I agree with Garswood- Not experienced enough to be Liverpool boss. I guess the same would apply to AVB. Trying not to contemplate life without him at Wigan as I really think after 2 and a half seasons of trying to get it right he finally achieved it in those magical last 10 games. Really looking forward to further progression next season.

As for the formation I’m pretty sure that the games against West Brom, Sunderland, Liverpool, Chelsea, around xmas time were the start of the wing backs as Stam and Jones were playing in those positions. The problem was that the 2 most important players in that formation did not have the level of fitness to get up and down the field. The January signing of Beausejour and return of Boyce gave us the personel to be effective. Add Maloney into the mix and the picture was complete. I think it is of paramont importance that we have cover in those wing back positions, Stam at a push could do a job but not much on the left if Beausejour is out for a significant period of time.

In my opinion there was no formation change from the way we have been playing in the last few weeks. Al Habsi in goal, 3 centre halves – Fig, Alcaraz and Caldwell. Boyce and Beausejour wing backs. 2 maccas and Gomez in centre mid, Sammon up front with Di Santo behind him. I think Moses has been playind the Di santo role in recent weeks. It is almost a free role, hence the reason he often ends up on the wing.

Whatever the formation he has to get Diame back in that team with Rodders up front. He will be putting himself in the shop window until the end of the season

I don’t think there’s any point trying to ascertain what the formation is. Moses should, in theory, have been the 2nd striker in a 3-5-2 formation but as many on this thread have previously stated, Moses spent much of his time on the right wing. Beausejour is another David Jones at left wing back. Hasn’t got a clue about defending. He needs to be further forward as ideally a winger in a 4-4-2 of wide striker in 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation.

BacK to the original topic…

He scored at a ratio of 1 in 4 in the championship so that would be my worry about him. However, he was evidently in a struggling team at the time so maybe not too bad a performance. Players like Bent, were in successfull sides when they had their good championship seasons.
From what I have seen of him he works really hard, has good pace and when given the chance can finish. I would say he has a similar profile to Beckford who has had a good first season in the prem. We have to take a ‘chance’ on players like this as proven prem strikers are out of our price bracket. O and the last player we signed from Peterborough wasn’t too bad was he?

“What is also pretty obvious is that if Wigan or Blackpool lose, then they automatically get relegated. But there are a lot of other combinations.”

I do not need my calculator to tell you the first statement is wrong. If we lose 1-0, Blackpool 3-0 and Birmingham 3-0 then we stay up. If we lose 1-0 Blackpool 1-0 and Birmingham 2-0 then Blackpool stay up. Yes they are unlikely but not beyond all realms of possibility!