I know out main priority is staying up, but if the worst happens and we do get relegated, then playing in europe is not goint to be that attractive at all i it? the effect it will have on the league games would surely damage our promotion hopes. do think we’ll stay up though, just. IM A BELIEVER :)
You can’t beat following your team in Europe best game I went to was cup winners cup final watchin EFC v Rapid Vienna unbelievable now married watchin latics it was the wife or EFC trust me experience NOT TO BE MISSED I know it’ll be a ball ache if they go down but happy memories
Well, Martinez recognized that succeeding in two competitions would be difficult with a squad the size of Wigan’s.
To the fans’ dismay, he has used every round to give experience to reserve and youth players, in the knowledge that defeat would let him concentrate his modest resources on the struggle for league survival.
Wigan might have had just one home tie, but the FA Cup draw has been kind to Wigan this year with opponents from the Conference, League One, two from the Championship and just one from the Premier League.
The games have allowed Gomez, McManaman and Robles to develop, and Wigan have advanced despite the weakened teams put out by Martinez. Now we are going to see whether he was correct about succeeding in two competitions – and whether he will continue his cup policy next season.
Well, Martinez recognized that succeeding in two competitions would be difficult with a squad the size of Wigan’s.
To the fans’ dismay, he has used every round to give experience to reserve and youth players, in the knowledge that defeat would let him concentrate his modest resources on the struggle for league survival.
Wigan might have had just one home tie, but the FA Cup draw has been kind to Wigan this year with opponents from the Conference, League One, two from the Championship and just one from the Premier League.
The games have allowed Gomez, McManaman and Robles to develop, and Wigan have advanced despite the weakened teams put out by Martinez. Now we are going to see whether he was correct about succeeding in two competitions – and whether he will continue his cup policy next season.
I’m curious as to why anyone could think doing well in the FA Cup has / could have played a part in us struggling this season. Apart from 2/3 seasons we have always struggled in the prem and the FA cup has been what, 6 extra games!! Hardly a demanding task for the players.
For me the cup has been a welcome break from the struggle of the prem, and look at the excitement it has generated for the fans.
If we go down then we’ll be playing 48 games min next season, what excuses will come out then!
I’m curious as to why anyone could think doing well in the FA Cup has / could have played a part in us struggling this season.
The two matches rearranged because of cup ties mean that Wigan face a very busy and difficult end to the season – and that is what worries me.
Saturday, away to West Brom in a vital League game. By chance, City face Swansea.
Tuesday of Cup Final week, a vital rearranged League game against Swansea. City – with a far bigger and better squad – have an inconsequential home game with West Brom.
Saturday, Wigan face City in the FA Cup Final. While Wigan battle it out with City, Arsenal will be watching it on TV with their feet up – and hoping that it goes to extra time and penalties too.
Tuesday, away to Arsenal in a vital rearranged League game. Arsenal are still fighting for a place in the Champions League. Aston Villa have a free mid-week to prepare for their final game, as do Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich.
Sunday, vital League game home to Villa.
These five matches in a fortnight will decide Wigan’s success this season. If Wigan manage to come through them successfully, they really will have earned their reward.
I think it’s too easy to blame too many games. They don’t need to do any strenuous training in between the games. Just go through tactics and probably set play positioning and that’s all that’s needed.
I’m curious as to why anyone could think doing well in the FA Cup has / could have played a part in us struggling this season.
The two matches rearranged because of cup ties mean that Wigan face a very busy and difficult end to the season – and that is what worries me.
Saturday, away to West Brom in a vital League game. By chance, City face Swansea.
Tuesday of Cup Final week, a vital rearranged League game against Swansea. City – with a far bigger and better squad – have an inconsequential home game with West Brom.
Saturday, Wigan face City in the FA Cup Final. While Wigan battle it out with City, Arsenal will be watching it on TV with their feet up – and hoping that it goes to extra time and penalties too.
Tuesday, away to Arsenal in a vital rearranged League game. Arsenal are still fighting for a place in the Champions League. Aston Villa have a free mid-week to prepare for their final game, as do Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich.
Sunday, vital League game home to Villa.
These five matches in a fortnight will decide Wigan’s success this season. If Wigan manage to come through them successfully, they really will have earned their reward.
I know what you’re saying, and you’re not exactly wrong.
But I suppose it’s the old cliché of “The price of being successful” as in, in the cup.
I’ve long thought we would have to bring about 6 or 7 players into the squad to cope with playing in Europe next season. But I noticed on Saturday, that Spurs squad was tiny, only 23 players, I think. So that blows my theory out of the water, as they are near the top of the league, and they reached the Europa quarter finals.
You could say that the fact that we have the rearranged Swansea game on Tuesday is an absolute bonus. If we didn’t have that, we’d be 5 points behind Villa etc, with 3 games left. That extra game next Tuesday could be our get out card. And if so, well, the cup run will have really served a purpose.
You could say that the fact that we have the rearranged Swansea game on Tuesday is an absolute bonus. If we didn’t have that, we’d be 5 points behind Villa etc, with 3 games left.
Unless we had played it and won it already, in which case it would be only 2 points. In fact, had we won it we’d have been above Villa on GD before they played Sunderland and the outcome of that game may have been totally different.
Chelsea played six matches in 15 days earlier this season. Even with their enormous squad, they could only win three out of the six. If they had had a less arduous programme, we might have been playing them in the Cup Final.
FA Cup Semi-Final Chelsea 1-2 Man City Sun 14 Apr
Europa League Quarter-Final Rubin Kazan 3-2 Chelsea Thu 11 Apr
Premier League Chelsea 2-1 Sunderland Sun 7 Apr
Europa League Quarter-Final Chelsea 3-1 Rubin Kazan Thu 4 Apr
FA Cup Sixth Round Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd Mon 1 Apr
Premier League Southampton 2-1 Chelsea Sat 30 Mar