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After the last two seasons of ups and downs where at points we seemed to have a team that could get promoted and then a team that could easily be relegated it is nice to have a manager who realistic but also hungry and wants success as this seems to permeate into the squad. Not wanting to get carried away but your pic does look a bit like Michael Sheen as "Cloughie" in "The Damned United". If only we could have half the success, We can but dream!!

UP THE LATICS

His nicknames suited him well as a player. Reminds me a lot in terms of his work rate of Kenny Miller: always a very hard working honest professional and one not lacking in ability either. Watched him with various clubs over the years and I hope he is a great success at Oldham

This article is as refreshing as Paul Dickov himself. At Latics we have badly needed a shot in the arm after the grim saga of last season. In fact we've needed a shot in the arm at regular intervals since 5pm on the afternoon of April 10 1994 when Mark Hughes volley hit the net to equalise for Man U in the FAC semi with 55 seconds remaining, we didn't win another match, were relegated from the Premiership, relegated again 3 seasons later and as you rightly say have avoided another relegation by the skin of our teeth several times - though to be fair we have made the play offs more than once.
It was March 27 1954 when I first saw a match at Latics so there isn't much I haven't endured and - occasionally enjoyed - like the winter of 1962-3 and the whole of seasons 1989-93.
It's so sad the way the fan base has gradually eroded away but if anybody can revive things then its PD.
Elsewhere in the North West there has been great success achieved by positive minded managers with a positive mind and forward thinking despite a low budget. Look at Blackpool for a start. Then next door at Rochdale. Up and down the coast at Barrow Morecambe Fleetwood and Southport.
It's very refreshing to hear the directors talk about the way PD got the job. 'We knew at the end of the interview that he was our man' sums it all up.
And I've said more than once on local radio that PD will prove the most successful appointment since Joe Royle in 1982.

Great Article. It is refreshing to see the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ provide some much needed coverage of the Latics. At the start of the season there were a few disgruntled postings about Dickov's appointment, however, Corney's decison now seems to be vindicated. I like Paul's attitude in taking each game as it comes and reminding his young team to remain grounded. That said, if we continue the way we are at the moment, it will be essential that we tie him down to an extended contract, as at present there is only a 12 month rolling contract in place. Fingers crossed we can also reduce the playing squad to a more manageable size, its important we run the club as efficently as possbile....at least until we reach the FA CUp 5th Round to face United! ;-)

Keep the Faith.

Great article Paul! Nice to see us getting a mention guessing this is why you posted on our page earlier in the week.
Dickov has been a breathe of fresh air and I for one can not speak highly enough about him and its nice to see the rest of the team like Tagaart getting their fair mention.
Hopefully a few will read this and start to come back to the ground. I knew the figures were low early on for season tickets but didn't realise they were that low.
Maybe you should come down and take a game in with us if you are ever around and we will treat you well with a few drinks and a pie in the greatest 3 sided staduim in the world.
Dave Penny are you watching?

Dickov's yet another fine example of upcoming 'British' managers being given a chance in the football league. Great to hear he wants to mold his Oldham side around the town's strong working class ethic. I really believe at that level having superior strength and fitness to the opposition is worth at least one goal advantage. Dickov also reflects my view that as long as supporters appreciate the team is giving 100% effort at all times they'll continue providing the backing.

It's early days ofcourse and that problem of trimming a 'bloated squad' whilst maintaining the level of quality on the pitch may prove difficult.

People forget that Oldham was Joe Royle's first club, too.
It's a different era now though; let's hope if there's any success to come, he isn't whisked away to a bigger club before he can build something here.

JoC - I completely agree with you. Superior strength and fitness is key at this level. It can be the difference between getting that last minute equaliser and going home empty handed at the final whistle, this is only achieved through hard work and dedication, a trait demonstrated by the Latics manager throughout his career.

Though Paul briefly mentioned in his article about Dickov's staff, I believe these have had just as much of a key role in the recent resurgence as the manager himself. The players look fitter, more determined and most importantly are playing without fear.

It's also nice to see the younger lads being given a chance. Dale Stephens has been a breath of fresh air and alongside Dean Furman, we now have a young, energetic central midfield bursting with talent. Throw into the mix the Kieron Lee who looks like he really did get an education from Manchester United, the resurgent Lewis Allesandra on the left and young striker Djeny Bembo and it clearly show that Dickov is not afraid in throwing in the kids.

