games like that.
A team trots into town who last time they were in the neighbourhood shipped nine goals, to one in reply, and so far this season in their two previous games had conceded a total of ten, four of which were scored by a team new to the division.
A couple of hours later they’re heading back up North with a clean sheet and their first three points of the new season and Spurs have lost their first home game in a while. First since the last bunch of no-hopers rolled into town.
‘Arry seemed to portion the blame between the team and the fans…
These are not games you enjoy. People turn up here today and they expect you to walk all over them. After two minutes we give the ball away and it’s ‘Oooh!’ and they’re on your case ‘Arry Redknapp
It wasn’t that Wigan were expected to be beaten it’s that, especially for the home games, the team are at least expected to show that they can be bothered, that the actual team are the ones not treating this game as one they just have to turn up to for the victory. That slack balls aren’t given away because what does it mater it’s just Wigan.
That was a contributing factor to the reaction from the stands. It had the look of both legs in the Champions League qualifier of a side thinking they’re better than having to play this lot of nobodies. Luckily they overcame the slackness against Young Boys, they didn’t against Wigan.
During the game – while it was still 0-0 – I Twittered that it had all the hallmarks of the game against Hull last season, except that the Wigan ‘keeper had bugger all to do compared to Myhill. Al Habsi did make a great save from Defoe in the first half and a couple of decent others later on but he wasn’t diving left, right and centre like Hart in the season opener – Spurs came out flying that day and showed plenty of application, obviously view Citeh as real competition – or the Hull man last season.
But it wasn’t just the fans as ‘Arry did have a go at the side…
People have got to work harder to get into the game. Too many today were too easily marked out of it ‘Arry Redknapp
There was far too much slackness – it was just like watching eleven Jenas at times. Assou-Ekotto from being good against Stoke and Young Boys in the home leg was back to being the player that was hooked at half-time in the away leg as he suffered the same fate.
Chances were missed – was happy to see Kaboul replace Corluka thought he’s give that right side a bit more like, wasn’t so happy when he missed that later sitter – but Wigan had chances and could have walked away having done their goal difference a power of good. Kaboul’s miss was no where near as bad as Alcaraz’s from six yards with an open net.
Wigan were just to organised for a Spurs side that lacked any guile and imagination, especially from the middle of the park, not the first time Modric has been missed against such an opposition. No point looking for Palacios to create and Hudlestone disappeared a bit. But Wigan just fought for their lives, difference between the sides was highlighted by the only goal of the game. Having been warned a few times just before the goal, Rodallega was given the freedom of the park and whereas his team mates worked hard to block every attack by Spurs, Leldley somewhat lollygagged over and didn’t close the Colombian down and his shot squirmed past Cudicini, who should have done better but couldn’t match Al Habsi.
‘Arry was right when he said – “We were poor and we got what we deserved”.
He has to instil into the players that just because they finished fourth last season, just because they qualified for the actual CL, that just because they are getting some “big club” decisions in their favour – 5 minutes added time on Saturday – they still have to put in the effort against “the little clubs”.
Still as someone Twittered – Champions League hangover does have a nice ring to it.