philliggi

just a quick update on the tables as they stand. important ends only 18 Blackpool 43 7 10 4 32 25 4 7 11 24 34 -3 50 19 Southampton 43 8 5 8 23 24 4 9 9 29 44 -16 50 20 Sheff Wed 43 8 5 9 25 24 4 8 9 21 27 -5 49 21 Coventry 43 8 7 7 24 25 5 3 13 21 33 -13 49 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 Leicester 43 7 7 8 22 16 4 8 9 18 26 -2 48 23 Scunthorpe 43 6 7 8 25 28 3 5 14 14 36 -25 39 24 Colchester 43 4 8 9 30 35 3 8 11 28 42 -19 37 1 Swansea 43 12 5 4 33 18 13 6 3 43 21 37 86 2 Carlisle 43 17 2 2 37 13 6 8 8 25 27 22 79 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Doncaster 43 13 4 5 32 18 9 6 6 29 20 23 76 4 Nottm Forest 43 11 8 2 33 11 8 8 6 26 19 29 73 5 Southend 43 12 5 5 34 19 9 4 8 33 33 15 72 6 Leeds 42 14 4 4 39 17 10 6 4 28 19 31 67 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Walsall 42 7 8 5 24 20 9 7 6 25 18 11 63 8 Brighton 43 11 6 4 35 23 6 6 10 19 25 6 63 9 Tranmere 43 12 4 6 31 18 5 7 9 19 26 6 62 10 Oldham 43 9 7 6 30 20 7 6 8 22 22 10 61 1 Milton Keynes Dons 42 11 5 5 38 16 16 3 2 38 17 43 89 2 Peterborough 43 14 4 4 46 18 12 4 5 33 22 39 86 3 Hereford 41 9 6 5 30 18 14 3 4 35 22 25 78 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Stockport 42 10 5 6 37 27 13 4 4 31 22 19 78 5 Darlington 43 11 7 4 34 19 10 4 7 28 17 26 74 6 Rochdale 42 9 3 8 32 27 12 6 4 39 25 19 72 7 Wycombe 42 11 6 4 26 14 8 6 7 26 26 12 69 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Chesterfield 43 9 6 6 40 27 10 4 8 34 26 21 67

was one ofthe best players on the pitch at leeds. in my time at latics, its not the likes of sheff weds that we struggle to beat, its the teams like leyton orient

never really thought about playing with that formation before hudds, but i do agree it looks very good. would cut out the need for the extra striker as well because lewis and davies could cover it with liddell possably covering the wing? what would it mean for macca though?

well it could be standing only? Have I just made a fool of myself?

after speaking to Robin at the Tranmere game (granted this was a while back) I was under the impression the Lookers would be coming down around November time. obviously this contradicts what you are saying Paul so I maybe wrong, but if Robin was correct, how feasable would it be to house the away fans in the Lookers, up until it gets demolished. Hopefully we will have played one or two big teams by November, and it would also leave the entire RRE for home fans. like i said I dont know how possible this would be but its an idea

today we saw a few players playing out of their standard positions, but did they come off? Although I would say they all did well enough, I personally wouldnt say they all did well enough for me to say " I would give him a spot there every week". Smalley - Although in the youth and reserve teams he is considered a striker, at first team level, he should be considered a winger. Therefore he was out of his region today, and i must say that is the best game he has had in that position in the first team. The assist for Taylors goal was one of the best I have seen this season and he ran at, and turned his man time after time. was my man of the match today, and This move definatly came off. Eardley - Did well in the centre today. battled hard in an unfamiliar position and won a far few challenges. along with Allott, sured the midfield up to such an extent the play was almost entirely played in the Leyton Orient half. ten out of ten. However, Im not sure a midfield of Allott and Eardley would give you the creative flair you require, and for me, in a midfield role, they are too similar. Eardley and Allott both had good games, but I wouldnt be sure about that midfield against a Swansea or a Leeds. too defensive. wouldnt conceed many, however, how many would we score? Well played to both of them tho. Hazell - Again, Like Eardley, had a good game, but doesnt look any where near as comfortable at right back as he does in the centre. In a competition with Eardley, Eardley would win every time. Not That I dont like Hazell, far from it, He has run Allott very close for player of the season this year, but im not too sure i like him at right back. He can do a job, but full time? no thanks. All in all, I think the team looked balenced today, and they all performed well without ever coming out of second gear. none of the gambles disgraced themselves and they would all be worth another shot in them positions, but with a fully fit squad, they wouldnt be playing their again. Well done lads, I think you showed today this team has more flexability than we give them credit for.

