Author Archives: JJ (Tony)

Columbus Crew 1 Wigan Athletic 2 – a solid start for Coyle’s team

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Match Reports, Other and tagged with ,
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Crew Stadium

Wigan Athletic got their pre-season match preparations underway with a 2-1 win in Columbus, Ohio. Latics looked in control from the start. After a pedestrian first half in which neither side looked like scoring, Wigan were  2-0 in front when a deflected goal got the home team back in the game after  73 minutes.

Crew put forward their first choice lineup with the intention of withdrawing them after the hour mark, which they eventually did.

Wigan brought in Academy product, Adam Buxton, to make his debut at right back. Emmerson Boyce and James Perch occupied the centre of defence with Stephen Crainey on the left. Ben Watson was employed in front of the back four, James McArthur in front of Buxton on the right. Jordi Gomez and Chris McCann played in central midfield with Grant Holt as target man and Jean Beausejour wide on the left.

Roger Espinoza and James McCarthy came on after half time and after a minute a fine cross from the Honduran allowed McCarthy the luxury of a headed goal. Two more substitutes combined for Latics second goal after 63 minutes with Fraser Fyvie slipping through a fine pass which was clinically put away by Marc Antoine Fortune.

Following their goal Crew started to get back in the game and Scott Carson had to make a great save in the closing minutes to stop them scoring following a defensive error.

The Good

Wigan made good use of the ball and the midfield was in control for most of the match. It was revealing to see how the style of football resembled that of last season, give or take the occasional hoof upfield by one of the newcomers. The system had changed, with a flat back four.

In the first half they played with  a crowded midfield with only Grant Holt and Beausejour pushed forwards. But after 63 minutes it reverted to 4-3-3 with Nouha Dicko moving to the right wing with Callum McManaman on the left.

Although protected by the midfield to a large degree the centre back pairing of Boyce and Perch looked solid.

The Bad

Latics had five newcomers in their starting lineup and it is going to take time for them to gel. Grant Holt looked isolated up front and it will be a challenge for him to get used to the slower build-ups like we had in this match.

The current squad is unbalanced. There is a surplus of quality midfield players , but a dearth of defenders and forwards. Owen Coyle has done a remarkable job in the transfer market but there is still work to be done.

With Gary Caldwell and Ivan Ramis out if action for some time still, the centre of defence is in need of another experienced practioner. Although centre back is probably James Perch’s best position, Emmerson Boyce is best employed at right back, where his attacking skill can make the difference.

With the surfeit of central midfield players James McArthur was pushed to right midfield in the first half then right back in the second. Maybe his fine performance as a wing back in the FA Cup Final was a factor in Coyle playing him out of position, but McArthur is a quality central midfield player, who is likely to excel in the Championship.

Coyle has two centre forwards in Holt and Fortune, but there is a need for another wide player to compete with McManaman and Beausejour.

Player Ratings

Scott Carson: – unemployed most of the match but saved the result in the closing minutes.

Adam Buxton: – did not look out of place. A promising debut. Taken off at half time.

Emmerson Boyce: – looked comfortable throughout. A key figure in the push for promotion.

James Perch: – a very good debut, his anticipation and tackling were excellent.

Stephen Crainey: – solid and reliable.

Ben Watson: – looked good in that familiar role in front of the back four. Went off after 63 minutes.

Jordi Gomez: – put through some cultured passes. Went off after 63 minutes.

Chris McCann: – looks a cultured player, but needs time to gel with teammates.

James McArthur: – showed his versatility, but deserves a place in central midfield.

Grant Holt: – a lone figure without support. Went off at half time.

Jean Beausejour: – looked lively. Went off after 63 minutes.

Substitutes

James McCarthy: – came on after half time and scored a minute later. Destined for a big money move.

Roger Espinoza: – came on after half time. Well known in Columbus for his exploits with Ohio State University. As lively and energetic as always and put in a good cross for the first goal.

Marc Antoine Fortune: – came on after half time for Holt. Looked comfortable in the lone centre forward role and took his goal well.

Fraser Fyvie: – on after 63 minutes. Looks class.  Nice pass for second goal. Why did he not play last season?

