COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Wigan (h)

By Ken Buckley :  11/08/2007 :  Comments (10) :

We meet up with all our mates from following Blues over many many years and exchange stories of our summer activities, hell one guy has been married (to a Red!!). Stadium moves seem to be on the back burner as we talk mostly of what moves in the transfer market will best suit our course and who the hell is putting this money up ? see, everyone believes the Mirror!

Then it's off to the ground and the first hurdle is the Pelican Crossing opposite Weatherspoons being out of order; que Blues spilling over the road to the sound of screetching tyres and the odd riposte. No ground campaigners encountered, For or Against, save a plane trailing a banner from KEIOC and another hung from the Winslow asking us to Say No to Kirkby.

We were more intent on what line-up we had today and on hearing it from our earstwhile announcer it became apparent that the the manager had decided to go with the tried and trusted. We started brightly and played a bit of joined-up footy but sadly this was not to last.

Wigan, with a host of new names, played as though they had just been introduced and you could see they were there for the taking but we just didn't seem to have the necessary guile to break them down until a Hibbert cross by-passed its target and Ossie looped a header over a startled keeper. I thought "Hhere we go; we can walk this now" and indeed within a few mins Arteta was upended in the box right in front of the ref, Mr Clattengberg, who I thought had a very good game but chose to ignore the appeal, I must watch out for that on Tele.

The first half then sort of fizzled out but we were glad of 1-0 at the break. The half-time chat ended in agreement that we need some quality additions to the midfield as playing two holding midfielders namely Neville and Carsley we were never going to unlock defences of Wigan's calibre ? never mind those of a more quality nature.

The second half could best be described as scrappy and to be honest a bit boring but it gave me the chance to have a good look at one of our supposed targets: Jason Koumas. All I can say is I am glad we didn't splash the cash.

We had to wait until the hour mark for some real excitement when an Arteta free-kick was fumbled and Ossie had a goal bound effort blocked. Shortly after, Ossie was replaced by new man Pienaar who was given a great reception but you could see it was his first game and uncertainty ruled although in glimpses I got the impression when he settles he will be a good addition. It was his pass that put AJ in and he did a marvelousjob of twisting and turning men before sliding a cross that Big Vic just could not miss.

2-0; game over, I thought... but I had reckoned without the usual Blues propensity to take the foot off the gas, get complacent and allow Scharner room he shouldn't have to cross a derelict box for Sibierski to slot home. From my seat, Moyes was less than happy. Had they learned their lesson? Not sure as Howerd went full length to push away a shot from Scharner for a corner which came to nothing. In the last minute, AJ got a chance to put a respectable look to the scoreline but it came to nought.

Still, at the final whistle, most were happy with three points and for a first game of the season I think that was job done. Much to build on as we seek a great season but I think it will take a bit of quality transfer dealings to ensure that.

Back to our lovable local hostelry and I take delight in conveying the score to the red dollies. Spurs next and we will need improvement to match last season's result. But, hey ? who knows? UP THE BLUES

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