[Archived] Wigan Preview

[broadsword]

i don't think pedersen has scored all season.

[b12_simon]

i don't think pedersen has scored all season.

You're right. Probably because you can't score from a throw-in.

I do wish he'd vary his throw-ins, too. Anyone who's even seen us on telly this season knows every one in range goes straight to the penalty spot. It must be so easy to defend against!

[rog of the rovers]

Does Nick Blackman have a squad number?

Therefore possibly able to go on the bench?

[Presty On Tour]

i don't think pedersen has scored all season.

His last goal for us I think was pre-season. He scored a free-kick from almost 40 yards in Portugal. Some other members may also remember the the porn that kept popping up on the stream.

He has scored for Norway recently, a free kick against South Africa in a friendly and a fine volley against Finland in their 3-2 World Cup qualifier victory.

[Billy Castell]

We'll lose with ease. 2-0 to the pie eaters.

[92er]

I cannot for the life of me see the point in Tugay playing 77 minutes tonight. I would speculate that Big Sam was trying to make a point internally, as judging by his body language on Saturday he was none to pleased about not being involved at Stoke and it's possible that he didn't react too positively after being told. Tiring out our most talented footballer in a kids match doesn't strike me as being too sensible.

I presume the Reserve team players on Tuesday will not feature on Sunday on the basis that I presume they were not part of the team bonding get-away.

Someone might have read Kevin Gallagher's column in the LT in which he argues our creativity is being sucked out of the team.

[SD4E]

I wiill settle for the same result as tonight's reserve game against Wigan,won 3 1 Treacy man of the match,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

treacy MOM. jesus.

how bad must wigans reserve side be?

[mrsjansen]

If i could be there i would be, but i cant afford to keep flying home to games.

However, i do think that peoples optimism has been lost. I will always support the team, so will my dad and brother, but when there are people on the pitch getting paid more money in one week than most of us will earn in a year and they staunter round the pitch with a couldnt care less attitude why should some fans, in tricky times pay their hard earned cash to go and watch them play?

Im not saying people should stay away, but i can understand peoples reasons for wanting to.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Around 2,000 extra tickets sold so far......come on FFS make an effort!

Agree that Mr Williams also wants to have a word with our team about pulling their finger out and getting the right result come Sunday,never mind the fans.

[McClarky]

Nicko is reporting in the Mirror that several players "snubbed" the trip to Gleneagles. He mentions RSC (injured) and Tugay (playing for stiffs) but also Benni, Samba and Diouf and implies they couldn't be bothered going. Perhaps they don't play golf or something. Is this just mischief making or is there a problem, I suspect the former.

They should have come up, the weather's beautiful at the moment.

Geting fed up with people asking for backing from the fans, the support home and away has been great this season but all the appeals imply that it hasn't been. It's about time we got something back from the players I think.....like a decent performance and some excitement.

[1864roverite]

Its mischief making.

All 3 carrying slight injuries.

Benni - hamstring tightness

Samba - achilles (sore)

Diouf - muscle strain

ALL 3 seen today happy as a lark, smiling and very amenable to supporters wanting photographs and autographs.

[RovertheHill]

I expect the following formation

Robinson

Andrews Ooijer Nelsen Zurab Mokoena Grella Givet Warnock Pedersen

(large and open grassy space - in days of old was called midfield)

Samba

Subs : Tugay, Dunn, Brown, Yucca Plant, Hatstand

We'll win 3-1.

[Claytons Left Boot]

Nicko is reporting in the Mirror that several players "snubbed" the trip to Gleneagles.

Nicko is a journalist. He could have explained that these players did not go but had valid reasons, or he could have written it in the way he did.

Today's dumbed down masses are fed a diet of confrontation and conflict whether it be on tv or in the press, so a journalist will always choose the second option. The 30 second attention span of the numpty is kept intact and the Red Top comics continue to sell.

[Pugg]

Slightly drunk and feeling 3-0 Rovers!

[Iceman]

Having seen the team selection last few games We might as well play:

Bunn

Andrews Zurab Ooijer Givet

Dunn Mokoena Tugay Treacy

Benni Carlos

[LeftWinger]

My team would be...

