wigan v city official match thread

[Craig B]

Absolutely shocking by Shay Given.. even hopeless Hart would of stopped that. Up against it now.. can't see us scoring.. no shots all half! Bollocks!

Utter bollocks post. What should he have done???

As Doug kindly pointed out on behalf, got a decent hand on it and palmed it away instead of trying to gather it and in doing so landing it on a plate for the Wigan player. I'm sorry it's a goalkeeping error - Given is not above criticism. I absolutely agree about the woeful defending in build up to the cross of course but Given is clearly at fault.

[DoomMerchant]

bright spots have been there tho tbh...we surely have had enough possession in and around their box to have stuffed something into their net. frustrating to watch.

overall we look poor tho...lack of that final pass or touch that we are capable of, and then you go down a goal. Defensively, certainly missing something from the back four to say the least. Wigan are getting into our box for shots on goal literally anytime they managed to gain possession. That will worry Hughes enough that he might not want to sub out NDJ or Barry from midfield for Ireland.

Honestly, at this stage, i'd pull Richards off and stick Kompany on. Or shove Barry in the back four if Kompany can't come on for Richards. Then put Ireland in the middle with NDJ.

we have to get this sorted at HT. no question...this isn't a match to come back out with the same team and formation and knock our heads against the wall for 20 mins before we act.

[Kyle]

Here's the problem, Hughes chooses his favourite system from Blackburn era of 4-4-2 with two deep lying miedfielders and wingers pushing forward which efectively means only four players attacking. WHY? Against bleeding Wigan??? If we are going to try and give top 4 run for their money we need to go to places like Wigan looking for win.

Wigan obviously quickly figured out our plan and their fullbacks are lying deep meaning we have no chance of creating anything. That goal was accident waiting to happen. They are going to defend with ten men now and it's going to be real uphill struggle.

Take Barry off and throw Ireland in as the gap between central midfielders and strikers is HUGE now. We need playmaker on the pitch ASAP.

Spot on. I hate this formation we run, we did the same thing at Villa and once we put Ireland on he filled the gigantic hole at the top of the 18. Why doesn't Hughes see this? The 4-2-3-1 is so much more efficent then the 4-4-2!

[The Original Special One]

Absolutely shocking by Shay Given.. even hopeless Hart would of stopped that. Up against it now.. can't see us scoring.. no shots all half! Bollocks!

Utter bollocks post. What should he have done???

As Doug kindly pointed out on behalf, got a decent hand on it and palmed it away instead of trying to gather it and in doing so landing it on a plate for the Wigan player. I'm sorry it's a goalkeeping error - Given is not above criticism. I absolutely agree about the woeful defending in build up to the cross of course but Given is clearly at fault.

To be fair I don't think he could have gathered it: he might have pushed it off to his left; - it was always risky pushing it out in front of goal, - but it had been hit in at pace after Richards had been left for dead.
AGAIN!

[mr_nool]

Just back from my whisky tasting, and have quickly read this thread. I take it we've been dire.Any hope of us turning this around in the second half?

[Somerset Blue]

Just back from my whisky tasting, and have quickly read this thread. I take we've been dire.Any hope of us turning this around in the second half?

It's still there for the taking, but we need to make changes.

[bluemoon]

Absolutely shocking by Shay Given.. even hopeless Hart would of stopped that. Up against it now.. can't see us scoring.. no shots all half! Bollocks!

Utter bollocks post. What should he have done???

As Doug kindly pointed out on behalf, got a decent hand on it and palmed it away instead of trying to gather it and in doing so landing it on a plate for the Wigan player. I'm sorry it's a goalkeeping error - Given is not above criticism. I absolutely agree about the woeful defending in build up to the cross of course but Given is clearly at fault.

I do agree Given could have done better, but then again, he should never really have been put in that position in the first place and Bridge could've done a better job on N'Zogbia, where was Lescott???? So basically anyone one of a 3-4 players could have prevented the goal, but it's happened now. Time for a quick smoke to calm the nerves, let's see what this side is made up of.

[DoomMerchant]

Here's the problem, Hughes chooses his favourite system from Blackburn era of 4-4-2 with two deep lying miedfielders and wingers pushing forward which efectively means only four players attacking. WHY? Against bleeding Wigan??? If we are going to try and give top 4 run for their money we need to go to places like Wigan looking for win.

Wigan obviously quickly figured out our plan and their fullbacks are lying deep meaning we have no chance of creating anything. That goal was accident waiting to happen. They are going to defend with ten men now and it's going to be real uphill struggle.

Take Barry off and throw Ireland in as the gap between central midfielders and strikers is HUGE now. We need playmaker on the pitch ASAP.

Spot on. I hate this formation we run, we did the same thing at Villa and once we put Ireland on he filled the gigantic hole at the top of the 18. Why doesn't Hughes see this? The 4-2-3-1 is so much more efficent then the 4-4-2!

the OS claims we're playing a 4-2-3-1 just FYI. Which is confusing, because i believe we've been playing 4-4-2 pretty much all season if i can recall...whatever...what i do know is that we are desperate for some midfield creativity and Stevie is about it in terms of options.

cheers

[DoomMerchant]

Just back from my whisky tasting, and have quickly read this thread. I take it we've been dire.Any hope of us turning this around in the second half?

how was the whisky? i think i need a flask of it right now after watching that first half.

[petrov]

we're still in it. we were poor but both team we're so bad both deserved to be losing.

[blues-clues]

Oh fucking yes

Petrov.

Great reply

[mr_nool]

FUCKING YEEESS! PETROV!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

[david yearsley]

Not good although we had plenty of possession - that goal

oopppps GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!

petrov!!!

[Somerset Blue]

GET IN PETROV!!!

[Dameerto]

YYYEEEESSSSSS

[DelaBlue]

oh yee of little faith

get in there

[petrov]

good man Petrov, whatever are we gonna do when Robbie is back.

[david yearsley]

We really needed that quick response

[xavi6]

That'll do