ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

What game was Martinez watching?

I've seen some of the post-match comments from the new Wigan boss and I'm pretty suprised by a level of loyalty/bias that surpasses even my own! This is the man who came with a fanfare of bringing his "total (Swansea) football" to Wigan... and yet I just saw just another Bolton/Blackburn.

The fact that the Jo penalty came under scrutiny is not altogether suprising seeIng as it's us, and not say an innocuous second bookable offence on the half-way line, followed by protestations by a second-rate Brazillian (any guesses?!) But as for the six Wigan bookings yesterday being harsh, all I can say is that Martinez was lucky there weren't any red cards shown. Melchiot's tackle was a disgrace, that lad Diame spent the first 20 minutes looking intent on getting sent off, and Scharner had endless possibilities to go in the book earlier than he did.

I don't want to see players sent off or the like (that's why I don't support the red shite) but when the away team kicks six lumps of shit out of you and then says the ref was harsh... well that's too far for me. The ref wasn't perfect — if anything there were times where he could have let the game flow for us a bit more — but it all sounded like sour grapes to me.

One final note... that Bily lad looks class doesn't he? ;)
Adam McCulloch, United Kingdom Posted 31/08/2009 at 07:28:35

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Michael Jennings
1 Posted 31/08/2009 at 14:38:48

Haha, I agree with this! I read somewhere Wigan had been criticised in the week for being to soft, could of fooled me. 4 players took it in turn to smash Pienaar.

Stan Sheppard
2 Posted 31/08/2009 at 14:37:07

Good shout Adam.

The first half foul count was something like 3 to 17 in favour of the visitors. I initially though they were intent on nullifying the supply line from the left, but then Pip got kicked into the air and it seemed like every Everton player was in for the treatment.

Disappointed not to see more of Bily, but delighted to get the 3 points.

Andrew Bankes
3 Posted 31/08/2009 at 14:44:54

I was slightly puzzled by his comments too, although more the ones where he claimed that Wigan’s performance deserved all 3 points. Now I accept we were far far from our best but I thought we outplayed them the for majority of the game, restricting them to 3-4 chances. Does that make me as blinkered as Martinez?!?!

Mark Stone
4 Posted 31/08/2009 at 14:44:51

I was thinking the same thing when I saw his interview. Everton controlled the game and dealt well with what was purely a physical assault! There is no way Wigan deserved anything from the game and you won’t see a more stonewall penalty all season!

Having said that I can’t help but worry about how Everton still appear to be inviting teams to shoot against them from distance. Everytime Wigan had the ball in our half I thought they were going to score, because the defence just back off and back off! We’ve conceded a few like this already this season. I’ll feel better when Jags is back putting his life on the line, throwing himself in front of everything that comes his way!

Andrew Bankes
5 Posted 31/08/2009 at 14:58:39

You’re right Mark, it almost seems like they’ve been to told not close players down. There were times when Wigan players looked like they had their own personal 5 yard exclusion zones. It’s completely baffling. Pressurising and closing down the opposition used to be one of our strong points.... strangely it seems to have been abandoned.

Mark Wynne
6 Posted 31/08/2009 at 15:32:09

After those first few tackles in the first half, the ref was pretty much stating to Wigan that it was going to take something special to see red. For the rest of the first forty-five, they continued to fly in; particularly from behind. Personally, I’m surprised Pienaar got to half time in one piece.

The results aside, questions have to be asked about defence. Sure, we can excuse the Yobo/Distin partnership because they’d never played before, but when Hibbert was confronted with wingers and overlapped fullbacks, he looked well out of his depth. Neville looks nothing more than a utility man, while I’m sure a lot of issues around the forwards, Cahill and Fellaini are purely to do with confusion about what is expected from them. Too many square pegs in round holes, if you ask me. That of course is down to Davey.

Adam McCulloch
7 Posted 31/08/2009 at 15:47:46

Mark Stone - got to agree with you on the lack of closing down. There was evidence enough in the Arsenal game (obviously thinking of Fabregas’ second here) but it was seen at Burnley and yesterday as well. If you were trying to look for an explanation, I guess it would be the lack of confidence and togetherness we’ve seen at the back. There’s also a midfield which is confused and fragmented at best (as Mark Wynne mentioned) and that really needs some more options AS WELL AS Arteta back (though he is like a new signing!)

Mike Allison
8 Posted 31/08/2009 at 17:02:54

I suppose we are all biased but I’ve watched the highlights and they confirm my feeling watching live that we should have repeated last season’s 4-0, and we would have done had we been more confident, or one of their three midfield cloggers been sent off for two yellows by half time.

David McKitt
9 Posted 31/08/2009 at 17:05:06

Looks like its not only the pitch that pienaar is taking a few knocks..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210022/Premiership-star-sued-mother-child-promising-marry-dumping-her.html

David Hallwood
10 Posted 31/08/2009 at 18:03:21

Adam, The best matinezism(if that’s what you can call them) was describing the penalty as soft. I was in line with it in the main stand and apart from the defender taking a gun out and shooting Jo I can’t imagine a more stonewall penalty

Ean Palese
11 Posted 31/08/2009 at 18:34:10

Adam - agree with you for the most part but slightly disagree with ’Bily lad looks class...’
I thought he would have been at fault for Wigan’s (nearly) winning goal. He had just come on - to be fair - but went in very SOFT to challenge with a header at the top of the Wigan box and Wigan broke ferociously with a 5 v 2. They should have done better but decided to shoot instead of passing and Howard saved with his foot! I nearly shat myself.
On a challenge like that you either win the ball outright or you foul and make sure the ball doesn’t get past you or the player but not both because you leave the team exposed. Other than that he was great.

Jason Lam
12 Posted 01/09/2009 at 07:33:45

David Hallwood, it was a penalty in my book but having played up front back in the day, it was a clever move by Jo in strategically placing his leg in the line of fire. A better defender would have known better than to let Jo and ball get in front of him (piss poor defending).

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