| Smoother /Criminal today 18:57 - Dec 11 with 508 views | Mullet |
Who else could it be? Super sub, super polarising, super senses to pick out an equaliser in a game that at half time was every bit as bad as our performance and a box crowded with underperforming man of the match candidates.
I'm not a big fan of Norwood, I don't like the drink drive stuff and it colours my view of him. But he can score goals and he's the right kind of pest, not all Div 3 strikers can say that.
Thought we were far from the 4-4-2, it was essentially a 4-2-2-2 that in the first half lurched into an asymmetrical pattern of Pigott in the middle, Bonne peeling right and Chaplin less disciplined than Edwards out wide. Essentially the intention seemed to be to pinch Wigan inwards with the inverted wingers and put Tilt and Whatmough into a footrace where we could. We couldn't.
When Wigan scored, it seemed out of nothing. A well taken set piece with a smidge of offside. But it was fairly in line with the timid miscontrols of Donacien as an uncomfortable left back and either striker as nothing seemed to stick.
The ref lost complete control of the game. He seemed good when he went to the lino and overturned Chaplins booking, but failed to book the clear diver. Who then proceeded to fake an elbow/headbutt and all hell broke loose.
After the bizarre restart in Wigan's favour and no clear sight on who had been booked for what in the end, their players started going down easy and in hard. Ours seemed to lose their temper less often than their footing.
We went in at half time, looking defeated and it was interesting that our best chance seemed to be a clear shove on Edwards in the box which was given or a tame header from a free kick that bounced kindly into the keepers' hands.
Our lack of creativity and clicking was worrying. But whether it was McGreal in the innards of the stadium or just the tweaks he made as he swapped full backs, then Chaplin and Pig for Aluko and Norwood. As well as moving Edwards to the right for a bit, we improved as Wigan receded a fair bit.
Seeing Will Keane score was bitter. Seeing the flag go up sweet. When the Stockport Berbatov smashed a header wide when it looked certain to go in, you knew it was going to be one of those games.
We did a good job of limiting the home side to counter attacks, and you can see why their home form isn't the best. If this is the bar for automatic promotion then it's even more baffling to see a Town squad crawling about in mid table when it's so easy to reach with consistency.
It was good to see an away end that were supportive from the off, and willing to back the players. Both of them and the white lines remained the correct side of the hoardings and thanks to the equaliser the worst thing about full time were people begging for the smart limited edition shirts.
If McGreal had not been handed such tough games and circumstances he might have made a better start of it. We may have dropped a place in the league but it feels like a step back to launch forward a little. The adversity was still there, but returning was the running, the fight and the competitive edge to a team that still looks like it needs lots of work in it and on it.
_____________________________ Pre game pub gossip from a Wigan fan ___________
Before kick off a fella got chatting to us as he was interested in a Town perspective. He said he backed us as Champions and when Cook got in Morsy, Walton et al he put more cash on.
Regardless he said that Cook was the figurehead, the disciplinarian. That without Richardson and Barry we were missing the two components that made Wigan work. He also reckons that Roberts had made a living off Cook handing him contracts and seemed a bit dismissive of him.
This seemed to stem from some scheme he was part of where fans were invited to open training session and in his opinion Richardson and Barry did the coaching and did it well.
He also said Evans is a massive sulker when things go against him and when he wasn't in the side at Wigan he wasn't great in terms of application and attitude upon return.
I'm not sure my appraisal of Gwion was what he wanted to hear either in fairness. But it was interesting to hear him confirm the fears and suspicions of some people to some extent. None of us could really believe how bad Cook had been here with the stuff he had. |  |
| |  |
| Smoother /Criminal today on 19:01 - Dec 11 with 477 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
I mean Richardson and Barry v Roberts and Jeffers?!
Light and day. |  |
| |
| Smoother /Criminal today on 19:09 - Dec 11 with 458 views | Steve_M |
Much better second half from us, deserved the point on basis Wigan didn’t deserve the lead so halftime. Something to build on but probably not for McGreal.
That bloke in the pub really liked Cook too, so his criticism was pertinent. |  |
| |
| Smoother /Criminal today on 20:15 - Dec 11 with 372 views | Mullet |
| Smoother /Criminal today on 19:09 - Dec 11 by Steve_M |
Much better second half from us, deserved the point on basis Wigan didn’t deserve the lead so halftime. Something to build on but probably not for McGreal.
That bloke in the pub really liked Cook too, so his criticism was pertinent. |
Yeah he really did | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
