unsworthlatic

I would go tonight: ------------------------------Wilson------------------------------ ----------------Wilson-----Clarke-----Gerrard--------------- McLaughlin-----Fane---Fawns----Green------------Hunt -----------------------Holloway-----Davies-------------------- The reason I would go with this is to make us slightly more solid with a 3 so 1 can drop deeper should pace undo us. I would then go for the wingbacks as McLaughlin and Hunt as there is plenty of pace there to use both attacking wise and defensively. In the middle I'd give Fawns a go, let's see what he can provide us with. I've put Fane and Green there to battle. As for the strikers, I'm not too sure whether it will work with these two but Holloway and Davies need games together, maybe to try and help each other understand each other's games so that is why I've gone with them. Ordinarily I probably would have thrown Duffus in there but no reason why he can't replace one of them at HT or after 55/60 if it still isn't working at all.

I agree Fane's positional sense has been questionable at best but what is that put down to? Is it due to him not understanding the dimensions of where he should be at any given position? Is it down to him believing he can go and cover a lot more ground than what is asked effectively? Or, certainly on Saturday he was trying to battle against 3 of their central midfielders on his own due to Green and Banks having poor games? Fane has been disciplined on occasion, mainly against Bury at home when he was seemingly told to break up the play and make an easy 5 yard pass (maybe not that easy to Fane haha) to the 'creators' in our midfield. Having a tough tackling defensive midfielder at the base of the diamond for me is crucial and that is one of the reasons I would love to see a 'John Welsh' type player in there who is well disciplined, good at organising and good at breaking up the play. Fane at present only seems to have one of those attributes but no reason why he can't be coached and taught to be a solid CDM who always keeps his position.

Why not?

I don't disagree with Fane being a defensive midfielder at all. What Shez probably thinks is that he has the power to drive forward 20/30 yards. In essence it's true, he does have the power, what he doesn't have is the ball control or technical ability (yet...could be coached) to do that and for me I would have him at the base of the diamond (if we have to play that formation) breaking up the play and serving it to the guys either side. At the moment I reckon we could just about get away with 2 in there so long as the wingers track too which to be fair McLaughlin and Tope do when playing out wide. However I doubt you can play a 2 with Banks in there. I know he's getting stick and we're all blaming him for being a 'scapegoat' but he was awful on Saturday. I like Fane's determination and endeavour, he isn't a great player by any stretch of the imagination but he's quite decent and extremely useful at what he does and can offer quite a bit to the team if he has the right players around him.

The fact they strolled through the middle of our midfield and the base of our diamond (Banks) was often elsewhere suggests Fane wasn't really to blame for our deficiencies in midfield. Fane was the only one of the 4 in midfield that would have been rated 7 out of 10, he was (trying to) play against a midfield 5 of Oxford on his own which you're then on a hiding to nothing.

Alan Nixon on twitter has said that 'a championship reserve keeper will trial for Oldham tonight' Just for the ones who won't take the bait, I will. Could it be Connor Ripley? ;) In all seriousness Alan also said that he is trialing for Oldham whilst we wait for a decent from the lad at Sunderland (or rather Sunderland's decision) Ahh I guess we'll see!

No and he's off to Bury anyway

Again I don't agree with the flag being at matches but that ultimately isn't our decision. 1) I don't think there should be a link but the flag highlights the mood of most people, thus a lot being more offended by the swear word and/or the red hand of Ulster more so than the message in general. 2) None of those three as far as I'm aware posted it. They probably wanted a picture with it due to the message it gives out. I wasn't saying that they are 'all innocent' just stated that they don't cause any bother or harm to other supporters or opposition and their supporters. 3) I was highlighting the good points that they bring to the club/game and also defending them on the fact it isn't their flag. 4) I don't really agree with the flag being at football, I believe it carries a message the majority feel since the atrocities over the last few months though. They (as a group) have taken abuse on social media for the flag, also a couple of comments on here. 5) Exactly what it should be!

