Wigan Athletic v Manchester City, Kick off: 4pm

Xavi6

I hate this fixture. Last year we were battered and I wouldn't be surprised if we leave the JJB with nothing. Wigan are a good side and tough to play at home.

Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Thomas, Diame, Koumas, Gomez, Rodallega, Edman, Boyce, Cho, Scotland, King, McCarthy, Pollitt.

Manchester City (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Sylvinho, Garrido, De Jong, Barry, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Ball, Weiss, Vidal, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Petrov, Tevez, Adebayor.

Toure is out meaning Richards and Lescott at centre half most likely. I'll have my eyes closed every time Wigan attack.

Predicting 2-1 to Wigan. Rodallega and N'Zogbia for them, Tevez for us.

Frisbee

Quite looking forward to this game, reckon it's gonna be a good one.

3-2 for me with City getting the odd goal

That_Guy

Looking forward to this. I'm expecting City to win here but it's gonna be tightly contested throughout though.

A 3-2 win for City for me.

Podge2k7

3-1 to City.

That_Guy

Xavi6 wrote: »

I hate this fixture. Last year we were battered and I wouldn't be surprised if we leave the JJB with nothing. Wigan are a good side and tough to play at home.

Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Thomas, Diame, Koumas, Gomez, Rodallega, Edman, Boyce, Cho, Scotland, King, McCarthy, Pollitt.

Manchester City (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Sylvinho, Garrido, De Jong, Barry, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Ball, Weiss, Vidal, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Petrov, Tevez, Adebayor.

Toure is out meaning Richards and Lescott at centre half most likely. I'll have my eyes closed every time Wigan attack.

Predicting 2-1 to Wigan. Rodallega and N'Zogbia for them, Tevez for us.

Tis the DW now I believe.

Xavi6

That_Guy wrote: »

Tis the DW now I believe.

Yeah I heard that alright. I'm a traditionalist though so it'll always be the JJB for me.

Sure we still play at Maine Road :pac:

That_Guy

Xavi6 wrote: »

Yeah I heard that alright. I'm a traditionalist though so it'll always be the JJB for me.

Sure we still play at Maine Road :pac:

Maine Road with a massive extension.

2-0 City

Sully

2-1 to City. Dont see Tevez scoring tho, just assisting.

ntlbell

1-1

Mr_Roger_Bongos

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8304532.stm

Just looked at the teams there - Where's the fook's bellamy?!? He's your joint top scorer with Adebayor, not even on the bench?

Xavi6

Mr_Roger_Bongos wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8304532.stm

Just looked at the teams there - Where's the fook's bellamy?!? He's your joint top scorer with Adebayor, not even on the bench?

Injured

1. Shay Given
5. Pablo Zabaleta
2. Micah Richards
19. Joleon Lescott
3. Wayne Bridge
8. Shaun Wright-Phillips
34. Nigel De Jong
18. Gareth Barry
17. Martin Petrov
32. Carlos Tevez
25. Emmanuel Adebayor

12. Stuart Taylor (GK)
6. Michael Johnson
7. Stephen Ireland
14. Roque Santa Cruz
16. Silvio Sylvinho
33. Vincent Kompany
40. Vladimir Weiss

Good to see Vinny K back in there

Eire-Dearg

Mr_Roger_Bongos wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8304532.stm

Just looked at the teams there - Where's the fook's bellamy?!? He's your joint top scorer with Adebayor, not even on the bench?

In the same article you posted

"Craig Bellamy has a sore groin"

mink_man

Mr_Roger_Bongos wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8304532.stm

Just looked at the teams there - Where's the fook's bellamy?!? He's your joint top scorer with Adebayor, not even on the bench?

FOR ****S SAKE, I JUST BOUGHT BALLAMY IN FF THIS WEEK, **** SAKE!

That_Guy

Ireland on the bench?

Xavi6

That_Guy wrote: »

Ireland on the bench?

Surprised at that myself, though can only presume it's cause of it being a physically tough away game and De Jong will put himself about.

I'd expect to see Superman on after 60 minutes.

Mr_Roger_Bongos

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

In the same article you posted

"Craig Bellamy has a sore groin"

Ah just saw that, was lookin at the injured list which he's not on.

Oh well, Dunne comes off my bench!

'Sore Groin' haven't heard it described like that. They normally say strain so does 'sore' mean he'll be back next week?!

Paul Tergat

Playing 4-4-2 and with 2 attacking wingers, with also barry not shy in going forward, it makes sense to play de jong i guess over ireland.

Xavi6

From the match ticker on mcfc.co.uk -

Alan Wiley and his assistants are also out on the pitch, and I have to say that Mr. Wiley looks to be in excellent shape.

:pac:

JPA

Ireland has wore himself out is something I have heard recently.

That_Guy

Samuel L. Jackson up front for City today.

Holsten

Come on Wigan!

bigstar

not looking forward to this.

we have a good team out though. if we can beat these ill believe we've changed.

C'MON CITEH

drkpower

That_Guy wrote: »

Ireland on the bench?

