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I hope it made your trip worthwhile. And perhaps it will be a turning point for Wigan.
But as long as we only have two forwards and a schedule of two games a week, I think Coyle will probably play Holt and Fortune alternately. I can’t see him starting many matches with both.
An away game in Europe can cause problems in the following game.
We played in distant Kazan this week. As I said, we’ve only played in Europe once before – in Brugge just across the Channel.
It’s very creditable to come back from Russia and achieve an away win – even at Yeovil.
Full time. 23 shots – 3 on target – and an away goal and an away win!
We are up to tenth place, and with a game in hand.
After the international break, we start another arduous run of games – playing 13 games in 43 days.
First come three home games in a row – Brighton, Zulte-Waregem and Derby.
Nicholls
Boyce Shotton Barnett Perch
McCann Watson
Albrighton Powell McManaman
FortunéCoyle seems to have settled into 4-2-3-1. The defence is fairly predictable, but midfield and the choice of forward remain a mystery to me.
I thought he played narrow with Fortune, with Gomez on the right and McManaman on the left. With Holt he seemed to play wide with two conventional wingers.
But today he’s picked Fortune with Albrighton on his correct side and McManaman on his wrong side. I admit defeat. I can’t see any consistency in his selections.
But at last it has succeeded – they have actually scored away! Holt has replaced McManaman and crossed for Fortune to score. And now Espinoza (left-footed) has replaced Albrighton (right-footed). Thank goodness for the international break.
Nicholls
Boyce Shotton Barnett Perch
McCann Watson
Albrighton Powell McManaman
FortunéAnd the score at halftime is…
Nil – nil.
Not sure about this view tho: “[Yeovil] will no doubt see this as a game they can win with our away form and performances after European games.”Whilst our performances after Euro games have been flat, we are yet to lose (and have won twice) after our Thursday night jaunts (famous last words).
Even tho Yeovil are bottom, a 0-0 draw after 7 games in 23 days and a 5000 mile round trip would suit me fine.
We’ve only played once before in Europe! And that was in Belgium, only a little further than a trip to Southampton.
Coyle – taking all the fit and eligible players – set off for Kazan on Tuesday and flew back to Bristol straight after the game. They’ve travelled 5,000 miles and have been away from home for five nights. This will be the seventh game in twenty-two days.
It’s hardly ideal preparation. Even Premier League teams with big squads are notoriously vulnerable in away games after mid week trips to the continent. It worried Sir Alex Ferguson, and he was the master of rotation.
Marc Albrighton and Danny Redmond, both ineligible for the Europa League, join the squad. Beausejour will miss the game through injury, but there’s no further news of Watson.
A very fair appraisal. The greatest danger at Yeovil is fatigue.
A well deserved break follows – except for our internationals.
We’re also staying in Bristol tonight and then Exeter on Saturday and Sunday.There will be 7 of us in the “Screwfix Stand” on Sunday.Hoping and praying for a decent performance and please an away goal !!! B)
Enjoy the weekend and bring us back some points!
Wigan home to Huddersfield
Nicholls
Boyce Shotton Barnett Perch
McCann Watson
Gomez Powell McManaman
FortuneI thought Coyle would rest Boyce and give him the honour of leading the team out in Kazan. He didn’t, but he did rest Holt. I got just six out of eleven right, and not necessarily in the right position.
Wigan away to Kazan;
Nicholls
Shotton Rogne Barnett Crainey
McArthur Perch
McManaman Espinoza McClean
HoltAn interesting selection, resting some players but still relying on Barnett in defence. Perch appeared in midfield and, surprisingly, so did Espinoza.
Next up, Yeovil. However, all the current first team squad have made the long trek to Kazan and back, with the exception of Albrighton (ineligible) and Beausejour (injured). Presumably, the rotation will continue and some rested players will return. Espinoza could even keep his place.
Let’s say Coyle will go for;
Nicholls
Boyce Shotton Barrett Perch
McArthur Watson
Albrighton Powell Espinoza
HoltSubstitutes to come on; Fortune, Gomez and McClean
And let’s hope they get that elusive away goal.
Coyle will be back in his office around noon, tomorrow. Why not make an appointment to put him right, oh tactical genius?The plan, so I’m told, is that Coyle and the team will be landing in Bristol tomorrow and staying overnight * before the game at Yeovil.
* They must be staying two nights, Friday and Saturday.
To be fair, you don’t have to be a tactical genius to recognise that there is something wrong if you go nine away games in a row without a goal. Our play doesn’t create enough chances in front of goal, and our forwards find it difficult to take them. If Wigan have someone to make a special plan to reach Yeovil, surely they should have someone who can show them the way to goal too.
Curiosity corner; My mum used to play hockey on the pitches next to Huish, home of Yeovil’s famous sloping pitch. They weren’t allowed to use whistles on Saturday afternoon as these could be heard on the football ground. Yeovil have since moved to a new ground, Huish Park.
We may have a good chance at home but what threat do we pose away?
Yeovil offers a great chance to end the bad run, but all the first team squad have made the long trip to Kazan, and most have made an appearance there.
Many Premier League teams have lost the game following a trip into Europe. We can’t take a goal for granted, or any points either.
