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Last edited by dhalix; 15-07-2011 at 12:20 PM.
Let's be honest, how many of us before this game would've expected anything less than a win? I mean, I know we've been pretty awful defensively this season, but come on..... Wigan? The ease with which we strolled this game is, I suspect, more indicative of just how much a problem Wigan have (particularly while seeking a new manager), than how far we've come.
Looking at the team sheet I had to pinch myself. Just to remind myself that the only change from last season's team was Kaboul. All the more shocking to see just what a predicament we've found ourselves in. Less of the looking back, in any case. Time to look forward. I actually think Wigan have some decent players - Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Kilbane, Landzaat, Sibierski, Bent..... OK, not exactly European qualification material, but they should be able to play reasonably well and put up a bit of a fight against a large number of Premier League teams. But not yesterday.
As it turned out we pretty much had all the possession and all the shots. I think - and I could be wrong here - Wigan managed one shot all game that remotely resembled something on target. Its difficult not to write about how hopeless they looked. I hate to say it about another team (unless it happens to be the Arsehole), as offending other football supporters isn't really all that much fun. But I reckon most Wigan fans would agree that yesterday's performance from their side was pretty abject. Until yesterday the worst side I'd ever seen at the Lane was Sunderland from what? Three years ago? When they set the record low points tally to be relegated. Wigan were worse.
They lacked any kind of shape. They lacked leadership. They lacked creativity. They lacked incisiveness up front. And they lacked defensive solidity. Whoever comes in there has a lot of work to do.
So, enough of Wigan. How about Spurs? Well, we were actually pretty good. Once we'd gone 2-0 up. It kind of reminded me of Fulham in the FA Cup last season. A goal up, two up and still a little bit jittery. Then number three goes in and all of a sudden a burden is lifted and the team starts playing. Clearly it has everything to do with confidence.
The goals themselves were pretty bloody good. All four. Well, the first for good quality build-up work at least with Keane heading down the left wing and across the touchline, pushing the ball past the defender on one side, running past himself on the other and squaring for Jenas to touch home from less than a yard out. Even he couldn't miss that! In truth, a lot is owed to Kirkland for failing to smother the ball. And there are still people who say he is a better keeper than Robbo.....
The second owed much to the vision and passing of Berbatov. Taking the ball near the centre circle he pushed it through towards the left channel and Jenas - who I think had played the ball to Berbatov in the first place - continued his run to pick the ball up, round Kirkland, and, cool as you like, side foot past the defender on the line at the near post. Wigan didn't really complain about Keane having been well offside. The flag shouldn't (and didn't come) which was probably due in large part to Keane realising he was well off in the centre of the pitch as the ball went forward from Berbatov, and holding his position. If he'd darted on towards the ball, no doubt it would've been flagged.
Until that stage the central defensive pairing still looked jittery. No surprises there. A team with more attacking prowess than Wigan could have caused us serious problems. But with a two goal cushion everything becomes a little bit easier and the only real question to then be asked was whether we'd settle for that - as was the case in the UEFA Cup - or push on.
Thankfully we pushed on and the third goal came, again courtesy of Berbatov, but with everything in the finish down to Lennon. He'd already shot once from long range at Kirkland, but this time he unleashed a half volley past the Wigan keeper in the far corner and at 3-0 the game was up.
Jenas could've had a hat-trick in the first half, taking the ball on well, holding off the defender, only to chip wide past Kirkland. Shame. Would've been just reward for a good first half performance. Yes, I really did say that!
The second half, although not giving us as many goals, certainly provided plenty of goal mouth action. Jenas tucked the ball in only to be called (rightly offside), Kirkland saved from Lennon, Zokora ran across the edge of the Wigan box and Kirkland tipped it wide, and Berbatov shot with minimal backlift to have it tipped onto the post before Kaboul crashed the rebound against the bar. Somewhere in between Bent had come on to add a well executed fourth, taking a pass from (I think Jenas) and shooting across goal for the ball to rebound in off the far post. A good bit of finishing.
So we could've had a load more and Jenas could've had a hat-trick. Incredible! And - shock horror - we even kept a clean sheet!
In reality nothing less than three points would've sufficed yesterday. Failure to take the maximum on offer would've meant getting cut further adrift. As it is we're a long way back of mid-table and still need a run of four or five games on the bounce that we can win. West Ham away is likely to be a different proposition altogether but there's time to regroup before then.
From yesterday's game I take great pleasure in having seen Berbatov back to somewhere about 50% of his best. And if that was only half of what we know he can deliver there is still a lot more to come! Jenas was also very good yesterday. But then he was against Blackpool as well and I said at that time he has to deliver against the 'better' teams. West Ham will be a good test of that. Keane gave it everything, as always, without scoring yesterday! Happily, despite my fears for having jinxed Lennon earlier in the week by saying how much he'd improved, he delivered well from corners and crosses, shot on target and scored from long range. Much improved in those departments. Perhaps most noticeable though - and not picked up by the media - was how much more vocal Robbo was. I was amazed to hear how much he was shouting at the players in front of him. Never seen him do that much shouting before. Ever. Even if he talks utter crap its a good thing he's being more vocal.
That's about the long and the short of it from yesterday. We get a week off now - which means I don't have to get stuck in a whacking great traffic jam as I did yesterday for a while(!), and when the game at Upton Park comes round I'll be hoping for something similar (result-wise at least) to last season's performance!
:10:Originally Posted by RiverWire
Very good of you to say!
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