The9

Yup, the tactics were spot on, shame we couldn't stop them scoring.

I think Adkins looked at it and decided we needed to defend with 11 from the start to give Lambert a chance to influence the game. I'm not sure he came out on top against Kompany, but he won a couple of headers in the box, and that was more than I had expected. The most interesting thing for me was that we were capable of putting passes together much more rapidly than we did last year, and if we can do that and do it accurately we WILL be able to get the ball to Lambert as a target man in the box without needing him to be in the build up as well, which plays to his strengths. Ironically of course his goal came as a result of him being the link man in midfield and arriving late in the box. The system with Lambert in it will work provided our midfield can go ahead of him, which was what I was saying re: using him as a false nine a few weeks back.

I've come to the same line-up as you, but for completely different reasons. We weren't "toothless", we were defending from the front with Rodriguez, Lallana and Guly chasing down and all but Guly sitting deep. Adkins brought Lambert on when he could do more damage. Had Lambert been on from the start he could have been too knackered to be where he was for his goal and place it as he did. Having said that, next week we'll be doing a lot more attacking, Wigan are likely to be one of the weaker defensive sides we play, and having him up there supported by Guly/Rodriguez (or even Sharp) will be more beneficial, we can switch him out later if needed but his effort is much more likely to be in attacking play.

We already did this discussion, I was told by someone on here that he definitely doesn't (although at least 3 of his 4 Uruguayan teammates at Bologna do).

As the thread title is "Wigan line up", I would suggest that you have all 18 names wrong. More seriously, I can't see us NOT starting with Lambert, in a home game we're going to be more 4-3-3 than 4-5-1 and can afford to leave a less mobile target man up the pitch much more than against the Champions away. Wigan's 3-4-3 got taken to pieces by Chelsea on the counter early on yesterday, if they play the same formation away (I doubt it) and Ramis goes walkabout like he did yesterday with Lambert dropping into midfield, Rodriguez or Guly will be in behind every time. There's even a case that De Ridder might be an option based on that. I'd go with the same back 5, Schneiderlin and Davis in the middle, Lallana in the hole in front of them and Guly/Lambert/Rodriguez up top with Sharp to come on for Lambert after about 65 mins. Drops Puncheon for Davis and Ward-Prowse for Lambert (Puncheon was a little loose with his tracking back, esp. of Clichy). Or, and this is a testament to Ward-Prowse, start with him and bring Davis on. Either way is good.

We created more than 2 chances, but due to a couple of dithery moments in the box (Puncheon late on being the most obvious) had a couple blocked at source and only had 2 shots reach the keeper. Puncheon was 1 on 1 with the last defender in the area with 2 in support, there's no way that wasn't a "chance", but the shot was blocked.

Adkins played it perfectly. Rodriguez worked his nuts off defensively and then when he was spent and we needed a goal, bring on a fresh striker and put Guly where Rodriguez had been. We all know Lambert can score when he's already in the box. What we can't expect him to do is be haring up and down the pitch and chasing everything for 90 minutes. That was obvious from when we broke 5 on 3 for Davis' goal and Lambert wasn't one of the 5. I was impressed with his ability to still win a couple of far post knockdowns in that kind of "Kompany" though.

If it ends up being like last season I'd rather be us scoring and shipping than Reading scoring sod all and relying on others missing loads.

Their first goal was at best a borderline offside, Clyne was leaning and his left shoulder was probably nearer the goal than any part of Tevez. It was certainly close enough that the lino could be forgiven for not flagging.

I can understand the wish to not go overboard, but that's as pleased as I've been with a defeat since the FA Cup Final. We can compete, and Adkins out-thought Mancini for massive swathes of the game. My concern is that we played that match like a cup final and we need that level of performance every week to reach our maximum. And yeah, we did allow a lot of chances, but probably fewer than I anticipated.

They all played well and Adkins absolutely nailed the tactics (shame about Fox's header but they had other chances). Much more positive about the existing squad on that performance, sensible use of Lambert too. I'm saving the Museum of Football for Man U in late January. I thought Rodriguez tracked back and worked hard to do the necessary, Lallana too, it wasn't a game for being showbiz, it was one for organisation and defensive structure, was great to see everyone (and I do mean everyone, Guly baiters) playing their part. We were in Row C in the first half right near Gemmel, and the back of the lower tier next to the home fans in the second half. A mong in front of us got chucked out for arguing about standing and throwing a punch at a steward at 1-0. What a tit.

He wasn't up there for long.

Did a fantastic job yesterday playing left back...

I enjoyed the second goal, had some rows of empty seats ahead of us second half and I just staggered and stumbled and fell and leaned and plummeted over a couple of rows of them. Absolutely brilliant. Then tried to get a chorus of "we're not really here" started for the lolz.

Didn't seem to bother him last year .

We shall see. Personally I think it'll take us a couple of months to properly drop him, though getting a creative playmaker in would certainly fill one of his roles, and Rodriguez is already lined up to replace him in the longer term.

But the problem with YOUR theory is that Portsmouth still hold their registration for the rest of the season unless the player AND club mutually agree to cancel it. Even though they can't receive any transfer fees.

But the actual amount is almost irrelevant because fans have no way of knowing what it is anyway, all the posturing and claiming they're trying to do the best deal or don't want to sell etc. is what attempts to save face, not the actual amount sold for (unless it's a ridiculously good deal, and they can always just claim that anyway).

Actually both PompeyScot and Meringovian are alright, used to work with them. And Big Dave who we also worked with is a lovely bloke, difficult to reconcile his general niceness with his football allegiances. I left, they're all still there afaik.

We could only have been bottom if everyone else drew 1-1 or higher anyway.

For the lolz, City winning 4-0 is 9/1 with Ladbrokes, Lambert for first goalscorer is 12/1. I should think Roger is headed over to Ladbrokes with a baseball bat right now.

You want babies with Lambert. Let's see who actually knows by February shall we? Remember, I'm happy to remind people that I think Sharp will play more Prem matches than Lambert this season.

More to the point City have played all preseason with 3 at the back and they haven't even put their formation as such. The usual half-baked inaccurate populist nonsense.

Why, when the fans will have no idea how much money actually changes hands and the majority of fees are undisclosed anyway ?

Love you too.