laticsfanatic

OK, if Joe's instincts on managers can't be trusted, let's see him hold his hand up and get on the phone to those big name contacts he has, who have a history of getting it right. Sure, it might be wishful thinking on my part to think he's got Tony Bloom at Brighton or Dan Ashworth at Newcastle on speed dial. But I'd still like to believe he's got enough influence and connections within the game to find out who the best up and coming coaches are right now.

To be honest, I really thought putting Joe Royle on the board was going to be the ace card in making sure we always had the right football men in charge of our club. There surely can't be many other individuals, after all, who are better connected, have the same eye for talent or know more about the game in this country - so why he and Darren got it so wrong with Unsworth is bewildering. I just hope they have learned from that fiasco and deliver us something special with this next recruitment. No more jobs for the boys. No more journeymen with multiple sackings on their CV. No more lacklustre compromises. Let's have a fresh and vital management team we can all believe in.

Oh, I don't know, I could get used to a bit of Athletiki-taka

Just in case you were wondering what Mike Williamson could bring to the table.

It says a lot about Stainrod that he made the impression he did in such a short space of time. Proper flair player, with a real swagger. The idea of a Stainrod-Ritchie combo is truly the stuff of dreams.

Two very different players who, together, made the perfect strike partnership. Wylde was a great finisher, but it was Stainrod who you'd pay your entrance money to go and see. He was just a mercurial entertainer akin to Stan Bowles or Rodney Marsh, and I was devastated when he left.

In the introduction to his autobiography, Alex Ferguson talks generously about Joe Royle, saying his ''Oldham teams brought a freshness that would never be replaced. Oldham gave us some scary moments.'' When I read that, I instantly thought of this game. Fergie may have won two Champions League trophies and slugged it out with the best in Europe for 30 years, but he knew there was something about our team back then that was just unique, exhilarating and incredibly special.

Fantastic post Andy. I've got to agree with Joe, this was Oldham Athletic at their absolute A1 peak. Remember Tricky Ricky's impudent throw in onto the back of a United player? Not many teams could have lived with us that day.

The most disappointing for me will always be Billy Kenny. Everton fans still look back on him as their missed Gerrard and in his brief stint with us you could see the frightening potential. When he signed I genuinely felt Joe had unearthed an absolute diamond but, after just 4 games, the drugs took over and he was gone.

Stainrod was simply a great showman. You'd go to games just to see him, because he had a swagger and a touch of magic about his game that just seemed so alien at little old Boundary Park. We all knew we were on borrowed time having a mercurial talent like that playing for us, but wow, was that a fantastic 18 months! Pity because I would have loved to have seen him spearhead one of Joe Royle's great teams.

Andy Ritchie Dennis Irwin Ricky Holden They not only mixed it with the best in England but beat them, and with some style! To be honest, I've only seen 4 players you could genuinely call GREAT in my 40 years supporting Latics - the other being Simon Stainrod.

Was lucky enough to play alongside Bryan Robson twice about five years ago. Anyone remember him playing against us back in the 80's, when we took on United in a hastily arranged winter friendly? Games were being called off everywhere, but we had our undersoil heating. Robbo was at his peak then - played the first half as a sweeper and in his usual marauding midfield roll in the second. Absolute world class. Still rate it as the best performance I have seen from an opposition player at Boundary Park.

First: Maurice Whittle - cracking left back with a shot like a mule! All time: Simon Stainrod - just has the edge in flair and fantasy over Stitch. Present: I'll say Harkins, but in all honesty he can't hold a light to the three aforementioned legends.

Pete's post was the real tear jerker for me. Sheer class. United fans, you'll never experience euphoric, life-affirming emotions like these!!!

1. First home game in the Prem. All seater stand. New grass pitch. Sun shining. And a 3-0 win against Chelsea to boot. Bliss. 2. The penalty. The tears. The pitch invasion. The Champions! 3. Maurice’s winner against United in ‘74 4. Ooh what a hat-trick! Roger’s third in the 4-1 destruction of City at Main Road in ’88. 5. Ricky’s second in the 3-0 Quarter Final win v Villa. They finished runners up in the top flight. We proved we could live with the best!