Who ate all the pies?

[Prufrock]

Negatives first: we were shit first 10 mins, and could/ should have been 2-0 down and a very different day today. Vela looks a footballer, but not convinced he's a right-back, and he's deceptively slow. Though McManaman is v good to be fair.

After that though, we were belting. Good spell without being dazzling until half-time, then blew them away. If Clayton learns to finish he'll be fecking lethal because his movement is brilliant. Cravies ok first half, unplayable second. Back 4 much more solid. Danns v disciplined on a booking for a long time. And finally the two best footballers are turning it on. Mavies and Chungy fantastic, though Chungy's penalty was about as bad a goalscoring penalty can be! Looked like he was taking it on the Xbox without knowing whether to aim with the d-pad or joystick!

All in all, happy bunny! Standard well and truly set now.

[bobo the clown]

I'm not sure Vela is slow, just was up against a top quality opponent and, as you say, out of position. It remains to be seen if he's persisted with there or he gravitates to his more natural centre midfield once he's established himself in the squad.

Clayton, so my Crewe chums tell me, is a devastatingly good finisher so maybe he's finding his feet. I see little than him growing quickly into his role.

Cravies, 2nd half especially, was astonishing. I've always had time for him as an honest trier but that was eye opening. I wonder if he can maintain that.

I fear Medo has been deemed surplus. Spearing must be feeling a bit confused too ... let's see him rise to the challenge. Beckford has been found wanting despite being given a run and Mason, watching Clayton, seems superfluous. Chungy ... such a shame it's taken so long and I fear he'll be off in due course but he'll have proven something to both us and himself. Mavies .... just keep him fit.

[plymouth wanderer]

What's the deal with chungy? Does his deal run out next summer?

[Burnden Paddock]

Couldn't work out why McLean was getting so much stick as soon as he came on - until I've watched the game back.

How can the bastard be allowed to go out without a poppy on his shirt?

Dear Mr Whelan

I wanted to write to you before talking about this face to face and explain my reasons for not wearing a poppy on my shirt for the game at Bolton.

I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars - many I know were Irish-born. I have been told that your own Grandfather Paddy Whelan, from Tipperary, was one of those.

I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one.

I want to make that 100% clear .You must understand this.

But the Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me.

For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different. Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Ireland’s history – even if like me you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth.

Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially - as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII.

It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people.

I am not a war monger, or anti-British, or a terrorist or any of the accusations levelled at me in the past. I am a peaceful guy, I believe everyone should live side by side, whatever their religious or political beliefs which I respect and ask for people to respect mine in return. Since last year, I am a father and I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful world, like any parent.

I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong. In life, if you’re a man you should stand up for what you believe in.

I know you may not agree with my feelings but I hope very much that you understand my reasons.

As the owner of the club I am proud to play for, I believe I owe both you and the club’s supporters this explanation.

Yours sincerely,

James McClean
Read more at /http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/news/artic ... 8v6mO5K.99

[TANGODANCER]

What a choker. The Sun Goals section (who else?) carries the headline "FREED UP" Dougie's Boys lift Lennon!"....Dougie's boys? DOUGIE'S BOYS? ....Seems he getting the credit for just signing them despite having no idea what to do with them. Idiotic columnist...

[goffy7167]

HIghlights http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... v3B6i-WLz6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TANGODANCER]

I'm not sure Vela is slow, just was up against a top quality opponent and, as you say, out of position. It remains to be seen if he's persisted with there or he gravitates to his more natural centre midfield once he's established himself in the squad.

Clayton, so my Crewe chums tell me, is a devastatingly good finisher so maybe he's finding his feet. I see little than him growing quickly into his role.

Cravies, 2nd half especially, was astonishing. I've always had time for him as an honest trier but that was eye opening. I wonder if he can maintain that.

I fear Medo has been deemed surplus. Spearing must be feeling a bit confused too ... let's see him rise to the challenge. Beckford has been found wanting despite being given a run and Mason, watching Clayton, seems superfluous. Chungy ... such a shame it's taken so long and I fear he'll be off in due course but he'll have proven something to both us and himself. Mavies .... just keep him fit.

