Wigan Post Match Thread 2 - 2

[Babylon]

Maybe he did. In fact he probably did. But that would be more to do with conservatism than actual logic.

 

Tonight really did remind of a cup game. One of those where certain players could play, but the manager would rather play it safe.

 

Let me put it this way, if we were closer to the chasing pack there's no way I can believe we'd have played that team tonight.

But we aren't closer to the pack, and we have the luxury of being able to do that. Yes if we weren't we might have taken risks and hoped players would be able to perform against their better judgement. But they, not you, have got us into the position to be able to make those choices easier.

[PAULCFC]

Jesus...a point away to wigan with a rested spine of the side(good work N.P) Shef Weds in a couple of days by the time the players coach gets back here(remember they wont get back here till 2'ish in the morning and then have to get home)Probably have a day off tommorow,then training i would think on Thursday and back Friday to hopefully get a win against Wednesday.........in all good selections and result tonight.

[steveherbe]

Anybody got the goals? Although I know I dont deserve to see them.

[Mark_from_USA]

I think Wigan tonight showed the reason they went down in the first place.  They were known for attacking, attractive football, and they brought their attack tonight and generated a lot of pressure.  They were also known for not being able to hang in there and get a result, and that also happened to them tonight.  I don't know that they have changed much - they were poor to concede at the end.  Even if they join Leicester and go up, I'm not sure their fate would be any different.  Time will tell.

[Kitchandro]

Again, you are missing the point. The aim is to win every game, not just this one. Yes he wanted to win, but at what costs? Injuries to players, burnout etc meaning players would miss other games or be under par for more games than just this one.

And you don't think that would be because they have had the rest that the people actually aid to monitor them decided they needed?

 

They didn't need a rest unless they were actually injured. You don't need to rest as an athlete, that is just a modern myth.

 

Maybe a rest might make them feel better, mentally more than anything. But they didn't need the rest, if they're perfectly fine to play Friday.

 

At the end of the day we've picked a team that we know was a risk. We've surrendered points, for whatever reason. Now, regardless of the theories behind resting players tonight, we've dropped points which are of equal worth to those in any match remaining.

 

For the sake of argument, let's say fair enough, he had his reasons. But why can't people accept it wasn't the best team we could have picked (even if the other players aren't quite 100%)? And why can't people accept we were significantly weaker tonight, both on paper and reality? Why can't people understand why the selection was questioned?

 

Are those things really that unfair?

[Manwell Pablo]

Here's a scenario for you all, does he name that team if we'd of lost on Saturday?

[fuchsntf]

Maybe Pearson made the changes because of reports from the fitness staff. There's no point playing our best players while fatigued and risking injuries when we are in a comfortable position. Plus, it's not like we fielded academy players. I thought the performance was poor though over all. I don't think any of the replacements can have much of a claim on the first team.

Load of tripe, if these so called 2nd class players had been picked seperately and not as a bunch they would play a different

game, maybe even a different style or have a different job.

[Father Ted]

Here's one a scenario for you all, does he name that team if we'd of lost on Saturday?

No of course not.

[Dickov22]

My analysis....

We allowed them far too much space in between our defence and the midfield - allowed them to run at us so often.

We really missed Vardy and the havoc he causes for defenders. Upfront we were totally static. I thought Nugent and Wood were poor.

Knockaert had a poor game. He lost the ball so often.

Mahrez was brilliant. He's creative and also just keeps the ball for us; takes the pressure off us by keeping the ball. Great ball in for the goal too

Moore was excellent and gives Pearson a huge selection problem for Friday. De Laet also had a good game.

Pearson seems to have the Midas touch! He can afford to make so many changes, us to play poorly and still get a result!

Never say due attitude.

It's our year

[MooseBreath]

I reckon tonight was premership auditions for a few of them. What better game to have a final look at a few players in a competitive environment than away on a tuesday night against a decent team with something to play for and when some of the first team could benefit from a rest?

King, Hammo, Konch, Dyer and GTF were all playing for their Leicester City futures tonight. Who passed, who failed? You decide.

[Babylon]

Well that's miss management as well then, or complacency, I'll admit Burnley and Wigan away are ideal fixtures to have back to back in a few days but why on earth you've named a full strength side against Yeovil (when a few of them actually looked like they needed a rest) a few days before those games I don't, especially with this game coming up.

See foxfanazars response above.

[MC Prussian]

Here's a scenario for you all, does he name that team if we'd of lost on Saturday?

Only Pearson would know.

[Fox Ulike]

Really, because I didn't see hi make any tackles in front of the back four. What I did see was numerous break aways from Wigan where we were exposed at the back, and Hammond was nowhere to be seen.

Yeah i didnt say he made loads of tackles did i. I'm talking about his positional sense, link up play, and ability to read the game. Whereas you just expect him to fly into tackles and spend half the game on his arse. No. The art of Defensive Midfield play has moved on since the 1970s. Get with it.

Exposed at the back? Numerous break aways? Missed that too. It was an end to end game, and overall we just about deserved a draw. No?

Same game, different planet.

[Manwell Pablo]

See foxfanazars response above.

 

I've already replied to that post and like you I think he's on to something. But it's still a complacent attitude. Wednesday have already turned us over once.

[PAULCFC]

We're in a postition to play whoever we like.....strongest side on fri and tues and job done.....qpr will get nothing at Bournemouth.

