Manchester United --> Champions League Group Stage
Manchester City --> Champions League Group Stage
Chelsea London --> Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal London --> Champions League Play-off Round
Tottenham Hotspur (London) --> Europa League Play-off Round
Swansea City --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Wigan Athletic --> Europa League Group Stage
Note: Wigan was relegated from the Premier League.
Showing posts with label Wigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wigan. Show all posts
Monday, 3 June 2013
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Not Even An Easy Cup Final...
Mancini's Manchester City could not even score, in the FA Cup final, against a team that will probably be relegated from the Premier League.
So, no trophies for Mancini this year. And City owners are surely running out of patience for the Italian coach.
Last year, they were lucky to win the title. But they did win. They won the league title. That was huge.
Since then, Mancini made absolutely no good investments.
Among City's worst performances, losing at home to Man. U., just when they needed to win most, in the fall, was another point in their campaign when maybe Mancini needed to be fired.
But they stuck with him.
Just a few days ago, they eliminated Chelsea in the semifinals.
Surely, Wigan, in the final, would be a lot easier, everybody must have been saying.
But no! Somehow, the Manchester City squad managed to find another way to screw up an important match this season.
And in injury time, too!
So, next year, a team from the second English division might be playing in the Europa League. (Not good for England's UEFA coefficient.)
So, no trophies for Mancini this year. And City owners are surely running out of patience for the Italian coach.
Last year, they were lucky to win the title. But they did win. They won the league title. That was huge.
Since then, Mancini made absolutely no good investments.
Among City's worst performances, losing at home to Man. U., just when they needed to win most, in the fall, was another point in their campaign when maybe Mancini needed to be fired.
But they stuck with him.
Just a few days ago, they eliminated Chelsea in the semifinals.
Surely, Wigan, in the final, would be a lot easier, everybody must have been saying.
But no! Somehow, the Manchester City squad managed to find another way to screw up an important match this season.
And in injury time, too!
So, next year, a team from the second English division might be playing in the Europa League. (Not good for England's UEFA coefficient.)
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Manchester City, Champion?
Well, after seeing how they played against Manchester United and Newcastle United, I have to say Manchester City did wake up at the right time, and should win the Premier League this year.
They have one match left, against Queens Park Rangers, at home, and if they win that game, they should win the title. And they should win that game, because QPR is certainly a weaker team than Newcastle.
Of course, Man. U. could also win by a margin nine goals larger than City's win margin, away at Sunderland, and get the title, but how likely is that to happen?
(Example of scorelines that could give Manchester U. the title if both teams win:
Man. City - QPR 2-1
Sunderland - Man. U. 0-10
...Not gonna happen, right?)
Queens Park Rangers is still in danger of being relegated, though, despite beating Stoke on this matchday, and could go down if they lose in Manchester on Sunday, if wigan picks up at least one point from their last two matches and Bolton wins away at Stoke City on the last matchday.
So, it's not like QPR has nothing to play for.
But City can only blame themselves if they screw this up. Who knows when they'll get another chance like this one?
They have one match left, against Queens Park Rangers, at home, and if they win that game, they should win the title. And they should win that game, because QPR is certainly a weaker team than Newcastle.
Of course, Man. U. could also win by a margin nine goals larger than City's win margin, away at Sunderland, and get the title, but how likely is that to happen?
(Example of scorelines that could give Manchester U. the title if both teams win:
Man. City - QPR 2-1
Sunderland - Man. U. 0-10
...Not gonna happen, right?)
Queens Park Rangers is still in danger of being relegated, though, despite beating Stoke on this matchday, and could go down if they lose in Manchester on Sunday, if wigan picks up at least one point from their last two matches and Bolton wins away at Stoke City on the last matchday.
So, it's not like QPR has nothing to play for.
But City can only blame themselves if they screw this up. Who knows when they'll get another chance like this one?
Monday, 30 April 2012
Man. City - Man. U. -- New Title Race?
I think there could still be a race between these two only if Manchester City beats United.
Manchester United is going to beat Swansea and Sunderland, in the last two matches, I'm sure, and I would bet on it.
And they might probably be working on the referees in the match against their city rivals, too, I think.
However, if City does manage to pull the upset, they could have an advantage of possibly 8-10 goals on United. All United needs to do is pull a couple of 6-0 wins, and they might still be good for the title.
Let's not forget, also, that Manchester City has to go to Newcastle, where Man. U. lost 0-3, and Pardew's team still has Champions League ambitions...
But, let's see first what happens at the City of Manchester (Etihad) Stadium, before I go back to posting more Premier League fixtures/results.
(And, ha, ha, I bet the United management is now ruing the way they approached the match against Wigan...)
Manchester United is going to beat Swansea and Sunderland, in the last two matches, I'm sure, and I would bet on it.
And they might probably be working on the referees in the match against their city rivals, too, I think.
However, if City does manage to pull the upset, they could have an advantage of possibly 8-10 goals on United. All United needs to do is pull a couple of 6-0 wins, and they might still be good for the title.
Let's not forget, also, that Manchester City has to go to Newcastle, where Man. U. lost 0-3, and Pardew's team still has Champions League ambitions...
But, let's see first what happens at the City of Manchester (Etihad) Stadium, before I go back to posting more Premier League fixtures/results.
(And, ha, ha, I bet the United management is now ruing the way they approached the match against Wigan...)
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
The Day of the Slave
Looks like the fact that Manchester City stumbled at Arsenal, too, was a good omen for Wigan!
How could that be, you may ask?
Well, seeing themselves eight points up on a hopeless Man. City, Man. U. could now afford to give some well-deserved help to their faithful slaves, Wigan. (<-- wigan - manchester united 1-0 -- no, this is not a misprint -- sic!)
