signing for Oldham. Oh Jesus... (Four days of unbelievable internet and media freak-out pass, every jumped up politician and their dog in the land spouting rubbish, hordes of smelly hacks descend on Boundary Park armed with notebooks and wet pencils, when in a normal week we barely get a minute on the FLS. Even the top cop in Manchester has to get his oar in -which is well out of order, his job is to catch them and he doesn't even do that very well. The internet is groaning and creaking under the weight of an online rampage and the heat from the Google servers alone raises the mean earth temperature for January by a whole degree (centigrade). most of the cyber traffic consists of insults, threats, simplifications, false speculation, over-reaction and misinterpretation.) On the fifth day the press all get bored and go home. On the sixth day, Latics sign Evans to howls of anger and much vitriol but later become brave, progressive and principled Oldham when there is a slow news week on Fleet Street.

How about "The Bus Shelter" or ";the Non-league Stand" - in honour of all the miserable gits on here.

Sorry, but that flag ('Born in Oldham etc') is overtly racist by connotation. It simply reeks of BNP/EDL. The 'Ooh Roger Palmer' chant is totally innoculous by comparison.

My goodness, I've just watched the first half of the 3 - 3 F.A. cup semi-final against United. I was in the Kippax that day but time has eroded my memory. What a fabulous performance!

Hope you got a brew and a bacon butty.

Holy cow - we have a lounge???

Not sticking up for the ref or anything, but is anyone on here willing (or fit enough) to go out and do it for what, a piffling 100 quid or so ???

I thought a prerequisite of the post-modern soccer thug was the purchase of expensive designer cloths? Clearly the link between affluence and good behaviour is not only tenuous - it's non-existant.

'It's actually a bigger deal than most people think. The club have effectively handed over control and it's up to Holroy to get it built now. Maybe only a token announcement but important in the building of the stand.' Yes, the contract that virtually guarantees the go-ahead of the most important ground developement in the clubs history is hardly an anti-climax.

An excellent summary, thanks.

Got to say I look forward to your write-ups, prozac. Thanks.

Agree he was a catalyst and yes, he caused a stir when he got the ball, in a way he was our Georgie best. I never once thought his move a betrayal, but I can quite clearly remember some dissent and disillusionment amongst fans prior to his leaving (when he was out of the team due to injury) and upon his signing for Blackpool. Again, I'm not trying to rewrite history, just that as I remember it, it wasn't all roses. Kudos to OldHallam, - you were able to see Groves at close quarters in his private life and your recollections are genuinely interesting - my vague souvenirs are in no way aimed at contradicting anything you have written. I have more recollection of being thrilled by Stainrod's play to be honest - I think I may have matured somewhat by then - I was 15 when Groves left.

Just saying it how I remembered it, OldHallam, - and adding my memories to the collective pot. I do think that he had an extraordinary talent, My point is that, perhaps, he's been just a tad over-elevated in status because his period coincided with our glorious rise from division 4 - which in turn coincides with many a 50 something's fondly remembered youth. As for acrimony - well, maybe the word was badly chosen, but a lot of fans did feel he'd betrayed them when he signed for Blackpool.

No. When people remember Groves they're also remembering the '70's, which, in a way, he epitomised. On his day he was brilliant, but in truth, he came, frustrated / blew away the fans in equal measure, stayed for a short while then couldn't leave quickly enough. There was quite a lot of acrimony when he left. There was a testimonial for Debbie at Boundary Park after he died and a large section of the Chaddy took to chanting 'Alan Groves sh@gs schoolgirls'. Not a shadow on Roger Palmer and many others (in terms of his contribution to the club). But a fantastic entertainer none the less.

Boundary Park looked and sounded just fantastic on the telly v. Liverpool and Everton. The new stand, which is already started, will look just fantastic - and very much in scale with the rest of the ground. I also think Latics fans believe in Father Christmas when it comes to Koukash and his SUPPOSED takeover bid.