Pie Eaters Footie - The FA Cup Final: The Build UpHome of the Pie Munching Football Fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/34067/pie_eaters-fave.jpg2013-05-10T13:05:57+01:00http://pieeatersfootie.sbnation.com/rss/stream/40794072013-05-10T13:05:57+01:002013-05-10T13:05:57+01:00FA Cup Final: The Team News
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<p>One of the biggest games in the year’s footballing calendar, and every player will be fitting to get a place in the starting line-up. To do that, they have to show they can make a difference on the pitch against the opposition of the day.</p> <p>Wigan though may not have a lot of choice as to who will feature against Manchester City. Our squad which is starting to run thin on defensive options may force <span>Roberto Martinez</span>’s hand in term of selection in the key defensive positions.</p>
<p>The injury list, mostly comprised of defenders, isn’t getting any shorter. There are two players who could return this weekend ahead of the final. Antolin Alcaraz and Adrain Lopez are both rated 50-50 and will be handed fitness tests ahead of the game, with a late kick-off it allows for plenty of assessment time.</p>
<p>If one of the two above defenders is fit, then Martinez may see that <span>Gary Caldwell</span> doesn’t feature. The defender was massively lacking against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/swansea-city">Swansea City</a> (the defender still isn’t 100%, his hip still causing problems), and considering they didn’t start their fastest player that is worrying. You wonder if he could cope with <span>Carlos Tevez</span> and <span>Sergio Aguero</span>.</p>
<p>There is one other change which is being tipped, the return of experienced goalkeeper <span>Ali Al Habsi</span>. The keeper who played in the Semi-Final has had a dip in form this season, following an injury to his shoulder; he has been less than convincing.</p>
<p>Roberto told the press that Ali is still carrying such an injury. Will Joel Robles get the nod? I would expect so. Which is a shame for Ali a man who really has taken to this football club, and we have taken to him.</p>
<p>Now for the other Roberto, and Mancini has very little to worry about. The only doubts ahead of their game were <span>Yaya Toure</span> and <span>Scott Sinclair</span>. The former Latics Sinclair will miss the game after having surgery on his shoulder to remove a blood clot.</p>
<p>Toure meanwhile has declared himself fit. The midfielder struggled against Swansea City last weekend, and then was rested for Manchester City’s game against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/west-bromwich-albion">West Bromwich Albion</a>. The midfielder talking to the press says the week off has rejuvenated him, and he is ready to help City beat Latics on Saturday.</p>
<p>Unlike Wigan there is no doubt over the change of goalkeeper for the game; Mr Mancini already stating that England international <span>Joe Hart</span> will not feature. Instead Wigan will face Romanian 6ft8 keeper <span>Costel Pantilimon</span>. City’s cup keeper has shown why the club like him, keeping four clean sheets and only conceding one goal in this year’s competition.</p>
https://pieeatersfootie.sbnation.com/2013/5/10/4318278/fa-cup-final-the-team-newsHeapyLatic2013-05-10T12:00:07+01:002013-05-10T12:00:07+01:00The FA Cup Final: Match Preview
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<figcaption>Scott Heavey</figcaption>
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<p>Few would have believed it, and some still can’t but with 24 hours to go, Wigan are closing in on the biggest day in our 81 year history. Our run to the final has been a lenient one; only facing one Premier League side so far has helped. But that was against an Everton side that we swept away. Can we do it again?</p> <p>Manchester City though will face a much tougher test than <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>. Now offence to the Toffees who have managed to beat City this season and did it in a very controlled manner. You just feel on our day we could beat Everton (as we did) but can we beat Manchester City?</p>
<p>Before their rise to footballing power in recent years, the games against Manchester City use to be open free scoring affairs for both teams, and usually Wigan would come out on top. In the past two seasons, we have failed to beat them. </p>
<p>Will it be another defeat this weekend? Is anyone backing us?</p>
<p>Well the answer is a resounding, no. The bookies of course have the 2011 winners as the odds on favourites. So we Latics return to our position as the underdogs, and let’s be honest we love being the underdogs. Since we took our first tiny steps in the Premier League we have always been the favourites to go down year after year.</p>
<p>As of this time, we remain a Premier League club (by the thinnest of threads at the moment I admit).</p>
<p>So why not battle against the odds this time? Had we a full squad with everyone fit, then you could wonder and maybe even full heartedly state we can do this. But there is that sort of who cares attitude to this game; we are missing at least three defenders for this game with <span>Ivan Ramis</span>, <span>Maynor Figueroa</span> and <span>Ronnie Stam</span> defiant outs. Antolin Alcaraz and <span>Adrian Lopez</span> are sitting on the fence and you wonder if they could be risked and returned to the team.</p>
<p><span>Gary Caldwell</span> showed against Swansea that he isn’t ready, nowhere near in fact. Whether he had lost his edge or isn’t 100% fit we can’t tell, but he shouldn’t face Manchester City.</p>
<p><span>Roberto Martinez</span> has to stick to what he and the team know. Our trademark 3-4-3 set up would be the ideal way to give Manchester City a run for their money. A back three compromising of whichever three centre backs are fit; wingbacks that will run and run and run up and down the pitch will be required; two central midfielders with a never say die attitude; and three forward with enough guile and skill between them to work some chances.
