Like I said, I never caught the whole game but there’s a few things I noticed from just watching the J.Smith goal:-

Lincoln had 5 men in our half on a high press when we started the passing movement that led to the goal, that was based the limited highlights there was, I’m sure there was a few more passes.

There was 11 passes before J.Smith scored
Only 4 went backwards
And 4 passes were 1 touch passes straight through the heart of the midfield.
There was no rolling the ball with the top of the studs followed by a 40 yard Hughes Hail Mary

And why did this work ?
Simple
Lincoln high pressed and wanted to win the game. If they win the ball in the last 3rd their instantly on the offensive.

Most of this season the lower / poorer sides just dug their heels in deep the counter attacked and Maloney stuck with the same plan “out it from the back” when the opposition simply watched on in their half not biting.

For me L1 is the “No Mans Land League”. It’s were some decent size clubs fall foul of dropping out the a Championship followed by a mass clearout of high earning players. They are normally clubs who truly shouldn’t be in League One let’s say the likes of Ipswich, Leeds Sheff Utd just to name a few.

Then you might get a non-league side hitting the heights making it to L1 after a few seasons and the only way they can survive is to dig is not by playing it out from the back they revert to digging their heels in and spoiling you into submission.

And this exactly why Maloney needs to adapt our tactics game by game.

You cannot play the same way against a Burton that won’t press and wave an invasion card from their half as apposed to say an inform Lincoln who high press, try and win the ballup the field and are out to the game from the off.

Maloney needs a plan B so when the lesser/poorer sides decide to put the onus on us to come at them we can take advantage and implement plan B and plan A is for another day.

It’s as clear as day to you and me and has been all season and for me has cost us a play off spot.

I’m not sure why Maloney insist on instructing the players to roll it around the back, dangling the carrot hoping the opposition will take the bait when their clearly not interested in coming for it.

That for me is Maloney’s achilles heel, hes adopted the Martinez style. Now that might be fine at a higher level were you don’t have as many dig your heels in sides but like I pointed out, in L1 its chalk and cheese from the top sides to bottom sides hence which we e found out.

If Maloney gets the backing from Danson and he brings in the right type of all round player and he can adapt his tactics to suit the opposition then he has a very good chance of taking us out this league.

Will this happen next season ? footballing heart says We’ll p*ss it
Footballing head says 2- 3 seasons before were anywere near.

This is the dilemma, will he get the time and funds ?. In our case which is like no other Maloney has to be given alot longer simply because of his first year clearout of the big earners and transfer embargo.

I keep repeating myself (sorry) I’m not hear to slate him I really want him to do well I truly do, who doesn’t !! but he cannot keep implementing the one style of play especially in this league, it clearly does not work

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 3 days ago by cup winners.

Ladbrokes have just givin me 2/9 on it’s not Magennis

Jesus, he’ll be on par with Darren Ferguson at Peterborough how many times 1 club can employ you.

It wouldn’t surprise in the least if he’s linked some kind of Director of Football type roll and the CEO’s job remains a part time dual roll number.

Pure guess but it’s a long way and wrong game to come for a reunion and play the good ole times number

I would just like to point out something small I spotted yesterday but to me it was significant as to why things are so wrong at the moment,

There’s 93.20minutes on the clock it’s 0-0 and Goode receives the ball from Tickle, firstly why?,

And again their lies the problem with us,

Tickle should be waving his arms for everyone to get up top then hoof a Hail Mary with 30seconds to go you just never know.

But no, he gives the ball to Goode,

Goode then looks left looks right rolls the ball with his studs then another quick look then suddenly he then sees a Port Vale player 5 yards away offering no threat, he inturn sh!ts himself so he decides to slowly passes the ball sideways,

Ref blows for fulltime

Would we have scored wacking it upfield with 40seconds to go ? probably not but I know one thing you won’t know unless you try.

So if Tickle doesn’t hoof it Goode a so called experienced centre half should be barking at everyone to get up top then wack it you just never know.

That for me sums up Latics at the moment playing a certain way to the letter of the law and players not thinking off the cuff. We were happy to take a point rather than give it one last punt.
Again I’m confused
Is that the fault of the manager or the fault of both Tickle and Goode ?

There was at least 20 people sat near me screaming for Goode to launch it,

If we can see it why can’t Goode and the manager not ?

Difficult that today, very difficult against another struggling side. For me a good few players out there looked like their all counting down their holidays in the sun. Even though Shaw only did 12 minutes he proceeded to give away foul after foul and a yellow.