I have mixed feelings about the flag in general but also by some comments made on the thread on here. Firstly the flag; It certainly wouldn’t be the way I portrayed my hate of ISIS and it certainly wouldn’t be my choice of language to have on the flag. The red hand of Ulster is controversial amongst some but ever thought the person who has had the flag made is a Latics fan with Northern Irish connections who wishes to show his pride of both along with sending the rather silly comment about ISIS and also the unfortunate choice of language he/she wished to use? As for some of the comments regarding this though: ‘I hope that flag is pulled out at an away game where the Hibs fans are present’ That’s pretty poor also, the interpretation being that he will get hassle for unveiling a flag you may not agree with but wish some trouble to come his way because of a flag, bit contradictory. On from that, the Athleticos have come in for quite a bit of abuse once more from a few. I understand there are 3 younger lads on this picture with the flag but the 3 lads in question offer no threat, no trouble and no problem to the club, its supporters or opposition or their supporters. As well as this it isn’t their flag, just wanted a picture with it for whatever reason. The reason I imagine is due to recent events and going with the trend of everybody else in hating ISIS. When a few of you were growing up in this country the IRA terrorist attacks were rife, Manchester Arndale being blown up, the bomb in Warrington, the bomb who killed women and children on a coach as well as many more. Similar sort of thing right? Not the organistations or the reasons why they are attacking but both being frowned upon and rightly so! I also bet quite a lot of you (not all, but then again there are 3 Athleticos on the picture) have joined in with the song ‘Keep St George In My Heart’ which leads to the reference towards the hatred of the IRA? Again, these are young lads! I happen to know most of them and certainly get on quite well with Ryan, who orders all of the flags (not this one in question as stated before) and does everything to help, support and raise funds for both the Athleticos and the club as a whole. During the game, however ‘cringey’ you seem to see it, the Athleticos did a tribute to Bradley Lowery on 6th Minute and set off a rendition of ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ in tribute for the 22 who lost their lives in Manchester on 22nd minute whilst raising enough funds, mostly between them to get the ‘Manchester 22’ flag made ready for next season. Whichever way you look at this flag as a whole which for what it’s worth I don’t really see why they saw the need to make a flag saying what it said and/or unveil it at a pre-season friendly (perhaps as the owner may be aware it won’t last very long in a League game’ the comments and the abuse towards both the flag owner and Athleticos I feel a bit ridiculous. I’m sure a lot will disagree and fair enough if you do, but I’m sure if you have any suggestions, issues or whatever that Ryan will be quite happy to speak to you, explain decisions and also take your opinions on board. All this aside, I hope you are all enjoying your summer and looking forward to the season! It should be a better one than last season that’s for sure!

No completely right. Cheap(ish) backup always handy, like I said I highly doubt he'll be number 1

To be fair I was underwhelmed when I heard it was Letheren, that said I do believe he will be backup and according to York and Dundee fans he is 'good to have around the place' To be a backup keeper I suppose you don't really have to be good, just competent and that video shows that he is a competent keeper when it comes to shot stopping. That said, I was a keeper myself and you could've put a video together like that for me really which shows 'best bits' so to speak. I won't judge him until I've seen him play but 99% sure Letheren will be a backup keeper to probably a loanee keeper (whoever that may be)

As far as I know he's under contract until next summer but depends if they want rid. If they do they'll probably let him go for free to get him off whatever wage he is on. As for Lafferty I'm unsure. It did crop up in my mind that it could be Daniel Jones but don't know really.

Apparently it's Cedric Evina

Bring back Lord Dunn

I too was disappointed in Taylor's performances since returning initially but looking back he played in a side that moved from bottom of the league to finish outside the relegation zone with a game to spare. On top of that he played a part in a back 5 (or 3 if you class wing backs as midfielders) that conceded very few, on top of that, left wing back not being his natural position yet not much actually came down the left hand side (oppositions right) where you could blame him for being a 'weak point' in our side. That of course is credit to the defence as a unit and as a team on the whole for the work rate and commitment when defending from the front. So looking back, he didn't provide too much going forward, seem to remember a great cross at Wimbledon that Ngoo missed a chance that was easier to score and also a great run that led to Banks' goal versus Charlton at home. Would I seek to get him back? Probably not Was I disappointed in Taylor? Slightly That said I thank him for his great service to Latics over the years and also in playing a part in keeping us in league one when we started a season 1/6 to go down prior to the Millwall away game.

