Quite simply we were outplayed at Wigan and deserved to lose heavily. I have no complaints, certainly with regard to Wigan anyway. Hats off to them.
However what I can complain about is the sheer lack of anything from our players. They’ve looked unbeatable in recent weeks, but today was a whole different story. It looked as though they’d all been out on the drink last night and had forgot who each other was. There was absolutely nothing today to give them credit for.
Do I feel bad about being so harsh on the players who have got us to Europe? Not one bit. They were awful and deserve the bulk of the flack for this defeat. People will cry tactics in an attempt to sound knowledgeable, but the fact is that the best tactics in the world would have been undone by the incompetence of our own players to today.
Two goals from Victor Moses gave Wigan an early lead before further strikes from Shaun Maloney and Franco Di Santo left the home side 4-0 up at half-time. It was game over then although I will give the players at least some credit for trying in the second half, even though that is the minimum I expect!
So what now? Chelsea away where I would hope we put on a better show than we did today. We’ve had a stunning season and this result shouldn’t detract from that, but if plaudits are going to be dished out and received by players and manager then they should also be prepared for criticism when it is deserved. And today it is deserved!
It’s more than likely going to be the end of our Champions League dream, even though I never thought we’d make it anyway. Still stranger things have happened and there is still a lot of football to be played so you never know.
Based on today though I wouldn’t get any hopes up!
Wigan: Ali Al Habsi, Antolin Alcaraz, Emmerson Boyce, Gary Caldwell, Maynor Figueroa, Shaun Maloney, James McCarthy, James McArthur, Victor Moses, Jean Beausejour, Franco Di Santo
Subs: Mike Pollitt, Albert Crusat, Jordi Gomez, Connor Sammon, David Jones, Hugo Rodallega, Mohamed Diame
Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon, Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba
Subs: Rob Elliot, James Perch, Shane Ferguson, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Shola Ameobi, Leon Best
The only thing I’d have a go at Wigan for was the persistant fouling of our players when we went on a break, or even when our strikers received the ball with back to goal they got smashed over,and I thought one or two Wigan players could have seen red.
Having said that-we should have known their game plan-they’re the top foulers for a reason, we should have researched this and had a plan, and we didn’t. Also, we weren’t exactly angels ourselves, well, Tiote wasn’t anyway.
Other than that, just a shameful performance for all players involved. Colo seemed to have a decent game and I’ll probably have a look if he had any involvement in any of our goals. So yeah, Colo and possibly Benny could escape scrutiny. Anyway yeah, terrible performance all round (not just Simmo and Willo, as I’m sure will be claimed in some comments on this post….)
Newkie(Quote)
Oh, and worst performances? Probably Tiote, Krul and Santon. Santon was at fault for the first imo, although Willo’s attempted header was a joke. Santon was also at fault for the others-he was suppoed to be right wing back when we conceded the third goal, instead Simmo will obviously get the blame…Tiote for the last, no tracking back, left Di Santo will all the space he needed…
Anyway onwards and upwards. Players can make up for it with a win against Chelski 😉
Newkie(Quote)
❓ ❓ ❓ ❓ ❓ Bye bye champions league i dont think we wanted to get there anyway,but thats N.u.f.c for you,get something to play for and they stuff it up every time.Cant grumble though what a cracking season we have had.Alan pardew for manager of the year,no worries,now for chelsea,city,and blue noses everton.toon,toon…
karl(Quote)
Had to miss the game for the first time this season and from what I have heard/ read I chose the best one possible to miss.
Not sure why everyone is already throwing in the towel in regards to champions league though as it stands we are still in 4th and 3 points clear of 5th. Tottenham and Chelsea can still loose tomorrow and nothings changed from last week except losing ground on third.
Howay the lads.
Beardoschin(Quote)
Beardo-Think its because people assume if we play like that for the rest of the matches we’ll lose them all. I’m sure we won’t, but I didn’t think we ‘d get champions league anyway, today was a great chance to put some real distance between ourselves and Spurs/Chelski but now it’s much closer and obviously they have the easier run in.
Newkie(Quote)
*lose tomorrow
Beardoschin(Quote)
Shocking performance but it could work in our favour. We will be written off again and the pressure will go
The Kid(Quote)
Why is it champions league, over we are 4 points behind arsenal with a game in hand and spurs need to win to be level on points. It was a shocking result today granted but we have had games like that this season Fulham Tottenham etc were we have been taken apart and shipped goals but we are still right in there HWTL
Drake(Quote)
Totally agree with this report. I was at best sad and at worst totally disappointed. Whilst Wigan had a great recent record and looked good – we played into their hands – and they did not come up against a United team that has done so much to put us back on the map this season. Such a shame.