Callum McManaman: on after 63 minutes. Let’s hope Dave Whelan’s reputed £15 million price tag on him will deter his former manager from taking him away to Everton.

Nouha Dicko: – on after 63 minutes. Looked dangerous. Will this be his season?

Shaun Maloney: – on after 75 minutes. Apparently had a slight injury that prevented him starting. Championship defences will have trouble with this fellow.

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Latics to go straight back up?

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Other, Specials and tagged with , ,

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“This year gives us our best opportunity to get back into the Premier League. Financially we have an advantage over the other clubs because it is a significant amount of money. We want to get back first time for a number of reasons. But financially it makes sense.”

Chief Executive Jonathan Jackson has got the media communicating by speaking good common sense.

He is correct. No better time to get back up than when Latics have an advantage over the majority of the teams in the division through parachute payments that are reported to be worth £16 million.

Up to this point Owen Coyle has made financially shrewd movements in the transfer market, signing seven players for no more than the price of Arouna Kone’s transfer fee to Everton. Moreover James McCarthy is 99% certain to leave and Latics will be hoping for a bidding war for a complete midfield player who will make it at the highest level. It could be good business.

The likelihood therefore is that Latics will make a healthy profit on their transfer dealings. Together with the parachute payment it should leave them in good financial shape over the next year.

Over the past eight years the revenue gained through gate money was dwarfed by the income received through television rights. The loss of that huge amount of television money from the Premier League is going to leave a hole in the finances. However, the total spent on players’ salaries will be reduced compared with last year, despite needing to have a bigger squad.

Through winning the FA Cup,  Latics qualified for the group stage of the Europa League, from which they can expect to receive well over £1 million from UEFA , even if they do not go further.

Having won the FA Cup and spent eight years in the Premier League has unquestionably changed the way outsiders look at Wigan Athletic. As we have seen over the last couple of weeks players are now much more likely to come to come to Wigan. Playing in the Europa League is going to be another giant step forward. The FA Cup success put Latics on the world map and Europa League participation is going to take things further.

Coyle’s activity in the transfer market is likely to be curtailed by the pre-season trip to the United States. Reports have suggested he has been trying to sign Ghana winger Albert Adomah from Bristol City as well as Zambian striker Jacob Mulenga from FC Utrecht. He will also be looking for players on loan, but such business is likely to be done after the big clubs make their overseas tours.

The centre of defence is an area in which Coyle is likely to seek an important new signing. Gary Caldwell and Ivan Ramis would make an excellent partnership if both were fit, but it is doubtful both will be ready for the start of the season. Thomas Rogne is promising, but short of experience. Coyle has the option of switching Emmerson Boyce to centre back, but he will almost certainly be looking for an experienced central defender to supplement what he already has.

Coyle has already put together the nucleus of a squad ready to challenge for promotion. He has done it without spending a lot of money so far. Having at least 6 games to play in the Europa League plus 46 to play in the Championship – compared with 38 in the Premier League – means that he is going to need a big squad. A few more players will be coming in before the transfer window closes.

Jonathan Jackson is right in saying that the coming season represents the best opportunity for Latics to get back into the Premier League. However, with so many new players and the Europa League on top of that, it is a tall order. Tough, but not impossible.

Whatever happens, Wigan Athletic will be in good financial shape. If they don’t make it this year there will be enough of a fiscal base to ensure that they will continue to have the advantage over most clubs in the following year.

Despite relegation, the future is looking bright for Wigan Athletic.

Perchinho arrival heralds in a new style

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Player profiles and tagged with , , , , ,

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Yesterday, a player known in some circles as Perchinho became the latest of  Wigan Athletic’s new signings. He could well become a key piece in the jigsaw puzzle that Owen Coyle is putting together to get Latics back into the Premier League.

Despite the nickname, Perchinho is not a flamboyant Brazilian who will help Latics maintain the style of champagne football that Roberto Martinez’s teams could produce on big occasions. Quite the opposite. He is James Perch, a fairly ordinary-looking footballer, given the nickname affectionately, though ultimately ironically, by Newcastle fans. His critics would say he cannot accurately pass the ball more than 10 yards.  So how  can such a player  play a key role  in a promotion-challenging team?

