Community Shield 2013: United on Cruise Control

                         After the excursion to Villa Park last year, the season's official curtain-raiser returned to the national stadium. For those that are unfamiliar with the match, it sees the winners of the previous year's Premier League play the holders of the FA Cup. This year, Manchester United met Wigan Athletic, after a memorable season for both last year. The Red Devils made their way to Wembley after collecting their 20th top flight title, and 13th Premier League crown. Wigan, the perennial underdogs, were unfortunately relegated in the league, but after an incredible run to the FA Cup Final, with impressive displays against Everton and Millwall, they performed one of the all time shocks in the final, beating Manchester City 1-0. With a significantly weakened team on account of their relegation, there were few that were giving them a hope today. But that is what people said in May...

                           Although this game ultimately means nothing, both clubs would have been eager to begin their season as they intended to continue. For David Moyes in particular, after an unspectacular pre-season tour, this was an opportunity to cast off the doubters of his ability to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at United. With Wigan looking one of the favourites for promotion come this May, they would also have wanted to maintain the momentum after their 4-0 thrashing of Barnsley last week. Both sides showed their determination to win the trophy, putting out practically full strength squads. The game started as was intially expected, with United dominating possession. The last thing that the Wigan fans would have wanted was to see their team fall behind early. But this was exactly what happened. To the despair of all neutrals (and Arsenal fans), Robin van Persie extended his fantastic scoring form since his move to Old Trafford. After a flowing move, Patrice Evra stood up a ball towards the back post. Poor marking from Wigan saw van Persie free on the penalty spot to place an accurate header just inside the post, beyond the despairing dive of Wigan keeper Scott Carson. 1-0 after just 6 minutes, and worries of a walk-over began to surface.

                            These concerns were not eased by the dominance that United enjoyed over the next 20 minutes. Fotunately for Wigan, they seemed perfectly content to knock the ball about in the middle of the field, retain possession and create chances at will. Only some excellent last-ditch defending, and some wasteful finishing from United meant that Wigan went into the final ten minutes of the half in with a chance. This clearly didn't escape the notice of the Wigan players, who began to push forwards. After getting a couple of free-kicks in dangerous situations, they really should have equalised. A whipped-in free kick was headed back across the box, with Leon Barnett needing just a touch to steer it home. Unfortunately for the Latics, the ball was slightly too high, missing the big centre-back and allowing United to clear. The final few minutes passed relatively without incident, with a spat between Nemanja Vidic and Grant Holt dominating proceedings. At half time, we had seen United dominate the early period, but we had seen enough of a Wigan fight-back to show that the result was still in doubt.

                               After the break, proceedings continued in a vastly similar fashion. United instantly got back on the front foot, pushing the Latics to the edge of their penalty area. Once again, Wigan's hopes were crushed by an early goal. More than a touch of fortune this time, as the predatory van Persie scuffed a shot towards goal after a neat move, only to see it ricochet off Wigan's James Perch and wrongfoot Carson. Having extended their lead, United once again seemed content to sit back and hold the ball, and where necessary, soak up any Wigan pressure. Though the Latics did attempt to push on, they never really threatened David De Gea's goal. On the break, both Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck had chances to extend United's advantage, but neither to provide the clinical touch. United also used the later stages to bring their younger players into the squad, with Januzaj replacing the excellent van Persie. The Dutchman will once again prove an integral part of United's season, and could provide a first major trophy to Moyes, though I am sure the Scot will count this one! In terms of youth, Wilfried Zaha also looks a good prospect, and England fans will be hoping he remains injury free this year. Whether he is worth the reported £15 million that United paid, I am unsure, and he will have to prove himself worthy of that valuation, but he is certainly a good player for the future.

