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Every single person who watches Wigan Athletic whether they go to every game or a handful in a season, whether they’ve stood by Bobby religiously for the last 3 seasons or whether they’ve wanted him out since Spurs beat us 9-1, whether they think Whelan is a saviour or a penny pinching/pocket filling old miser who reneges on his promises is a “real” fan
Or is your definition of a real fan someone who slates on his own kind & delights in sticking the knife & boot into them??
The word that I have in my head at the moment rhymes with punt
Not only that Salford but in the summarising after the game Gary Neville froze the screen at the point in the build up to Gomez’s goal when Arsenal still had the ball & bugger me it didn’t half look like Latics were playing 3-4-3!!!!!
Di Santo is still the lone striker though – no other Latics player was within a country mile of him when he put that first one away!! ;)
Maybe next time we disagree on something you’ll remember this, acknowledge the footballing genius that I am and accept that you are wrong!!!!! ;) ;) ;) :evil:
Anyway, regardless at present it is working very well & IMO suits Latics playing personnel down to a tee apart from that fulcrum of the attack (is that better than saying lone striker??) currently being occupied by Di Santo – & if his main job is to score he aint doing that very well!! ;)
I agree re: him not scoring.
But in terms of recruitment this is always going to be a problem position for us no matter what formation we play…
Imagine what we could do with an Ibrahimovic type player leading that front three.[/quote]
Front one!!!! ;)
I appreciate that Latics will never be able to go out & buy a 20 goal a season man but Di Santo will never get you more than a handful not because he’s crap but (as I’ve said before when I posted somet after the Bolton game at the Reebok) coz his problem in the current system is not despite his good link up play & turn of speed he doesn’t have the natural instinct to then get into the box to get the ball back – going back to that Bolton game, where he played well, look at the winning goal. Di Santo goes up for the original ball forward which i think the defender knocked on to where Moses was but in the time that McArthur was able to steam forward from in his own half to score the winner Di Santo ambled forward no more than 10 yards or so & was still well outside the penalty area when the goal went in.
He’s not a striker who like Rodallega misses chances he just never seems to get on the end of manyIts a game every 3 days so shouldn’t be that much of a problem unless as bicky says they pick up injuries & suspensions
Latics 7 games in 15 days at the end of the 98/99 season didn’t do Latics much harmI’m well aware of what Martinez has said on numerous occasions but he can say it until he’s blue in the face coz Di Santo is a lone striker.
The other 2 (at present Moses & Maloney) are midfielders whose main purpose is to get forward in support of Di Santo when Latics are attacking but who are also expected to drop back into more defensive midfield positions when Latics don’t have possession. They are by no stretch of the imagination strikers nor is their main position “up front”.
I see the current formation as a 3-4-2-1 (or actually 3-2-2-2-1) but its all about how you define it I guess – from what I can gather Bobby sees our formation as fluid depending on whether Latics are in possession or not, atatcking or defending etc.. so at times yes there may be 3 up front but its not an up front as in the 2 up front you see in a 4-4-2 or more comparable the 3 up front as Latics used to play with Liddell, Barlow & Haworth under Ray MathiasBobby refers to it as 343[/quote]
Exactly what I was going to say it is. What do they say … Great minds think alike :silly:
Possibly turning to a 5-4-1 when defending.
You also have to recognise that Maloney and Moses get in far more advanced positions than Di Santo when he has the ball.
I’m not suggesting he is a holding striker as I think his job is to get up there and score and be the front front of the attack but he does drop back allowing Maloney and Moses to come into the game.[/quote]
I know what he calls it & how it works, but it aint 3 up front – as I said the Barlow, Liddlel & Haworth partnership under Mathias was 3 up front & this aint
Anyway, regardless at present it is working very well & IMO suits Latics playing personnel down to a tee apart from that fulcrum of the attack (is that better than saying lone striker??) currently being occupied by Di Santo – & if his main job is to score he aint doing that very well!! ;)I’m well aware of what Martinez has said on numerous occasions but he can say it until he’s blue in the face coz Di Santo is a lone striker.
