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FA Cup
Quarter Final

Manchester City v Wigan Athletic
Etihad Stadium, City of Manchester

Sunday 9 March 2014
Kickoff: 1605 GMT

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants : Darren Cann & Marc Perry
Fourth Official: Kevin Friend

TV Coverage in UK: BT Sports 1 HD (Sky 413) and BT Sports 1 (Sky 426)
Coverage starts at 1530 GMT
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Since I also start these "Next" threads for all Cup Draws that we are in ... technically then, this game isn't really Next ... but the FA Cup Draw for the Semi Finals is ... that will take place at 4:00pm on Sunday (after the completion of other three quarter finals) but just before our game with our ball going into the draw marked for "City/Wigan". And since the semis are both to be played at Wembley, there is no issue of a home or away team (except maybe who gets which dressing room at Wembley) ... The kick-off time for this game, originally announced at 4:00pm, was also moved by five minutes to 4:05pm to accommodate this draw as well.
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The Opposition

We played Roberto Martinez's Wigan in the FA Cup final last year and lost 1-0 ... since then they got relegated to the Championship, lost some players, lost the manager and then we played them again in September ... this time Owen Coyle's Wigan, in the CapitalOne Cup and won that game 5-0 ... since then Coyle has gone and their recent form has been pretty good in Championship ... so this time we'll be facing Uwe Rosler's Wigan ... which I expect to be somewhere in between the other two Wigans we played ... not as good (or tough) as Roberto's but not quite as easy as Owen's ...

Let's give Uwe a warm reception but let's do that before the game and when the ref starts the game, then let that be that ... end of an affair!
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The Big Picture

Here is our problem ...

9th March : 4:05pm Wigan (Home) - Quarter Final - Just one game away from the Wembley Semi
12th March : 7:45pm Barcelona (Away) - Champions League - Going into the second leg with a deficit of 2 goals
15th March : 12:45pm Hull City (Away) - Premier League - Potentially 9 points behind, and not so easy away fixture

So Wigan on it's own looks great, it's a home tie, a championship side coming over, another trip to Wembley on the horizon and not many big wigs left in the cup either ... but then line it up with the three games in five and a half days and each more important than the previous ... and all of a sudden it all doesn't look all that easy. We are NOT out of the Champions League yet, as the whole world would have you believe it ... yes, Arsenal probably can't turn around their 2-0 deficit in Munich ... but why is the media tying us to them being another English team ... if anyone can turn it around in Barcelona, it's us ... and that Hull game is perhaps most crucial of the three. Hull City, on paper might sound like a recently promoted Championship side but they have taken some scalps at home and their recent form suggests they are simply not to be taken lightly at all. Also, we will be three games behind the rest by then (and potentially nine pts behind Chelsea) so that's added pressure right there ...

I know when it comes like this, it's best to simply take one game at a time ... but that's akin to a pigeon closing his eyes when he sees the cat ... we as fans can probably afford to do this, see them one by one and just focus on the next game ... I doubt if Pellegrini has that luxury and it will reflect in his team selection.
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Team Selection

Pellegrini will surely have more than an eye on those next two fixtures so close after this ... plus we can't even say who returns from where in what condition ... most of our players are on international duty this week, so all will be returning from having already played mid-week plus travel ... some arriving Thursday afternoon, some evening ... so Pelligrini wasn't too bothered about this tie being scheduled on Sunday instead of Saturday and pointed to this exactly ... I just hope that they all return with no injuries to any at all.

Despite all the issues above, I still think Pelligrini will take this tie seriously as he has shown all season for all cup competitions. Only worry is players taking Wigan a bit lightly and possibly a hangover from the CapitalOne Cup Final ... guard against complacency and any XI he puts out should be able to do the job ...
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Starting XI Prediction

Tough to second guess Pellegrini here but her's my predicted line-up:

Panti
Richards - Komps - Lescott - Clichy
Garcia - Ferdy/Yaya (45 mins each)
Navas - Silva - Milner
Dzeko
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Score Prediction

We might not quite score the 5 like last time we played them and might not keep a clean sheet ... so somewhere in between, plus 3-1 is my favorite scoreline this week!

Manchester City 3 - 1 Wigan Athletic
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Other Games

The other three quarter finals all take place before our game so from a possible of seven other teams that we could face in the semi, the list will be down to three ... actually the draw takes place five minutes prior to kick-off, so we'll know exactly who we play before we have even kicked off.

Here are the other three Quarter Finals ...

Sat 8 March - 12:45pm - Arsenal v Everton
Sun 9 March - 12:00pm - Sheffield United v Charlton Athletic
Sun 9 March - 2:00pm - Hull City v Sunderland

Oh, and then there is Chelsea v Spurs (Sat evening) in the league ... we could totally do with Chelsea dropping points here, else our three games in hand will become three must wins ... and there is WBA v Scum (Sat lunchtime) if anyone is interested in keeping an eye on the possible sack-watch.

Avoid Arsenal/Everton and I'm happy.

