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billycopper
Player Valuation: £40m
I think he'll take each game as it comes, which is how it should be in my opinion. We might use wing backs in away games. Last season Wigan's away record was:
Southampton 0-2
Forest (Carling Cup) 1-4
United 4-0
West Ham (Carling Cup) 1-4
Sunderland 1-0
Swansea 2-1
Spurs 0-1
Liverpool 3-0
Newcastle 3-0
Norwich 2-1
Everton 2-1
Villa 0-3
Fulham 1-1
Bournemouth (FA Cup) 0-1
Macclesfield (FA Cup) 0-1
Stoke 2-2
Chelsea 4-1
Huddersfield (FA Cup) 1-4
Reading 0-3
Everton (FA Cup) 0-3
QPR 1-1
Millwall (FA Cup) 0-2
West Brom 2-3
City (FA Cup) 0-1
Arsenal 4-1
The concern is the games against United, Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal. The only one of those that either Joel or Alcaraz played in was the match at the Emirates just after the Cup final, when they were down barring a miracle anyway.
United had 5 shots on target at Old Trafford and scored 4 goals.
Liverpool scored 3 from 6 shots.
Wigan had Figueroa sent off after 12 minutes at St James' and Ba scored a penalty a minute later.
It seems like they were undone by quality at Stamford Bridge but the scoreline might have flattered Chelsea, as they scored 2 in the last 4 minutes.
They took some very good scalps (West Brom, Villa, Spurs, Reading, Southampton) as well as a couple of creditable draws (QPR, Stoke, Fulham). And they were only beaten by the odd goal at Sunderland, Swansea, Norwich and Everton.
With better players and a bit more luck hopefully the three at the back will help us to improve on last season's record of 4 wins and 9 draws away from home.
I am a great believer that Martinez is the man to take us forward as a club, or at the very least stop a decline.
However, I watched all of the pre-season games and I have one or two issues which I'm not too sure about.
But there's a lot more positives than negatives, I've enjoyed watching us play - and I'm looking forward to Norwich.
[h=1]Nil satis nisi optimum![/h]
However, I watched all of the pre-season games and I have one or two issues which I'm not too sure about.
- We seem to have issues distributing the ball from the back. Whenever we concede a goal-kick we seem unable to get the ball out of the back efficiently. The amount of times we've been caught with the ball before the half-way line isn't even funny, in the Premier League we're going to get punished for that. We need someone to fill the Makélelé role, as in to be the buffer between the midfield and the back 3.
- Without the ball, we drop too deep. During the Valencia game I noticed that everyone dropped back well below the half-way line, even our forwards. If you look at counter-attacking sides like Bayern Munich or Manchester United they always have one or two players up top (usually out wide) to ping the ball to if the opposition gets caught out.
- With the ball our defense goes too far forward. How many times did we get punished from a long-looping through ball, Distin and Jagielka are fast - but there certainly are faster players out there who will punish us if we get caught out. Ideally I would have a centerback go just behind the midfield when we're attacking - rather than throwing the entire back 3 to the half-way line.
- Our strikers have all looked a bit lonely. It's all well and good passing the ball, but if the strikers aren't getting involved - whats the point? Strikers are goal machines, they're born to score goals - hense the reason they're there. Take Anichebe for example, against Valencia he struggled to get into the game (understandably his first (and second) touch wasn't the best). I don't think he had the ball much more than 3 times during the entire 46 minutes!
But there's a lot more positives than negatives, I've enjoyed watching us play - and I'm looking forward to Norwich.
[h=1]Nil satis nisi optimum![/h]
Michael Tsui
Player Valuation: £1.5m
Its more like you fill it with some exotic bug, and it makes you cringe.
What you never know is whether the bugs are delicious or not.
sportbillyblue
Player Valuation: £8m
"conjecture", "noises", "lazy journos" call it what you like, would you trust Kenwright to do the right thing offered anything like decent Wonga for the two of them ? I'm not so sure.