Born in Mansfield, Perch came up through the youth ranks at Nottingham Forest, making his league debut against Wigan in 2004 and amassing 190 appearances in six years before earning a move to Newcastle United. During this time, he had been used as a utility player, appearing in the right, left and centre of defence and as  a ball winner in midfield, and was eventually trusted with the captain’s armband.perchinho

Perch was to create an unenviable Premier League record on joining Newcastle after receiving consecutive yellow cards in his first five games at that level. Despite the rocky start, the ex-Forest captain went on to make 65 appearances for the north east club over the past three years, including promotion from the Championship and a Europa League campaign.

The signing of a player like Perch is something that Roberto Martinez would have been unlikely to contemplate. He just would not have fitted into the style of flowing football the Spaniard sought. But then again, this is a new era. Owen Coyle has a more pragmatic approach and we are not going to be seeing that mixture of champagne football, interspersed between periods of innefectiveness and defensive mediocrity, that we witnessed  in the Martinez era. So what kind of football will we see during Coyle’s tenure at the club? perch1

James Perch may not be the most skillful player around, but he is a great tackler and a consummate team player and professional. A recent posting on Squawka News offers an interesting insight into Perch’s capabilities, describing him as a “Toon cult hero”, with stats to back up their argument. Another interesting article on Newcastle fan site  Blog on the Tyne lauds Perch’s professionalism.

Wiganers have always appreciated players who are willing to battle for the club and Perch looks destined to become a fan favourite, as he was at Forest and Newcastle. Perch’s career has probably been held back by his ability to slot into different positions. Coyle might get the best out of the player by using him in one specific role.

With so many new players coming into the squad it is important that Latics begin the season with a backbone of last year’s players in the starting lineup. The mutual  understanding between players who have played together for a period of time should not be undervalued. The newcomers can be gradually weaned into the team. However, I would not be surprised to see James Perch’s name on the teamsheet for the season opener at Barnsley.

Owen Coyle’s team will not provide the silky approach we have got used to, but we can expect them to be attacking and entertaining. Professionals  like James Perch can be a really positive force in the club, as well as on the pitch. It will be the hard work of players like him that will enable team mates to get the ball and challenge the opposition.

The Martinez era is over , but Coyle’s squad is quickly taking shape and we can continue to look forward to watching good football, albeit in a different style.

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A breath of fresh air from Coyle

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Other, Reflections and tagged with , , , , , ,
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Owen Coyle – a breath of fresh air

What a breath of fresh air Owen Coyle has brought to Wigan. Like him or loathe him he cannot be criticized for sitting on his backside and waiting for things to happen. Within the place of week he has signed two new players who look like a really good fit for the club. At a time of doom and gloom, when it looked like the heart was being ripped out if the club, he has come in and his positive outlook has already started to lift our spirits.

Wigan Athletic were stuck in limbo during the ”Will he stay or will he go “ saga with Roberto Martinez. Worse was to follow -even before the charismatic Spaniard had been unveiled as Everton manager – there were stories about him raiding his old club for playing and backroom staff. It seemed like he was going to be the main destroyer of the infrastructure he himself had painstakenly built in his four years at Wigan.

Reports suggest that Martinez is coming back from vacation and is ready to start forming his backroom staff at Everton. Graeme Jones is a probable departure to Goodison, but we will have to wait and see if Graham Barrow and other coaches and backroom staff will go too. Once again we seem to be waiting for Martinez and it is not an ideal situation for Coyle to come into as new manager.

At this stage it looks like each of James McCarthy and Arouna Kone already has a foot out of the door. However, there have been reports saying that Callum McManaman wants to stay and that could be of huge importance for a promotion push. Championship defences will not relish the prospect of dealing with McManaman’s speed, trickery and directness on one flank and the dangerous, curving crosses coming in from Jean Beausejour on the other.

There has been much said about Latics allowing players to run down their contracts over the past couple of years. Maynor Figueroa has already gone to Hull, Roman Golobart to Cologne and it looks odds-on that Antolin Alcaraz will go to Everton.

