I might be in a small minority but having watched the most of the game again I'm not overly impressed with our performance.
1) Wigan were awful. We have got our 2 wins against the worst sides in the league.
2) they still should have had a penalty.
3) Hutton was dire. Out of position regularly and his crossing was dire.
4) the biggest moan - why do we keep hoofing the ball? Please instruct the midfielders to demand the ball from the back and Given. We literally handed the ball back to Wigan regularly by hoofing, can we not be patient and try and keep the ball for a few minutes.
5) our attacking set pieces are shocking. Poor deliveries, poor movement in the box - why are we compounding this by hoofing every free kick from the half way line forward? What about quick free kicks and valuing possession?
6) Gabby was class. If like QPR when he struggled we will struggle to score. The goals were all his doing.
7) Warnock had his best game in a long time.
praise for Ireland and even Bannan is over stated. We were playing one of the worst teams in the league but they need to demand the ball more. Force Given, Collins, Dunne (the long ball offenders) to play it short to them. They do have tidy touches but get involved more.
9) Petrov was a lot more disciplined than against Newcastle and we were better for it.
10) Shay needs to be braver from crosses. Wigan nearly scored direct from a corner but thankfully Bannan was on the post.
Please though keep the ball on the floor, practice patience and possession. Even small targets - Bannan and Ireland given a target of 5 times per half taking the ball from the centre half and turning on it. Hoofing it is just giving away possession.
Said during and after the game, our problem was and is the midfield area's as with QPR, Wigan alike, the minute the opposition are in possession they are down our throat, Newcastle the same as was Everton, I wouldn't agree about Bannan, he is still learning his game and other should step in and help out, its a team game.
The difference between us and everybody we have played thus far is Gabby, have to be honest I don't think Benty has counted for a lot this far, but if he works hard with Gabby and can learn to catch up with his play then you only had to look at Gabby cross into the box to see that Gabby isn't just about scoring, that's the cream, so all being well that should work out.
I think we are weak down the right in defence, Johnson will cause havoc, IMO, all Man City have to do is cut of Gabby and we are 75% depleted, that's what Mancini will look to do, stick 2 men on Gabby with one in a sweeper type role, that'll do it.
1 Glimmer of hope, Gabby is coming out with all kinds of twixt & turns in every game that most of us never realised he had, i did I'm his trainer, i digress, cough, perhaps he can be the difference that could shock even a Man City.
