On one hand I’m absolutely speechless.

On the other, there is so much to talk about.

Spector, Cole, Tomkins, Obinna, Upson, Green……where do you stop with talking about player performances? Kovac maybe – not at all, he put in a very good shift last night. But I want to start with one man. Wally Downes.

The impact he has had on our team is tangible. He is the only change that’s been made since the Liverpool game – we have the same players, the same manager. Yet his methods, his attitude, his enthusiasm and his spirit have driven a team so low on morale into a side that has the confidence to not only beat Manchester United, but punish and embarrass Manchester United.

Nobody does that. Nobody.

It’s undeniable that desire and care were lacking in every game prior to Wigan. It was clear for all to see and that’s what made it frustrating for fans. Fans travelling hundreds of miles and spending hundreds of pounds to see a team who come out of the tunnel on a downer, dragging their feet and heads to the floor. Before a ball had been kicked.

It’s hugely frustrating as a fans. All we ask for is for the team to put in an honest, hard-working display and give it a go! We sat back against West Brom and against Blackpool – scared of losing. All that seems to have changed based on last night’s performance. The team were electric from start to finish – playing with a passion and a pride, playing like they cared. We could have lost that game 4-0 with the same performance and I still wouldn’t have been disappointed – we took the game to them and they crumbled.

Even in the last minute – at 4-0 up – Downes was on the touchline barking out orders, ensuring we didn’t concede. His hands were not in his pockets, he was animated and looking quite furious. Truly delightful.

Just what we needed.

Spector, Cole & LBM
These guys have taken a hell of a lot of stick this year. From me, and from everyone. For different reasons – apparent lack of effort and lack of quality have both applied. Last night, something seemed to click for each of those players. I’m not necessarily saying that in Spector we have a new Messi and in Cole a new Pedro but the players that turned up last night really did turn up. They clearly had points to prove after, if we’re honest, woeful seasons so far.

But each of those three were inspired – mistakes were not getting them down (and there were a few) and they played with energy and heart. The fans saw and recognised this. As they say, confidence breeds confidence and that was proved last night. The opposite has also been true this season and I can’t help but feel it is again the impact of Downes on these individuals.

It’s almost like a rollicking from Petrovic led to more mistakes.
A rollicking from Downes, who commands a different respect, leads to improved confidence and urgency to succeed.

No respect for Petrovic. Downes earns the players respect and they perform. Image from Daily Mail (http://bit.ly/hzDMDb)

I still can’t believe it!

Starting lineups and whinging Man United fans
In the aftermath of their humbling United fans (and Slur Alex Ferguson) were quick to point out that they played a weakened side. That’s a very fair point – a very expensive reserve side. But before you go around bemoaning that fact it’s only fair to remind you that we also fielded a weakened side. We started with a midfield of LBM, Spector, Kovac and Barrera for goodness sake.

So what you played some youngsters – Smalling cost you about £11M, Bebe about £7M and Anderson for about £18M. Johnny Evans has Champions League experience and that stupid Little Pea has been heralded as a replacement for Rooney and the next best thing. Let’s face it, the only quality Mexican on that pitch last night was Barrera.

Obinna make an absolute laughing stock of the Da Silva lads – both of whom play Champions League football for you.

John O’Shea is another with a lot of Champions League experience and Fletcher is a regular.

So don’t give me the crap about you playing a weak, young side. Ours was weak and we played youngsters (Hines came on and run your right back ragged).

In fact, of our starting lineup only Green, Upson, Obinna have been regularly making our starting XI week in week out. We were missing Parker, Noble, Gabbidon, Dyer, Behrami, Jacobssen, Piquionne & Da Costa. All of whom would likely be in our first XI if fully fit.

Compared to Tomkins, Smalling & Evans looked silly. Tomkins is only 22 don’t forget that.

The goals
There is no more left to say apart from IRRRROOOONS!