Figueroa was a real stalwart for Latics and will be missed. He has been reunited with Steve Bruce, the manager who brought him to Wigan.

Golobart was being carefully nurtured by Martinez and it looked like he might be a key player for the coming season. However, there were question marks whether he had the pace needed in the Premier League.

Alcaraz had three topsy turvy years at Wigan. In his first season he started in 34 Premier League games, but injuries hampered him after that. He made 25 league starts in his second season, but only 8 last year. Ironically his best performances came near the end of his time at Wigan, when he looked a class act.

However, freedom of contract is a double-edged sword and Latics are using it to their own advantage. Both Chris McCann and Stephen Crainey are highly experienced and capable Championship level players, who have also played in the Premier League. The signing of the 22 year old Thomas Rogne is being processed  – he would be one for the future and the 6’4” Norwegian would provide height and power that the Latics centre of defence has been lacking.

Coyle recently stated that he needed at least six new signings, but that looks like a conservative figure. It could be that he is looking at youngsters like Lee Nicholls, Jordan Mustoe, Eduard Campabadal, Daniel Redmond and Nouha Dicko stepping up to the plate, although we await confirmation on those who were at the end of previous contracts.

If Coyle can avoid a firesale and only McCarthy and Kone depart he will have a strong squad. However, he is going to have to get out the cheque book to sign those kinds of quality players who can add something special. Signing some of the best of the Championship’s younger players would appear to be the way to go forward. Latics have already been linked with two 25 year olds –  Derby County full back John Brayford and Bristol City winger Albert Adomah. However, if Kone were to go he would be hard to replace and it would be Coyle’s greatest challenge.

Coyne has inherited the backbone of a team that – with a few key additions and a minimum of departures – would be quite capable of pushing for promotion. His critical signings may be yet to come.

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Too much change in the wind

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Other, Reflections and tagged with , , ,

It is time for change at Wigan Athletic with a new manager having come in, with a huge quantity of new players to recruit. It is exactly the situation Latics supporters would have wanted to avoid.

There are too many change parameters to cope with at the moment. What is going to happen to Roberto Martinez’s backroom staff? How can Owen Coyle bring in nothing but quality players when the number needed to make up the squad reaches outrageous proportions?

We have heard nothing about the likes of Graeme Jones and Graham Barrow going off to Everton with Martinez. In terms of stability it would be much better if they stayed at Wigan. Then again what is going to happen to Kevin Reeves, Inaki Bergara and those ex-Latics players who are scattered around the club, especially at youth level?

Owen Coyle recently said Latics had 14 senior squad members left. Soon after that he was talking about James McCarthy and Arouna Kone going if the price was right. Add to them Shaun Maloney and Callum McManaman and the squad decimates to 10.

Of the end of contract players Maynor Figueroa has already signed for Hull and Roman Golobart for Cologne. There is talk about Antolin Alcaraz going to Everton or into Europe. Latics have lost too many good quality players at the ends of their contracts over recent years.

Dave Whelan’s philosophy of giving players the chance to move to bigger clubs, if the price is right, is admirable in many ways. However, there comes a point when you have to stem the flow and require players to meet their contractual agreements.

The more players Whelan lets go – even at good prices – the more difficult for Owen Coyle to find adequate replacements, even with money to spend.  

It is a matter of sheer numbers. The club stands the risk of its heart being ripped apart in both backroom and playing staff. Coyle is going to be faced with employing journeymen to make up the numbers, rather than build on a strong base that was there before.

Whatever happens I ask Wigan Athletic supporters to bear these things in mind and not make instant assessments of Owen Coyle’s worth. He has come in and is already speaking about having to sell prized assets.

Let’s hope he does not make the Martinez mistake of bringing players from his former club. Thank goodness he has already insinuated that he will not be pursuing the 36 year old  Kevin Davies. However, he is already being linked with Burnley veterans Martin Paterson and Chris McCann.

Latics need to avoid a mass exodus. All that Roberto Martinez built could be gone within a matter of weeks.  It would be crippling for the club.

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