UTD111(Quote)
By all accounts we were **** today so we have to move on. In regards to champions league , thought before the game 8 points would get us champs league for next season and that is still to play for. Not sure if we will get3 wins on the bounce with the run in we have but u never know.
Johno Toon(Quote)
We’re still in quite a good position in the league and it’s not over yet. Wigan have beaten a lot of the top teams and their loss at Fulham was a blip. Three games left and it’s not over until it is mathematically over 🙂
Lobacka(Quote)
Toonsy you summed it up well, we were **** and got what we deserved, the players need to have a look at themselves and ask did they give their all.
Saying that I dare say Pards will get the blame of some, it will be his tactics or lack of them will be the reason behind the result 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
we lost heavily to Spurs and bounced back. I’d rather be in our postion than Spurs who were on fire early in the season but have been turd for ages. We’ve just had a bad game. Caught off-guard by an in-form Wigan.
We’re still in Europe but today was definately one to forget.
mark(Quote)
We have had a few games like this this season. It’s games like this we needed someone like Stesh Taylor.
lacedaemonian(Quote)
Wigan were top drawer today . wish we had been first to the ball all afternoon. Just wasn’t us of late . Four great goals and can’t help the feeling that Krul was on another planet. Never mind, we’ll be back on Wednesday …….! HWTL.
Porciestreet(Quote)
Big Dave @12
Whatever folks want to say about Pardew – they can’t deny he’s got it right more times than he’s got it wrong.
Funnily enough, I was watching the Southampton game today on BBC when they won promotion. And the commentators were going on about how much Alan Pardew had contributed to heir rebuilding and in view of what he did there, how unreasonable it was when he was dismissed.
UTD111(Quote)
UTD111-Aye, but to be fair if you’re banging your player’s missus then you’re asking for trouble
Newkie(Quote)
the tactics were **** today 😀 😀 😀 pardew oot 😆
icedog(Quote)
Newkie@17
That wasn’t true…..trust me 😉
UTD111(Quote)
Ice, hurry up and melt. Best gaffer wev’e had since Joe Harvey.
Porciestreet(Quote)
UTD111 @ 16 agree with you, and yeah I heard them bigging up Pards for what he had done for the Saints but try telling that to chuck or a few others 😆 😆
Lace @ 14 yeah we have missed Saylor as he is the type you need in games like that.
Ice your on the wrong place 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave
Chuck’s a big loveable character! The game needs characters 😀
UTD111(Quote)
UTD111-Was it definitely not? Seems strange for him to have been sacked otherwise…
Newkie(Quote)
I didn’t get over exited about our 6 game winning run, so i refuse to fall apart after one defeat. This was a wake up call, a reality check. Take it, learn from it and come back stronger.
clinath(Quote)
Hell I’d have taken 62 pts at the start of the season
Premandup(Quote)
The most annoying thing for me, was that we knew what was gonna happen at kick off.
All we had to do was sit deep and absorb their pressure. Concede posession and take them on the break.
But NO we got it completely wrong.
Seemed like we hadn’t done any study of wigan whatsoever.
4-3-3 doesn’t work against 3-4-3, especially when the defence is all over the place and the midfield a complete shambles.
3-5-1 sitting deep for the first 20 mins would have been spot on.
4-0 down by HT is a joke and there is clearly little hope from that position.
OK a shambolic performance from ALL, but lessons will be learned I’m sure as this was a humiliation.
NEXT 😕
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Newkie@23
I can’t say more – it wouldn’t be fair to a few people. But no, that’s not what happened. That’s all I can say mate.
UTD111(Quote)
intensity is the word tho.
Wigan were all over us like a rash..
Fair dues to em they were well up for it.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
UTD111 believe it or not but chuck used to be quite funny at times and I got on well with him, but when worky banned me he was running me down, from that I have no time for him.
clinath same here mate as i’ve said all good things come to an end, and this might do us a favour 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
great vocals from the fans tho, 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Beardsley-Aye, I think if we’d just stayed safe for the first 25/30 mins and found our rhythm we’d have been fine and come out on top, if we’d retained possession and forced them into some needless fouls (which we did anyway) they would have had to step back in case they got someone sent off. As it was we conceded early and for whatever reason that completely shatters our morale, particularly the defenders, and the midfielders end up frustrated and in turn the strikers live on scraps.
