Having said that, maybe a bit of freezing H2O will have woken up a few in the Blues dressing room to the fact that there can be no coasting in the search for European qualification.
If there was anyone left in need of persuading that City can maintain their place in the leading pack without adding a proven goalscorer to their side in January then this performance should have done the trick.
One shot on target in 90 minutes, and that being the goal that gave them the lead inside 40 seconds, is simply not enough.
This was a chance for some of the understudies to prove that the big show can be just as exciting and compelling without the Samba skills of main man Elano but unfortunately for them, and Thaksin Shinawatra's bank balance, they largely fluffed their lines. There was a worrying lack of quality in the malfunctioning creativity department and the ball was given up too easily against a side already fighting for its very existence amongst the aristocracy.
It is little wonder that Blues fans massed behind the goal to Sven-Goran Eriksson's left were baying for the introduction of out of favour Italian Rolando Bianchi some 20 minutes before they were granted their wish.
Fault
Georgios Samaras did little wrong but he did little correctly either. In fact he just did very little though it was not entirely his fault as not for the first time this season the Blues looked below par in unfamiliar surroundings.
City's league finishing position this year will undoubtedly rest on Eriksson's ability to find an antidote to the team's travel sickness.
Lack of goals and a smallish squad may also come into the equation in the hunt for a place in Europe next season but with the Blues so powerful at home there is little argument against the belief that their exploits on the road will decide whether they are merely a good side or one that can take the first step to possible greatness in years to come.
Whereas their home record is the best in the English top flight, if the top ten sides' away performances were today placed in a league table then City would be cast adrift at the bottom by a sizeable four points.
Clearly they need to start mixing the flamboyance and flair of Eastlands' performances with more obstinacy when they are living out of a suitcase.
If you are going to be a contender for Champions League qualification or even cement a UEFA Cup place you have to be able to go to Wigan and pick up a win.
Lunge
After all here was a side that had not collected a point in eight successive games and had not kept a clean sheet in nine.
Wigan ended the happier team despite the sending off of skipper Mario Melchiot for a two-footed lunge on Stevie Ireland.
After his delayed arrival - and, let's face it, it's not often you expect to find the six words `Steve Bruce', `image rights', and `Wigan Athletic' in the same sentence - the new JJB boss decided to leave things pretty much as they were for his debut in charge.
Much as Bruce is pleased to have made the switch from St Andrew's to the JJB he can hardly have been encouraged to find City lined up as his first opponent given that the Blues had used his Birmingham side as whipping boys over the past few seasons.
During Bruce's reign in Birmingham, Manchester won eight and league cup meetings on the trot. It was only five weeks ago too that the former United skipper brought his side to Eastlands and went home on the end of a lucky 1-0 defeat.
He probably sighed with relief then when he discovered the scorer of the winning goal that day, Elano, would be missing from Saturday's contest with a tight hamstring.
Indeed City resembled a travelling field hospital having also ruled out Darius Vassell, Michael Johnson, Nedum Onuoha, Valeri Bojinov and Emile Mpenza as well as their star playmaker. So to lose Javier Garrido with a blow to the head in the first half was not what the overworked doctor ordered although he was relieved to discover after tests at Hope Hospital that all was well with the young Spanish defender.
Eriksson brought in Geovanni for his first start in the league since his starring role in the derby win over United but left £8.8m striker Bianchi amongst the subs.
The Blues couldn't have enjoyed a better start when, fewer than 40 seconds after Mike Riley had set the game in motion, the hapless Titus Bramble made a complete hash of a loose ball marooning Chris Kirkland in no-man's land and leaving Geovanni to round the stranded keeper and roll home his third of the season.
That though proved to be that in terms of goal threat for a City side that had won on every previous occasion it had scored first.
While City dillied and dallied, Wigan showed their new boss they have the correct spirit for a fight and their equaliser in the 25th minute came at the end of a promising spell of possession. The chance was fashioned by Jason Koumas on the left who gained himself half a yard before standing the ball up for the unmarked Paul Scharner to deposit a diving header into the bottom corner.
Thereafter it was the home side that made most of the running though Andreas Isaksson had only one decent save to make, a dive to his right to deflect Ryan Taylor's far post volley.
