The FA cup provides a bit of relief from the hurly burly of league games that has seen the Latics go 5 matches without a win culminating in Wednesdays horror show at Old Trafford.
The FA cup always had a special place in English football and cup fever was an expression often used, sadly today with the high financial stakes of the Premier League a little bit of magic seems to have disappeared from the competition but a good win against Hull and we will all be eagerly awaiting the draw to see who we get in the 4th round.
Hull like the Latics are at the wrong end of the table and Phil Brown like Roberto Martinez will have a cup run low down on his list of priorities so we can expect to see two very different sides from what would be expected if this was a league game.
Both managers have said they will ring the changes and give the fringe players a chance, what fringe players?
McCarthy and Amaya are the only players I would call fringe the rest, Kapo, De Ridder and Koumas I would call dead wood, so expect to see two very under strength sides go anything but all out for a chance of a good cup run.
What The Bosses Say:
Latics boss Roberto Martinez:
‘It’s the best football competition in world football’
‘And every time you’re involved in this competition it’s a special feeling.
‘We’re playing a home, which is all you can hope for – a home draw – and against Premier League oppostition in Hull City.
‘It gives us an opportunity to see a couple of players that have been working extremely hard behind the scenes, they’ve been adapting to the new way of playing and the new environment and we’re all looking to see how they adapt in the FA Cup.’
Hull boss Phil Brown:
‘I’ll be making changes. I’ll be looking at a number of players who aren’t in the first team at the moment, but I’ll also be looking at players who are in the first team. It will be a mixture and I won’t be taking any unnecessary risks. It will be a chance for some to impress and that is something we have always done at the club. We’ve had our successes, such as reaching the quarter finals last year.’
‘Whoever does play on Saturday needs to impress and put their best foot forward to give themselves a chance of playing against Chelsea in the league a week later.
‘Wigan have had their ups and downs this season. They are in the same boat as us, fighting at the bottom end to try and stay in the Premier League. This will be a tight game.’
Wigan Athletic Team News:
Roberto Martinez has a full squad to choose from now that Momo Diame is recovered from his knee injury but it looks like there will be wholesale changes to the team.
Latics possible:
Pollitt, Boyce, Amaya, Scharner, Edman, De Ridder, Cho, McCarthy, Kapo, Koumas, Scotland
Player to watch: James McCarthy
The youngster looks set to get his first start at the DW since signing in the summer, are we about to find out what all the fuss was about
Hull City Team News:
Phil Brown, like Martinez is set to make a lot of changes and there could be rare starts for Cooper, Cairney, Devitt, Halmosi, Vennegoor of Hesselink and Folan
Player to watch: Vennegoor of Hesselink
If he does start the former Celtic player will no doubt prove a handful
Any Previous?
Latics and Hull have met 18 tines in all competitions, Latics have won 7, Hull 6 and there has been 5 draws
Last Five Meetings
03/10/09 – Premier League – Hull 2 Latics 1
22/03/09 – Premier League – Latics 1 Hull 0
30/08/09 – Premier League – Hull 0 Latics 5
28/08/07 – League Cup – Latics 0 Hull 1
12/08/03 – League Cup – Latics 2 Hull 0
Ref Watch:
Andre Marriner (Wst Midlands)
Meet the ref article can be read here
Match Prediction:
All depending on the teams put out but I am going for a 2-0 home win for the Latics
Up Next:
Premier League
Latics Vs Aston Villa
DW Stadium
Saturday 9/01/10
3 pm
