We cannot say that Wigan Football Club have come across very well in the last few days, after our left-back Massadio Haidara was injured badly on Sunday, by that terrible tackle from McManaman.
David Whelan – self-serving and rather stupid statement
Statements coming from the manager and the owner of Wigan have been self-serving and more aimed at trying to get their player off and not get a ban from the FA, rather than telling things they way they are.
Manager Roberto Martinez said his player had no intent to injure Massadio and the owner David Whelan did himself and his football club no favors at all, by saying he thought the tackle as clean as a whistle .
That was more a case of stirring the controversy , rather than a truthful statement from the owner, but he has a history of making these type of outspoken comments in public.
When you watch the video of the tackle, McManaman’s boot goes straight into the Frenchman’s knee, so Whelan’s statement only made things worse – a lot worse – and was uncalled for from a man in his position.
One the other hand Newcastle held a diplomatic silence until the FA announced their decision yesterday, that they could do nothing about the tackle – surprise, surprise – and then Managing Director Derek LLambias issued his statement on behalf of Newcastle United, and it was both balanced and brilliant.
We expect Newcastle to take legal action against Wigan, and Derek’s note made so much sense – telling the FA they are not doing their job – which has been true for years – that hopefully the FA will take Derek’s advice seriously – but we don’t think they will.
We understand there has been no apology yet from McManaman or Wigan to Haidara – and maybe it was too early, given Massadio’s state of mind after the horror challenge.
But now is a good time for Wigan to do the right thing, and give an apology to the Frenchman – and even make it public.
We hope they will – and show a little bit of class.
They cannot do much worse than they’ve done already in the self-serving way they have handled this affair to date.
Comments welcome.
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80 comments so far
toonLYF
Mar 20, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Comment #41Just read that Santon has been injured on international duty, when will we get a f-ing break?
toon-4-ever
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Comment #42The FA has shown its self to have zero credibility where this situation is concerned.
Didnt Bowyer / Dyer get arrested for their on pitch brawl for public disorder? Would this not apply if a number people complained to the police? Surely it was common assault and he could be charged for it?
If the F.A. wont do anything then the UK law system might?
Just a thought!!
Williamsonsuks
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Comment #43Looks like Raylor will be at left back with Perch on the Right against City. Hopefully We’ll steal a few wins b4 the end of the season.
If there’s a football god, what would his name be? He is pissing on us right now, infact all season. “Cmon oh great one give us a break”
Williamsonsuks
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:07 PM
Comment #44Not religious but it seems like some kind of unseen force is dictating our fate. Didn’t we have a priest bless our stadium a few years ago? Think he needs to come back with some super holy water. Yes I’m waffling but there must be a reason for all of this misfortune!
Pushy Pardew
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:10 PM
Comment #45bills-son
The PL remains the priority. I do see the next 3 home games against Fulham ,mackems and Liverpool as winnable. Nobody is being complacent but with the crowd behind the lads this is achievable and we will be free to turn our concentration firmly to the Europa.
stuart no9
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Comment #46bills – here -here , you are my new best friend. lol.
bills-son
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:25 PM
Comment #47stuart09 – my pleasure sir!
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Comment #48Lads – How do we get to 40 points?
I say that we Draw with Fulham and Liverpool at home – 2 points.
Win against Sunderland – That’s accumulated is 5 points
so…….. what you reckon on the last 2 points???? 2 away draws… or a sensational win vs. arsenal at St.James’
Charlietoon
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:33 PM
Comment #49Maybe this will finally motivate us to actually turn up when we got to Wigan next season.
Pushy Pardew
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:33 PM
Comment #50Aside from criticism of the assistant referee I thought the referee was poor. Mark Halsey looked unfit and should consider whether at 51 it’s time to retire.
ronjohno
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:40 PM
Comment #51Cannot help thinking that if the tack;e had been made against a more high profile player (Lampard,Gerrard etc) or against a MAN U player then stern action would definitely have been taken.
martoon
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Comment #52Pushy Pardew @49 – I think Graham Poll said a similar thing in his column and received a lot of stick.
ronjohno – I think you are correct – although to be fair a lot of the media coverage has been on our side.
magpie6699
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Comment #53“Class” and “Wigan” in the same sentence is an Oxymoron ie things put together that are contradictory. Other examples would be “sesnsible FA decision” or “talented Cattermole”.
