After Thoughts On: Black Cats and other Superstitious Nonesence

Three defeats isn't really that bad, not considering we have played Manchester United at Old Trafford, our bogey teams Fulham, and then faced a very resolute Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light. Why we haven't picked up points is starting to make sense, yet shouldn't we be able to adapt and out play these teams?

Well I think we can all agree that for 48 minutes against Sunderland we were by far the better team. The midfield was back to its arrogant best, that was aided by the return of James McArthur who allows the other James (McCarthy) to get forward with the ball and look to create chances and bring people into the game.

That then means that we gain more natural width, with both sides now being uses by McCarthy. We saw a lot more of Emmerson Boyce against Sunderland than we did against Fulham, yet question are being asked as to whether or not he can keep out an improving Ronnie Stam.

Boycie is a wonderful servant and I would never question is loyalty of commitment to the cause as a Wigan player. The problem is can he keep playing up and down in that right wing-back position for a full season, last season he totally owned the role, so far this season he has yet to impress.

On the left wing though, Sunderland was a plus point for Jean Beausejour who had been looking rather of form so far. That comes down to an inconsistent start to the season due to the number of injuries the Chilean has had at the start of this season. Yet against Sunderland his crossing ability could not be denied as yet again he confused defense with some stupendous ball into the box.

So with our midfield starting to come together again, you would think that would start to improve our attacking ability. That was true in so much as we created chances, yet we didn't manage to convert them. Shaun Maloney as ever, is at the heart of our movements going forward, is the Scottish attacker plays well, so does the team.

The fact is though, none is scoring the chances that he is making. We hoped that Arouna Kone would be answer to our problems when it comes to scoring, so far he has notched two goals, yet he hasn't managed to do it when a certain Argentinian striker isn't playing.

This is what it all builds up to, we need this young man to play well and win games. When he signed in 2010 we all wondered why Martinez had bothered. The striker was known for playing games and not scoring and we wanted a goalscorer. Yet two season under his belt at Latics and Franco Di Santo is now looking like one of the Premier League's top strikers.

Having started four games this season, he has scored two goals, not a bad return I think you will agree. Yet what is more impressive is his overall on the ball play. His movement around the pitch to take control of the ball and be able to play people in, while being able to create space. All adds up to make him one of our most improved players and an instant starter.

We have desperately missed him these last two league games, we have had none to hold the ball off, and none for Kone or Maloney to run off. That has cost us more than I think we realize and the sooner he is back fit the better.

Hopefully in time for this weekends visit of Everton.