That was my point you quoted but shows up as somebody else? Unsure why that is haha. I take the points on board and agree with you that the incident at the pub is the kind of things that grinds people's gears as there wasn't and shouldn't have been any trouble beforehand. The group stuck up for seemingly the ring leader (or most of the group did) and that is what I meant by easily led, if they had listened and respected the demand of the owner no issue would have arisen and as stated previously he did warn them enough, resulting in me telling them to stop and then moving away. The throwing of objects I didn't see, once they were removed I didn't bother looking over towards them but don't doubt that a couple of them did stuff like that which is rather childish and embarrassing! As for the original post, the name certainly caught the eye haha, something I didn't agree with as I do know all of these lads and MOST are absolutely fine. The experience certainly wasn't nice and nobody likes or wants us to be like that at all which is why as you say we as a club or band of supporters could address it. I don't think our reputation will be tarnished too much on this occasion due to videos of opposition schooligans being highlighted on social media, embarrassing one seemingly for all involved! I'm sure and I certainly hope the behaviour both on Saturday and at AFC Wimbledon will be substantially better.

On from that, it is to do with respect and they need to learn some and quickly! I have told the people concerned exactly what I thought of their actions but other than that I cannot do anything else. As stated previously the club are aware of names of these supporters and they will deal with them I'm sure! If I trusted them to behave properly I would have stood closer, I didn't, I stood well away due to seeing what issues could/did occur!

Interesting choice of words ;) In all seriousness their behaviour was extremely poor and I said that throughout my last post, all I did state was ALL of them within the group aren't 'nasty little thugs' As for a previous post regarding passing names on, the club are well aware of these people and I have left it at that as I don't want to get involved in pathetic acts of mindlessness like this.

These nasty little thugs that you refer to isn't an accurate way to view them in my eyes. Knowing them ALL I can say there are one or two who can be absolute pains and everybody who is around them knows the same. The one with the crutch isn’t an idiot at all, perhaps easily led but doesn’t get into bother so much. The one who got kicked out (didn’t stand near them) has caused trouble before and I have told him on a number of occasions to stop being an idiot. For what it’s worth I have no sympathy with him at all and he deserved/deserves everything that comes of this (whether that be a club ban, court appearance or whatever) I can’t comment either on the whole scenario in the ground as I were closer to the dugouts and some of my language I admit was pretty poor (more so towards Montano) The incident in the pub got blown up out of all proportion which started as the group singing Oldham songs, nothing to do with Bristol or anything else before being told to shut up by the owner of the pub, quite rightly as it’s his decision who he has as his custom. He asked on a number of occasions and I moved away after the second time of asking due to seeing what incident could arise, a couple of that group trying to calm the situation. After about 3 or 4 warnings they removed them and again no issue from me with regards to that. I, along with others calculated everything that happened towards a totting up process in a football match of persistent fouling resulting in them probably receiving a total of 7 yellow cards prior to being sent off (kicked out). They were given plenty of opportunities to behave themselves! Like I’ve said previously a lot of them are absolutely fine, as is the drummer (I don’t mind a drum at football matches but can see the annoyance of it being played for 90 minutes), it’s just a shame the odd one or two spoil it for them and also reiterating my point that the ones ejected would have been removed for a clear reason, again no sympathy for them at all and I for one have told them that and explained that we as a fan base don’t want people like them spoiling it for the good, loyal Latics fans that we all are!

Croft is more of a liability than a possibility (as shown by his pathetic piece of play when he got the chance at Walsall)

Not being funny but we're playing Bolton here not Barcelona! Equally Morais isn't Neymar! To the original post I would either play 442 and move Wilson out to LB, leave McLaughlin at RB and play a midfield 4 of Green, Banks, Fane and Obadeyi. That or play 352, move Wilson to LWB and play either Edmondson or Law in a back 3 with Gerrard and Clarke with Ryan McLaughlin a RWB. Nothing to fear at all in our division, as has been proved with only losing 1 this calendar year at BP.

We've also made a musical about the last time we won something ;)

They can be more than guesswork but most of the time it is guesswork as him and Carlo Nash will study where past penalties have been scored/missed from the opposition's penalty taker prior to the game. This doesn't always work however as many put them in different places and as such then becomes complete guesswork. Also are you suggesting Lee Gregory isn't a good player due to him being trumped twice in minutes by Ripley?

Despite me saying I thought this was a good idea, the timing seems very odd (as has been said by others) We are all also aware that these very probably won't work aren't we

Yes, I completely understand that and as have said previously it is bloody annoying and isn't the point at all. The lack of communication is dreadful (but now expected) and I can see why people feel they have been shafted. I am just merely making the point that perimeter boards are a decent idea.