NewBlue

I guessed at 350 there but I heard reports of between 250-300 which seemed a bit low. Anyway, the fans were tremendous. I think it genuinely made an impact on the players too. They pressed all match, especially at the away end. I couldn't believe it when there were 3 Latics players furiously closing down Portsmouth's left back in casual possession of the ball near his own goal. Credit to the players. They worked so hard in that match helped by the fans I think.

Only thing I saw worrying in the match was that there could be a few petulant players in this side, a bit like Marsh-Brown last year. Montano is starting to show why we paid a fee for him but he lost his head a bit after the scuffle that resulted in the sendings off and also, we know from past knowledge that Connor Brown is a bit of a rebel and the incident showed that yesterday. Simpson obviously too. All good players but we don't want them suspended for half of the season.

Bitter. Extremely bitter. How he could say we were "terrible" today is mad. That performance might not have beat a Sheffield United or Swindon but it was certainly not terrible. Always this mentality when any team loses to Oldham as almost all expect to take points from us. Couldn't care less though if they give any credit or not, the players will have taken loads of confidence from that into the next match. Pay up Pompey....

Just got back. Montano and Croft were running the show. They were immense combining twice to create 1-on-1's like a strike partnership and they continously ran past players and passing was excellent. (Croft actually looks to have a burst of pace). Man of the match is between them 2, it would be tough to decide. Furman played the breaking up attack position perfectly. The amount of times that he dispossesed their players between our 18 yard box and the half way line was crucial and his passing when he got the ball was accurate, measured and clinical. He even did some tricks at the end whilst running down the clock. A sign of the confidence from a quality performance. M'Voto was a rock in defence as always and accompanied by Jonathan Grounds who was solid and created the cross for the own goal, he overlapped and managed to cover defensively all the way through the game. Smith up top was excellent when he came on. Won every header and knocked it down into very useful positions, a few times around the penalty spot where a poacher would most likely had capitalised. The goal was lucky at the actual finishing but the passing before it was crisp and sharp. There must have been around 10-15 passes exchanged by Latics midfielders and strikers before the ball was played into Grounds running down the line. It was a different sort of passing to the first 2 home games. Instead of worthless passes around the back 4 that got us nowhere, all of the passes were done inside of Pompey's half, pressurising and frenzying their defence until a gap was created. It was the perfect passing, meaningful, attacking football that is beautiful to watch and brings rewards at the climax of it. The sendings off. We were far away from the incident but for me it just looked like handbags, a few pushes exchanged between Connor Brown and their player, nothing more than a yellow each (I may be mistaken) and there was a mixed identity and so Cliff Byrne was sent off instead of Brown. Also, the performance by the players on the pitched was almost matched by the travelling supporters. The noise created was brilliant. Nobody got on the players backs, all encouraged and sang throughout. No player could be criticised properly because they were all superb. More of the same next week?

After watching today. Put a quick striker or a poacher off him and he will assist a lot of goals. He was brilliant when he came on today. Montano and Croft delivered and he provided the touches to the penalty spot area. Slew and Smith seems like it could be a great combination.

I always quesion New England's running game but Brady compensates with his accuracy. Andy Dalton and Green are probably the wide reciever - QB partnership to watch this season. Both had solid rookie seasons and will look to progress further this year. My second year player to watch though is Julio Jones. Athletically, he's a freak, and with a better QB than Matt Ryan at the Falcons he would be racking up ridiculous numbers. If Ryan can give him throws to catch then he will be extremely successful, no doubts about that.

What percentage of the fee would we be entitled to?

The beauty of having 3-4 matches before the deadline for transfers is that you can see issues early and attempt to remedy them with a new signing before the problem augments itself into a bad September to January period. If Dickov says he didn't see any issues in his team then he is dellusional. He has faith in them but faith is belief with no evidence, which can be the only explaination for his stubborness in the final day of the transfer market being open. Please, Paul. Bring in a few players. A striker and a cover for CB is needed.

I've only vaguely heard about Nick Compton, am I right in saying he got over 1000 runs in the CC this season? After injuries have subsided he may be worth a try, maybe even just to shuffle the pack and unsettle a few untouchables. I'm not an admirer of either Patel or Bopara but they do chip-in with both departments which makes them more likely to be selected. There must be a better all-rounder out there than that pair though. They're both good players but not, No1 in the world players which England aspire to be in test cricket and retain in ODI's. The South Africa series proved that there needs to be improvements in both batting and bowling. Get Bresnan out, despite his win percentage, to replace with Steven Finn. He's expensive but he takes wickets and has pace which is lacking, Steyn showed what pace brings to an attack in the previous 3 tests.