Koumas had a shot blocked by Hamann and Wigan had a penalty claim tuned down for handball against Kelvin Etuhu but neither side deserved to win what was a poor quality affair.
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Can anyone tell me how long Elano is out for?
.. good to hear the Sven's Setee song coming along ... keep it going!
As much as a striker might be needed, 1 shot on target means that we aren't making enough chances, if we were making a hat full of chances each game and the strikers were missing them then I would agree. I think the midfield needs a couple of players, we have missed Johnson getting forward and some more pace on the right would be useful, as much as I think Stevie Ireland has a big future. Another option on the left is needed, then maybe Petrov can play down the middle away from home as defensively he is poor. Most of all I think we need to replace Didi, he just can't get around the park to support the attack or play in general which leaves players isolated or out numbered often, he does what he does well but i think we need extra energy if we are playing 1 defensive midfielder, he is alright with Gelson to do his running but that limits our options going forward. I am sure Sven knows this as much as anyone, and with Bon Jovi on his way back, whether Bianchi or others (Sam, Vass, Dicky) stay is the key as to whether we should go after a striker or not if money is limited in anyway.
CTID
I think Geovanni and Bianchi would have dovetailed quite nicely...shame.
'flamboyance and flair of Eastlands' performances ' Newcastle and boro yes, but not the others.
Spurs will be under more pressure to win next saturday having lost to Birmingham yssterday.The amount of effort and energy put in by Birmingham was terrific.I cannot see City being able to repeat it though.Spurs missed some early chances and it cost them.Their forwards look slick and City's defence + midfield will need to be focused totally.Why not start Bianchi for a change as we've seen Samaras(too often).This will be a test for City against talented footballers and one which could go terribly wrong unless City up the ante for this awat fixture.Hoping for the best.Come on City.
It looks like Sven is suffering from his first bout of Cityitis!
Sameras isn't a good lone striker, let alone a good striker! He runs around clueless most of the time and doesn't create enough.
Surely Sven can see this, and considering the fact we paid over 8m for Bianchi then why are we not playing him? His movement when he came on was considerably better than the Greek tragedy but alas it was too late.
I’m not sure if we’ll get back in the top 4 now if Utd win tonight then the top 4 look like breaking away from us and if we can’t beat Wigan then we probably don’t deserve to be in there.
So the battle for 5th and 6th now begins we need to be better than Villa, Blackburn, Portsmouth and Everton it’s tough at the top!
This is not good enough.
Lets be honest and say that we do not perform well for 90 mins.
Derby,Utd,Sunderland, Brum,Villa could all have got something on their visit to CoMS.
Having said that we were OK at Pompey. - battled well and gave them something to think about.
We are too inconsistant. -but I trust in Sven to sort it.
Bianchi must have done something wrong to warrant the treatment he is getting.
Ten minutes at the end of a game is nonsense.
I listened to the game on Radio M/cr and it seemed that Sam(who got booed off - disgraceful by City fans) and Petrov were inaffective.
What do others who were there have to say about this.
Twosips, Deansgate, work, sigh.
'Dovetailed', Love it.
its gettin beyond a joke now this greek tragedy bein still at the club let alone startin games.he is absolutly useless.he is a plodding joke.it makes me laugh when he claps the fans when hes subbed as if we apprecate what hes done.he mus know we all think hes hopeless and represents the sheer tragedy of pearces management.please sven get rid of this joke.i cant bear 2 see him in a city shirt again.
Samaras tried his very best to give Wigan a second goal when he made the suicidal back pass to Ball.
Get a grip you bunch of moaners. In sven we trust!!
True Blue Galway, why can't City repeat what Brum did? If you can remember the poor awayperformance last Saturday, you can also remember a great display at Portsmouth, also ending in a draw.
And The Count, do you seriously with the current squad being as it is for only 4 months, would be able to challenge the top 4?
Even Chris Bailey names the top 4 challenge and to me, again as it is now, is completely beside any realistic expectations.