That’s the only thing that really worries me about the first 11, the lack of leadership and the shells our players go into-Krul, Colo, Willo, Santon, Simpson. None of them have real steel in them. Colo becomes quiet, Krul becomes really shaky/stroppy, Willo and Simmo lose focus and concentration and Santon just disappears. Then again, none of them were helped by the fact Tiote had a shocker.. 🙄
Newkie(Quote)
UTD @ 27- Eh 😯
Newkie(Quote)
thought i would get more than two bites 🙁
icedog(Quote)
Ice 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Ice – You might have but I was eating a the time 😆
toonsy(Quote)
DAVE chuck knows as much about footy as richie does about winning beauty shows 😉 😀
icedog(Quote)
Newkie I thought I was the only one that thought our side lacks “STEEL” including Colo, I have said it loads of times yeah you can have a captain that is quiet and leads by example but there is games where you need someone to show that bit of steel and tell the others including Colo that they need to show it instead of going into their shell, Stand up Steven Taylor 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
@ beardsleysboots could not agree more with u! Only thing i had to add is did anyone notice how narrow wigan made the pitch linewise! Must me narrowerer than stoke snd then good luck with our system as it wont work !
flash(Quote)
Big Dave @ 37
The other thing that Steven Taylor and Colo give us – is they put their bodies in the way – don’t turn their backs like so many defenders do when the ball is coming at them.
We’ve missed ST badly.
UTD111(Quote)
What worries me is the way we lose. We don’t half do it properly don’t we 😆
We’ve lost by one goal only twice this season (Arsenal and West Brom). The rest have been by two, four and five 😯
toonsy(Quote)
Dave-Nah I agree with you completely I’ve said it a couple of times myself, and thought that would be the problem with letting Barton go. Yes he’s an **** but and his off field antics are a massive distraction-and yes we have a nice positive luvvy duvvy atmosphere in the squad now which is great while we’re on top but not when we’re behind.
Staylor is definitely one of those characters, and probably old enough now to get the authority to yell at the others, including Colo. Colo can play it cool when we’re in the lead or even if we’re chasing a lead, but when under the cosh everyone just ***** it.
Newkie(Quote)
Going by our season so far, I guess this means we bosh Chelsea 2-0 next match and go unbeaten to the end of the season now?
What a bizarre season.
funkyjesus(Quote)
I had a funny feeling we may come unstuck today .Wigan have really got their act together in recent weeks and they are a really dirty team too. They could easily have picked up a red card today had it been a different ref .They were first to every ball and looked fresh where as we looked jaded and spent of ideas . Don’t know how we can play so well for weeks then crash and burn like that it’s odd . 😯
kimtoon(Quote)
We barely hung on at Arsenal and beat stoke comprehensivly ,yet Stoke hold Arsenal to a draw so go figure. Also I see Everton beat Fulham 4.0 and we have to play Everton ,bareing in mind what Fulham did to us .It really is a funny old game.
kimtoon(Quote)
all teams get blips even the top teams m/u,m/c,gunners ect have all been thumped at some point this season its not the end of the world imo the players thought is was a walk in the park,it was like park footy from the lads they just were not up for it in the first half anyway,pardew must have kicked a **** or three you could even see harper was really angry at them,on the good side we could have got a couple in second half,to little two late 🙁
icedog(Quote)
Kimtoon-both of those can be addressed with the “home form” factor though I guess. Fulham have been pretty awesome at home but terrible away this season. Stoke are strong at home, and it took an amazing show from Demba to beat them earlier in the season. Plus arsenal are famous for struggling against stoke, don’t think they’ve won at the britannia in like 6 years.
Not sure where I’m going…all the games left are hard, but we’re capable of beating the lot if we try our hardest-except maybe City who if they play at their best will beat anyone.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie @ Don’t we usually struggle at the Britannia though too and I know how good Ba was that day but Arsenal have RVP so should be able to win against them too. What I’m trying to say is anyone can beat anyone on their day ,look at Scum v Citeh for example but are Scum better than Citeh, ofcourse not it just happens sometimes ,usually because the better team fail to turn up on the day.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice your right, it just seems when we have a blip we just seem to disintegrate 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie @ 46 if we are playing as we know we can I think we would beat Citeh as it’s not often you have 2 teams playing their best 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave- The worrying thing is will other teams notice that.
kimtoon(Quote)
DAVE as we have said before lack of leadership on the pitch at times,manager seems to think not he sees what we see,so what do we know,unless he doesnt see a better one to take the mantle 🙁
icedog(Quote)
Big Dave – What about Caldwell for the leadership qualities you’re talking about?
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Toonsy
Is better to lose 3 times by five than 10 times by one. Even if its humiliating.
I dont know why we can lost all our football during a half time like that or against Fulham, we are not able just to be quiet and make 3 passes to calm the game.
One positive is that we need to understand our strenghts just give a good ball to Benny feet. It was i think his best 20 minutes this season he was world class in second half but we don’t have luck.
Just 2 things that I cannot still understand, the hoofing from Krul and the long ball of Simpson, that MUST STOPPP.
