parigby

We're still here  -  just.

Stop winging - we have this fabulous new stand : you know, the one that scores loads of goals ; is a great passer of the ball ; is superb in defence, and overall runs the show week in week out.

You must remember the Stand, the one l got slated for on here for suggesting that the money would have been better spent on the team ; the one about which l made the point that fans would happily stand/sit out in the open to see free flowing attacking, goalscoring, successful and entertaining football week in week out.

We've not got that, but at least we have a shiny new Stand.

So you come from goodness wherever in this football mad world, and for whatever reason you decide you want to buy a club in our division.

Why OAFC on what you have seen so far, and where we are ?

Firstly - it is my view that SC has at last realised that if he wants to sell the club he has to put in place a management structure. Hence why we have today a comprehensive backroom staff. The non too subtle message to our prospective new owner being " hey look at all these football type people on board - you don't have to worry about the day to day on the pitch football type stuff , they will take care of it for you".

Secondly - look at where we are in terms of performance levels ( agreed this is on the basis of pre season - whatever that does or doesn't tell you, but .... (1) don't concede a lot ( l know, l know that this is based on pre season friendlies etc, but it's a point ), (2) we are solid in midfield, and don't look as though we are going to be overrun each week. What we are short of, is three players - one really creative midfielder to unpick defences, and a couple of real goalscoring front men. Chuck probably ten million at that and what you end up with is a side that gets automatic promotion ( if you find that difficult to accept, look at the number of games we have lost over the last couple of years by a margin of ONE goal ).

The one question we don't know the answer to, is how much SC and the others want for their white elephant of an incomplete new stand, that will never create a goal, score a goal, or stop a side from scoring a goal against us ..........

Now before people start jumping all over me, we actually think, that subject to the last point, there is a real solid basis in place, which could now go places with the right investment.

No doubt there was some skill involved. But most of that defending was worse than ours for the first 5/6 months of the season!

And most of our strikers wouldn't even have scored when faced with any of those defenders in the said period.

All our on field problems over the past o, two, three, four, five etc, years have come from the pitiful number of goals we have scored. Somehow, and from somewhere we have to find a couple of lads who can put the ball away on a regular basis. At least this lad appears to be able to use both feet and isn't terrified at having a go.

Three minutes thirty seven seconds of highlights from ( l suppose ) a season - you'd be lucky to find a latics striker capable of putting together that number of highlights over a carrear.

So some fans deserve to be told more information than others, how does that work?

I could spend time explaining what l mean by loyal fans. I could even suggest that l expand the definition to interested fans / regular attendees at matches etc - but really can't be bothered to deal with your knit picking post further than l have. I'm sure that most sensible people on here understand the point l am making.

Whoever is in charge of PR at this excuse for a professional business, should be taken out and shot. The way the true loyal fans have been treated, truthful information wise, since Shez jumped ship, is utterly disgraceful.

Wise up SC and the board, these people are your regular income stream.

According to BBC - Vassell gone to Walsall.

I know it's all a bit frantic, nail biting etc, etc,.......... but, even if the worst comes to the worst, at least next season ( no matter the division ) we all know we have a more than decent Manager, one we can trust, one that knows what he is doing, one that can get the best out of his players, one that we know who has the club at heart.

Losing is one thing - shipping three goals without reply is another. Goal difference is important where we are. Still don't think any of our strikers will score five goals before the end of the season. Teams around us are banging them in. Expecting relegation.

Not even certain that collectively they will score five.

For any German language experts, how we pronouncing his surname?

How about " he's :censored: " - now l know we seem to have signed a lot of his family with the same name, but what can you do

BBC reporting Tarky on way North for medical prior to signing for Burnley.

Leon Clarke must be salivating at the sight of that back four.

Why go to the trouble of building a new stand, outfitted with seats and boxes designed for football matches, with fixtures and fittings for a football club, if the owners want the club to fail?

 

They would have been better off building Elk Mill style retail units. The new stand is 75% useless without the football club. Money from it will go to OAFC. Without a doubt.

Many, many more people will stand in the rain, to watch a successful team, climb up the tables, score loads goals, play attractive football, win their home games ( there's a novelty ) than will ever sit in a spanking new stand to watch what we have produced this season. Spend money on the product - not just the packaging.

I've said it before, and l'll repeat it again - the problem is the elephant in the room, called the new stand. We continue to spend money on the new stand with the promise of " jam tomorrow ", whilst sitting back and watching the slide towards a lower division.

It's official now

Ever player has a mistake in them

Our problem appears to be that our players have at least two, if not three.

So let me summarise :

disliked ex Latics manager returns to BP (sod this Sports Direct cobblers )

they are on a run of eight defeats

they have an unsettled back four with a couple of new additions

We have a fortress BP home record to protect .

Golly gosh - this is a difficult one

Pssst - there's a managerial vacancy at Blackburn Rovers.

Yet another from that wonderful era, goes to the changing room in the sky. One of those who gave everything every game, no matter where you asked him to play. Sad, sad, sad.

If l was him, l would want 99% of my first team squad, both existing and hoped for, in place and standing on the training field on day one of pre season. I would want the absolute maximum amount of time with my squad to get my ideas and playing system in place. He doesn't want to have to spend the first half dozen games of the season tinkering with systems and personnel.

I too think he has to get off, not necessarily to a flyer, but at the least to a very solid start.

What Midsblue says - together with, courtesy costs nothing

How did it get this far without a mention of Bobby Johnstone?

Maybe because he came to us from Hibs. I remember the story of the manager going up to see him, and Bobby wasn't keen to sign, so we nicked his boots and made him come to Oldham to get them back. Whilst down here, he saw the light and signed.

A better clue might be if Uwe Rosler is in the directors box at Coventry tonight, sitting amongst our high and mighty.

Just been on the OS and seen the team sheet - now there's confidence for you - we're only playing with Coleman - no one else, just a goalie !

to end of season.