                                Manchester United will be glad that they did not suffer the same fate as their city rivals, as that would have been the worst possible preparation for the away trip to Swansea next Saturday. I have never believed that the Charity Shield actually gives any insight into the teams involved, and this one is no different. In fact, this one is perhaps less representative than last year's Manchester City vs Chelsea, as United were playing a side a league below them, and one that they were widely expected to win. And win they did, and comfortably. Moyes will be pleased with his side's performance, but will expect them to step it up a gear if they want to retain the title they won so comfortably last year, with the resurgent Chelsea and Manchester City. For Wigan, they retained their pride. There is no embarrassment in a 2-0 defeat to the current Premier League champions. Their first objective must be to get back into the Premier League, and they certainly have the squad to do so. The Europa League will be a pleasant excursion, and one hopes that it does not detract from their league form. Both sides should have a successful campaign, but both managers will be under immense pressure to deliver their objectives.

Wigan Athletic: The Brighter Side Of Relegation

2012/2013 Season Review:

                After the inevitable ‘Great Escape’ we have come to expect from Roberto Martinez’s Wigan last season, he once again strengthened to attempt to ensure that Wigan avoid the last weeks’ scramble for points. Signing Arouna Kone, to provide some pace and clinical finishing, along with Ivan Ramis, James McCarthy and James McArthur (providing commentators with a nightmare few months working out which was which!), he watched his Wigan side start with a 0-2 home defeat against Chelsea. More promising, and perhaps representative, was the 2-0 away win the following game at St. Mary’s. September proved a more testing month in the league, with the Latics collecting only one point, and slipping into the relegation places by the end. Two thumping 4-1 victories in the Capital One Cup gave them something to save, and this saw their form eventually improve.

                October began in a much better fashion, with a home draw against Everton, before picking up their first win in 7 league games at home to West Ham. However, a poor defeat on penalties to League 2 side Bradford ended Wigan’s Capital One Cup good results. This type of form is comparable to early season forms of previous seasons, where they have needed their traditional ‘Great Escape’ when we get into spring. November also mirrored this form, with the Latics taking only three points out of their five league games in the month. Relegation form in anyone’s book, and one that Wigan would need to improve if they wanted to avoid the drop. This season, more so than many before it, seemed to have an air of inevitability about Wigan’s relegation, and there was widespread belief that Wigan’s upturn in form would come too late.

                December, the busiest month of the season, is essential to a successful season. Without a consistent string of results, a side will invariably fall short of their objectives for the season. Wigan, unfortunately for them, failed to significantly improve their recent form, picking up only four points during the month. Particularly disappointing was that the games were mostly against sides around them in the table, making it even more imperative they achieve results. However, the month, and year, did end on a positive note, with a convincing 3-0 away victory at Aston Villa, giving them hope for better fortune in 2013.

                January started with a 0-4 home demolition by Manchester United, sweeping away all momentum. The start of the FA Cup then signalled a chance to escape their weak league form, and start again on an even keel.  Unconvincing 3^rd and 4^th Round successes against Bournemouth and Macclesfield did little to quash the nerves around the side, and no league win in the month further exacerbated an already hopeless looking situation. After the two busy months, Wigan seemed to re-find themselves. February saw Wigan really find their cup form, dominating Huddersfield on their own patch, winning 4-1, and following that up with a 3-0 success at Reading in the league. This led pundits to conclude that the club’s cup form could be the key to the preservation of their league status in the coming months.

                March, if we ignore the 0-4 hammering at home to Liverpool, was an exceptionally successful month. A shock win at Goodison Park in the FA Cup 6^th Round, meaning a trip to Wembley, started things off well, with three goals in four first half minutes to put the home side on the ropes. Successive wins against both Newcastle and Norwich then gave the Latics genuine hope of another ‘Great Escape’. Including these games, Wigan went on a five game unbeaten run, including a victory against Millwall in the FA Cup Semi. Whilst the game was unfortunately marred by violence in the Millwall end, Wigan thoroughly outplayed their Championship opponents, winning the game 2-0. Two successive league defeats followed the euphoria of achieving an FA Cup final, which severely dented their survival hopes, but a draw at home to Tottenham, followed by an away win at West Brom once again reignited the Wigan fans’ hope of survival, leaving them just three points adrift. However, a 2-3 defeat at home to Swansea left their Premier League status hanging by a thread, and it was not the best preparation for arguably their biggest game in their short history.

