BFTG - Wigan away

[Esteban]

I'd be interested in BFTGers reactions to Uwe Rosler's comments on the FLS. He said, if I heard it right, that we in particular played the long ball game but this is in contrast to what NA is trying to instil in our players and in contrast to some comments on this board which described us as playing a 'passing game'. A point away to Wigan was more than I (and most of us I think) expected but I would be concerned if we were reverting to hoof-ball.

Good to see The Secret Footballer on the FSL though. He seemed a bit on edge but it was his first time and I hope to see more of him on future programmes.

I haven't heard the interview yet, but we were looking to get it forward quickly. Don't think you can call it long ball, but it was certainly quite direct at times.

Wigan's equaliser definitely looked long ball to me, so swings and roundabouts! Whatever you need to do to get the result, I guess.

EDIT: Just seen his interview. He's got his Wigan tinted glasses on. First half was pretty even overall, second half we battered them and should have won it.

[Avon Royal]

I think Uwe Rosler is just full of shit.

[winchester_royal]

Total crap. We occasionally got it forward quickly but we also played it around nicely. Our first goal came from a move played from defence through midfield, in stark contrast to the agricultural nature of Wigan's equaliser.

Sour grapes from Uwe. You only need to look at the possession stats to understand which team was playing the better football. Thought we played the type of hybrid style that we've all been hoping we'd eventually get to under Adkins. Especially once we had Guthrie on to dictate game.

[EarleyRoyal16]

Fantastic performance. Dominated the second half and should have had 3 or 4. Blackman has come on leaps and bounds from last season, brilliant today as he has been all pre season, was gutted his curling effort didn't go in as he deserved a goal more than most on the pitch. Pog was as we expect, working hard and troubling the defenders, he decided to turn into Messi near the end when he took it round 3 or 4 defenders. Hector was class. My MOTM. Liked the look of him in midfield in preseason and he carried that on today, broke up play well, has a real eye for a pass and has a real driving force going forward. Him and Guthrie will be a solid midfield until we can get Jem and Williams back involved. Cox was brilliant, played the no. 10 role perfectly and looks like a top, top signing. There was a real energy about the team today and that will only improve once Mackie gets involved. Only complaint is the defending for their two goals, similar to last season in that it was questionable. Great finish from Cummings, the lad had a very mixed game otherwise but the fact he was bursting forward like Gunter to even be in the position for the goal is encouraging, emphasises the work rate in the players. Beautiful training ground move for Morrison's goal also, completely caught Wigan sleeping and a good header from Morrison. Really really encouraging performance, definitely a lot better than I was expecting. Once more players get back from injury and we hopefully make more additions to the squad by September 1st the lads could just surprise us this season if they continue to perform like that. We finally look like a Nigel Adkins team, movement, passing, precision, everything Adkins wanted came through, long may it continue.

[If you still hate Futcher]

I'd be interested in BFTGers reactions to Uwe Rosler's comments on the FLS. He said, if I heard it right, that we in particular played the long ball game but this is in contrast to what NA is trying to instil in our players and in contrast to some comments on this board which described us as playing a 'passing game'

The way I heard it was that we forced them to play the long ball which is backed up by the BFTGers saying how will we pressed them

[LoyalRoyal22]

Poor comments from Uwe. We got them on the break a couple of times by switching the play with a few accurate diagonal balls but mainly it was short passing. No long ball. 58% possession.

[TommyF]

One performance and months of negativity melt away.

RTGs firmly on. I'm pathetic but I suddenly feel less gloomy, optimistic even for the coming season

[biff]

comedy defending.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Great result.

Loving the fact 11 of 18 were academy.

PS. i fooking hate guthire with a passion, useless hairdo of a player.

For all his talent he has set up 2 reading goals, the man is a northern fraud.

Let him get his tattoo's paid for by another club.

10 of the 18. Federici didn't come through our academy system. He was nearly 20 when he joined from Australia I believe.

[Esteban]

Total crap. We occasionally got it forward quickly but we also played it around nicely. Our first goal came from a move played from defence through midfield, in stark contrast to the agricultural nature of Wigan's equaliser.