I really hope not Bobo. Our standards need to rise to Chungy's if we're moving upwards. The team need to play at his standard not see him as special; not doing so is why we're hanging about at the bottom end of things. I'd be walking over glass to keep Chungy and get those around him improving up to him. He's a star at this level and plays at international level for his country, but that no guarantee of success in the Premiership as a good few have proven. The Championship's littered with decent players, your McManamons, Kenwynne Jones's etc. Let's not just see ourselves as a feeder club for the money boys. To get rid of our debt we have to be Bolton Wanderers again. Let's do it with football. Parts of last night showed there's a good chance of it.

[Bruce Rioja]

HIghlights http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... v3B6i-WLz6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers, Goffy. Can't stop watching it.

[Jugs]

I watched the game in Seven Oaks pub in Manchester. I was smashed so I don't remember every moment, but I've watched the highlights back and Clayton's finish was sublime. He was unlucky not to make it 2 a few minutes later, but he's clearly a good finisher.

Second half was just wow. Fantastic.

[LeverEnd]

HIghlights http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... v3B6i-WLz6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers, Goffy. Can't stop watching it.

Yep, I'll never tire of watching that Davies header. Brilliant, loved that game. Enjoyed it even more than cardiff, which was almost too easy. They had to battle for this and did so superbly.

[NiceHotCuppaTea]

Proper highlights:

[Sponge]

Chungy's pass for Clayton brought a tear to my ear. A fricking masterpiece.

[Worthy4England]

Chungy's pass for Clayton brought a tear to my ear. A fricking masterpiece.

There were a few - he played in Clayton? (I think) first half with almost the identical pass he played Feeney in with on Tuesday.

[TANGODANCER]

Chungy's pass for Clayton brought a tear to my ear. A fricking masterpiece.

That's what's doing it now. We're playing football and good football at that. First half we sat back a bit and in fairness, Wigan made a few decent plays. Defending as a unit and covering for each other's errors was really noticable and heartening. Second half some of the quality was superb and Danns, a real batttler, deserves special mention, alongside Craig Davies, for putting the fight and Bolton attitude back into the team. How nice to hear Rossler claim C.D was "bullying his central defenders. Since K.D left, that's what's been missing. Sordell and Beckford couldn't bully a chip barm, and sorry, Uve, but that's what good point men do. Keep one or both of the central defenders busy and open gaps for the others. It's only a start, but what a good one.

[plymouth wanderer]

Chungy's pass for Clayton brought a tear to my ear. A fricking masterpiece.

Don't get me wrong the awareness and composure from Chungy was brilliant and he was brilliant all game! but for me it was all about the finish! the pass had abit to much weight to it. the ,movement and workrate from Clayton really impressed me! really like the cut of his jib

Really gotta keep hold of Chungy though.

[bobo the clown]

I watched the game in Seven Oaks pub in Manchester. I was smashed so I don't remember every moment, but I've watched the highlights back and Clayton's finish was sublime. He was unlucky not to make it 2 a few minutes later, but he's clearly a good finisher.

Second half was just wow. Fantastic.

... wait till you see the "proper highlights" !!

[TANGODANCER]

I watched the game in Seven Oaks pub in Manchester. I was smashed so I don't remember every moment, but I've watched the highlights back and Clayton's finish was sublime. He was unlucky not to make it 2 a few minutes later, but he's clearly a good finisher.

Second half was just wow. Fantastic.

... wait till you see the "proper highlights" !!

Can we play em again today please....

[Little Green Man]

Proper highlights:

What an absolute joy they were. How often have we played like that since BSA left?

[Bruce Rioja]

Proper highlights:

What an absolute joy they were. How often have we played like that since BSA left?

I'd say that we haven't played football like that since Todd.

[TKIZ!]

Proper highlights:

What an absolute joy they were. How often have we played like that since BSA left?

I'd say that we haven't played football like that since Todd.

Rioch/Toddy era team play at times and hope that it continue's in the same manner