                The FA Cup Final against Manchester City, in which Wigan were the 9/1 long shots, started with City on the front foot, forcing Wigan keeper Joel into a number of good saves. However, as the game went on, it became more and more obvious that Roberto Martinez had got his tactics spot-on, with Callum McManaman in particular standing out. The second half continued in the same vein, with the Latics dominating both possession and chances, and once Pablo Zabaleta had been sent off for City, the inevitable occurred. Ben Watson’s 91^st minute header sent the Wigan end into delirium and left many rubbing their eyes in disbelief. The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation on the touchline and in the stands. A first major trophy in their history, and a thoroughly deserved win.

                Unfortunately, they were unable to celebrate their FA Cup victory for long, before being plunged into despair at the Emirates. A 4-1 defeat just four days after their Wembley heroics meant their relegation was confirmed. Some may say it is about three seasons too late, however I genuinely think the Premier League will miss Wigan’s indescribable late season form each season. Pundits have said that Wigan only play well ‘when the clocks go forward’. They cannot afford to do that next year, or they will be finding it very hard to stay in the highly competitive Championship.

                Overall, if you had offered the FA Cup to the Wigan side at the start of the season in exchange for relegation, they probably would have taken it. Promotions occur every year, but a cup final is probably a once in a career opportunity for these Wigan players. As for their manager, they may face a struggle to keep him, as he is too good to ply his trade in the second tier. I fear for Wigan, as the Championship is notoriously competitive, and getting back up is not easy.

 

Player of the Season: Arouna Kone – Based on the FA Cup run, I would say McManaman. However, based on the overall season, I have to go with the big Ivorian. Eleven goals in your first season is a good return, especially when you consider the position of the club. His pace and finishing ability will leave him in demand from other Premier League clubs next season, perhaps the promoted sides.

 

Game of the Season: Manchester City 0-1 Wigan – Perhaps the easiest selection I have had to make. An historic day for the club and the city, and the best illustration that you should never underestimate the underdog. Bringing back shades of Sunderland vs Leeds, and the Crazy Gang’s heroics against Liverpool a decade or so later, Wigan’s success will live long in the memory, and shows us just why the FA Cup is so revered.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Keeping Roberto Martinez, whilst a huge challenge, is their most important aim of this pre-season. I fully expect that this will be a summer of more exits than entrances for Wigan Athletic, with many of the club’s FA Cup heroes in demand. This makes it impossible to judge exactly will be needed, but they need to retain a core from the current squad to build a Championship equivalent around.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

None

Out:

Franco Di Santo (Lazio, Bologna, West Brom, ST), James McCarthy (Newcastle, CM), Maynor Figueroa (West Ham United, CB), Callum McManaman (Everton, RW), Roberto Martinez (Manager, Everton)

The Romance of the Cup: Wigan Athletic Win the FA Cup

            As a Manchester City fan, I had been hoping to do a comfortable, slightly gloating post about yesterday’s events. However, this was not to be. Congratulations must go to Wigan Athletic, and especially Roberto Martinez, as I believe that he and his tactics were a key reason for the Latics claiming their first piece of silverware in their 81 year history. I am also especially pleased for Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, as his story is particularly moving. A Blackburn Rovers player in 1960, Whelan went to Wembley to play in a cup final, only to suffer a horrendous leg fracture in the 43^rd minute. After this, he never got another chance to play at Wembley. An exemplary chairman of a football club, especially in today’s environment of hire and fire at will, Whelan has retained faith in Martinez for the last four years, enabling Wigan to beat the drop repeatedly. I am glad the FA allowed Whelan to lead his side out yesterday, as it is highly unlikely he will ever get another chance to do so.

