the_mighty_bosh

Joined as supermassiveblackattack

True about Smalley but we had to sell One Size and Hill to keep the club alive and we didn't want Trotters to end up doing a Porter. We aren't in a position now where we need to sell Taylor so we shouldn't.

Although I wasn't totally happy with us selling Trotters I understand why we did with him being out of contract at the end of the season, and £500K+ for the amount of games he had played was a very good price negotiated by the TTA. However with Taylor being under contract for another 2 years we should not even be looking to accept offers for him unless something ridiculous (anything under £500K is nowhere near good enough) came along because we don't need to sell, he's an asset to the club with his wing play and will be vital for our promotion push left or right (preferably right)and he seems to love the club (going off the Bournemouth away celebration) and I doubt he would want to go unless it is significantly better for him. The Smalley/Taylor debate is an interesting one, from what I've seen Taylor scared the hell out of defenders in his first full season, with his direct dribbling, taking full backs on. Smalley didn't do that so much last season and didn't look as comfortable with the ball at his feet as Taylor did and although Smalley has more about him physically, Taylor is the better player at the moment. However Smalley will learn in the next couple of years and I see him being a more confident and efficient player in that time and if he does it will be fantastic to see his true potential being fulfilled (hopefully with us!)

Switzerland?!?!? I need a miracle!

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Welcome to Latics Chris and all the best! The one disappointing aspect of this signing is that Lewis gets pushed down the pecking order when I thought he could become a first team regular this year, but he is still young and has a 3 year deal so he still has time to make an impact. Smalley won't be affected as badly because he can play on the right as well and I can see Wolfy being either loaned out or sold in this off-season. It will be good to see if O'Grady can put pressure on Hughes and Davies for a starting place or if he could become an impact player from the bench.

This might make it slightly more interesting... Keltie in Exeter??

On the freeview thing on the OS he said that he turned down the chance to watch United in Moscow tonight so that he could sign for us today. Already a legend in my eyes!

Barnstaple?? That's a bit random isn't it?

I genuinely believe that we will be the dark horses that do well next year.

Didn't watch the 2nd leg tonight but from the 1st leg I thought they looked a decent side, if there is any chance of getting Simon Hackney we should definitely try to. Quick, left footed and puts lots of decent early crosses into the box, just what we need on the left.

No I'm the same as you, although it's good to see them do well it never hurts me if they do badly.

As a second team I follow Exeter because of the Big Bank, they're my local team, my brother supports them and because of what I witnessed just down the road from Latics on the day we beat City in the Cup! I hate United and MK Dons for obvious reasons and dislike Argyle. I'm starting to get into some of the footy abroad and have loads of respect for the Boca/River derby (support Boca out of the two simply coz they play in blue!) and anywhere where there is a fantastic, passionate atmosphere without the hooliganism. I think Germany has the right idea with the standing areas & I'm sure we could bring it back into England at the top levels and still abide by the health and safety regulations. P.S. After that YouTube clip I think I'm falling for Eintracht Frankfurt!

That was unbelievable!! My brother & some of my mates who went are going crazy! Wembley-bound for the second straight year!

Of course, but I don't think there should be anyone left who supports Ronnie to wind up!

I think the RM issue should be laid to rest now. The biggest dispute over him getting sacked was that he could've taken us up if he had a 2nd season in charge. But now he has shown with a similar sized club to ourselves that he couldn't improve the team's position from the season before. In both seasons under Shez we have finished 3 places above them and both were better than the one season Ronnie had in charge so it has been proven that Shez is a better choice of manager than Ronnie and that TTA made the correct decision by sacking him and appointing Shez. So well done TTA and hopefully there will be no debates over RM.

I think the only players we would need to bring in if we keep the squad we've got would be Livermore, Jarrett, a new 'keeper and possibly one more midfielder (centre-mid for diamond midfield, left-mid if we use wingers). If we went for the diamond midfield our squad would have enough players to fill all positions; Goalie's: Crossley, New GK, Bell Right-back's: Eardley, Lomax, Hazell Left-back's: Livermore, Lomax, Black Centre-back's: Gregan, Hazell, Stam, Thompson, Livermore Defensive-mid: Allott, Livermore, Gregan, (Chalmers?) Centre-mid: Allott, Taylor, Jarrett, Livermore, Eardley, Chalmers, New CM Attacking-mid: Jarrett, Liddell, Taylor Striker's: Hughes, Davies, Alessandra, Smalley, Wolfenden Here's what it would look like for a conventional midfield four: Goalie's: Crossley, New GK, Bell Right-back's: Eardley, Lomax, Hazell Left-back's: Livermore, Lomax, Black Centre-back's: Gregan, Hazell, Stam, Thompson, Livermore Right-mid: Taylor, Smalley, Liddell Left-mid: New LM (Schofield?), Taylor, Livermore Centre-mid: Allott, Taylor, Jarrett, Livermore, Eardley, Chalmers Striker's: Hughes, Davies, Alessandra, Smalley, Wolfenden Although it's only a squad of 22, we have cover in all positions thanks to the versatility of these players. If it gets really desperate then we can use the loan market or maybe the youth system again. IMO we don't need another striker unless we let Wolfy go as I feel it would be a waste of a wage, and Wolfy could easily do a job as our 5th choice striker.

After mulling it over, I've decided to go for no. I expect us to be dark horses for next season, there are other teams who have more money to spend than we do who will be ahead of us in most people's mind's. But it has proved in recent years that lower expectations have propelled the eventual league winners above the more fancied teams. Take the last five seasons, did anyone predict at the beginning of the season that Plymouth, Luton, Southend and Scunthorpe would win this league? Even Swansea were by no means favourites to take this league by storm this year. So in summary; We certainly have the potential to win promotion next year, but we need to be smart.

Great stuff! Best of luck Gary Mac!

My first poll so it may need altering from the Mods... Sorted! Obviously we all want us to do it, but when predicting league positions for next year would you put Latics amongst the top 2 or top 6?

I would like to keep Gary Mac as a squad player and I don't believe the tabloid rubbish about Brighton, but if he doesn't want to stay so he can get first team footy then fair enough, as said above I'd rather take Jarrett permanently. However, I still think he could be successful here and I'd prefer as little squad turnover as possible.

Did any members of BALLS get to the game today? I listened to it on Radio Devon & it was one of the most bizarre games I've ever heard! Brilliant stuff though! This Exeter/Torquay double header is going to be fantastic, up there with the Man United games a few years back! With all the ex-players on either side added to the earlier games this season means the animosity will be huge! Didn't see Burton this year at City but they're the only team to win at SJP this season so they should be fairly strong. Cambridge are a team of giants with minimal ability but they've lost a few players since I saw them. All in all, these playoffs are going to be amazing, even for a semi-neutral like me!

How old's this pie girl btw?

Completely agree.

Simple, it affects their enjoyment of following Oldham.