Sour grapes from Uwe. You only need to look at the possession stats to understand which team was playing the better football. Thought we played the type of hybrid style that we've all been hoping we'd eventually get to under Adkins. Especially once we had Guthrie on to dictate game.

+1

[LoyalRoyal22]

If I am being harsh maybe Federici could have got off his line quicker for the second goal. But the reason for alot of our good play was started at the back with Federici being comfortable with the ball at his feat. When teams press our CBs it's a tactic to float the ball out to the fullbacks.. McCarthy struggled with that, usually putting it out of play. Federici kicking is really accurate as we already know & did it well.

[Mr.Swainey]

Yeah, I felt Federici was culpable for the second goal, and was caught out once or twice when the ball was pumped into the box, he seemed to be struggling to get near it.

[Mr.Swainey]

Missed most of the game as I was stuck on the M6!

But still arrived in time to see Cummings being lapse for the first Wigan goal, but redeeming himself with a decent display after that.

Err... didn't they score in the first half an hour? How can you miss most of the game and see their first goal?

Because I arrived just as they scored. By my definition, half an hour of game missed was most of it.

[Simon's Church]

You have an odd definition of most

[Man Friday]

Thanks for the match reports guys. This is probably against my better judgement but I am feeling optimistic about this season.

+1.

[Esteban]

Yeah, I felt Federici was culpable for the second goal, and was caught out once or twice when the ball was pumped into the box, he seemed to be struggling to get near it.

That's harsh. I suspect he thought, like most of us did, that Pearce or Morrison would win the header against Reira as they had been all game. But they switched off, left it for each other and nobody picked up the runner.

[Ian Royal]

Missed most of the game as I was stuck on the M6!

But still arrived in time to see Cummings being lapse for the first Wigan goal, but redeeming himself with a decent display after that.

Err... didn't they score in the first half an hour? How can you miss most of the game and see their first goal?

Because I arrived just as they scored. By my definition, half an hour of game missed was most of it.

Ok, just surprised that 30% is most in your opinion. I'm sure you can understand why those of us who generally think of it as at least greater than half were somewhat confused.

[Victor Meldrew]

Adkins sounded quite pleased for us to get a draw as are most of us with the side put out today-I wonder if including Taylor and Edwards (although it sounds as though they didn't contribute too much) and the set-up in midfield with Hector and Obita caught Wigan by surprise.
Thanks fellas for the BFTG postings which are always welcome.

[Royal Rother]

Once more players get back from injury and we hopefully make more additions to the squad by September 1st the lads could just surprise us this season if they continue to perform like that. We finally look like a Nigel Adkins team, movement, passing, precision, everything Adkins wanted came through, long may it continue.

If that is best we've played under Adkins (and it certainly sounds that way) then do we need more new signings?

Just let this squad grow in confidence and togetherness would be my suggestion.

There are enough perfectly competent squad members not in that team to suggest we've already got sufficient depth to achieve stability this season so why spend the money that would be far better directed at the Academy & Cat 1.

Or has one good performance elevated everyone's expectations for this season?

[The Quiet Man]

My take on yesterday was that first half both teams were average. Obita isn't a midfield player, Taylor is a good crosser but struggled to get in the game. Edwards looked like a boy in a man's game. We should have scored when Pog set up Edwards after their centre half f*cked up. They scored as Cummings was woefully out of position and let their winger in which was followed by Keystone cops in our box.

The real change came when we brought Guthrie and Cox and we went up a gear whilst Wigan were still average (I enjoyed Fortune's comedy turn for them). We bossed the game when Obita went out wide and Hector concentrated on harassing their midfield. Slightly concerned we went for the McD option of trying to keep the ball in the corner for 6 minutes at the end when Wigan looked ripe to concede a third goal but it's early days. Cox looks good for our style of play.

Overall it is always nice to get any result against Wigan. I think our full squad will be capable of giving most teams a game but how often we get to see the best team on the pitch given the injuries could mean it will be a season of maybes and what ifs.