And the funny thing is wigan actually would have been leading from minute 30, if only somebody had told the linesman that United does not need any help on this matchday!
Yes, there was a good goal for Wigan in the first half, too, but it was disallowed.
Sure, United is now only 5 points up on City in the title race -- Oops, did I say "race? Ha, I meant "disgrace"! -- but nobody, not even Mancini, believes that City can still get it.
And, surely, it's over.
On the other hand, Wigan should stay up, to help Manchester United next year, too, no?
When you're eight points ahead, and so sure of the win, you can spare three for one of your sidekicks in desperate need, no?
P.S. I wonder if Fulham might leave some points for Wigan, too, two matchdays from now. 'Cause, otherwise, Wigan have to face Arsenal, Newcastle, Blackburn and Wolverhampton. And those teams need points (although by the time of their match, Wolves might be relegated already and in a mood to bargain, too)!
How could that be, you may ask?
Well, seeing themselves eight points up on a hopeless Man. City, Man. U. could now afford to give some well-deserved help to their faithful slaves, Wigan. (<-- wigan - manchester united 1-0 -- no, this is not a misprint -- sic!)
And the funny thing is wigan actually would have been leading from minute 30, if only somebody had told the linesman that United does not need any help on this matchday!
Yes, there was a good goal for Wigan in the first half, too, but it was disallowed.
Sure, United is now only 5 points up on City in the title race -- Oops, did I say "race? Ha, I meant "disgrace"! -- but nobody, not even Mancini, believes that City can still get it.
And, surely, it's over.
On the other hand, Wigan should stay up, to help Manchester United next year, too, no?
When you're eight points ahead, and so sure of the win, you can spare three for one of your sidekicks in desperate need, no?
P.S. I wonder if Fulham might leave some points for Wigan, too, two matchdays from now. 'Cause, otherwise, Wigan have to face Arsenal, Newcastle, Blackburn and Wolverhampton. And those teams need points (although by the time of their match, Wolves might be relegated already and in a mood to bargain, too)!
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Prediction for Wigan - Sunderland
It's become clear to me, for many months now, that Wigan is Man. U. 's bitch.
Just to make obvious what I believe: It's impossible for me to acknowledge how Wigan can constantly put on such good footballing displays against United's adversaries, especially Chelsea, while at the same time losing shamelessly by large margins each and every time they play the team from Manchester.
I've always thought they should be called "Manchester United 2" (or "pet", or "servant", if you wish)...
But, anyway...
I never looked at Sunderland that way until recently, though.
But, come to think of it... Sunderland's excellent form against Manchester City the other day, which severely contrasts with Sunderland - Wigan 1-2, in the previous encounter between these two teams... well...
My guess is, since both these teams may very well be closer to Manchester United than to any other team in the Premier League, Wigan is going to take the points in this upcoming match because it needs them badly. (Plus, I'm sure the people who deal with this kind of stuff at Manchester United, if any, cannot be sure that Wigan is going to be able to wrestle points away from Manchester City, just like Sunderland and West Brom did. They realize Wigan is desperate for easy points.)
Especially considering their luck against Man. City, Sunderland can afford to not fight hard for these points, if Wigan is meant to get help from somewhere other than their own merits.
And Wigan getting some more points, here and there, and remaining in the Premier League next year, too, would be much better for Man. U. than if it was to be relegated. Just look at the history, and tell me that's not true!...
So, to sum up, Wigan - Sunderland, on the 2nd of January, 2012 -- definite win for the hosts; that's my firm prediction. Let us see!
UPDATE, 3 January 2012, 22:45 CET: Well, I guess I was wrong about Sunderland. (But that doesn't mean I'm wrong about Wigan.) I guess Sunderland probably did beat Manchester City because they really wanted to, and were able to do so due to The Citizens' performance. And it's not bad, in the grand scheme of things, that they did the same to this annoying Wigan. After watching the highlights, though, I'd say they were lucky on at least two goals, namely the first and the last.
Just to make obvious what I believe: It's impossible for me to acknowledge how Wigan can constantly put on such good footballing displays against United's adversaries, especially Chelsea, while at the same time losing shamelessly by large margins each and every time they play the team from Manchester.
I've always thought they should be called "Manchester United 2" (or "pet", or "servant", if you wish)...
But, anyway...
I never looked at Sunderland that way until recently, though.
But, come to think of it... Sunderland's excellent form against Manchester City the other day, which severely contrasts with Sunderland - Wigan 1-2, in the previous encounter between these two teams... well...
My guess is, since both these teams may very well be closer to Manchester United than to any other team in the Premier League, Wigan is going to take the points in this upcoming match because it needs them badly. (Plus, I'm sure the people who deal with this kind of stuff at Manchester United, if any, cannot be sure that Wigan is going to be able to wrestle points away from Manchester City, just like Sunderland and West Brom did. They realize Wigan is desperate for easy points.)
Especially considering their luck against Man. City, Sunderland can afford to not fight hard for these points, if Wigan is meant to get help from somewhere other than their own merits.
And Wigan getting some more points, here and there, and remaining in the Premier League next year, too, would be much better for Man. U. than if it was to be relegated. Just look at the history, and tell me that's not true!...
So, to sum up, Wigan - Sunderland, on the 2nd of January, 2012 -- definite win for the hosts; that's my firm prediction. Let us see!
UPDATE, 3 January 2012, 22:45 CET: Well, I guess I was wrong about Sunderland. (But that doesn't mean I'm wrong about Wigan.) I guess Sunderland probably did beat Manchester City because they really wanted to, and were able to do so due to The Citizens' performance. And it's not bad, in the grand scheme of things, that they did the same to this annoying Wigan. After watching the highlights, though, I'd say they were lucky on at least two goals, namely the first and the last.
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