We have these players, so why not use them?</p>
<p>Whoever turns out for Wigan will face a full strength Manchester City side. <span>Roberto Mancini</span> has to go for broke in this game. With nothing else to play for, they will want to get their third trophy in three years and keep the momentum of success going.</p>
<p>With no major injury concerns it will be a team dripping with pace and skill, yet a back line of steel which can hold out some of the best strikers in the world. Recently though their level of performances haven’t been to the highest standard.</p>
<p>Does that indicate that they will burst forth at Wembley? Or continue to shy away?
With the big occasion and the chance of a winner’s medal, which player won’t be trying his hardest? All of them will want to win no matter what. That of course also works in our favour as well when it comes to cup matches and especially finals the rulebook should always be thrown out the window.</p>
<p>It could be Wigan who shy away and Manchester City who take centre stage. The balance of such games always hinges on the first ten minutes and the team to score first. You would like to hope that the Latics players will come out all guns blazing, but if there is one thing we have learnt most in recent years, it’s that it’s not always the best team that wins, but the one that scores.</p>
<p>In a week where <span>Sir Alex Ferguson</span> announces his retirement from the game, why cannot another major shock in football occur? <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://pieeatersfootie.sbnation.com/">Wigan Athletic</a> winning the FA Cup would certainly be a shock, and against Manchester City and either bigger one.</p>
<p>With the shackles thrown free, and the players told to give it their all on the biggest stage in world football cup competitions. Then maybe, just maybe, we can do it.</p>
<p>Keep the Faith!</p>
https://pieeatersfootie.sbnation.com/2013/5/10/4315540/the-fa-cup-final-match-previewHeapyLatic2013-05-09T15:04:00+01:002013-05-09T15:04:00+01:00Manchester City’s Road to Wembley
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<figcaption>Mike Hewitt</figcaption>
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<p>Two days and counting to the biggest game in the club’s history, our second appearance at New Wembley and this time it is the big final. So to start the count down, let’s look at Manchester City’s trip to the final and how well they have done in this year’s cup.</p> <p>City have so far only conceded one goal in this year’s competition, that coming in the Semi-final against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>. They have managed to score a few, 15 goals in total they have managed to score with <span>Carlos Tevez</span> scoring five of their goals. So the Argentinian could be the man to watch.</p>
<strong><em><p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> 3-0 Watford</p></em></strong><p>Comfortable first round tie for the Premier League champions, as they strolled past a strong Watford team. They rarely got out of third gear and were 2-0 up before half time. By the second half they took their foot of the gas, and managed to get a third in the final minute of the game.</p>
<strong><p><em><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> 0-1 Manchester City</em></p></strong><p>Premier League opposition followed and a much tougher test away from home for City. They struggled to break down the doors of a very strong Stoke City defence which was stubborn as ever. The Manchester club still was the better side, and in the style of champions they grinded out the win.</p>
<p>It took till the 85th minute with the prospect of a replay looming over the two teams, before Pablo Zabaleta’s fine finish book a place for City in the fifth round.</p>
<strong><p><em>Manchester City 4-0 Leeds United</em></p></strong>
<p>Another Championship side and another game at home for City. Again it was rarely a struggle as straight from the off it was one way traffic. <span>Yaya Toure</span> scoring in the sixth minute and they didn’t look back. Another goal was added before half time, with two more coming in the second half.</p>
<strong><p><em>Manchester City 5-0 Barnsley</em></p></strong>
<p>The same recipe and the same result, relegation threatened Barnsley were out to cause an upset. It didn’t look likely on paper and all hopes of that were quashed as Carlos Tevez racked up three goals to make him City’s leading FA Cup scorer. No looking back for them and they looked like the team to avoid in the cup this season.</p>
<strong><p><em>Chelsea 1-2 Manchester City</em></p></strong><p>Chelsea then were the unlucky team to have a semi-final match against City. Yet again in the same fashion as there other FA Cup ties this season, City started quickly and didn’t look back. Right from the word go they were the better side, and considering this was there hardest opposition, they didn’t make it look like they were working very hard.</p>
<p><span>Samir Nasri</span> eventually managed to get their noses in front, after some solid goal keeping from Petre Cech had kept City at bay. Two minutes into the second half and it was 2-0 with Aquero getting on the score sheet.</p>
<p>There was a fight back from Chelsea and <span>Demba Ba</span> managed to get himself on the score sheet and be the only man so far to score against the Manchester club in this season’s competition.</p>
<p><em>What do we know?</em></p>
<p>It’s going to be hard to score, and even hard to stop this train. Manchester City look intent on getting some silverware and so far have brushed every team aside in this season’s competition. Can we stop them? I hope so!</p>
https://pieeatersfootie.sbnation.com/2013/5/9/4314988/the-fa-cup-final-manchester-citys-road-to-wembleyHeapyLatic2013-05-09T14:55:13+01:002013-05-09T14:55:13+01:00The FA Cup Final: The Build Up
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>All the news, reviews and updates ahead of this massive game for the club, as 'Little' Wigan Athletic will take on the 'Big' club in Manchester City to be crowned this season's FA Cup champions.</p> <p>All the talk and all the work since January has gone into these massive 90 minutes. One of these two teams will be the knockout champions of England.</p>
<p>Will Manchester City win it for the second time in three years?</p>
<p>Or will Wigan Athletic win their first ever major honour?</p>
<p>It's Roberto vs Roberto
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<p>Follow all the build up here at Pie Eaters Footie!</p>
https://pieeatersfootie.sbnation.com/2013/5/9/4314994/the-fa-cup-final-the-build-upHeapyLatic