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Match Thread - Wigan Athletic
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31-12-2014, 00:08
(This post was last modified: 31-12-2014, 00:09 by Thurnscoe_OWL.)
HARRY IS ALIVE!!
Oh and I think I get a  for imres prediction thing
Removed until we're actually on our way back
31-12-2014, 12:21
A tough one to sum up.
Started terribly but we came out of it with three points. Firstly, it was ridiculously cold but my furry hat Christmas present did the job for the second time in a few days. We arrived at the ground just as the coach was pulling in. SG, Loovens & Westwood were quickly off the coach but the rest came off in dribs & drabs, the last group being 25 minutes after the manager, captain & keeper. This doesn't make us look like a team. Maybe SG needs to instil some discipline or maybe Loovens needs to act as captain. By the time the last few were off the coach, they only had ten minutes until the warm up was due to commence. As it happens, we started the warm up later than usual & did a slightly reduced warm up. We always rate the players in the shooting routine & as usual McCabe was the best & May second best but Nuhui lifted himself from the usual last place to a podium finish with Maghoma next with Maguire, McGugan & Lavery shocking. The shock news was that Drenthe had gone & May was dropped. May had terrorised the same opposition a month ago so leaving him out made little sense. The return of Loovens for Dielna and Maghoma for Drenthe made more sense. We started 442 (no surprise there) and looked half asleep. It was almost as though we had just got off the coach & walked on to the pitch. We couldn't string two passes together. We missed May's movement up front as there were no passing options. Fortunately for us, Wigan were equally hopeless. When we finally got it together, Maghoma made a great interception in midfield and raced down the wing to set up Nuhui, who was too slow on to the ball, allowing a defender to block. Can't help thinking that May or Madine would have scored there. We also had a long range shot from McGugan, which the keeper saved comfortably. Despite playing terribly, we survived until half time with very few worries. Couldn't help thinking that there were three easy points for the taking here. Second half, we looked a different team. Maguire had been ineffective up front & he was put back to his usual position on the right with Maghoma moved centrally in a 4231 formation. This gave us control of midfield & we went from a team that couldn't keep the ball to one that was dominating. We had a lucky escape when Wigan had a goal disallowed for offside. Couldn't see it well but the ref had just warned their player for standing offside at free kicks. We were gradually taking over with Maghoma making run after run at the heart of the Wigan defence although we were still struggling to get numbers in the box. The match swung totally in our direction with a red card for McManaman, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes. It was one of those two footed tackles that had the ref's hand in his pocket almost before Dielna hit the ground. The red card made all the difference because Wigan shoulders slumped visably & it was as though they had given up. All we had to do was take advantage. In the next few minutes, we must have had 80% possession as we moved the ball around well, probing for opportunities. The first came from a corner with the Nuhui's near post header forcing a sharp save from Scott Carson. Shortly afterwards, we scored. Helan's cross was deflected and Nuhui's firm header was too strong for Carson to keep out. Wigan had one chance after that with a flick header against the post, which looked like it was going in from the other end of the ground. Otherwise, we played out the final minutes comfortably by retaining possession. Westwood - 6 - no saves to make. Brendan Rogers didn't learn anything here Palmer - 6 - tidy job throughout Lees - 7 - back to his best after a few shaky games Loovens - 7 - a couple of crucial tackles Mattock - 5 - half asleep early on Maghoma - 8 - our main threat, particularly in the middle of a 4231 Semedo - 7 - solid job in front of back four, yellow card McGugan - 6 - not 100% at it, a couple of decent shots Helan - 6 - poor first half, better second half Maguire - 4 - poor throughout, yellow card Nuhui - 5 - poor game but came to life after red card, silly yellow card .................................................................................................... Dielna - 7 - looked bright & inventive It seemed like SG set the team up to get a point but circumstances contrived for us to get all three. Young Padawan said to me before kick off that Nuhui is just like Sidibe & I replied that maybe we would win 1-0 like at Bolton two years ago in a Christmas match. It turned out the same with Nuhui scoring the winner. Sidibe never scored again for Wednesday though. We shouldn't convince ourselves that we are any good based on this performance. Wigan were terrible & as poor as Blackpool were on Boxing Day. Without the red card, this would undoubtedly have finished 0-0 & we would have been slating SG for his lack of ambition. However, six points out of six over the festive period means that we can forget relegation. There are several very poor sides in this division this season & I can see 46 points being enough to stay up. Additionally, the lack of a relegation threat might now relax the players & we could use these wins as a springboard to push towards a Playoff place. One obstacle is the Man City cup tie. I hate to say this but I think we should write this off and play a team with no first team players in it. We saw what the impact of the last defeat was (no wins in ten) and could do without a repeat. SG might get some stick if he did that but he would get full respect from me. Give the first team a ten day break & come back refreshed for winnable matches against Forest, Bolton & Birmingham.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
31-12-2014, 12:21
Removed until we're actually on our way back
31-12-2014, 15:15
Sorry to end the year on a sour note but I find this sickening:
http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-wed...-1-7027182 The guy is bloody useless, scores a goal (which as a striker is what he's paid to do) once every 50 or so games. Just happens to stick his head to the ball (he didn't have to jump for it) and SG is all over him. Why do some managers have favorites that the fans can see are a total waste of space? JOC, Betty, now this big donkey who is totally out of his depth playing at this level.  happy New Yr everyone!!! 
"God Save the King."
31-12-2014, 16:31
He could just be trying to raise the spirits of a poor striker, we all know better than what is written there. But it probably helps Nuhui feel more competent?
Back to back 1-0 wins against very, very poor teams. We made hard work of them too. I can't help but think Bournemouth and Middlesboro would eat us alive at this stage in the season. The positive? Well, I suppose it was only a season or two ago where we couldn't even scrap out 1-0 wins against weaker teams. So I guess this is a baby step forward. It's just a shame that other smaller clubs have taken strides and not steps.
"The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject." Marcus Aurelius
01-01-2015, 03:08
If we continued with scrappy 1-0 wins all season I won't be complaining
Removed until we're actually on our way back
01-01-2015, 10:34
(01-01-2015, 05:08)Imre varadi Wrote: Me neither nor will maddix cos weve lived through them and won promotion before you was even sperm 1-0 wins are only good in the short term in that they move us further from the relegation zone & closer to the promotion race. Performances are the real guide as to what is likely to come next. Blackpool & Wigan were both hopeless side and we managed to win courtesy of a penalty & a red card. The only real possible long term plus is that it may give the players increased confidence for the next few matches (provided SG has the balls to play a reserve side at Man City). Possibly a second plus could be that MM sees promotion as possible & throws money in to try to reach the PL this season. I doubt this as we are still below average for this division & we are now without Drenthe & McGugan.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
01-01-2015, 15:07
I'll think you'll find madsteve, that we won at Wigan because of my strategically timed lucky elbows. They went up and 2mins later they were down to 10 men
Removed until we're actually on our way back
01-01-2015, 17:57
(01-01-2015, 15:07)Thurnscoe_OWL Wrote: I'll think you'll find madsteve, that we won at Wigan because of my strategically timed lucky elbows. They went up and 2mins later they were down to 10 men Does your use of the elbows mean that you are in line for a 3 match ban when the disciplinary panel review the game ? 
and complicated
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but the plain ugly sad depressing truth is that !! this team isnt a **** scratch on wilkos 
and just goes round in circles with these kind of results lose draw win lose win win lose lose draw draw draw