Isnt this his 3rd league game in a row to be on the bench? Must be worrying for him that Hughes prefers the solidity of barry-de jong. With so much (expensive) attacking talent available to City that Hughes will be under pressure to acccomodate in the team, it does seem a solid base in central midfield is a must. It may be a little bit premature, but could it be the beginning of the end for him at City?

Xavi6

drkpower wrote: »

Isnt this his 3rd league game in a row to be on the bench?

No

Must be worrying for him that Hughes prefers the solidity of barry-de jong. With so much (expensive) attacking talent available to City that Hughes will be under pressure to acccomodate in the team, it does seem a solid base in central midfield is a must. It may be a little bit premature, but could it be the beginning of the end for him at City?

Oh FFS :rolleyes:

He missed the West Ham game through illness. De Jong and Barry played well and we won. Both played well again against Villa. They simply don't deserve to dropped right now.

But feel free to keep going with your tabloid take on things.

drkpower

Xavi6 wrote: »

No

Oh FFS :rolleyes:

He missed the West Ham game through illness. De Jong and Barry played well and we won. Both played well again against Villa. They simply don't deserve to dropped right now.

But feel free to keep going with your tabloid take on things.

Easy tiger. I was simply asking the reasonable question that, a side who has spent >£100 on attacking players are going to have a hard time playing all of those atacking options as well as a reasonably ofensive central midfielder. And with too excellent 'solid' central midfielders in the squad, it may be difficult for him to regain first choice status. Im sorry if that is a little too 'tabloid' for you. Try and take off the usual football fan 'blinkers' and take my question on face value, not as an attack.

So, this is his 2nd game on the bench (and he was ill the game beforehand). Thanks for the clarification.

Xavi6

drkpower wrote: »

Easy tiger. I was simply asking the reasonable question that, a side who has spent >£100 on attacking players are going to have a hard time playing all of those atacking options as well as a reasonably ofensive central midfielder. And with too excellent 'solid' central midfielders in the squad, it may be difficult for him to regain first choice status. Im sorry if that is a little too 'tabloid' for you. Try and take off the usual football fan 'blinkers' and take my question on face value, not as an attack.

So, this is his 2nd game on the bench (and he was ill the game beforehand). Thanks for the clarification.

Apologies, but your question reads as another example that the case for the prosecution can use to justify the 'Unrest at City' stories.

Last week it was Petrov and there will be someone else next week no doubt.

jesus_thats_gre

You think that that was asking a reasonable question? This place is getting worse.

Bounty Hunter

35+mins in and no comments on the actual match must be a riveting affair i take it?

drkpower

Xavi6 wrote: »

Apologies, but your question reads as another example that the case for the prosecution can use to justify the 'Unrest at City' stories.

Last week it was Petrov and there will be someone else next week no doubt.

Not at all. Nothing to do with 'unrest at City'; simply looking at the squad they have and trying to figure out a way of fitting various players into the team. Barring a succesful rotation strategy (which is rarely succesful, particularly in a team with so many new players as City), a few big City players are going to be marginalised. I would fear for Ireland in that scenario.

Tevez, Adeb, Robinho, SWP, Bellamy, RSC, Petrov - if 4 of them are usually played every week (and given the outlay on them, Hughes probably has to), I just cant see Ireland being one of the two central midfielders - its far too Ossie & Spurs circa 1995 for my liking.

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

You think that that was asking a reasonable question? This place is getting worse.

Yes; if you can point out why it is unreasonable, I'm all ears.

Xavi6

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

35+mins in and no comments on the actual match must be a riveting affair i take it?

Given just made a decent save from Rodallega. First shot on target I believe.

Not too bad a game though.

Kold

1-0 N'Zogbia

flyswatter

1-0 Wigan N'Zogbia.

GLaDOS

Goal Wigan, N'Zogbia

invincibleirish

Wigan 1-0 up at last. first goal shouldnt have been disallowed for Barry falling on his arse anyway.

fkt

Get in! Wigan 1-0.

Kev_ps3

Hope Wigan can hold out. Doubt it tho

Xavi6

FFS

CR 7

Looked a bit like an o.g. to me, although the stream ain't too clear. Now, finish off the game early, Wigan.:D

GLaDOS

Lol at the clips of Wiley running

Royale with Cheese

the_pm_of_17 wrote: »

Looked a bit like an o.g. to me, although the stream ain't too clear. Now, finish off the game early, Wigan.:D

Yeah thought this too, although I'm watching on tv and still couldn't tell from the replay.

Ok saw it again, definitely N'Zogbia's.

Kev_ps3

That was quick:rolleyes:

GLaDOS

Petrov staking his claim

Xavi6

Lovely

flyswatter

1-1 Petrov.

Xavi6

How was Melchiot not booked for that and Zab got a yellow in the first?

GLaDOS

Zabaleta off

Frisbee

Saw that coming a mile away...

Xavi6

Been coming since he got booked. Stupid, stupid challenge to make.

Xavi6

And now Adebayor is crocked.

Magic

Frisbee

Nice to see Kompany back.

He's a player I very much rate