Draw the winners of Sheffield Utd vs Charlton
Welcome Uwe back
Thrash Wigan

That'll do for me. I suspect Clichy and Nasri will start as they have not been called up by France and have a week off, as does Garcia.

Pretty Boy Lee wrote:Avoid Arsenal/Everton and I'm happy.

Bring them on we fear no one.

Treat this game with respect & a reasonable amount of caution at the back.

Remember how we started v Watford & that Uwe has just gone and buried Forest 4-1 on their own pitch (Forest put 5 past West Ham) & knocked out Cardiff away from home.

No slacking.

Pretty Boy Lee wrote:Avoid Arsenal/Everton and I'm happy.

Would prefer to meet them in the semi than the final. Will still have an eye on prem when semi is played.

sweenyuk wrote: Would prefer to meet them in the semi than the final. Will still have an eye on prem when semi is played.

Yeah I agree ... BUT here's an alternative thought ... it'll be the same for us and with our fixture congestion, we might find it harder to field a strongest XI and by then Arsenal (or Everton) knowing this cup is their only chance of a trophy, they might do just that ... while we keep an eye on the league games around the semi.

Give me the lightest semi so we can get through to the final and keep our focus on the league ... then end of season having won the league cup and the league ... we can take care of whoever in the final.

i think thats a good lineup selection. Maybe Rodders will feature though?

i really hope Aguero isnt involved at all.

I would expect Milner to start in this one and probably Garcia as well but apart from that I guess MP will field the key players to win the game.

phips wrote:i think thats a good lineup selection. Maybe Rodders will feature though? i really hope Aguero isnt involved at all.

Is Rodwell fit? (Serious question) If he is, be a good option, even if it feels a little 'last chance saloonish'... If you know what I mean.

TheBlueCatsWhiskers wrote: Is Rodwell fit? (Serious question) If he is, be a good option, even if it feels a little 'last chance saloonish'... If you know what I mean.

That train has passed this platform my friend ...

They are getting too technical these threads !

Thrash Wigan sunday .

Think we have fucked it 1st leg at home versus Barca but you never know .

Thrash Hull Saturday !

Still looking MIGHTY FINE :-)

Great intro, cheers. Just two things to pick up on. I think Wigan are a better side now than last season. They did sell players but they have spent more as they built a squad to facilitate Europa League as well. They are in a league run of largely winning games so confidence is high too.
Secondly, daft Martin will play. He is suspended at Barca and MP seems to rate him.

looks like it is going to be a sell out and the cup will be on display!

Tickets still remain for City’s FA Cup quarter-final with Wigan Athletic this Sunday.

In what is likely to be an emotional return for Latics boss and former City legend Uwe Rosler, availability is limited and the sold out signs are expected to be posted yet again as the Blues bid for another trip to Wembley.

It’s the first game for City since winning the League Cup against Sunderland last weekend and the trophy will be displayed in BT City Square and out on the pitch before kick-off.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are intent on a third FA Cup final in four year, but will have to be at their best against in-form Wigan in a repeat of last year’s Final Tie.

So to welcome Uwe back, see the League Cup up close and cheer on the Blues as they bid for a Wembley FA Cup semi-final, buy your tickets now for what should be a memorable day at the Etihad Stadium.

One would hope after last May's debacle, that Wigan will have our full and undivided attention on sunday.

Please pick a proper team Mr Pellegrini and make sure we apply ourselves and give Wigan appropriate respect and our full focus. Do that and we should be OK but its the FA Cup and last season showed what can happen if you don't turn up.

TheBlueCatsWhiskers wrote:

phips wrote:i think thats a good lineup selection. Maybe Rodders will feature though? i really hope Aguero isnt involved at all.

Is Rodwell fit? (Serious question) If he is, be a good option, even if it feels a little 'last chance saloonish'... If you know what I mean.

who knows. maybe Doug can chime in.

I am glad we are not parading the cup on Sunday. I have lost count the times clubs have parades planned after a game and go on to lose.

TheBlueCatsWhiskers wrote: Is Rodwell fit? (Serious question) If he is, be a good option, even if it feels a little 'last chance saloonish'... If you know what I mean.

I wonder where people go to drink when the Last Chance Saloon closes?

Wonderwall wrote:looks like it is going to be a sell out and the cup will be on display!

Tickets still remain for City’s FA Cup quarter-final with Wigan Athletic this Sunday.

In what is likely to be an emotional return for Latics boss and former City legend Uwe Rosler, availability is limited and the sold out signs are expected to be posted yet again as the Blues bid for another trip to Wembley.

It’s the first game for City since winning the League Cup against Sunderland last weekend and the trophy will be displayed in BT City Square and out on the pitch before kick-off.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are intent on a third FA Cup final in four year, but will have to be at their best against in-form Wigan in a repeat of last year’s Final Tie.

So to welcome Uwe back, see the League Cup up close and cheer on the Blues as they bid for a Wembley FA Cup semi-final, buy your tickets now for what should be a memorable day at the Etihad Stadium.

Which one? Ours or Wigan's?

BlueinBosnia wrote: Which one? Ours or Wigan's?

Good point, let's hope they are both ours in May