Midsblue

Logging in from the States at moment and it's depressing reading. Before I flew, Corney stated that they'd be one or two surprises on incoming players. When you hear the word "surprise" to me it implies exciting signings. Shez then kicks off post Walsall suggesting we need 5-6 new players and we're now scrambling around we triallists and threats that we have to sell before we can buy. What's happened?! Corney's money tree burned to the ground?! Chinese investment evaporated within the course of a week?! Seriously; whatever has happened needs to be explained because polar opposites suggests something major has happened on the funding front.

Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham were testament to that. Cole detested Sheringham but the two were prolific together on the pitch. There's loads of other examples of footballers within the same team either hating one another or cliques within the squads. Footballers are adults FFS and paid to do a job not to be best pals. Fact is Gerrard is overweight and unfit. He won't admit it but he's struggling and needs a rocket up his arse and an extended session or ten from Harbin. Whilst Clarke is equally not the fastest, he's a model pro when it comes to fitness and fully committed. You can't knock Gerard's commitment but application is struggling currently until he can shed a stone. Both are slow hence you need a more mobile defender in a back three to mop up and commitment from midfield and wing backs to compensate for the lack of speed and mobility. Get Gerrard fighting fit and I'm sure we can still squeeze this season out of both of them.

Shez ain't leaving (for the moment). That's a very emotive, heart on the sleeve interview - 1. Telling some players who aren't delivering what's expected of them that's it's last chance saloon 2. A "show me the money" to the owners/investors that the current players aren't sufficient if those same owners/investors want an improvement on last season/season before. The major concern for me is that those players in 1 won't attract interest from other clubs so we can't offload to help fund 2. That means 2 can only be achieved by pumping more money in. Correct me if I'm wrong but the club have been open that funds were available to sign another keeper, a midfielder and a winger with Kyeremeh being the winger. Shez is stating that we need another 5 or 6 - presumably 3 to 4 of those to replace rather than compliment - so further funds are needed than what the club has suggested. Going to be interesting how that stand-off will conclude! Our team is crying out for a Baxter-type player so why not get Baxter?! I'm certain Everton will allow him to come back, our board could wrangle an affordable deal so why the delay - Shez not interested?! I'm in the States at moment so lost track of these rumours of a takeover / new investment. Is this all unfounded or strongly linked to the Chinese digital media boards group?!

No one person is bigger than the club we have supported for years. If a new investor / owner is waiting in the wings then I'd happily wave goodbye to Shez. I like Shez but business is business and he left us last season dropping us majorly in the shit. I've supported Oldham now for 30 years and every oppprtunity has been a false dawn so I'm ever the pessimist now. New investor? Mass strengthening? Kris Commons in our midfield? Love it happy but my beloved club has never been that lucky. Standing in Anfield at our first game in the first division when Earl scored I cheered but instantly thought 'savour it lad, it won't last long'. Same happened at the pub outside Loftus Road when Moore was singing I thought the same negative thoughts ....will do again this year if a billionaire on a white charger rides up Furtherwood Road.

With the collective experience and contacts within the hierarchy and coaching staff then surely that alone could secure us a loan signing from Prem or Championship? Apologies for my Baxter obsession but you have a lad there who I suspect would happily come back to BP, Everton would allow us to have and we know what we're getting - a player light years ahead of what we had currently despite his baggage. Centre of the park, number 10 role - the lad can do both and easily. An arm around him from Shez, Wellens even Harbin would be advantageous for all parties including the player. That #17 on one flank, McLaughlin on the other and we'd have the outlet to supply the strikers

This was my thought after the final whistle. No excuse of having no manager or no team this pre-season. We've had the same amount of time as other teams and most of the team ready for training once pre-season started. Our central midfielders are the weakest I've seen for a while. Fane good, the rest poor. In Shez I trust on Gardner but he's inherited Banks, Flynn and Green. If he can't ship those out then he needs to make the most of any budget left and bring creative midfielders in rather than defensive midfielders. I still think Baxter will arrive but that can't come quickly enough. If Palmer can't get into the Burton side then Shez needs to get him back here too.

Heart says 9th, head says 16th. We still haven't got enough in the middle of the park and no keeper on the eve of the season isn't the greatest position to be in. An influential keeper is crucial and whilst we're trying to tie one down it will take time to gel with defence. I can see us struggling again at the start of the season before we pick up towards Christmas with some signings then in January that maintains momentum. POTY - Jose Baxter (gut feeling we'll bring him in sometime this season) YPOTY - Duffus Top Scorer - Duffus

Yeah my tongue was firmly in cheek - we can but dream

Hope so as the strikers have improved on last season but we need the supply. Not worrying just just yet but last season aside, we're days away from kick off with key positions unfilled. Ultimate optimism but the absence of signing a keeper hopefully means Ripley isn't dead and buried.

Trust Shez 100% but I still think we're missing a playmaker in the middle. Banks and Flynn aren't consistent. Fane is more defensive. Gardner is out for first three games but can he carry 90mins twice a week? Would love Palmer back but that ain't going to happen. Baxter I'm certain we could get on loan but Shez ain't interested. Perhaps if McLaughlin is sold then that gives us scope to bring two midfielders in. However if it's true that Wigan are sticking on £70k then we'd be better keeping him as he's worth double or treble that. £70k and Grigg perhaps?!