(Today’s lesson)
Grantosuk
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Comment #54I used to quite like Wigan, mainly because of Roberto Martinez and wanted them to stay up these season.
After this, I hope they sink like a stone and keep sinking.
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Comment #55Tell you what though everyone… could be a lot worse… we could wake up every day and support Sunderland…
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Comment #56ichrisho
I did my calculation after the game and i came up with 5pts putting us on 38
Find below remaining fixtures and my points tally – going to be tight – even harder now with injuries piling up
Question would you field a weaker team against Benfica in the Europa cup to maximise trying to get 3pts against FulhamI’ve had a go at guessing the no of points each team will pick up in their remaining games.
Gonna be squeeky bum time
QPR
Fulham A
Wigan H
Everton A
Stoke H
Reading A
Arsenal H
Newcastle H
Liverpool A
READING
Arsenal A
Southampton H
Liverpool A
Norwich A
QPR H
Fulham A
Man City H
West Ham A
WIGAN
Norwich H
QPR A
Man City A
West Ham A
Tottenham H
West Brom A
Swansea H
Arsenal A
Aston Villa H
ASTON?VILLA
Liverpool H
Stoke A
Fulham H
Man Utd A
Sunderland H
Norwich A
Chelsea H
Wigan A
SOUTHAMPTON
Chelsea H
Reading A
West Ham H
Swansea A
West Brom H
Tottenham A
Sunderland A
Stoke H
SUNDERLAND
Man Utd A
Chelsea A
Newcastle A
Everton H
Aston Villa A
Stoke City H
Southampton H
Tottenham A
WEST?HAM?UNITED
West Brom H
Liverpool A
Southampton A
Man Utd H
Wigan H
Man City A
Newcastle Utd H
Everton A
Reading H
NEWCASTLE?UTD
Man City A
Fulham H
Sunderland H
West brom A
Liverpool H
West Ham A
QPR A
Arsenal H
NORWICH
Wigan A
Swansea H
Arsenal A
Reading H
Stoke A
Aston Villa H
West Brom H
Man City A
STOKE
Everton A
Aston Villa H
Man Utd H
QPR A
Norwich H
Sunderland A
Tottenham H
Southampton A
I’ve added up the points I think each team will get and the final outcome reads:
Reading 25pts
QPR 29 pts
Wigan 34pts
Aston Villa 36pts
Sunderland 38pts
West Ham United 39pts
Southamption 39pts
NEWCASTLE?UTD 39pts
Stoke city 40pts
Norwich 41pts
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:12 PM
Comment #57Now you’ll be known Charlie in the Gallows mate … 🙂 Jeez does it work out that we are relegated? Yikes… Lets put West Ham below us and we can stay 17th eh? 🙂
Depressing read alright… that point against Wigan would have helped big time… We have to win at least 3 of the last 9… We all have to think that is possible… lets not do another Birmingham… I say Wigan to go down after the disappointment of losing FA cup Semi-final with QPR and Reading.
Scrap what I said – Imagine being a Blackburn or Wolves supporter… bad times ahead for a long time…
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:13 PM
Comment #58Oh Oops – I am retarded – I read that wrong… 🙂 Not in the Gallows… well then that all fine a dandy then… ahem ahem – embarrassed at lack of reading ability 🙂
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Comment #59I think QPR away is the biggest match of the season… Sunderland obviously will always be but as far as our safety is concerned… that one sticks out,… we win that one – we are safe… just…
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Comment #60ichrisho
Yeah I see how you read it – Still going to be Tough – very tough.
If we had got the point at wigan would of been a hell of a difference.
But hopefully cheaters never prosper
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Comment #61Yeah hopefully it will be alright… I do think that Remy may come to haunt us as he looks fairly clinical in front of goal…. does anyone know if Collo will be back for the last few games of the season?
bills-son
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Comment #62We all know it, but losing to Wigan was a massively bad result. If we’d of won that game we’d have been on 36pts and 6pts further away from Wigan.
If we are in the relegation mix with three games to go it will be dog eat dog. Two away games and then a last day game against Arsensl.
We need 7pts from the Fulham, W Brom, Sunderland and Liverpool games to get to 40pts before the West Ham game.
raj of hailsley
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:26 PM
Comment #63One thousand apologies for the reposting :
Oh deary me one thousand stale bahjis, Pushy Pardew is finally being caught with his finger in the cookies jar, he really is having more faces than our heavenly Ganesh, it is being such a pity that JfA is to busy with his endless charity work to being a most honourable witness in this mischief. Goodness gracious.