HBA39(Quote)
HBA39 – I agree entirely. I’m just wondering why when we lose it is generally by a thumping rather that just the odd goal
toonsy(Quote)
So what we got beat 🙁 on to chealsea forget about today 😀
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Ice we have a player with the leadership qualities 😉 just that he is injuried 👿
B&B I don’t know about Caldwell never really watched him, were you with the troyster today ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
Toonsy I honestly believe its because we have no one in the team to pick the players up, it sort of proves the point that today in the 1st half we were embarrassing but after halftime and no doubt Pards told them to fuking wise up they came out and played. IMO we lack leadership on the pitch
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave – Nah. I was thinking about Troy as it went from bad to worse. Never heard from him. He’ll be blootered.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Yeah I don’t understand to. Football is strange sometimes but that makes him beautiful.
Hope a win against Chelsea and we will be back in the game for the CL. Even if our run of games is really very very difficult
HBA39(Quote)
B+B I seen a pic of him before the game and he looked half canned then 😆 do you agree about us lacking the backs to the wall type of leadership ❓ as for Caldwell I take it you were talking Wigans one ? I keep getting him mixed up with his brother ❓ where is he as I thought he was at wigan or bolton
Big Dave(Quote)
Scrub that B+B his bro plays for Brum
Big Dave(Quote)
Kimtoon-Yeah I agree with you on that, anyone can beat anyone.
Dave-49
We could definitely beat city if we were at 100% and they were at say 80%, but when they’re on proper form they’re pretty much unplayable. But at 100% I think we could genuinely beat Chelsea at 100%……
Newkie(Quote)
HBA39 you are bang on about Krul and Simmo with the hoof ball.
Both very guilty of gifting posession back to wigan.
It just seems they panic on the ball and dont have the composure/skill to pick a simple pass on the ground.
Benny felt the weight of resposibility and was unlucky with some nice dribbles. Was guilty of over doing it at times tho and could have passed .
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Cisse and Ba could of had a goal today with a smiggin more luck mind .
kimtoon(Quote)
Just want the Chelsea game to come now and hopefully get this one out the system .
kimtoon(Quote)
Big Dave – When Steve played for us I liked that he showed the Tony Adams style of leadership (if not the playing ability). Brother Gary is the same sort of player. I love to see that. Gary is certainly a better player than Willo, who looks so uncomfortable on the ball even when he’s got loads of time.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
B+B yeah I agree with you about Willo and have said the same several times, but it seems when we win most think that he is spot on even when he has been poor, too many times he has cost us points or very near cost us points only for one of our strikers to score to cover his ***, and at this level I think you can only afford 1 or 2 off games but Willo has had a few too many.
Big Dave(Quote)
**** it … were in Europe in a season we were supposed to be Relegation contenders.
Really bad day at the office today but still an outstanding season 🙄 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
willo is too leightweight too for a CB
1st goal, Moses just nudged him out the way and then had a free header on goal.
He is big enough, but like a streak of ****. Needs to get some steak inside him 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Anyhoo really looking forwards to wednesday neet.
Cant be much worse than todays effort.
Howay the Lads.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
DAVE imo willo will be gone in the summer,hence us signing a c/b and taylor will be back so divnt worry 😉
SHARPY aye spot on more than i hoped for at season start 😉
icedog(Quote)
BEARDSLEYS BOOTS
April 28, 2012 at 23:09
willo is too leightweight too for a CB
1st goal, Moses just nudged him out the way and then had a free header on goal.
He is big enough, but like a streak of ****. Needs to get some steak inside him
______________________________________________
Joe Harvey would have had him drinking stout 🙂
Seriously though – the lad is just not a top central defender
UTD111(Quote)
Guys, reality check!!! Just a few seasons ago we were plying our trade in the Championship…at the start of this season the majority of fans were predicting a tough season and blaming Mike Ashley for selling some of our best players. Then all of a sudden, when the new signings start to come good we say Ashley actually knows what he is doing….now a few months later we take our first bad defeat in a while and you’re all on the teams back!!! Come on, six months ago you’d have been happy with a top half finish, now your complaining because we may have thrown away fourth, you can’t throw something away you never had and that’s coming from a true fan, show a little loyalty like the players have shown us all season!!!
Darren Smith(Quote)
Just got back from the match. Did a runner from the taxi from wigan but saved mesel £250!
Totally agree Toonsy, you can’t take the plaudits if you are not prepared to take the hecklers !
Every single player on that pitch for us needs to look at themselves in the mirror tomorrow morning and ask themselves whether they really tried today!?
For me, it was eleven players believing the recent media hype and another eleven players fighting for premiership survival !
Kak!
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Darren what do you expect us to do come on here and kid ourselves while blowing smoke up the players asses. this is IMO what a blog is for, and if we arn’t to talk about the negatives and just keep it to ourselves will then there wouldn’t be any need for the blog tonight because there isn’t that much positives out of todays game.
But sure your a true fan so I guess you don’t see the negatives and just live in a fluffy bubble
Big Dave(Quote)