The other 2 (at present Moses & Maloney) are midfielders whose main purpose is to get forward in support of Di Santo when Latics are attacking but who are also expected to drop back into more defensive midfield positions when Latics don’t have possession. They are by no stretch of the imagination strikers nor is their main position “up front”.
I see the current formation as a 3-4-2-1 (or actually 3-2-2-2-1) but its all about how you define it I guess – from what I can gather Bobby sees our formation as fluid depending on whether Latics are in possession or not, atatcking or defending etc.. so at times yes there may be 3 up front but its not an up front as in the 2 up front you see in a 4-4-2 or more comparable the 3 up front as Latics used to play with Liddell, Barlow & Haworth under Ray MathiasIn fairness to Martinez (& I say this as a Darksider) the improvement began back in December when Latics played Blackburn & Bobby first tried out his 3 at the back formation.
It was clear in that game (& I think many spoke about it in the days following it) that he seemed to have finally found a formation that suited the players he had at his disposal.
During December the level of performance & results picked up (only lost 2 out of 7 & they were against United & Arsenal). January in fairness was shocking results wise but I think the team struggled when it lost Diame to the ACN & Bobby didn’t pick the right man to step in. Come February though he’d settled on McArthur & that gave the side the midfield solidity back & seemed to improve McCarthy’s form too but the side were still a bit too slow & plodding going forward. Step forward Maloney & there is a zip back going forward that was missing since N’Zogbia left. I don’t think Beausejour’s arrival can be under-estimated either as it gives a balance down that left hand side now
The points per game since that Blackburn match evened out over a season would get Latics 45 points. If you go from the start of Feb it goes up to 61 so its a very notable improvementThere is still one major weakness & that is up front where Di Santo will never be a lone striker (as a footballer I rate him – play his as part of a front 2 & the one who drops deep or in the hole between midfield & attack & I think he’d blossom), same goes for Rodallega & Sammon isn’t to the required skill level
BUT
Bobby & the players deserve every credit for this improvement. I hope it carries on to keep us up & if so I hope it carries on over into next season too – I don’t think that the team is top 10 as another poster has stated or is even close but if Latics stay up, a season that isn’t a struggle from start to finish would be nicePhil Jones should have received a 2nd yellow
Was it not Evans rather than Jones.[/quote]
Probably – us referees haven’t got a f***in clue!!
I think Mr Doe’s point is that, if they did see it, how could they not think it was a foul, and a pretty bad one at that?I think I’d said elsewhere in the thread that at times a bad challenge can look okay at the time (depending on the angle your viewing it at). When i saw it in real time I didn’t think anything of it – it was only when Sky showed the slo mo replay that it looked bad to me
But yes, they should have been able to pick it upFirstly mr or mrs pie – there are no rules in football
My initial view for the “goal” from Moses was that it was a shocking decision & couldn’t see any foul from Caldwell on De Gea – I’ve seen read (albeit on the Manchester Evening News website) that the TV footage shows Caldwell stood on De Gea’s foot. I haven’t seen the footage again but if that is the case then it was a foul if it wasn’t the case then there is no way in a million years that any other offence was committed. On top of that, a referee should not be allowing his assistant to come in with a call on an incident in the middle of the goal & on the goal line from that far away – I certainly doubt that he could see Caldwell stood on his foot
For the corner that led to Latics actual goal it doesn’t come off Jones BUT as both players are falling the ball does take another deflection. It’s off Beausejour when you see it from behind the goal but from Dowd’s angle & the initial TV angle it looks like it came off Jones so I can understand why he gave it
As for the penalty that wasn’t given, if the ball hits Figueroa’s hand directly then it’s a penalty. However if it comes of Figueroa & slices up & hits his hand then it isn’t – the initial footage I saw seemed to show it coming off Figueroa & up onto his hand from about a yard away & at high speed but I’ve seen a clip of it this morning where it looks like it hit him directly. As a result I can see why it wasn’t given.