Since we have been beaten by the Pie Eaters in the last 4 games it was nice to at least get a point from them. Obviously we should be getting all 3 against teams like this, but it was Elephant Mans 1st game in charge so they were bound to be up for it, add to that we had quite a lot of injured players. We know we can do better and we all knew we werent really going to make top 4, but we are in a fantastic position with 30 points already! I see the usual suspects get picked on again, samaras petrov etc. Samaras was poor but we need to create more for the loan man, Petrov was poor, but he has been influencial in a lot of goals this season, yes he could defend better but he is what he is, he gives us great balance, is a good outlet with his pace and has decent delivery. Spurs will be tough this week without Hammann but hopefully we will have some more players back to choose from. Think Sven should now give Bianchi a start and give him a full 90 minutes. I would like to see him start with Mpenza if fit, as the worked really well in the 1 match they played together even if it was Bristol City. Spurs are dodgy at the back so we need to attack and good news is that I presume Robbie Keane will be suspended.
Keep the faith and keep on supporting the team
30 points from 15 games?????
2 points a game??????
100% Home record????????
Averaging just under a point per away game????????
Unbeaten in 6??????
New Team still gelling???????
Johnson, Elano, Vassell, Mpenza and Bojinov injured?????
Aand still there are the Doom and Gloom Clan shoving their two Pennies worth in our faces. Its a joke. If we were in Newcastle's position I bet there wouldn't be as many suicide supporters are there are now.
GET A TORD OF YOURSELVES. THIS IS HEAVEN COMPARED TO LAST SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COME ON RICKY, YOU CAN DO IT SON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I hope that Robbie 'Can I play City every week' Keane is suspended, otherwise I'll be off to the bookies before the game.
Eric dutch, I was only pointing out that we are now out of the top 4 and in my opinion we will find hard to get back in.
I would’ve taken 7th or 8th at the seasons start so yeah I’m still very happy with what Sven is doing, however it now seems mad that a manager of his experience is making mistakes with our starting line up. No matter what Sameras does in training it never develops in 1st games we now have 2 years worth of evidence.
Hence my referral to Cityitis!
Think we need to try 442 whilst Elano is out as well.
Just heard the classic statement on Sky Sports; "the big four are in position".
They've had to wait four months and 14/15 games to say that, so we must be doing something right. The fact that we are still level on points with 2 of them seemed to go unnoticed, so keen were they to get the 'big4' quote in at last.
Sad to see someone slaggin Corluka off after Wigan game. He's only playin at RB because we have no right wing and and no left sided CB and Micah must be the most adept with his left foot. Once we get a left-sided CB we can put Micah to RB and Vedran to Holding midfield as Didi is probably in his last season.
Petrov remains the weak link to me, especially in away games where he couldn't tackle a good dinner. He jumps like a bitch when an opponent comes near.
Ball at LB and Garrido at Left Midfield would be so much stronger and Garrido might get a few crosses in as a bonus. Petrov 2nd striker at home (4-4-2) and bench warmer away.
CTID
Reply to Eric Dutch.My main point is that City must match the effort of the opposition every time they play.Teams with less quality too often cause City problems. There are many good player's at City but they must worh for one another
It was a great point against a team desperate to impress a new manager. Save for versus Chelsea, City have been varying degrees of good all season and anyone who moans must be a plank.
Nice post Mr. Dude. Point taken.
Yeah, given the default setting is to cheer / applaud when a player leaves, if you want to show disapproval, just remain silent, and save your energy for cheering the chaps still on the field.
HOW BAD IS BIANCHI...... he has to be the worst striker i have seen... thought Smaras did well keepin it simple playin two touch and apart from his mad 5 mins was impressed with his attitude.... SELL BIANCHI
Win your home matches and draw the away ones and you won't be far off at the end of the season!
By the way, those people that have voted for Samaras as MOTM on Saturday.... are you living in the real world at all???!!!!
I'll have whatever you've been drinking please!!
Kevin Jameson: I don't know, but Sven said he was out for the Spurs game on Sunday.
Blue-Swede-dude, In Nancy's Knickers!: Couldn't have put it better myself. Well said.
Only cold water available at the JJB? What a shame Samaras didn't stick his head under the shower before the game and at the half time interval...
Chris Bailey is a muppet!