It must be hard to motivate yourself when you’ve nothing to play for and you probably already know your fates sealed and your not going to be here next season.

So firstly:-

Aasgaard

There’s no way we should ever play without a forward when there’s at least one forward available, Kelmans there use him. If not try Cze there but for me definitely not Aasgaard.
I bet he was as shocked as us to find himself in what I’d class as a forward role’ish but tbh I’ve still not a clue were he was actually told to play.

S.Smith?
Was he a rightback in a 5 or was he playing as a wingback ? I’m still baffled as he did more defending than pushing up.

If he was actually a wingback Smith confirmed to us today he isn’t one. Defend? yes, midfielder ? Yes but up and and down the wing overlapping whip the odd ball in? Oh my God no ! what the hell was Maloney thinking ?.

Adeeko?

For me he’s simply not good enough but for some unknown reason he’s first on the team sheet week in week out. It’s a whole lot of nothing for 90 minutes, he’s gets about but offers very little on the attacking or defending front.You never hear anyone mention him after a game whether it’s good or bad and why? because he does nothing to praise or either criticise.

But the one huge thing I don’t understand is the insessive passing back whenever an opposition player gets within 3 yards of one of our players. They look scared to death of making a mistake if they take a player on or a simple pass forward it’s at times mind boggling.

Our players are either told to pass pass pass back and sidewards or they simply don’t have the ability to either run with the ball or move find space then pass to to up field I truly don’t know why the hell we insist on 20 passes to get to the halfway line.

McManaman?

I’ll have to disagree with some people on this one. I still think he has a part to play but one of them is not starting a game, he’s an impact player.
He’s at his best coming on late in a game going through tired players something he’s done a few times and totally changed games plus chipping in with the odd goal to. For me that’s the managers fault for starting him not McManaman’s.

There’s no harm in him losing a yard of pace as he’s got older that’s understandable but if he can still contribute when coming on late especially at this level for me he still has a big part to play at Wigan even if its for only for one more season then I’m all for him stopping for another season.

But from what I can see I can only describe it by saying Maloneys trying to make 5 star Michelin food from 2 tins a beans and a tin of rice pudding.
The players look like they cannot or don’t want to play in his system and don’t understand what their jobs are. Then every game Maloney rips the book up changing 5-6 players a sign he’s in the dark clutching for some straws.

We are not Man City or Arsenal, we don’t have the quality of player to make even a futile effort to be anything that resembles City with no forward but SM insists on trying today and his plans failed miserably once again.

And that sums us up.

Were a side been led by the captain of the ship with no rudder, no map and no compass and with absolutely no idea were were going .

Looking at the players body language today there doesn’t seem to be an ounce of team spirit left especially with only a handful of players been guaranteed to be here next season.

Danson needs to sit down and seriously look at how we go forward. Is he prepared to hand over money to a blind manager who cannot see wrong that’s up to him but if it were me? I’m sorry he’d have to go.

Danson needs to decide
Is it the players?
Is it the manager ?

Shame really but Maloney would have to go simply because that’s the nature of the beast the buck stops at his door and it’s what’s best for the club

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by cup winners.
• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by cup winners.
• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by cup winners.
• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by cup winners.
• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by cup winners.
• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by cup winners.
• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by cup winners.

I don’t want him sacked and I don’t think that will happen but his form against lower sides and his remarks regarding the game sends the alarm bells ringing.
I hope he can turn it around I truly do. The thing is, I don’t hear much individual player criticism so out the current squad (bar 2-3 players) most fans are happy with them.
So, if that’s the case and the players are individually very good at L1 level how will a new crop of players improve things if the current lot are individually decent players ?.

The summer will be very interesting that’s for sure. Lots will be leaving due to end of contracts, wage restrictions,and loans going back and possibly Hughes Tickle moving on so Maloney will have a nigh impossible job of building a whole new squad and on a very tight budget.

There’s no way Danson will be splashing the cash, most of next seasons budgets already gone on Bevan French

• This reply was modified 4 weeks ago by cup winners.

I don’t mind getting behind the manager I’d sooner have them singing than becoming Evertonians and boo’ing.

Deep down there’s not one Latics fan who doesn’t want him to succeed at Wigan and build a side and style we all can enjoy but the truth is, his brand and style of football is poor very poor.

I just hope he can turn it round because he’s here for the duration but what recently worried me more than anything was his post match comments after Cambridge which cast major doubts in my mind as to his ability to manage any side not just Wigan