Having been to the match yesterday I thought I'd just make a few comments about the match. First of all, we looked nervy throughout the opening half. We looked short on pace and were slow to close down. Two awful mistakes by our centre backs could have been more costly than they actually were. The penalty, having seen it at the time I felt was 50/50 shoulder charge and having seen it on tv later it was outside the box anyway - shouldn't haven been given. Having said that, referee Atwell couldn't wait to give a decision against us - my word he is a dreadfull ref. I was more angry at Whitbread for not learning from De Laet's mistake five minutes later! Thankfully Wigan lacked composure in front of goal - something most teams in this league will not lack. I felt were slightly fortunate to be level at half time - another mistake, but Wes took the goal really well - not an easy chance with a rising ball. Second half however was a different kettle of fish. We were excellent at times, on the front foot, pushed Wigan deep into their half and dominated both possession and territory. Clear cut chances were hard to come by and Wigan, playing like the away team did a good job of countering with pace. Until the final five minutes we were the only team likely to win. Then, for whatever reason, it seemed like we ran out of steam and Wigan had two good chances to win. Overall, a point was a perfectly fair result based on the 90 minutes as a whole. Poor passing was a problem in the first half - to be expected in the opening game I suppose. Moses was a real threat - he had Martin tied up in knots throughout the first half. To be honest, he was the only threat we faced until Rodallega came on. Unfortunately, I feel Martin will lose his place very quickly. Ruddy, barring a rush of blood to the head late in the game looked composed and dealt comfortably with everything thrown his way. Tierney had a very good second half and got forward well, De Laet recovered superbly after his early error but Whitbread looked a weak link. I think Barnett or Ayala will keep him out. Crofts did well considering he wasn't fully fit while Fox wasn't his usual assured self but again, passing improved in the second half as Norwich gained control. Surman had a decent game and kept the ball better than others, Hoolahan was a peripheral figure in the first half but sprung to life in the second and looked like he is certainly cut out for this level. Up front, Holt was very disappointing for long spells. Didn't look fit but still managed to cause problems for Wigan with his hold up play. He will certainly get better given four or five matches and he should have scored with a glancing header. Morison was my MotM. Excellent performance - he really impressed me with his hunger and desire to chase lost causes. Great work for the goal and was very unlucky that two goalmouth scrambles didn't result in the ball dropping to him. Very promising start for him and Holt will have to raise his game because Morison is going to start most games on the evidence of yesterday. Barnett came on and did well, while Pilkington also had one decent run. Bennett, well, he really is going to be the real deal! Had the beating of just about every Wigan player when he was introduced. A definite starter and could be our key player this year. Pace, skill, strength and a brilliant cross... can't ask for much more. Overall, an average match between two teams who started sluggishly but got better as they went along. We definitely have nothing to fear on the evidence of that match! Second half I was very confident we would go on to win the match, but the goal just wouldn't come and some good defending in the final five minutes earned a good point away from home. Better to come from City with the new players whom I feel will all improve not only the squad but the first team considerably. People might say, 'well, its only Wigan', but this is their 7th consecutive season - they know how to survive. On a side note, I got back just in time to see the end of Match of the Day and was frankly appalled at what I saw - an incredibly unjust view of events at the DW Stadium!! Anyone who is going to base their view of how well we played on that may as well forget it. It was a close game, even... perhaps either side could make a case for why they could have edged it. And as for Hansen, to suggest that both 'incidents' were 'stone wallers' was frankly verging on the obscene. Alan Hansen - you are a bloody idiot.
I agree with most of this and didn't realise crofts wasn't fully fit although I didn't think Lambert would play him if he wasn't. But I was concerned about him most of all. I aslo agree that bennett looked good each time he got the ball, but didn't get much of a chance to use it as he was fouled every time he got near the ball. I'm not sure that we were excllent in the second half, there were some good passing moves, but you could count them on one hand and we looked quite ropey everytime moses got the ball. In another thread, the fact that someone of his ability can pull three players out of position doesn't bode well. Naughton will have to come in quickly. I also hoped for a better performance from Holt, he is too static and will have to learn to come and meet the ball, rather than wait for it to come to his feet each time and his first touch was appalling in the first half. Morison looks like a great signing and I think De laet is going to be very good. I still think we need a qaulity centre midfield player though
We have no time for nerves, they need to keep comoposed. De Laet did make up for his mistake I'll give him that and Whitbread stopped Moses from scoring the goal of the season I would of actually cried if he managed to of dribbled the ball past five of our players and scored. I think we lacked something up front and in midfield at times. For a first game it was quite positive though we didn't crumble but there are areas of improvement, I'm sure Lambert will sort them.
i did state 'excellent at times'! we certainly dominated the majority of the second half - nobody can dispute that. as for nerves, i understand what you are saying but it was opening game and even wigan seemed nervous - it is to be expected but they will settle down. it was an important match in the grand scheme of things with both teams expected to be in a relegation battle. had it been played in april it would have taken on a huge pressure so it was important not to lose the match.i was very impressed with moses - he has been fabulous in pre-season by all accounts so to dismiss him as not that good is wrong when he has his pecker up and is in fine form. he'd have given most defences a torrid time in that form!
Thanks for the write up superman. Having seem motd it was clear we had a bit of stage fright in the first half. I think we will learn from this next week Alaya looks a very good acquisition too
We always start the season badly ,but yesterday was very positive, give the boys 4 or 5 games and we will see who can cut it at this level.... Very happy with the point