The keeper is the key and whether we can secure another midfielder that can add a spark plus a little steel at the heart of the team. My concern that whilst we have strengthened on paper up front, we have too much fluff in the middle to pull the strings. One signing in Gardner - who lets face it was in and out with injury in a relegated team last season - doesn't account but the uncertainty of Flynn, Banks or Green to rip up trees. Will McLaughlin be sacrificed next week to get us a decent keeper and midfielder? Personally I'd love us to get Palmer back from Burton and also some loans from the Prem to fill the defensive midfielder requirements and someone out wide to replace McLaughlin. Personally speaking we are still 5 players light if we pruned some of the deadwood. A very big week next week ready for kick-off and maximise the opportunity in remaining transfer window period. 10th place is my goal to break the continuous flirtation with relegation.

A pair of socks it t'was then

In Shez we trust....today's the day if he stated that next season's #1 will be fielded tonight. I've got a day of meetings but could our message board scouts keep an eye out for a black Range Rover in or around BP or the coffee outlets around the Oldham and M62 area? Its ts like the night before Christmas....do we get that shiny new bike tonight or a pair of socks?

Ripley had an outstanding season last year. This coming season will be his "second album" and could he repeat the same placing him firmly in the sights of Boro and the first team or a Championship team. If some of the rumours were true and he favours a season with OAFC then I can understand his motives - he knows the club, knows the defence in front of him and can simply carry on from last season. Key factor is money and contracts. He's in his last year at Boro so does he play out on loan leaving on a free next summer or make a short-term move, which Boro would obviously prefer as they can cash in now. Sentiment aside, he could do better than us money-wise in the short-term before making the next big move next summer. However depends on the defence and tactics around him to make him look good. It's more probable he'd perform better and quicker with us and familiar surroundings. From an OAFC angle, securing Ripley is a no-brainer and if Corney does have backers then it's a matter of convincing them to invest now for a return in 12 months. Only risk is if last year was a one-season wonder and Ripley concedes more goals. I doubt that would happen as he's quality and if the club invested c£750,000 as an example (£500k signing and £5k a week plus bonuses) then it's almost definite that they'd recoup that by selling him on for c£1m in a year's time when the lad is in his prime.

If Ripley does sign then we must be looking at Top 10 very least or even a sniff of play-offs. Uncertain what's gone on behind the scenes financially but a serious wedge has been thrown at squad rebuilding this season. Someone will be expecting some form of return on the field. Serious question; 1. Chinese investment? 2. Blitz investment? 3. Corney/Moisley performing miracles/master negotiators?

With the signing of Hunt and rumours on Baxter and another striker, where would you place this pre-season in respect of strongest squad going into a season? For clarity, you can choose any season after the Dowie era ended and we lost or sold off the Moore signings. 2nd to 2007/08 season under Shez purely as we achieved a playoff place? Light years from 12 months ago thank ****!

Love him or hate him, in the words of one of our ex-managers called Colin his mantra was "you can never have enough strikers". Hows the Chinese investment going because I'd love to sign Baxter too. Get him fit, focussed and he'd be brilliant with the likes of Davies. I'm getting well excited fir this forthcoming season now especially f this lad from Leeds is as good between the sticks as people suggest. Strength through the whole team. whats the odds for top half finish?

Lambert going to Blackburn. Released by Cardiff and would be demanding at least 4-6 times our current highest earner. If we have those sort of funds at our disposal then sign a lower league prolific scorer as an investment similar to the Posh. Baxter I would snap up immediately. 3-week trial? Give over. Even with his recent baggage he's a no-brainer for signing permanently. Needs focus, support and the right environment. He got that here last time hence us able to sell him on to Sheffield United.

Need a new signing buzz this week ahead of pre-seasons. A new "Ripley" is a must but nothing excites me more than a striker, a winger or an attacking midfielder. Some spark, some creativity and the promise of goals. If we're now buying players then hopefully we can see secure a hidden gem from the league below or non-league or use the cash on wages and some experience with a goal-scoring track record. I'm sick of looking down the table and after the last two seasons of uncertainty, there is a buzz of stability and progress

Cheers. Can someone confirm if they are on sale at the stadium? I'm in the area mid-week next week so was to pop by.

Is the kit on sale at the stadium now? Just checked both SD website and wearelatics website (SD website I think but overbranded?) and they claim it can be delivered as early as Saturday July 1st. I thought the club wasn't releasing both until July 26th?!

He's lost "most" of his pace; he was lightning before, which means he's not exactly immobile now. That said he doesn't need loads of pace as the lad has proven over the years that he can finish in and around the box. If we can keep him and Holloway fit then I can see Holloway laying chances on for Davies to convert. Well happy with signing. Perhaps are expectations are now rock bottom but when I saw it on Twitter I couldn't stop smiling

RIP Big Gordy. A true club legend. Hopefully the club recognises his commitment to the club over all these years with a fitting memorial.

We're on an ascendancy; positive, confident, strength across the team and have been creating a hatful of chances each game without converting prolifically. My head predicts a 0-0 or a loss but my heart is predicting a thumping 4-1.

I have to admit that last night I was working out what was needed to sneak into top 10 possibly top 6 - who would have thought it a few weeks ago?!