hmm, i wouldn't be so sure about them bouncing back. i doubt they'll return if they go down. i too however like martinez but he does often seem to watch a totally different match to everyone else. can't remember who they played but they got beat convincingly and afterwards he said something along the lines of being happy with the way the team created chances. they didn't have a shot on goal
Not sure Wigan will, but Martinez has a very bright future and will bounce back. I kind of liked the way Wigan gave their all, it was what I was hoping from them. ILD OTBC
I cant see how it can be the death of the diamond! Lets have a look at what we have formation wise with the which players adapt to which one... The diamond... Now i believe our strongest DIAMOND formation is.. Ruddy, Naughton, Ayala, Whitbread, Tierney, Fox, Surman, Pilkington, Hoolahan, Holt, Jackson This is the line up that has picked up the majority of our points while using this formation. Obviousley changes to get made, but this is the side that starts and usually has the most success. Since the victory away to swansea, lambert has decided not to once use this side which quiet honestly baffles me because before leicester he was playing this side most weeks and we went so long without defeat. Pilks and bennett in the diamond quite simply does not work,it showed sunday and it showed against leicester. It also doesnt suprise me that since not only he has changed the side, but ayala and whitbread have been broken again we have struggled... It just goes to show how well those 2 were doing and working together. 4-5-1 This is the formation that we used quite alot at the beginning when we first one with this at bolton, Same defence but with a midfield of fox, surman, pilkington, hoolahan, bennett and moro upfront on his own. This obvioulsey compliments certain ways of players performances ie pilks and bennett playing together, getting the best out of morison (swansea at home). People say that its a negative way of playing, especially at home. I think thats nonsense! Plenty of flair going forward with numbers going back when needed. I still believe that our strongest line up when every one is fit is. Ruddy Naughton Ayala/Bennett Whitbread Tierney Bennett Fox Surman Pilkington Howson Morison/Holt Howson playing just off the striker. It was questioned that could surman play in the middle with fox, i believe he can and that got proved the other week. This also gives the option of changing to 2/3 different formations. The, diamond is here and while lambert is still here it will always be used as its an effective formation when used to its full potential and unfortunetly over the last couple of weeks it hasnt been.
I thought it odd that our players looked so knackered - they'd just spent a few days in Spain - Wes and Jacko got cramp too so heaven knows what went on in when they were away !
This is also not the 1st time this season we had lost 3 games in a row. Last time we got a wooping from MK dons aswell as losing to chelsea and west brom. Everything has served us well since then
I posted earlier on another thread asking whether, among the welter of statistics that get produced nowadays about every aspect of the game, there was any evidence that these types of jaunts are actually beneficial, or otherwise. My guess would be that they are at best ineffective in improving performance, and very possibly detrimental. Teams coming back from "a get-away-from-it welcome break in the sun" often seem to me to have lost focus and perform poorly when they return. But that's just a vague impression I have; it would be good to have some stats.
