We need to remember that most of the team (NA and NC) have not been in the PL before. I agree with Fran. It will take a bit of time to understand the PL. That is why I was not real disappointed when the fixtures came out. We get some of the top teams out of the way while we are learning about the PL. Certainly management is looking to strengthen but NC has said he is going to do this the right way. He is not going to spend crazy money on the off chance we go down and then have us go into admin. again. I am still confident we have the right management. We just need some time to learn. Hopefully by the the time Villa arrives we will have seen how this game is played and what need to do to play PL football.
Buts its my opinion , but true I am off for a meal now with the wife , a glass or to and a cheeky cigarette as I have given up will make me happier , there is no way I am watching MOTD tonight though after watching it today .
Just been discussing this very same point. I have to admit that before the start of last season and we were talking about our expectations and there those who wanted immediate promotion to the EPL - I did not think we could do it - neither did I want us to either. I always thought another year of development would do us good; time for the youngsters to have a year in the Championship and new players to bed into the squad. NC and NA are learning also and I think that has impacted on the field and off it in the transfer market. They need time like the players - but the EPL is not forgiving as we have seen so far. This will sound harsh; but the pair of them need to urgently sort of their remits because what we have currently needs fixing.
Nobody seems to have noticed we hit the woodwork twice, with a little bit of luck it could have gone the other way, I have to say the Kingsland lino missed 4 or 5 offside decisions which could have been crucial, we didn't get a fair share in our favour, but we have to expect that at this level. You have to make things happen to make progress.
Mate - we could have hit the woodwork 10 times - it would have made no difference. You try to make your own luck and hope that if the footballing gods are watching you; they may do you a favour or two. We were mugged today; just as were mugged a few teams away from home last season - we were able to do that because we were mostly technically better than the opposition - as Wigan were today.
We certainly should not expect the calls to go our way too often. I like Nigel's reactions post match to those calls. He seems to expect it. I think that keeps the players from getting all hot and losing focus when the calls don't go our way. It does make it tough when you are keeping a nice straight back line and then the lino misses it like last week. Maybe next year we will get those calls but not as the new team at the party.
I think there has been alot of negativity after todays game because we have been beaten by a team that are most likely going to be down the bottom of the league towards the end of the season. It just goes to show in PL you have to be far more clinical in front of goal. You can play pretty football all day long but goals are what counts. I was disapointed with the result and cant really see us getting nothing from the next two games either (Man U & Arsenal ). But it is only 2 games lets just see what players are bought in this week to strengthen us, then see where we are.
Funnily enough I remember thinking that there were a lot of people wearing the new kit considering the reaction when it was released. I know there are some who will buy it every year no matter what, but it was a bit of a reminder that what you read on the internet is not really a reflection of what the average fan thinks. Which is a relief. Also thought that those talking about stadium expansion in the next 2-3 years, may have been having a rethink.
Based on one game, when the opposition didn't sell their allocation? By that logic when we sell out for the united return fixture with weeks to go we should double the capacity.
wigan are a proven premier league team they play good football and have a few good players IMO we should play 4-4-2 at home or get the players who can play 4-3-3. and whoever says adkins out needs ****ing shooting
I think some of us (not on here), think that we can just waltz back into the Premier League and resume our 28 year status and kudos. We can't. 7-8 years ago, Wigan were to me a rugby team (Sorry Wigan fans)! Now they are an ESTABLISHED Premier league side. I don't care if they have been struggling - they survive. We are the new boys, fact. We were a league one side 2 years ago, fact. We have the stadium, training facilities, academy, fans etc, BUT we are new again to this. We will make mistakes, and hey, we may even go down in the next few years. BUT remember where we have been and recently come from. We have earned the right to compete at this level, BUT not to dismiss Wigan as 'an easy 3 points'. Whilst I am unhappy about the result, I am not ready to slit my wrists - 2 years ago we lost to Rochdale, Brentford & Plymouth at home. Last year there was Bristol City. C'mon, losing to an established PL side isn't bad! I understand that Nige has rubbed off on us all and we should not be happy with 'nearlys'. But as Nige says, don't get too high when we win, don't get too low when we lose. (remember the high bit next week) No7
I only just realized how pressurized the aston villa game could be, both of us could be on very low points, i really dont think the draw of games has been kind to us
