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Post by tubes on Feb 21, 2004 22:47:36 GMT
overall, I left with mixed feelings after the game, we were totally overun in the first half by probably the best team to come to the Brit this season. I would have taken the point, even at half time, when we were extremely lucky to come in in front. Having said that leaving the game kind of disapoointed that we couldn't have held on against 10 men.
The main point I want to make though is about the shocking defending throughout the game. We seemed completely incapable of picking up the men as they broke (which they did very well) and we would have situations where one or two players were unmarked on the far post. We need someone who can organise properly. Williams looked out of depth and slow, a player past his prime.
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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 21, 2004 23:28:25 GMT
It sounded as if Wigan swarmed all over us at times. All things borne in mind a draw isn't too bad. If we'd gone in at half time 2-0 down we couldn't have complained.
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Post by Davef on Feb 22, 2004 2:25:54 GMT
I think we're in danger of talking Wigan up a bit too much here. Yeah, they're a good team, some of their recent results have been impressive, and I think we should accept that a draw against them is a decent result, but they weren't THAT good.
A lot of our problems today were of our own making. Poor distribution and an inability to clear the ball adequately from defensive positions gave Wigan the chance to put us under pressure, but apart from one shot from Roberts in the first half when he cut in from the byline on our right hand side, all their other efforts in the first half were from long range.
We were always going to be under pressure in the second half after taking the lead right at the end of the first half, but overall we didn't do too badly. I wouldn't say our defending was "woeful". Remember, we conceded SIX goals last Saturday, so there was always going to be a bit of tension and anxiety about our play, but overall we weren't that bad. As TP said, Wigan had absolutely nothing to lose by bombarding our goal after Roberts had been sent off, despite only having ten men, and we didn't really have the quality or experience to deal with that.
The goal we did concede was still very annoying. You could perhaps excuse it if Ellington had used his pace to get clear of our defence (as Ade had done for our goal let's not forget) but to leave a striker unmarked in our six yard box from a corner from which we had brought everyone back was, well, frankly, garbage.
Even so, Wigan didn't take all three points as they had done at Ipswich and Preston (both above us in the league), so let's not be too despondent. We've got our problems with injuries at the moment and we're clearly carrying players, yet we're still competitive enough to win a point when we're not firing on all cylinders.
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Post by RipRoaringPotter on Feb 22, 2004 10:05:09 GMT
Thought our defence did well today against probabley the best stike partnership that have come to The Brit this season. The amount of times we got in timely blocks and put our bodies on the line when needed was encouraging. The law of averages said that Wigan were gonna convert one of their chances, was disappointing to see that he was left free for the goal though. All in all, if we add one experienced head to the defence we would have the makings of a strong back-line. (state the bloody obvious why don't ya!!!!  ;D) |
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Post by AlliG on Feb 22, 2004 10:33:00 GMT
Didn't we leave Ade up on the half way line for the corner from which they scored?
Once Roberts was sent off we seemed to leave at least 1 player up for all the Wigan set pieces.
One in the eye for those who complain about pulling everyone back?
Not sure I agree with the comment about Roberts and Ellington being the best strike partnership to visit the Brit. Sure they have plenty of pace and strength, but, there is something missing.
Can't quite put my finger on it but you would expect a team who have been in the play-off positions all season, who have spent £3m+ on strikers to have scored far more goals than we have this season.
The actual difference? One!!
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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 22, 2004 10:34:51 GMT
Do the midfield help the defence out too? I know we are missing Gerry and his experience but the amount of attacks against us and the way we give the ball away so often makes conceding goals sort of inevitable.
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Post by RipRoaringPotter on Feb 22, 2004 10:35:07 GMT
AliG,
Can't think of any better partnership off the top of me head?
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Post by AlliG on Feb 22, 2004 11:24:27 GMT
I think they are both good enough players, but as a partnership they didn't quite seem to be on the same wavelength. They both seem to have similar strengths and weaknesses.
Bit like Ade & Sarbs are our best 2 forwards, but, Gifton forms a far more effective partnership with either of them.
West Brom are another team who seem to be accumulating centre forwards without being able to find that really effective partnership.
Personally, I think the partnerships at Palace and Norwich are better balanced, though no one this season seems to have found the Harewood/Johnson or Connolly/Shipperley partnerships of last season.
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;D)