Robinson

Ooijer, Nelsen, Samba, Givet

Doran, Dunn, Warnock, Pedersen

Diouf, McCarthy

But I really can't see Sam going for that - not enough people out of position and no-one to hoof it to.

[LeChuck]

Nicko is a journalist.

...writing for The Mirror. Anyone who has seen their reaction to the budget this morning will know why everyone should ignore the idiotic drivel that fills their pages.

[Beta Ray Bill]

Nicko is reporting in the Mirror that several players "snubbed" the trip to Gleneagles. He mentions RSC (injured) and Tugay (playing for stiffs) but also Benni, Samba and Diouf and implies they couldn't be bothered going. Perhaps they don't play golf or something. Is this just mischief making or is there a problem, I suspect the former.

Perhaps he rang them to tell them of potential interest from other clubs?

[bazza]

We've simply GOT to play proper football in this game.

I'm not a fan of Robinson so I would pick Bunn.

For the back line pick any four from six. Ooijier and Zurab together in the centre are (IMO) the best but Nelsen has played well recently and is the captain.

Givet can play in the centre, we're told, which would put Warnock back to left back. Warnock is not a midfielder (IMO).

So where does that leave Samba? Up front again? Right back has got to be Ooijier because Andrews is way out of position here.

For midfield I'm juggling with Diouf, Dunn, Grella, Andrews and Pedersen.

Up front are Benni and Carlos; no use hoofing balls up to them.

So, having thought out loud as it were, this is my team:-

Bunn

Ooijier Nelsen Samba Warnock

Diouf Grella Andrews Pedersen

Villanueva McCarthy

Bench:- Robinson, Dunn, Givet, Zurab, Tugay, Doran, Olsson

[bennyboyt11]

My instinct reaction is a 2-1 loss for us...

[Stuart]

My instinct reaction is a 2-1 win for us...

[bob fleming]

No Roberts or that other bloke who's name escapes me for Sunday then.

Got to go with two upfront. Don't care who - Benni and the little fella or the big fella I'd presume.

[waggy]

No Roberts or that other bloke who's name escapes me for Sunday then.

Got to go with two upfront. Don't care who - Benni and the little fella or the big fella I'd presume.

lets hope the phone call has been made then,samba should start in defence and if things go wrong he can be pushed forward,letting derbyshire go is more and more ludicrous by the day,if he wanted first team football as was let out on loan,why was rsc kept when it was plian to see he did not want to behere

[The Gull]

We have to go in to this match with a positive approach which means dropping Mokeana and Andrews, we need people who are comfortable on the ball and with a little bit of creativity.

That for me means a midfield of Warnock and Grella in the middle and two of Pedersen, Dunn and Diouff on the wings, probably Dunn which would allow Diouff to play up top with McCarthy, or even Dunn/Villanueva off McCarthy with Pedersen and Diouf playing as far up the wings as possible.

If we go in to this game trying to battle to a win with a midfield consisting of three of Grella, Warnock, Andrews and Mokeana then I feel we will not win the battle as we will spend too long chaing the ball insted of passing it around to each other.

The cold hard facts are that we need to win at least two out of our three home games to guarantee our place in the Premiership, get off to a good start on Sunday.

[bob fleming]

lets hope the phone call has been made then,samba should start in defence and if things go wrong he can be pushed forward,letting derbyshire go is more and more ludicrous by the day,if he wanted first team football as was let out on loan,why was rsc kept when it was plian to see he did not want to behere

I don't think it was that plain to see at the time Waggles. I think RSC was making the right noises abut putting a shift in - besides if he wants his move to an "ambitious" club then surely he has to bang a few in instead of being injury prone / injury riggled / completely knackered.

As for Derbs - general consensus would appear to be that your mate Sam wanted to bring in Diouff and Givet - and it would appear that in order to do so he had to balance the books.

I would have kept Derbs - offers us something different - in that he runs about and scores goals.

However if we had RSC, Roberts and Benni fit there wouldn't be a worry. A difficult decision was made that clearly hasn't paid off - yet.