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How we won the FA Cup. You’ve heard it before – the players were told to go out and play football and enjoy themselves because we didn’t need to play safety first, protect a point rubbish. Hey presto it worked.
It’s not quite as simple as that. There were two notable cup victories, against Everton and Manchester City. In both games, special circumstances affected both teams.
After the home defeat to Liverpool, 4-0 with Suarez scoring a hat-trick, Martinez had to make some changes. For the cup tie at Everton, he introduced Robles for Al Habsi, Alcaraz for Caldwell, Gomez for McArthur and McManaman for Di Santo. For his part, Moyes unwisely brought in Heitinga and Phil Neville. The replacements wanted to make an impression, while Neville had a shocker. Wigan raced into a 3-0 lead. Neville was replaced at halftime and never appeared for Everton again.
The players kept their places for the next league game, and an unchanged team beat Newcastle 2-1. Martinez put his trust in this team and made it his model for the rest of the season.
For the Cup Final, Martinez had to build a team without Caldwell, Figueroa and Beausejour. His choice of McArthur and Espinoza as wingbacks was inspired. Manchester City played with the rumour hanging over them that Mancini would be sacked at the end of the season. They never hit full stride and Wigan deservedly won.
Whether they won or lost the Cup Final, the game at Arsenal – just three days later – represented an enormous challenge for Wigan. In the event, it proved too much for them.
But I do love good football – and we haven’t seen much since the Cup Final.
To be fair it was only seen on rare occasions prior to the cup final.[/quote]
Martinez set out to play good football. To be fair, with his squad, it was not sufficient to overcome enough Premier League teams. But I don’t think that another style would have been any more successful.
The cup run was a glorious exception. Martinez produced a startling performance in the Cup Final from the rag-bag of players at his disposal. They were then obviously at an enormous disadvantage in the crucial Premier League game against Arsenal.
But would you have swapped survival for winning the cup? Would you have been happier if Martinez had left us for Liverpool twelve months earlier? Or for Aston Villa a year before that?
Anyway, he’s now showing that his philosophy can produce attractive and successful football. But from Sunday’s performance, it seems that the team still has his philosophy at heart.
Best wishes for Christmas and a good run in the New Year.
Looks like the goal conceding virus has checked in at Goodison.
Perhaps Bob has got anti-virus protection.
Everton now have the best defensive record in the Premier League!
You don’t need to read a report – just look at the league table!
Oh, and my obsession is not with Martinez but with the truth.
But I do love good football – and we haven’t seen much since the Cup Final.
Sorry, Donny, but these are the figures from Wikipedia;
Appearances for Wigan;
18 Championship games, 1 Community Shield, 1 League Cup, 6 Europa League24 Barnett
21+4 Boyce
21 Perch
20+2 Watson
19+2 McArthur
18+3 Powell
13+8 McClean
14+5 Gomez
13 Crainey
13+5 McCann
12+8 McManamanAppearances for Bolton;
19 Championship games, 2 League Cup ties20 Baptiste
19 Kamara
19 Beckford
19 Lee
18 Spearing
16 Ream
15 Mills
15 N’Gog
14 Hall
13 Pratley
13 KnightRoberto certainly had a smile on his face. Arsenal, top of the table by four points, and he came away with a draw!
Interesting fixtures at the top of the table this weekend;
Man City v Arsenal
Spurs v Liverpool
Newcastle v SouthamptonSome teams must drop points. Everton are at home to Fulham tomorrow for anyone at a loose end.
I cant wait for Özil to make a complete fool of Barry again, now that was funny ! :PArsenal 1 Everton 1
Most amusing!
I admit nothing! I’m just trying to get this thread up to 500 posts by Christmas.
It’s time to post your Christmas cards to Bob. It looks like being a Happy New Year for him.