[fox123]

I'd of taken a draw at the start of the season away to Wigan let alone tonight.

 

Thank fvck some of the whinging cvnts on here don't make the team selection. It's a squad game and I thought whilst they weren't brilliant tonight, they did okay. 

 

Unbeaten run intact, promotion nearly secured, wtf's to whinge about? Some people on here have been spoilt for far too long (well 20 games anyway).

[Fox Ulike]

You don't need to rest as an athlete, that is just a modern myth.

Hmmmmm.

[Manwell Pablo]

Yeah i didnt say he made loads of tackles did i. I'm talking about his positional sense, link up play, and ability to read the game. Whereas you just expect him to fly into tackles and spend half the game on his arse. No. The art of Defensive Midfield play has moved on since the 1970s. Get with it.

Exposed at the back? Numerous break aways? Missed that too. It was an end to end game, and overall we just about deserved a draw. No?

Same game, different planet.

 

They had 24 efforts at our goal, so you weren't watching very carefully.

 

I'd love to see how many times that's happened this season, a handful at best. If at all

[PAULCFC]

and to be honest it's been a few years since we've been to be able to rotate a decent squad!

[MC Prussian]

I've already replied to that post and like you I think he's on to something. But it's still a complacent attitude. Wednesday have already turned us over once.

That was before our unbeaten run and only one out of a total of five defeats this season.

 

If we have learnt something from the defeats at Brighton and Wednesday, it's that we cannot enter matches with a complacent attitude.

 

In the past, we'd have paid a hefty price for this mindset.

But with this team on this run, Pearson will make sure they don't take the Wednesday lightly. It is also evident that the players are enjoying themselves and that positive outlook will see us through convincingly.

[Babylon]

They didn't need a rest unless they were actually injured. You don't need to rest as an athlete, that is just a modern myth.

 

Maybe a rest might make them feel better, mentally more than anything. But they didn't need the rest, if they're perfectly fine to play Friday.

 

At the end of the day we've picked a team that we know was a risk. We've surrendered points, for whatever reason. Now, regardless of the theories behind resting players tonight, we've dropped points which are of equal worth to those in any match remaining.

 

For the sake of argument, let's say fair enough, he had his reasons. But why can't people accept it wasn't the best team we could have picked (even if the other players aren't quite 100%)? And why can't people accept we were significantly weaker tonight, both on paper and reality? Why can't people understand why the selection was questioned?

 

Are those things really that unfair?

You don't need rest as an athlete? Just so we all know your experience on these issues before we take you seriously, what are your credentials with professional sports, athletes, sports science etc?

Who has said it wasn't a weaker team? What people have been defending are those who categorically state the management are wrong when they do not have the full facts at hand.

[Vicki Vixen]

Tonight was a test, not in the sense that we rested players, more so that Wigan's style and shape is the closest I have seen all season to a Premier League side, and one we will have to get used to playing against regularly next season.

We struggled against their 3-5-2 in the first half. When Wigan came forward, Dyer and Knockaert didn't know whether to mark their extra CM or the attacking wing back, and too many times they stood between the two forcing DeLaet and Konchesky to pick up the pieces. They needed defend with more conviction to stop the wing backs getting past them so easily.

I thought Hammond and King did well defensively against 3 very skilful and attack minded Wigan midfielders.

We conceded 2 from set pieces and they could have had more. Jordi Gomez played in some killer corners and free kicks and I was relieved when he was substituted. Defending set pieces is something we will really need to focus on next season as most PL teams have a set piece specialist who can hurt us.

Overall - really pleased with the performance and result. The lads that came in to the side all performed well againt a very strong and confident Wigan side.

[Daz93]

My analysis....

We allowed them far too much space in between our defence and the midfield - allowed them to run at us so often.

We really missed Vardy and the havoc he causes for defenders. Upfront we were totally static. I thought Nugent and Wood were poor.

Knockaert had a poor game. He lost the ball so often.

Mahrez was brilliant. He's creative and also just keeps the ball for us; takes the pressure off us by keeping the ball. Great ball in for the goal too

Moore was excellent and gives Pearson a huge selection problem for Friday. De Laet also had a good game.

Pearson seems to have the Midas touch! He can afford to make so many changes, us to play poorly and still get a result!

Never say due attitude.

It's our year

 

I also thought Moore was excellent. His positioning and strength are fantastic. 

 

Not sure about De Laet though, he played a lot of nothing long balls and lost possession. Although that probably leads to your other point of saying the front two were static and offered little in behind. Jamie Vardy would usually be all over the defender for those kinds of passes.

 

Schmeichel was also terrific tonight, did what was needed of him. Couldn't really blame him for the two goals I don't think.

 

Still a great team performance to come back from behind twice.

[ScouseFox]

They had 24 efforts at our goal, so you weren't watching very carefully.

I'd love to see how many times that's happened this season, a handful at best. If at all

24!!!

I thought they edged the chances but 24 is mental. Would've been daylight robbery if we'd nicked it at the end after they had all those efforts.

I wonder how many of those 24 were from set pieces.

[Babylon]

I've already replied to that post and like you I think he's on to something. But it's still a complacent attitude. Wednesday have already turned us over once.

And we could have played full strength tonight, got turned over and got turned over again on Friday with a weaker team. We just don't know. I just wish after the season we have had, people would have faith int the management to do what's best over the last 8 and not just one or two games.