You can't win anything with kids? I wouldn't let Paul Dickov hear you say that!

Tenuous Paul Dickov fact: I live on the same street as his brother, Stevie Dickov.

I wish Paul all the best, and I'm glad that he's taken to management like a duck to hoi sin sauce.

3 things done at oldham which will improve things no end is to say goodby to mike newton and bring in dickov as manager and gerry taggart in as his assistant,hope promotion is just around the corner, same as at the vale, at last a season of hope after years of mediocrity flirting with relegation,a league apart but parallel problems, good luck for the season

Dickov will always be a City legend, glad to see he's still doing well - great blog Fletch!

Great Blog Paul, Dickov will be the first one to refer to a "management team" and everyone of the team under Paul's guidance have brought a passion & an energy, that is flowing around the ground, All 3 sides of it).

Coupled with the attacking football on show it make a positive impact regardless of where Oldham finish the fans will appreicate everything the team is doing.

Paul Dickov also wrote a very good articule on the Oldham website last week (Watch out Fletch). Surrounding players demands & hte recent recession & how it is affecting wages & how oldham operate.

Overall a very bright, shrew, young manager, learning his trade with the help of some old hand coaches.

PS. I was one of those who was never a Dickov Fan. Both when he was a player & his appointment as Oldham maanger. I am happy to say I have been converted.

Hi Paul

I would agree with most people about Dickov as a player, hated him when he played against you, love him in your team, all due to the work ethic and the shift he puts in when he's playing.

The one thing i do like about him as a manager is that he is giving youth a chance, and the loans that he has brought in are on a season long loan. When Sheza & penney were in charge too may times they went for the experienced lower league player on a quick fix of a months loan, which more often than not failed.

This year the 'galacdickovs' are playing football again, back to the good times under shezza, a million miles from the dark days of Penney.


Keep up the good blogs Paul, always more interesting to read about football in the real world.

16. At 09:18am on 24 Sep 2010, Paul Fletcher wrote:
Morning all.

nico - have you ever spoken to Stevie (very Scottish name that)? Or seen him chasing down a lost cause in the local park?
------------------------------------

He borrowed my ladders once to fix his guttering and returned them promptly upon completion of this task. Nice guy.

He also used to be player/coach of the local amateur team, Pumpherston Juniors.

Forget Kinkladze, Sumerbee and even the Goat- Dicov is THE City Legend of the last 20 years, Oldham are my 2nd team for the duration of Dicov's tenure. I'm sure there is a fair few City fans who would agree.

Up the Latics!

First saw Dickov as a 15 year old playing for Scotland in the U16's World Cup, played in Scotland in front of excellent crowds. Scotland had a really talented squad of players but he was the stand out. They made the final due to a combination of a solid squad and home advantage.

I loved his attitude as a player, a bit like Billy Bremner, never say die and couldn't care less about what the opposition thought, his only priority is his team. Unlike Billy he looks as though he is going to transfer his drive and commitment into the management field.

I wish him and Oldham all the best.

formerly of this parish Chris Charles has an excellent new blog about life in the football league.

Great blog, as ever.
Used to love watching the bigger teams suffer on the old 'plastic' pitch at Boundary Park, on Granada Soccer Night etc.
I hope both Dickov and Oldham do well, the fans will back a team that leaves it all on the field. As a BWFC fan, I can see shades of Owen Coyle in his attitude and approach...

pablatic ... i enjoyed reading your comment,all the best to oldham for this season. i think you have a great motivational manager,i am a southport fc fan and appreciate you mentioning our club . hope its a good season for oldham and southport and thanks paul fletcher for another great article

Yeh Paul Dickov is a good man. I've followed his career for 20 odd years. Did you know he scored a goal in a World Cup Final for Scotland? Good luck to him with Oldham.

1989 FIFA Under-16 World Championship.

Well, it looks like I'm by myself on this one.
Someone above described Dickov as "always a very hard working honest professional". Hard working, yes. Honest? Never! One of the most blatently dishonest players I've ever seen on a football pitch. Constantly diving to win free-kicks & penalties and get fellow players booked and sent off. Arguing with the ref to get opposition players punished. I couldn't stand the guy as a player.
Maybe he's finally grown up. Maybe he encourages his players to be more honest than he was, I don't know, I've not seen Oldham play this season.
I hope Oldham do well, I loved seeing them showing the "big boys" a thing or 2 a few years back. And I hope that the current Oldham team show more integrity than their manager did as a player.