 

                Pre-match, the team selection from Manchester City prompted much derision from those on Twitter, with City’s ‘cup goalkeeper’ Costel Pantilimon being dropped in favour of Joe Hart. After conceding only one goal in the entire cup run to this point, some believed it to be highly unfair that he would be replaced for the final. Personally, whilst I would have liked to have seen Pantilimon start, as his performances this season have deserved it, I can certainly understand the argument against. Hart is undoubtedly City’s number 1 goalkeeper, and in games such as these, you would want to play your best side. Equally, the big Romanian will not have done himself any favours in the past week, as he made it very clear that he will be leaving City in the summer to pursue regular first team football. This could quite easily be interpreted as the excuse that Roberto Mancini required to drop Pantilimon, as an apparent lack of loyalty to the club can certainly justify replacing the player.

 

                During the previous week, I had been telling friends ‘if City score early, it could be 3 or 4 nil.’ I also added that ‘if no-one has scored before half time, I suspect another replay of City vs Stoke final in 2011, with a 1-0 win.’ In the first half, City started relatively quickly, getting an early free kick and testing Wigan goalkeeper Joel Robles in the first 4 minutes. The big chance for City, and for my first prediction, in the first half fell to Carlos Tevez in the 25^th minute. A shot across the goalkeeper after some neat work in the box drew a fantastic last-ditch save with his legs by Joel. Other than that, Wigan had the vast majority of the play, with Callum McManaman looking a constant threat, creating several good chances for his team. Winning every second ball, and looking generally like the side who wanted the result more, Wigan defended stoutly and broke quickly, with Roberto Martinez’s tactics set up perfectly to stifle the usually creative City. By half-time, my City-supporting mum and I were suitable exasperated by their performance, and I hoped that Roberto Mancini really got stuck into them in the second half, prompting a higher tempo.

 

                Unfortunately for me, the second half remained vastly the same as the first. Whilst City retained possession slightly better for the first twenty minutes of the second half, there was little to indicate that they would score. Despite being 9/1 long shots at kick-off, Wigan continued to look dangerous on the break, with McManaman and James McCarthy driving the Latics forward. By 60 minutes, my pessimistic side was beginning to see the inevitable defeat that I have become so accustomed to when watching Manchester City. This was confirmed to me when Pablo Zabaleta, having already been booked, scythed down McManaman and received his marching orders in the 81^st minute. After this, Ben Watson’s winner in the first minute of injury time was completely foreseeable and deserved.

 

                Roberto Martinez may be moving on at the end of the season, with Everton a supposed destination, but if that was one of his final games for Wigan, then what a way to go out. His tactics for this game were unquestionable, and he has done his career no harm whatsoever with that victory. There are also several Wigan players that have played themselves into either a much more lucrative contract, or a move to a more high profile club. McManaman, McCarthy and Joel in particular stood out, but each and every one of the Wigan players had their part to play in the most momentous day in their history. I have to say, I would much prefer to lose to a side like Wigan than one like Chelsea, Arsenal and the like. This is simply because for the top sides, these finals happen relatively regularly, and therefore each win is less significant. The pride emblazoned upon every Wigan face as the final whistle was blown, and the celebrations on the touchlines and the stands clearly illustrate exactly how massive an achievement this was for this team, and how important is was to all.

 

Whilst the defeat felt like a dagger to my heart, I cannot deny that Wigan were by far the better side on the day, and encapsulated everything the FA Cup stands for. A true David vs Goliath encounter, with the underdog triumphing against all odds. A fantastic advertisement for the modern FA Cup, showing that it hasn’t lost any of its charm. Wigan were, on the day, thoroughly deserving victors. I now hope that they carry this momentum forward to avoid relegation. Otherwise, I fear that they will lose many of their cup-winning stars, and their inaugural season in European competition will fizzle out quickly next year.

 

Picture from Google Images