Phil Jones should have received a 2nd yellowFrom what I understand, its not a case of saying that it was seen and appropriate action was taken but its a case of if the officials have seen the challenge then the FA cannot take any further action (although I believe that FIFA have said this morning that they can).
Where I am saying that they are honest is that they could have said that they didn’t see it & had their positioning & awareness questionned. By saying that they’ve seen it they will have their application of law questionned which is far more damning for them
Me too!!!!
As I’m reffing tonight I won’t be at the game but am avoiding the score till football first at 10.15 & already have my beers on ice ready!!
Whilst I admire your effeorts to co-ordinate this type of thing (even if it isn’t my cup of tea) I really hope you’re unsuccessful in getting this absolute turd of a tune played as the players come out. Please leave it in the music bin in which you found it!!
Totally agree. I think its a scary thought letting this lad pick the music we run out to. If Eds reading this. Please dont.
Are these “meet and greet” things just for the kids? I mean no self respecting adult would attend one of these, would they?
Ballons and Fancy dress? United fans will piss there keks.[/quote]
I did and I am an adult…. maybe not by some peoples standards on here.
Dont get the bashing of the meet and greets at all tbh especially when it has clearly had a positive effect on the players.
Hell it even goes part the way to show that Wigan is not completely rife with moaning pensioners ….. not completely anyway :side:[/quote]
As I said, it’s not my cup of tea at all but if someone wants to do it whether they’re 5 or 55 I couldn’t care less – in all honesty though I doubt that it has made one jot of difference to the players & their performances on the pitch. Yes it would be better than people turning up lobbing poo at em but at the end of the day there’s 2 & a quarter hours between tonight’s meet & greet & kick off. During which time they’ll have done warm ups, received treatment on any knocks, had their team talk from the management, walked out in front of 20 odd thousand people, done the handshake & soaked up the pre-kick off atmosphere. The meet & greet will be so far from their minds at that point. Bobby saying it helps is more likely a PR exercise on his behalf to make the fans who do it feel wanted & encourage more people to join this & at the same time keep the possibility of anti-protests taking place.
Not knocking anyone who does it & it won’t have a negative effect but lets not kid ourselves that it has anythign to do with the recent up turn in formThat song is garbage though & I fail to see how in any way shape or form it will make a blind bit of difference to the atmosphere or players. – hopefully as a former muso Ed Jones will politely decline the request[/quote]
Of course it makes a difference!
If you were there you would have seen the players were obviously very happy to receive a such a welcome ( except Kirkland who looked very unhappy )
Surely this transpires to the thought that when they step onto the pitch that they want to put that extra ounce of effort for the fans who stick by them through thick and thin!!!
Football is all about getting behind your team and your team giving you something to get behind them about …
It was referred to as a catch 22 on here not long ago.
If you dont think the meet and greets help then you must be of the same thought that cheering the players on during the game doesnt help.
Letting someone know you are behind them in numbers will spurr them on its called motivation and if the fans can provide even just a little bit of that for the players then FAIR PLAY
IM BLUE DA BA DE BA DA DIIIII IF I WAS GREEN I WOULD DIEEEE DA BA DE BA DA DIIIII[/quote]
Again we’ll have to agree to disagree.
I’ve no doubt that it provides a brief boost to their ego & what not but when it comes to kick off it won’t be making a blind bit of difference. It won’t do any harm & if its what you like then knock yourself out but it won’t be making any difference during the game
On to that singing & chanting, providing an intimidating atmosphere during a game can obviously influence a hell of alot from your own team to nervous opposition players to referees. Completely different kettle of fish to 20 – 100 people (no idea how many go) clapping & cheering when you get off the coach