You have to remember those coming up as well tho. not going to be easy with either forest or Leeds not going up and Sheff weds/leicester coming down. but add to that, mk dons and peterborough have a lot of money, and it wouldnt surprise me if these two teams finish in the top six. in all honesty next seasons league could be the most difficult since the Dowie season.

Didnt he get given a 2 year deal at the start of the season? Dont know personally but im sure I remember Melia saying something about talking to him in oldham on a night out and he was boasting about his two year deal. I do agree tho, I think he will be very worried about his future tbh.

it will happen one day

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Ive never heard of this guy. if he is supposedly that good, and command a 65000 fee, how come he has only scored 11 in league two? how would that translate to league one? please correct me if he has been injured etc, i will stand corrected. but having heard his stats on here he doesnt sound like he will set the world on fire.

it could work in our favour tho. close seson starts now, whereas we get to the playoffs it starts at the end of may. a whole two months extra to prepare for 08/09. Look how many teams fail miserably the season after getting in the playoffs. Hartlepool and Brentford have both been relegated in recent years after a playoff birth the season before. Swansea finished outside the play offs last year. next year will be interesting.

What exactly was the Infrastructure of the back room set up under dowie? was it just a case of the same as now plus John Harbin (fitness conditioner)?

i personally think that would aid our case for getting him if they won it. What more would there be to achieve in his career except play for his hometown club? I never thought i would say it but United winning the champ league could be good for us.

I presume by the OP there has been a development in this. I dont think it would be on the news reporting the same story we have all heard up to four years ago. Has he said this this week? and I dont believe he has stated he WILL play one season before? only that he would like to play. In my book there is a difference. but until someone can confirm it has been on the news it is all hearsay

sometimes i think these threads should be retitled "last one to post wins"

JJ: Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Stayin alive, stayin alive, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah Stayin Aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiveeee!!!

I dont think anybody has ever put it better. congrats

why does every thread have to turn into a should he stay or should he go? the thread's origin was surrounding that of employing a director of football. there is 20 or 30 threads started daily, yet every one of them turns into the same debate and quite frankly im getting bored of it. as regards the origional post, i would say stay well clear of a director of football. Shez is the manager and he should have the final word on everything. Directors of football do not work as has been proven in the past at various clubs. I could nigh on guarantee it if one was brought in Shez would be out of a job within the year. be it his choice or the clubs, because too much friction is caused between the two. If you want to bring in an experienced head do it, but not as well as the club manager, instead of. side by side doesnt work.

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sorry i worded it badly. where you correct me, that is exactly the point i make. there are players who play for other clubs both in our league and higher up the league structure that would do a job for us, and not cost the earth. just because a player comes from the premier/championship, doesnt mean they are on premier/championship wages. and just because they are cheap/reasonable doesnt mean they cant do a job for us. Josh Lowe is a perfect example of my point.

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in dowies playoff season, we had what seemed like a brilliant scouting network. we had signings from non league, who performed excellantly that year for us. these players were also dirt cheap, and because of their history would have been paid a pittance. my question is how come we cant do this now? im not having "these players are one in a million". We found 2 in one close season so it can't be that rare. we also signed pogs from australia. my other point on scouting, well signings in general is that same year we signed josh lowe from nowhere. not a big name player but his ability down the wings was tremendous. the final ball wasnt always there, but he beat his man every time. another player who wouldnt be on sky high wages. im not saying its easy to accomplish what dowie did in the transfer market, but it is posssable. i dont find it acceptable that "players are out of reach or we cant meet their wage demands, we proved that year with better use of the transfer and scouting systems it can be done. granted the likes of armsrong, hill, holden and Wijnard all cost money, or demanded high wages, but in other positions we were able to identify our needs and fill problem positions with relatively cheap options. why do we seem unable to do that now? this, along with signing a physio who wants to be here are the two main things that need sorting in the summer.

pogsknee COME ON DOWN!!!!

obviously you play the older guy if its a choice between a 34/35 yr old or someone who should be playing on a sunday morning for the dog and duck, but if you have the choice 2 players of similar ability, both have their weaknesses, you choose the younger option in my eyes. You talk as though Stam isnt capable to lace Gregans boots. Gregan is not God like you seem to think. He was awsome up until we gave him a contract, then its been down hill since. To say Gregan is the best centre back in the league is tosh. He isnt even the best centre back at the club.