I do find it odd that the club (I am assuming Cook and his staff didn’t do this without running it past the management) decided to do what they did last night. When you say the match was thrown are you suggesting the players were sent out under instructions to lose and to lose by more than two goals to ensure we didn’t go through. And if that was the case why turn out stronger teams in the previous matches and risk injury to first team players if it was always the intention not to progress any further. Finally, without a game this weekend it was an ideal opportunity to give a run out to some of the fringe players and keep them match fit.[/quote]
No, I don’t think they lost deliberately as I thought they looked the better team at times.

But I do suspect Cook put out the kids knowing there was a good chance they’d get turned over, and if they won, I expect the kids would have been given the next game too.

Not sure what the change of heart was from the previous games. Maybe his backroom staff have said the first teamers need a rest nd the extra games are taking a toll.

Whatever, I certainly don’t think he was overly bothered about winning last night – and him not being there pretty much confirmed that.[/quote]

I understand the logic in wanting out of this competition, I just find it strange the way they went about it.

I was told Cook was sat in the director’s box but I didn’t bother to look round and check.

Anyway, one good thing was the voucher I got which guarantees me a ticket for the Fylde cup game. A great gesture by the club to the loyal fans that turned up last night. They must have realised there would be some moaning and groaning going on so nice of them to soften the disappointment.[/quote]
Listening to Talk Sport this morning and Neil Lennon was talking to Sam Allardyce. Both said when it’s international week, the use it to give their players some time off to relax and recuperate. And by all accounts, it’s exactly what Cook has done.

So this made me think: if you have your first team squad training together as a one unit – ‘you’re all playing a big part in this season’ etc etc, you can’t then say ‘You’ve all got the week off. Go and enjoy it with your families, but not you, you, and you, as you’re playing on Tuesday, so I’ll see you at training in the morning’!

Sometimes people forget that these are real people, and people would soon get pissed off if their mates are given time off but they aren’t – even though they’ve put in just as much effort on the training ground as they have.

(PS. My ticket voucher is a gold one. I get free transport as well)

I do find it odd that the club (I am assuming Cook and his staff didn’t do this without running it past the management) decided to do what they did last night. When you say the match was thrown are you suggesting the players were sent out under instructions to lose and to lose by more than two goals to ensure we didn’t go through. And if that was the case why turn out stronger teams in the previous matches and risk injury to first team players if it was always the intention not to progress any further. Finally, without a game this weekend it was an ideal opportunity to give a run out to some of the fringe players and keep them match fit.[/quote]
No, I don’t think they lost deliberately as I thought they looked the better team at times.

But I do suspect Cook put out the kids knowing there was a good chance they’d get turned over, and if they won, I expect the kids would have been given the next game too.

Not sure what the change of heart was from the previous games. Maybe his backroom staff have said the first teamers need a rest nd the extra games are taking a toll.

Whatever, I certainly don’t think he was overly bothered about winning last night – and him not being there pretty much confirmed that.

Thought bubble:
“Team are second in the league…nope, can’t use that one….
Team are playing attractive football…nope, can’t use that one…
The manager is liked by all the fans…nope, can’t use that one….
Tickets last night were £10 for adults and £1 for kids….nope, can’t use that one…
We played the kids and lost in a meaningless, and resource draining cup….that’ll do…”

Can’t believe they did that to us loyal fans. We deserve a refund..blah blah…

Get a grip! I’m sure some of you dig deep to try and find something to have a whinge about!

We’re having a great season, but it’s a long season, and we’ve thrown a match that had we won, we’d have had to play yet more energy sapping matches where the gate receipts probably don’t even cover the operational costs, and where we run the risk of injuring first team squad players against a big and physical Accrington team.

Those young lads, although they lost, got a rare chance to play as the first team, at the DW, against grownup opposition, and in front of a crowd. They know full well they’ve played against a better team than they’ve played against before, and the experience will do them a world of good.

Obviously I’d have liked us to win, but I can fully understand why the team that was fielded was fielded.

Also, I enjoyed seeing how the young lads fared against grownup opposition, and although Accrington were clearly bigger, older and stronger, I thought some of our young players looked very skilful and comfortable on the ball.

Come May when we win promotion, will you all still be whinging about this game and asking for a refund then?

I was going to mention that it was also the case under Jewell, but didn’t bother.

I’ve heard a couple of accounts from parents who had kids at the club during this time who said their kids never came into contact with Bruce or his first team staff, whereas when Martinez came in there were noticeable improvements in the equipment they used, the way in which they were treated etc. Plus Martinez and Jones were regular visitors to training sessions.

The wheels may have been in motion when Martinez arrived, but he was certainly more of an advocate of developing youth players than his two (three if you count Hutchings) predecessors.

Unless, of course, you have an academy that produces these players on a fairly regular basis like Mddlesbrough and Crewe have done in the past.

We’re starting to show signs of producing decent players from the academy, so fingers crossed, we get promoted this year and can keep that up.[/quote]

We may have decent young players in the academy but how many are close to making a significant break through?

We have an advantage over the majority of League 1 at this moment in time. The advantage will disappear (or significantly reduce) next season.[/quote]There are a few who are out on loan at present who could potentially be first teamers or sold for a profit next season.

No seven million pound players yet, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction from when Bruce pretty much closed down the academy and took all emphasis away from youth development in order to channel the funds into sustaining a high first team wage bill.[/quote]

Bruce channelled funds away from youth development? That’s a big claim.

How much do you think the club was spending on youth development at the time?

How much of the £40million+ a year wage bill was thanks to channelling money away from youth development?[/quote]
It is a big claim, but accounts of Bruce’s disinterest in the youth teams were widespread at the time of Martinez’s appointment.

No idea what the financials were. Probably peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

My point is, there is a noticeable improvement on the amount of players who come through the ranks at Wigan than there was ten years ago – albeit, even if they are then loaned out.

Who on earth is ‘Beavises mate’?

Since Kavanagh and Bullard, who’s your best midfield pairing?