kowenicki'smoustache

Better than Doncaster Vs Fulham

The Spotted Horse is still there. Not with the great interior it once had. And it's Young's so very expensive. The Bricklayers, just off the Lower Richmond Road is my favourite. Becky, the Landlady, has Keighley connections. Still, nobody's perfect.

The Railway opposite Putney National Rail is not now a Spoons. It is Revolution. Food based bar - pricy.

I rarely get to see Latics play due to work/life commitments. I have though watched them on and off for 40 odd (very odd) years. Ironically, the years when I watched them least were the years of greatest success. Last night was my first chance to see them play this season and this board and other places have suggested that I have been lucky to escape thus far. I cant speak for what has gone before, but I can give my opinion on what I witnessed last night FWIW. I understand that, for whatever reasons, there seems to be a change of direction in style of play and team selection/set-up. I saw a team the was set up to win. They put in a lot of effort and were effective to a point. There was a lack of quality and confidence in the final third, especially in front of goal. There was, however, the added impediment of a 'keeper who was doing a reasonable impression of the nearby cattle market - he was on fire. I would have been less happy if we weren't creating chances at all. It seems that this, at least was an improvement on what has gone before this season. We gave the ball away too easily in the middle of the park. I suppose this why some of our players are playing at this level but I can't help thinking that taking care of possession is a pretty basic thing at any level. I can't understand why one would choose to defend a corner with 11 men behind the ball. It allows the opposition to push everyone forward and allows pressure to build. As for the players: Iverson - Didn't have a huge amount to do, but did what he had to well. Particularly shot stopping. I'd like him to distribute the ball a little more quickly. Hunt - seems a bit lightweight but ok. Looked tired towards the end. Edmundson - Steady but gets too close and will be turned easily by better players. Clarke - generally ok and was extolling his team to greater effort, constantly appearing to advise, cajole, instruct. Taylor - Looked tired from the start but not a bad game. Looks vulnerable to anything in the air. Ducked under a few and was relieved to see cover behind - perhaps he knew they were there! Lang - Industry to some effect. He and Nepomuceno swapped wings at one point but I'm not sure that it changed much. I fancy he may score a few if part of a front two. Would have to be with someone bigger and (certainly) stronger than him though. Gardner - Has all the touches and played some decent stuff. More guilty than some of giving the ball away easily. Lyden - Looks to have a calmness about him and a decent touch. His passes were a bit 'floaty' for my more rustic tastes. Nepomuceno - Worked hard, some decent runs and crosses. Benteke - Looked lost when he had the ball and a little time. Miller was coaching him constantly and I think, overall he wasn't terrible. I get the impression that he will score a few given the chance. More confidence needed. Miller - A pretty good game. I liked the fact that he was talking to and encouraging (sometimes berating) his colleagues. He tried to lead. He never was that prolific but on another day may have had a hat-trick. O'Grady - Not enough time to see anything of him. Baxter - No time to do anything. Looked ok in that brief time I suppose. Frankie Bunn - Put out probably his strongest team on form (fitness permitting) and set them up to try and win. They did try. I would have made a couple of substitutions a little earlier perhaps, but the team were playing well, so it's understandable that he didn't. My expertise knows no beginning, so these are just my opinions based on one game. I do tend to think that (bad as County were - and they were proper poor) this style of play and set up is the way forward. I suspect we'll win more than we lose. It wasn't a bad game last night. I've been to many (many, many) worse in my time following Latics. Just one more thing: I wish the Latics fans could think of a song to sing that let's me know what colours we play in - Listened all night and still not sure!

Beardsley did play. Had been on loan at ?Carlisle I think. Was disappointed at a reserve team nobody playing!

It was against a Manure Xi... I'm sure that Liverpool players including Grobbelaar and Craig Johnston played for the United XI!!! Can't see that having happened often. Worthington apparently always wanted to play for United and was said to gutted to play for Latics that day... I was there anyway, even if my memory is playing tricks now.

I'm going. I'm happy to pay £15. It's a fair price. I'm happy that season ticket holders are getting a deal too.

If anyone is planning to stop over, there is a Premier Inn in South Wimbledon with a bus (131) 2 minutes walk away that stops outside the ground (35 minute journey). There is a great bar (The Merton Apprentice) two mins from the hotel that is run by a Latics fan... No tv sport, but great beer and atmosphere...

He had a fine moustache...

Also, if you need an emergency pint before your train... The Bree Louise just around the corner from Euston...

Who? Evans or Martis?

The Rake, Winchester Walk (I know), Borough Market, SE1 9AG, is very small but very good if you like yer beer... Five minutes walk from LB. Be warned though, the barman is a Burnley fan...

It's interesting that some question the interview technique/performance of Kuqi. Previously appointed managers have provided stand out interviews. DK would appear to be the King of talking the talk. Maybe it's time to appoint someone with the ability/potential to walk the walk, regardless of their adeptness at interview.

Mike Jones Injured

Indeed. I think that public pressure through the media (Chron etc) is important. If enough people put enough pressure on local journos, they might actually start publicising our concerns (and not club PR) and perhaps even provoke the club into some sort of adequate response... Mind you, they don't want to risk losing access at the club so....

As for fans making more noise about issues of concern, then yes, but here isn't the place. It's good for getting it off your chest though.

I think the club should do so, but I doubt that they will. As I say, they will do as they please. It is difficult for us to influence that. I'm not sure that I can, so I shall just get on with supporting the team and hoping against hope...

We can all talk about this until the cows come home (and in my opinion they're at home, in bed and fast asleep), but it doesn't make any difference. Unless someone has a few million to spare with which to buy out TTA then it is all academic. They will do what they will do. I will continue to support my team and hope that they can rise above all of this and contrive to stay in league one...

Whether the value of any sell-on fee is known to us or not will have no influence on anything. The club will do with it as they will, regardless of what we know or think or want. We can only hope that some or all of any such money goes to the playing budget.

My heart says that this result may be a catalyst for the type of run that will ensure survival. My head still tells me that relegation is the most likely scenario. However: We have a centre half whose instinct is safety first and who has no compunction about explaining this to his colleagues. This he does in words of one syllable that even JW has a chance of understanding. This, combined with wise words of advice from PS, suggests that the defence may start to function in a more robust and consistent fashion. We have started to get the ball into the danger area more often. If our existing strikers, or our new ‘big name’ can start converting these chances then things look better. We generally look more organised and the players seem to be more comfortable with what they are being asked to do. If, and it’s a big if, we can bring some confidence into our home performances then we really do have a chance. They will be a few pitfalls on the way but it shouldn’t be boring!

Bardcode Tech Limited provide scanners/Barcode readers etc. Could it be that this money is for turnstile technology or POS (tills etc) in the new stand?

Sidefooted the ball clear, one-footed, before contact. Both players went in - a six and two threes challenge... Looking at the replay in slow motion, after contact, Brown's feet looked to both be off the floor. Unfortunately for him, the ref was viewing from an angle that would have exaggerated that two-footed impression. For me though, it's not a foul let alone a card of any colour.

At a time when we have, for the first time in ages, found something that may energise both the team and the fans - something positive for once - this strange desire to seek out the negative rears it's ugly head...

If he is looking for a big experienced lump of a centre half, I think Joseph Yobo is a free agent...

As Big Ron once said of Carlton Palmer: "He covers every blade of grass on the pitch. If he could control the ball, he wouldn't have to".