Trott, Bell, Cook and Strauss have been poor recently. Leaving KP to clean up after them. There needs to be some players dropped or these guys will become even sloppier than they have been. Maybe losing the number 1 spot will give them a kick up the arse. I'm not very well up on the county cricket at the moment though I've heard Joe Root from Yorkshire mentioned. Johnny Bairstow has made an impact in the last few matches. Bopara doesn't deserve another chance but I'm certain there are more good player around that can challenge these untouchables. Anybody know any quality young batsmen that could break into the test team?

Has Chris Taylor been getting any gametime at Millwall?

His captaincy skills weren't in much doubt but his performances with the bat, and in the slips, were very worrying. He's underperformed massively in the last few years which has been emphasised by his opening partner, Alistair Cook's improvement in the Ashes down under. His average is dwarfed by Cook's now. Right decision to go in my opinion, there will surely be better openers who are much younger in country cricket at the moment. Did a great job though, can't take his excellent leadership away from him.

I was in America a few weeks ago and got the opportunity to watch the Redskins on US tele and RGIII and Pierre Garcon combined for around 70 yards. Even though he is a rookie he's got both rushing and passing and a developing team around him. I can see them scraping through or very close. Eagles. Its more hope than anything for me to be honest. Last year was disappointing until the last 5 games or so but if Vick can stay fit and play all 16 games (which is unlikely) then there are players around him that can create opportunities. Maclin, Jackson, McCoy etc. so if all is harmonious in the camp...which I think will be more likely after Andy Reid son died this year then we can challenge seriously. Of course, Giants are favourites and rightly so with Eli at the helm and Cruz and that brilliant defence with Tuck, Umenyiora, Pierre-Paul and others. As for Cowboys, Romo has flattered to decieve for a while now and they are the least likely to get through but a few terrible errors last season stopped them from getting in the play offs...icing the kicker v the Giants and I seem to remember a crucial fumble that Romo made to lose them a match. If DeMarco Murray stays healthy he has the potential to be one of the best in the league and like every year, DeMarcus Ware sacks ridiculous amounts. Cowboys are closer to being a play-off team than most people think.

Good to play in positions where there's less of the ball like full back but at centre-mid he wouldn't cut it.

Put on around 9. We must be close now! 1 last push.

I only started supporting a season and a half ago and I go to almost every home game, most away games at the end of last year (never seen us win away from home) and going to do about 10+ away games this year. Give myself a 5 then.

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - The Smiths

Highway to Hell - ACDC

Redskins are going to be big this year. RGIII looking good, drafted some good picks for their OL and Pierre Garcon has linked well with RGIII. There could be a few wild cards for in the NFC East. Superbowl champs. Big spending Eagles (my team), Cowboys are always in contention and Redskins looking good. Division to watch this year.

*Waits for the, "Dickov Out, Shez In" comment*

I'm with BP1960 here. Dale Stephens and Adam Dugdale (now at Crewe) are players who have come from Droylsden in the last few years into the league. Smith obviously hasn't made as much as an impact yet but he's still a league player and another, Jody Banim went up to the league around 5 years ago, Rory Patterson was at Droylsden too. Jamie Maguire at Fleetwood is making news there as a good player and he was sold to Fleetwoodby the Bloods. There are talents there and Dave Pace knows a good footballer so ruling out these players BP1960 mentions could be something we rue. Obviously not all of them will make it but there are gambles that could pay off, I would imagine their wages wouldn't be high and he fee's would be low. Some can make it.

Moyo was on loan from Barrow last season and he was no more than average I thought from what I saw. However, I didn't know he was 19, maybe he has some promise then.

How much do the players actually get paid? (Put about 10 on today)

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,16478_8020872,00.html Even the voice over man in the highlights of the Stevenage match isn't crediting Smith's good snapshot as his, according to the commentator, Cristian Montano did that. Surely they can tell the difference between Matt Smith and Montano!

I'm starting to change to the opinion that as long as we can see some tactical awareness and improvment shown by Dickov, to bring back to some winnable home games its fine. An attacking loss wouldn't be ideal but it shows that we're going in the correct direction and then we can capatalise against the lesser teams. If this was the first fixture of the season I would have accepting nothing less than a win but now the enormity of the task for Dickov (a task which is actually against himself) is evident I'd be pleased with a good performance; whether its a win, draw or a narrow defeat where we've given as good as we've got but they had more luck or one piece of brilliance.