Martinez's success will depend largely on the senior pros, of which we have a lot, giving Martinez the trust and respect he needs in order to succeed. I wonder how they will react to his more laidback approach and different approach to how the game is played after so many years of RSM Moyes barking simple drills at them. It's only natural that some will be less than malable and generally not the brightest lads to begin with.
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I focused on that part because it summed up some of the over the top negativity, pointless analysis and criticism we are seeing before a competitive ball is kicked.
I would say the signs of a team struggling with new systems with a new manager will always be there in pre season, and will most likely be there during the first season also.
I would then go on to not bother criticising it in anyway and have some patience, and look back at the end.
I don't think the point you were making was too clear really. Sounded like you were starting with a negative but about to make a positive comment....but went on to make an even more negative comment calling the Betis game must win. Not a dig...just how it comes across.
...plus much of what im saying above is in general...not necessarily aimed at you!
I didn't mean that us beating Betis as a bad thing, the point I was trying to make was that a win against Betis would sooth the nerves and one week before the start of the league we should be able to play the style of play the boss wants with confidence and maybe beat a mid-table La Liga side.
With regards to patience, I would love to be able to give him a season to get us playing the way he wants, but unfortunately if that means we slip down the league then it is something the club cannot afford financially. Our debt is currently secured on our strong placement in the league, with the TV money this year meaning we are able to resist selling our best players, however a finish of 8th/9th/10th will return us to having to sell.
Long story short he is a man who has been known to be very stubborn with his tactics and whilst optimism is always good (I feel if he can get us playing the passing game we did for parts of last season with a big more killer instinct then I am very optimistic about next season) but his methods and tactics do need close scrutiny by the fans as a lot of the mindless ignorance being spouted will lead us into the situation the RS are in now where the top players (or player, they really only have 1) have no confidence in the manager...
dannyboy
Player Valuation: £70m
It's beyond awkward to watch them playing it out. Depressing as it sounds but if we want to persist with this tactic then Osman needs to play. He's far more intricate on the ball than Fellaini and Gibson and can find the right angles for a pass in that area of the field.
Foot Long Hot Dog
Player Valuation: A packet of pork scratchings
It's nothing to do with the results, pre-season results mean **** all & never have done.
The concern is about how he appears to be insistent on getting the players to play out from the back without exception, same as he did at Wigan & they shipped goals for fun over there. That's the concern lad, & Blues have every right to discuss it, so wind your neck in..
Jags..class
Player Valuation: £70m
I would rather our defenders learned to play from the back rather then hoofing it up to Fellaini or Victor mate.
They just need some time to adapt. They may not be world beaters, but they have been stuck in the hoof ball rut, under the last fella.
Just give them time, and dont expect us to be top 5 all season.
Just give them time, and dont expect us to be top 5 all season.
Blue Cheese
Mental Patient, GOT Ward
There is no reason to be concerned yet. Competitive matches are where we can form real opinions not pre-season friendlies. I think this new dawn has a few people jittery, relax embrace the change and enjoy the ride.
The worry for me, is if this whole Fellaini saga goes on till the start of the season, and we are rushing around to bring in players.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
It's not the case that he insists on every single move be built with short passing from the back. That just does not tally with what we've seen so far in reality. Nevertheless, the impulse to get the ball down and play it is the correct one. I don't blame people who've only known Smith/Moyes as manager thinking playing football like that with regularity is exotic and dangerous, but it really is the only way to progress. In short, we need to drag ourselves from the primeval slime we sunk into during the last 15+ years. We are the School of Science. We do have a tradition to uphold. Martinez is at least trying to get us back to that status as a progressive football club. We should applaud his efforts every step of the way.
Blue Cheese
Mental Patient, GOT Ward
I think he'll be assessing the squad now before deciding where to strengthen, at the back of his mind it will be a thought that baines n fellaini may go so i reckon he'll have replacements in mind.
Yeah, you'd hope he's ready for all scenarios regarding those two.
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