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:30 PM
Comment #64bills-son – I do hope it doesn’t go down to Arsenal last day of the season… Wenger would relish the chance to funk us over… especially after 4-0 to 4-4… If we stay up – the main priority should be a striker… a consistent one…
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:31 PM
Comment #65jeez
can’t add up
bottom of table should of read
Reading 25pts
QPR 29 pts
Wigan 34pts
Aston Villa 36pts
Sunderland 38pts
NEWCASTLE UTD 38pts
West Ham United 39pts
Southamption 39pts
Stoke city 40pts
Norwich 41pts
bollance
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:37 PM
Comment #66Last 4 games in Europe have been clean sheets.
Pards is always slated here for being too negative but a solid defense will result in us losing few games, like start of last season.
It might not be vintage football but it is effective.
Problem this season is we have let too many in. Too many individual mistakes which have not been covered up by us scoring often.
Pushy Pardew
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:37 PM
Comment #67Charlie
Your being unduly pessimistic as far as our likely outcome and overly optimistic as regards other teams. I will be bitterly disappointed if we only collect 5 more points as I suggested earlier. Reading, QPR and the Mackems to be relegated would be just fine and dandy.
Pushy Pardew
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:42 PM
Comment #68bollance
Makes sense to me. We are a counter attacking side and I can see us picking up points away from home. We should have won on Sunday but for bad referee decisions. Until Debuchy was injured we looked as good as any time this season. I noticed the attempted blocking tackle by Haidara prior to the horrendous incident. Next 3 home games will give us a minimum of 7 points I feel.
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:42 PM
Comment #69What ever way we dress this up – its not gonna be pretty… I think that Wigan game really kicked us in the teeth… I do think that home form is very very good at the moment as in we seem to win even when it seems we are trying to lose!!!!! I would say a win over Sunderland, Liverpool and 2 draws against Fulham and QPR will have us safe by 2 points…. that is WAY TOO CLOSE for comfort…
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Comment #70Charlie Gallowgate – You can t add up and I cant read… some pack of dopes we are!!! Even with these impediments we still manage to gauge that the toon will stay up…. nice 🙂
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:48 PM
Comment #71Pushy
Yeah I’m pessimistic I’ve supported the Toon to long to be optimistic.
We always seem to shoot ourselves in the foot or this season more injuries just as we had a settled team that was jelling
Munster Mag
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:52 PM
Comment #72Billson, I think we’ll e fine but it comes back to people’s view of Pardew as a manager. Im far from happy that he is getting the most from these , or any players in an attacking sense. I dont have an issue with Pards, but wonder about his value at times. I do think he got lucky last season with 2 “on fire” strikers .
Munster Mag
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Comment #73Incidentally, who was the guy on here who is always bigging up Martinez, that overrated tactically naive niceboy? Catchy ??? THE MAN IS OVERRATED !
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Comment #74ichrisho
Thats why we support the TOON
Jail for Ashley
Mar 20, 2013 at 4:01 PM
Comment #75Bills,
You’ve been pointing out the frailties in defence for a while now, what do you think needs doing new personnel or a new specialist defensive coach ?
ajcrawfs
Mar 20, 2013 at 4:01 PM
Comment #76Haidera speaks!
Massadio Haidara ?@MassadioHaidara 15m
Al Hamdoulillah. I go better and better, I hold has all to THANK YOU for every messages of supports, Im really affects me
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 4:04 PM
Comment #77That sure why Charlie 🙂 We may be mental but we’re the greatest supporters in the world!!!!
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 20, 2013 at 4:08 PM
Comment #78ichrisho
Give me a 3-0 against Fulham – steady the nerves – nerves are frayed with last minute goals – for and against.
Sounds like could be better news than expected on Haidara
ichrisho
Mar 20, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Comment #79Give me 3-0 against anyone and yeah preferably not in the 90th and 92nd minute… I near died at the Euro league match on Thursday although walking down the toon with the toon army singing was worth the trip alone!!!!!
Rotonda heights
Mar 20, 2013 at 5:00 PM
Comment #80jail / raj
I thought defense was what Pardew practiced 4 days out of 5. It’s some creativity up the other end that’s needed and yes definitely a specialist coach in there like Les Ferdinand does for Spurs.