Reply With QuoteWigan – They played quite well at the Lane and were unfortunate to lose 4-2 in a game that flattered us. They were one of the few teams that came and had a go and with some better play in the final third or defending may have got something. Since then they have generally carried on a downward trajectory. They were around the top 6 but have just really started to go in freefall. They did well at home but have had a series of defeats here. They are missing Nick Powell (I assume out injured) and seem to lack leadership at the back. I was not impressed by Dan Burn at the Lane but now he has gone back to Brighton (loan ended); they look so suspect here. The two lads Kipre and Dunkley look accidents waiting to happen. In midfield, Morsy and Gibson are very slow and can get their foot in but not sure they have the quality to hurt the better teams. Evans, I have made my opinions very clear on him. Slow, weak and games pass him by. Great business by Wilder to move him on. He would not even make our bench now and even Lundstram is a better option.
Up top they have lots of options and Grigg, Vaughan and Garner have scored goals at this level but not sure they get great service. The lad McManaman is an annoying so and so but would at least give them some running and pace. Roberts and Naismith are journeyman types that are top League One players but not quite up to it in the Championship; even though both will now and again show moments of quality. Individually they are not quite at the level of many others but still should be better than the teams below them. Position wise they are about where they should be. I think Paul Cook is a tremendous manager and like Wilder has done well wherever he has gone but puts into context how well Wilder did. We surpassed them last season by some way in terms of performances and results and they probably still spent a lot more than us after they came up. Certainly, the likes of Windass (another who I was surprised did not start), Garner and Evans would cost them a fair bit and maybe even more than we spent even this season too. I think they will have enough to stay up but they need to stop the rot fast really and look bereft of confidence.
Opponent man of the match – No one was that great really. I felt Morsy got his foot in and Windass looked lively when he came on but they were individually inferior to us. I felt the lad James who played right back was maybe the stand out at the Lane and it was the case again today. He worked hard, used the ball when he could and got forward. Can see why Chelsea rate him. He looks a player that could player higher than Wigan – no offence.
Weak link – A number of very average players. The keeper looked ropey at the Lane and did not inspire confidence today (look at difference between him and Henderson on corners). Gibson was so slow in midfield and looked to be running in quick sand. I also felt they had little up top. The two centre backs I thought (one Dunkley tackle apart) were also really poor and errors waiting to happen. They got pulled about and were sloppy in clearing the ball. I reckon they will both make lots of mistakes between now and the end of the season. However, the weak link has to be Mr Lee Evans. A favourite scapegoat of mine when he was at the Lane; maybe I was harsh but today showed why we got rid. Aside from the awful miss and wild sliced shot (everyone made out he was a goal threat at the Lane but Lundstram scored more goals than him and other than the Boro game; I recall quite a few poor shots/misses); his set plays were poor and he was anonymous for long spells. Slow and immobile; he is a player that I feel will be lucky still to be at Championship level in 12-18 months. Not sure what his qualities are really.
Henderson 7/10 – Had little to do really but dealt with everything he had to save for one fumbled cross out. He made a save on the angled shot and maybe would have wanted to push it away from goal but he had to make the save. His reaction to Evans miss was odd – he really had a go at the ex-United player and this particularly upset Garner. Could see why as it was a strange reaction! Maybe they did not get on or just banter with an ex-teammate! Second half he assisted with the catch and long kick for the goal. His distribution was excellent with some good long kick outs and throw outs. Billy was the chief recipient on more than one occasion. One long throw was the whole half of the pitch and won us a corner deep in their territory as a result.
Baldock 7.5/10 – Thought he was excellent today. He used the ball well, got up and down the flank and helped us pen them in from the start. He alone won 3 corners in the first 15 minutes from thrusts down that right side. He kept this going all game and showed incredible fitness all game. Defensively he did what he had to do and then 2nd half involved in some good attacks including the third goal. Thought he was really good today. At times away from home last season he was found wanting switching off at times but today he was really good.
Stevens 7.5/10 – Another really good performance. Won the battle against his man, came on offensively and forced them back, as did Baldock on the other side. Defensively he was solid, winning tackles, headers and pulls away from danger. He kept his shape and read the game well with a number of interceptions. Going forward he was a danger at times. Twice he had chances but once he was blocked and then another occasion, he had the ball on the right-hand side of the box (this has happened to him before belying any kind of formation!) but took too long to get his shot off. Always on the front foot. Just one negative and that a silly booking for pulling a player back. He does make silly fouls at times but that is the only real criticism for a player that is a definite candidate for player of the season such is his levels of consistency week in, week out.
Egan 8/10 – Think he has been absolutely dominant in the last three games. Garner had scored two goals in his last game but barely got a sniff today both on the floor and in the air. He won every header defensively, got ahead of his man, made clearances and just led the backline superbly. Also, a threat going forward and won a few headers on corners/free kicks that led to scrambles or half chances. He has been a colossus recently and seems to be getting better and better.
O’Connell 8/10 – Whilst we have scored 3 goals today and the last two games; I feel our defence has been excellent. We have limited 3 sides to one long range free kick goal and they have barely had any chances with Evans chance the only real clear chance in 270 minutes of football really where the opponents have relied on set plays. Just really solid. Having centre backs like him and Egan that are no nonsense but both can get it down and play at times. Both are quite mobile too. Comparing them two to the lads at the back for Wigan showed how superior we are.
Cranie 7.5/10 – Edwards said he had played well to start the game but I actually thought he started rusty and gave it away a few times with sloppy passes. He got better as the game went on. Made one crucial header to flick away with Garner coming in and then did the same second half with a header behind. He was just really solid. Nothing flash and does not give us the attacking threat that Bash does but he will be useful lad in the run in with injuries/suspensions etc. Can see why we are giving him an extra year.
Fleck 7/10 – Thought he played well the last 20 minutes at Blackburn and got back to his best again today with some good runs, foot ins and interceptions. He at times first half was a bit careless and his mistake led to the big Evans chance as he lost the ball. I thought after the break he was better as were all the team in their passing and overall play. Thought he worked hard and did a lot of the defensive stuff well as our game management was superb after we went 3-0 up. A stupid booking to give away near the end where he lunged in at James apart; a good performance.
Norwood 7/10 – I actually thought he played ok but was maybe one of our weaker players today. Not saying he was bad but he actually gave it away a hell of a lot and first half he put them in twice with sloppy first touch passes. He continued to be a bit short with his passing. Still will always see a lot of time on the ball and his passing improved second half as he was surer with it. Had one great shot that hit the post from the edge of the box. Lovely to see him, Fleck and Coutts playing keep ball for long spells near the end. He is a huge upgrade on Evans and even when he was maybe not quite at his brilliant best still miles better than the player he effectively replaced. What a masterstroke by Wilder.
Duffy 7.5/10 – Odd one as first half did not feel he did too much right and gave it away quite a bit and was slow to react but then suddenly he becomes influential in everything we do! He was involved in the first goal with the shot from the corner and then put in a superb ball for McGoldrick which nearly led to another. He then came alive and was much better second half with a lovely finish for the 2nd and involved in the third. I felt he was quiet for spells but his quality when it matters clearly shows and to score two goals.
