Come on Wigan (part 3)...

[olly27]

This is the third thread I have started for Wigan over the last month! Did one against Pool and they won, the other they lost to Villa.

So I thought I would keep up with tradition and go again even though I expect them not to trouble City at all. Had it been at Wigan my hopes would be raised but I cant see them getting anything off City at all! However Wigan are a bit of a bogey team for City and this is football so never say never!

If City were to drop points tonight and we were to beat Sunderland on Saturday we would go from marginal favourites to strong favourites despite our tough run in. All ifs and buts and I do expect City to win 3-0 or something but come on Wigan!!!

[olly27]

This weeked is key, well every game is from here on in - but all four contenders play away from home this weekend. Villa travel to Bolton and are the outsiders now, anything other than a win there and they are out of it. Carew has his old back injury reoccurring and is struggling, big loss if they lose him.

City are away to Burnley, I expect them to win that. But for me its Liverpool's game with Birmingham which is crucial. They play in Europe on Thursday night which hopefully disrupts their preparartions somewhat but if they better are result against Sunderland momentum could swiftly change given our next three games and with them playing Fulham and West Ham at home. We must not lose are cushion against Pool this weekend - its imperative that we at least keep it to 4 points and a game in hand.

We need to beat Sunderland on Saturday - its massive.

[Gino Ginelli]

Away to Sunderland has proved something of a banana skin in the past. We can't put in another apathetic display like the Portsmouth again. Defence is a worry, I can't believe the injuries we are getting at this stage of the campaign!

[olly27]

Away to Sunderland has proved something of a banana skin in the past. We can't put in another apathetic display like the Portsmouth again. Defence is a worry, I can't believe the injuries we are getting at this stage of the campaign!

Injuries are a worry bet we keep proving that we have the squad to deal with it time and time again. Defoe will be back for this and thats key as we need more than just Bale's pace.

Dawson is a concern, hopefully he's ok. I cant see Harry risking Wilson, as he only needs to get to the following week for the cards to be effectively wiped.

Could be a very attacking midfield next week, although the combative Cana and Cattermole could be licking their lips.

Interesting to see if he starts Ekotto. If Wilson doesn't play and Ekotto doesn't start we could see a midfield of:

Bentley
Hudd
Modric
Kranjcar

With Bale at LB.

If Ekotto starts Bale will be on the left, and one of Bentley or Kranjcar on the right.

[irishspur]

Injuries are a worry bet we keep proving that we have the squad to deal with it time and time again. Defoe will be back for this and thats key as we need more than just Bale's pace.

Dawson is a concern, hopefully he's ok. I cant see Harry risking Wilson, as he only needs to get to the following week for the cards to be effectively wiped.

Could be a very attacking midfield next week, although the combative Cana and Cattermole could be licking their lips.

Interesting to see if he starts Ekotto. If Wilson doesn't play and Ekotto doesn't start we could see a midfield of:

Bentley
Hudd
Modric
Kranjcar

With Bale at LB.

If Ekotto starts Bale will be on the left, and one of Bentley or Kranjcar on the right.

Didnt know that about the yellow cards, does he have to get to 15 from next week to get a ban?

[deadleyledley]

Didnt know that about the yellow cards, does he have to get to 15 from next week to get a ban?

i think, if he doesnt get a yellow before 11 april (semi final against pompey) then the cards get wiped out and he wont have to worry about them, and has the licence to break fibreglass' legs.

[deadleyledley]

i have a feeling about wigan on mondays that they will cause an upset.


lets all hope that it is true.

[olly27]

Didnt know that about the yellow cards, does he have to get to 15 from next week to get a ban?

After Apirl 11th he has to reach 15 bookings before the end of the season which would see him serve a 3 match ban. Aint going to happen, even by Wilson's standards!

[choda]

Wigan can do anyone on their day. Very very good manager in my opinion, though he will have to prove his organisation, work rate and man-management credentials on top of his transfers, excellent coaching and philosophy.

Tony Mowbary has been found seriously wanting outside his coaching and philosophy.

It'd be magic if they could perform like they did against Liverpool again and they'd have a great chance to do them or at least draw.

[olly27]

Watching it live on ESPN...City look a bit unbalanced. They have rested Barry, Bellamy and Richards....looks like they miss Bellamy. De Jong and Vieria are totally detached to support attacks.

25 mins...Wigan have gave the ball away too many times, if they could cut that out who knows!

City arn't playing with a fast tempo, they look slow out of the blocks.

[olly27]

City shambolic, Wigan playing well...what does the ref do? Sends of Caldwell which was never a red.

Great...I honestly could see Wigan getting a point here the way City were playing.

Infact I could of seen Wigan winning.

[olly27]

Wigan arguably the better side with 10 men. They were seeing that out had Caldwell not been sent off.

City dont deserve anything from this, and certainly dont deserve Champions League football.

[Ioang]

Too much to ask. Wish one of those wigan chances had creeped in.

[olly27]

2-0 City in 2 mins...Tevez for both of them.

But they have been shambolic make no mistake and I fancy us to beat them big time.

[GQCoolest]

They look awful, their football has actually decreased in quality since Hughes left, and I'm not really sure how that managed to happen.

[olly27]

They look awful, their football has actually decreased in quality since Hughes left, and I'm not really sure how that managed to happen.

Playing two holding midfield players has a lot to do with it. Vieria doesn't have the legs for a box to box style, christ he doesn't have the legs for a holding midfielder.

3-0 at the moment with 84 mins gone, totally flatters them. Help from Wigan's keeper (pitty Kirkland was injured) and the ref gifted the points to City.

They honestly look terrible. I honestly think Liverpool are going to be the real threat.

[choda]

Yea, I think we can do city. Outside of Given, Ireland, Bellamy and Tevez, I look at them and just think they are distinctly ordinary.

Hard to get players in one season outside the cl, they will have to build like we did.

I think it is between Pool and ourselves. There are also rumours of great unrest inside the City dressing room.

Of course they aren't out of it yet, but I wouldn't back them. Mancini's honeymoon is over, that's for sure.

[TURKISH]

Yea, I think we can do city. Outside of Given, Ireland, Bellamy and Tevez, I look at them and just think they are distinctly ordinary.

Hard to get players in one season outside the cl, they will have to build like we did.

I think it is between Pool and ourselves. There are also rumours of great unrest inside the City dressing room.

Of course they aren't out of it yet, but I wouldn't back them. Mancini's honeymoon is over, that's for sure.

Agree I'm really not surprised to be honest. My prediction a few games ago.

City got a great point which if we was at the stadium of light I'm sure many on here would be happy with that return also.

The problem with City is they haven't improved since Hughes has gone, ok a manager needs time but I believe they will draw more then they will win. As a team they are hard to beat but they just can't seem to get that balance right.

You can't bet against experience and inevitability, Pool will limp to fourth place to the woulda/shoulda/coulda of us/villa/city.:thumbdown:


Liverpool have the experience and the know how to compete in important games.