Bobledgersheart

Yes I think that was how it happened. Don't think Johnston was a kid, more mid-twenties, and a schoolteacher if my memory serves me well. It was sad to see him vainly trying to resurrect his career. A time when footballers just wanted to play not be seen as demigods to be revered for "kicking a bag of wind !"

Great footballer. His class shone through the few times he played for us. Can remember one match we were winning fairly easily and he dribbled round a couple of defenders, was about to do the same to the goalie in front of the Chaddy and the ref blew for time ! Was instrumental in the change to "electric orange" and an influx of Northern Irish youngsters, some of whom were better than others. Ronnie Blair, Allen Hunter, Derek Spence and one who I believe would have been really good barring a badly broken leg Billy Johnston. Can remember watching him limping through reserve matches during his failed comeback bid thinking I'd been cheated out of watching a potentially great player. His and Bates' arrival kick-started my real love of Latics and led to watching us play some great attacking football, winning the Ford Sporting League and eventually gaining promotion.

Tim Vine lives !

........also struggle to see why you've downboated my post but heho if it makes you feel better fire on !

Not keen on Ronaldo as a person but struggle to see the comparison.

The problem with getting premiership academy cast offs is the ridiculous wages they're on ( ten grand a week teenagers who've never played a competitive match ) so they'd automatically be our top earners with little or no pedigree.What we need to do is develop our own, play them and be sufficiently funded that we don't have to sell them for a song when the offers come along.

Not really. If he refused to train with the kids surely his wages could be withheld.

Not a great idea in a team game. All for one and one for all ?

Whatever he's done ?

Feel free to speculate.

.....getting a bit boring now.

The only useful tool in football is the one who puts the ball in the back of the net. Sorry I know I'm a dinosaur but it's all about what's on the field that counts in my quaint old fashioned world.

Expected goals............what a waste of time ! Read a bloody book or go and sweep your path if you're that desperate to do something.

Kudos and genuine respect for you and all the other away supporters and recognize your right to boo a shit performance, just don't think it does any good. The players do know when they're playing shit and probably need our support more than ever then. The only time I'd boo is a response to lack of effort.

I wasn't there so won't comment on the poor performance but telling your own fans to stop booing you doesn't strike me as a "billy big bollocks-bellend" reaction, particularly as he put a shift in last week and apparently this as well. Not much is achieved by booing your own players however much they may deserve it. Don't know if you were one of those defending Gerrard for his response to criticism on twitter but it'd be easier to ignore that than someone having a go during a match in my opinion.

Hooked on Nicotinell ?

I am looking at now, not 20 years ago when they were in the top division and sadly that time has long gone for us and them. We are in the bottom league, as are they, and the potential support of both clubs has dwindled tremendously and will never fully return no matter what is served up on the pitch. As for the council they struggle to empty bins and maintain roads due to the governments penny pinching.

The roughyeads are as skint as us - only 350 at one home match this season. Plus they couldn't meet their rent when they were getting 5 x that attendances.

You been watching us half a century ?

Obviously AL/FB/Barry has hi-jacked his account and he's locked in the trophy room at Boundary Park. ( p.s. this is only yet another conspiracy theory ).

Yes, he'll never get on with the mature adult that is Jack Byrne.

I'm glad some posters on here weren't on my shoulder when I was working.

Ah, that well documented Liverpool wit !

Point taken but he implies that a 2 year contract was a possibility.

He's in his own little world. Why wouldn't a manager he's previously played under and who apparently rates him not tie him down if he's as good as he thinks he is ?