James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

[Roberto]

They were going toe to toe with them though, and causing them the occasional problem. I thought the substitution of McManaman was made with the view of seeing the game out, but kind of backfired when there was forty minutes left to play after Arsenal's equaliser. Fair enough if he was injured though.

When I saw Caldwell stepping up I couldn't help thinking "what a gobsh!te". Probably Wigan's least technical player just wanting to show off his cojones! Maybe I'm wronging the man and he's actually an excellent penalty taker in practice or they were stuck for volunteers.



Interesting words about Nick Powell, I didn't realise that might be the perception.

Wigan fan's on Nick Powell!

http://www.cockneylatic.co.uk/forum/5-cockney-latic-main-forum/114235-nick-powell

Rossler was asked did they practice penalties and he replied 'I'm German, we don't need to!' However he has since added they will be practising them in case they get to the play off.

[Charlie Darwin]

It seems they were saving him to take the crucial fifth that never came.

That's a bizarre strategy.

[DeLorean]

Ronaldo never got to take one against Spain in the Euros either due to saving himself for the fifth, presumably to grab the glory. He's missed a couple in shoot-outs over the years anyway.

[bennocelt]

They are a limited Championship side, you hardly expected them to go toe to toe with Arsenal? I thought Rosler set them up very well and they defended excellently. I think most Wigan fans were worried when Caldwell come on and mystified when he stood up to take first penalty. Seemingly McMannaman took a knock which is why he came off. McClean still has a role to play in their last 5 games. I would have brought Maloney on instead of Powell who is a lazy selfish git with an inflated ego.

Tut tut, must have looked at a very different game to me
Arsenal were no great shakes, their forwards were awful, and many times Wigan were 3 on 3, 2 on 2 but decided to play the ball back rather then go for the jugular. Both teams were pish.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ronaldo never got to take one against Spain in the Euros either due to saving himself for the fifth, presumably to grab the glory. He's missed a couple in shoot-outs over the years anyway.

I was thinking of that, yeah. Didn't understand it at the time, still don't. There is some value to keeping your best penalty taker until last (there is data that suggests the most important penalties are the first, second and fifth) but it kind of defeats the point if you send Gary Caldwell up first

[DannyInvincible]

That's a bizarre strategy.

The fifth, if it comes, will always be a real pressure-kick, but I do agree it is a risky strategy bordering on foolish.

[BonnieShels]

Statistics have shown that sending out your your best taker first is the way to go.

[Charlie Darwin]

Scores to bring Wigan back to within a goal at home to Blackburn. They'll just about scrape fifth the way things are going, which will be a lot better a draw than sixth.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

McClean with brilliant endeavour and cross to set up Wigan's go-ahead goal against QPR.

[CraftyToePoke]

Booked for a blatant dive they say. Got sheepishly to his feet, the rascal.

[back of the net]

Booked for a blatant dive they say. Got sheepishly to his feet, the rascal.

it was a shocking dive

[BonnieShels]

McClean with brilliant endeavour and cross to set up Wigan's go-ahead goal against QPR.

Go ahead goal? You watching your soccer on NBC?

[Charlie Darwin]

Go ahead goal? You watching your soccer on NBC?

Lay off TOWK, man. He showed great hustle to give us that update.

[tricky_colour]

How many players would not dive if they thought it would get them promotion to the Premiership?
Not many.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd be more concerned with the fact he had an open goal and all he had to do was side-foot it in with his right, but instead he went with his left and hit the post.