Loved Dickov as a player for or against us always did whatever he could to help the side win .All clubs love players like that including exileddevonred or will he speak out against Scoles,Giggs or Rooney who also foul ,dive and argue.Anyway good luck to Paul he deserves whatever comes his way .

"All clubs love players like that including exileddevonred or will he speak out against Scoles,Giggs or Rooney who also foul ,dive and argue"

Sorry, you've got the wrong "Red"!
Yes, I'll speak out against Scoles,Giggs or Rooney when they cheat. And yes, they do do it, but not to the same extent as Dickov. Or try to get players sent off in the same way that Dikov did.
Not all football fans are as one-eyed as you insinuate - I won't defend my players when they do it. I'll be embarassed & ashamed. Cheating is cheating whoever they play for.

Inspiring piece: well done. In this era of globalisation, obsession with commercialism and tendency grossly to underestimate the human element in coaching and management, those neutrals of us hope that Dickov and his like prosper and that he is able to do his best to bring good times back to towns like Oldham.

Players play for people who inspire them, who make them look forward to playing for them and with ten other blokes whose mental outlook has been enhanced in a similar way; you don't need million-pound training facilities to create that atmosphere; a source of inspiration such as Dickov is something that can't be measured in pound notes.

Apologies for stating the obvious, but £20 is a lot to pay for a ticket to a football match for many people: if the ground is only one-tenth full, would reducing the prices not encourage the people of Oldham to return and support their club ?

'Success' at Oldham will be measured by filling some of those empty seats and winning promotion; hopefully Dickov will stick around at Boundary Park and take the club as far as he can.

Contrast this with a club at the opposite end of the financial spectrum, Arsenal, and how they approach the issue of six trophy-less seasons on www.seriousfootball.net

ExiledDevonRed , What were your thoughts on Ronaldo when he played for the rags? Diving, trying to get players sent off? What are your thoughts on Roy Keane that odious, foul mouthed,animal who finished another players career and bragged about it in his book. Tell me? Which of these three players is the most honest, I will give you a clue, Its not those two who played for a team that has been exiled from Manchester for over a hundred years. Pot Kettle ?
Good Luck Paul.

"ExiledDevonRed , What were your thoughts on Ronaldo when he played for the rags? Diving, trying to get players sent off? What are your thoughts on Roy Keane that odious, foul mouthed,animal who finished another players career and bragged about it in his book. Tell me? Which of these three players is the most honest, I will give you a clue, Its not those two who played for a team that has been exiled from Manchester for over a hundred years. Pot Kettle ?
Good Luck Paul. "

Whooaaa!
Why do you assume that I support Man Utd? I may be red, but it's not their red! There are teams outside of the premiership you know....Oldham for example....
I totally agree, Ronaldo is despicable, and Roy Keane, well.....
But while Dickov might not have been as bad as those 2, he was still a far worse cheat than most players. And the fact that he gave 100% to the clubs that he played for, shouldn't close our eyes to his "antics".

My heartfelt appologies. Seeing the words Devon and red, your obvious dislike of Paul Dickov I wrongly assumed you were a gloryhunting plastic rag. After watching the man week in week out for years I can honestly say that you are totally wrong.He always gave as good as he got, not the greatest player ever, but I bet you couldn't count on one finger the number of managers who thought he was a cheat.
Ps.......Oldham play in blue (except for some away games)

MaineRoad, OK, we'll agree to disagree on this one.

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Quoting ExiledDevonRed :
"Hard working, yes. Honest? Never! One of the most blatently dishonest players I've ever seen on a football pitch. Constantly diving to win free-kicks & penalties and get fellow players booked and sent off. Arguing with the ref to get opposition players punished. I couldn't stand the guy as a player.
Maybe he's finally grown up. Maybe he encourages his players to be more honest than he was, I don't know, I've not seen Oldham play this season."


Hmmmm, having seen them at Hillsborough the other night Dickov has clearly moulded his team in his own image judging by the number of times Oldham players collapsed in apparent agony at the slightest of tackles, before bounding up again and carrying on as if nothing had happened after the ref had taken action (or seen through their dirty tricks and not taken action, in some cases).

Not a sour grapes comment at Wednesday's frustrating ineptitude by the way, I've always quite liked Oldham for some reason, probably because my first ever Owls game was against them some 30 years ago, but Dickov was always a horrible, sly little player who's probably going to be the same as a manager.