Gomez isn’t really that type of player; whereas, Espinoza is. I’d actually like to see these two paired together in midfield, as I think each provides what the other lacks, & they could make for a nice tandem – Gomez the creativity & possesion going forward, and Espinoza the energy & defensive cover. I Think that would be worth the try, especially with the congestion & need to rotate players in the next few games.[/quote]

That was sort of my point about Gomez – it always is – but it sometimes gets lost/omitted in my haste to throw in a sarky retort, so let me explain what I meant about the headless chicken comment. ;)

First off, I wouldn’t say that either ESpinoza or Di Santo are headless chickens. Di Santo, in particular, puts himself about more than Gomez and harries people. Espinoza, likewise, quiet similar to McArthur in my view. It doesn’t make either of them better than Gomez.

Gomez isn’t, and never will be, that type of player. He is in the team to do a specific job, namely retaining possession and trying to provide a link with the other forward players in the team.

In order to do this, he needs movement ahead of him and sometimes when that doesn’t happen, he gets caught waitinghoping for it to happen and other times the pass goes astray rather than him just lumping it hopefully forward. It also explains why he goes backwarda and sideways a lot because he would rather keep possession and start again than try something overly ambitious and give away possession.

Yes, he doesn’t always track back and he tackles like me, but we have other players in the team to do that. It is to his credit that he has improved this part of his game recently, in my view. And yes, he could do with being a bit faster and have a bit more quality with his passing, but if had all of that in his locker, he wouldnt’ be playing for Wigan now, would he?

The people who constantly use Gomez as the scapegoat (the first “Get off, Gomez” shout was heard on 6 minutes on Saturday) clearly don’t/won’t understand the role he is being asked to play.[/quote]

What a good post that is.

Completely clear, concise and importantly……correct.

It will mean nothing to people that don’t like Gomez though, or people that don’t know anything about football, they’re the same people btw.

Keane got 3 games at the time for a truly awful challenge.

He got another 5 games ( so 8 in total) after his book came out and he’d all but admitted it was a premeditated assault. Also a 150000 fine.

I think as a stand alone incident, the biting warrants 5-6 games, it just has no place in society, let alone football.
Add to that the fact he’s done it before, and he’s been warned about future conduct after the racism ban, I think you can justify 10 games. They have a global product to protect and Suarez is shitting all over it on a fortnightly basis.

People can’t say, we’ll if x is worth 6 games then this is less or vice versa, because punishments previously may have been too lenient, or too harsh, the FA have got plenty of things wrong in the past, but that doesn’t mean they should continue the trend.

What they need to do now, is sit down at the end if the season and construct a more defined set of guidelines regarding offence and punishment, violent conduct should be graded, category a,b,c etc, and bans set accordingly. Racism should carry a set ban and fine, and it should be huge. Maybe managers and coaches should be party to these decisions?

At least if they do this, everybody knows where they stand, you commit the offence and you pay the price, no injustice, no witch hunt, if you’re a cheating, violent racist with no self control, you’re not likely to feature in many games?!

That’s my two penneth, personally I can’t stand Suarez, he hasn’t got an ounce of dignity, he’s not sportsmanlike, and it’s been obvious since the World Cup when he cheated Ghana out of a semi final spot.

Sorry to pull you up on this, but it’s absolute shite.

Roy Keane did not end Haaland’s career. This is one of the biggest myths in football. Haaland played two games within seven days of the tackle. He played against Bulgaria four days after, and started against West Ham the following weekend. And the surgery that ended his career was on the other knee.

I think there are a lot more factors contributing than that, and luck shouldn’t really come into it over a league season, a cup exit maybe, but blaming a relegation on bad luck is just hiding from the truth I’m afraid.[/quote]

Ok then, allow me to rephrase..

If we get relegated it will be down to the fact that we dont have a back up team of premier league players worthy and waiting in the wings should injuries occur that should have been purchased with the money we dont earn from the ridiculously priced season tickets that if were increased to accomodate an extra player or two would no doubt have Wiganers all over spitting their pies out out in disgust.

And breathe.[/quote]

Correct.

To get rid of that message after each post, stop posting.

I thought the point of going to wealdstone was so that the coach didnt have to go to wembley?

World’ Best Chat-up Lines – No. 6,721[/quote]

Ahh, you’re only both jealous as I’m the one getting a PM from a lonely 50 year old bloke, whos imaginary bloke won’t take him to the football ;)

Still got it.[/quote]