Author Archives: JJ (Tony)

Wigan’s First Blue Victory Parade

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

A wonderful article by the Guardian on Monday quoted Trevor Silcock, 63,  arriving at the FA Cup victory parade with three generations of his family. He recalled going to Springfield Park with his father and grandfather.

“This is the greatest day of my life,” he said, before adding: “After the kids being born, that is.”

Trevor has to be the same person who was in my class in primary school. I have not seen him since he was ten. I recognized his name and age straight away and envied him for being able to be there for those cup celebrations. I left Wigan and have worked in many places since then. Living in different countries has been part of my way of life, but my heart has always belonged to my home town.

When Trevor and I were at school the rugby club would sometimes parade the Challenge Cup through the town centre. I can remember seeing it, but try as I might, I never felt an affinity for them.

Being brought up in Warrington Lane in the south of Wigan, I was constantly surrounded by rugby fans. Sometimes our teachers would take us up to St Patrick’s field – a bastion of rugby league – to play games, including football. It might have been regarded as heresy by the management of that wonderful amateur rugby club which has provided so many top players to the professional game.

I wish I could have been in Wigan’s town centre when the Latics paraded the FA Cup. To coin an overused description it was “unbelievable”.

But why should it be any different than the local rugby league club’s celebration parades?

Let’s try to be fair. Wigan are the best supported team in the rugby league and have won the Challenge Cup 15 times in my lifetime. Their record is unparalleled in their sport.

But then again let’s get things into perspective. Wigan Athletic won the FA Cup by beating a Manchester City team that was put together by mega-money. It was David against Goliath. In terms of relative economic power the rugby team have been the Goliath compared with the teams they have beaten. Wigan’s rugby team attendances average around 16,000 compared with a division average of less than 10,000.

The town of Wigan can support two teams. The rugby support remains constant, but in the past there have been so many football fans who have traveled to Liverpool or Manchester to support the big clubs. Most of the younger generation of football fans now prefer to go to the DW Stadium. Despite a difficult season and relegation Wigan Athletic averaged over 19,000 this season.

Through their eight years in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup,  Latics now have a legacy that will keep them in good stead for years to come. Their success has helped dispel that old myth that Wigan is a rugby town.

Latics might not ever win the FA Cup again, but it will be remembered in Wigan for generations to come. I only wish I could have been there with Trevor to revel in the emotions of the celebrations.

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An entertaining goodbye

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

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Wigan Athletic said goodbye to the Premier League through an entertaining 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. Latics’ display had the hallmarks of what we have seen so often this season – bouts of champagne football interspersed with mediocre defending.

The £24 miliion Darren Bent had opened the scoring in the 5th minute, breezing past Paul Scharner before shooting in off the post. Wigan equalized in the 20th minute through a superb header from Emmerson Boyce from an excellent cross by Roger Espinoza. They went in leading at half time following an unlucky own goal by Nathan Baker.

Wigan had recalled Ali Al Habsi in goal. Roman Golobart replaced Antolin Alcaraz, with Ben Watson starting in place of Callum McManaman. The big Paraguayan was missed in a central defence that did not convince. Tactically Wigan played a mélange of what we have seen in recent weeks, with Watson flitting between midfield and centre of defence  and James McArthur playing on the right of midfield.

Aston Villa were unrecognisable from the shaky team we had seen at Villa Park in December when Latics had beaten them 3-0. This team played an attacking game with three forwards and showed no mean level of skill in the process. It did not come as a complete surprise when Ron Vlaar’s hooked shot somehow found its way past Ali Al Habsi after 60 minutes.

Driven on by Shaun Maloney’s creativity, Wigan came close on several occasions in the second half, including a superb volley from James McArthur that hit the crossbar in the 79th minute. But in the end a draw was a fair result.

The Good

Wigan played some excellent football and were unlucky not to have scored more goals. One hopes that they will continue to play this brand of football against rugged Championship teams next year.

It was heartening to see Ali Al Habsi much more dominant in his area. The  Omani has had a difficult season and it is going to take him a while to regain his confidence fully. This was a step in the right direction.

At last Fraser Fyvie was given his Premier League debut, coming on after 69 minutes for Ben Watson. The 20 year old Scot could prove to be a key player next year. The exciting young wing back Eduard Campabadal also made a debut, substituting for Emmerson Boyce in the closing minutes.

It was surprising to see Angelo Henriquez brought on as a subsititute in preference to the more senior Franco Di Santo. One wonders if Wigan are looking at a permanent deal for the young Chilean, currently on loan from Manchester United.

Jordan Mustoe and Daniel Redmond were also on a youthful-looking bench,

The Bad

Once again injuries forced Martinez into fielding  a new central defensive partnership – this time it was Paul Scharner and Roman Golobart. Not surprisingly there was a lack of cohesion between the two.

The centre of defence has been a real problem for Latics this season. The long term hip problem of  Gary Caldwell has had a major impact. Brave as he is – he recently stated that he had not been able to train properly for 6 months  – Caldwell still started in 25 games, but was a shadow of that dominant captain who would marshall the defence. The loss of the excellent Ivan Ramis in January, on top of the long term injury at the time of Antolin Alcaraz, was another blow to Latics’ defensive cohesion.

Injuries apart, it is the centre of defence that has been the weak point of all Roberto Martinez’ teams at Wigan. Ideally there would be an established duo – or trio depending on tactical preferences – in central defence that would develop a mutual understanding through playing together on a regular basis. There is a need for both height and pace in the middle. Is there also a need for a defensive coach?

Player Ratings

Ali Al Habsi: 6 – returning back to form.

Emmerson Boyce: 8 – excellent throughout. Took his goal superbly and almost scored another in the second half.

Roman Golobart: 6 – a  work in progress.

Paul Scharner: 6 – had some good moments, but some bad ones too.

Roger Espinoza: 7 – starting to look comfortable in the Beausejour role. As always, full of energy and put in some great crosses.

Ben Watson: 7 – growing in that midfield anchor/central defence shielding role. Substituted after 69 minutes.

James McArthur: 7 – worked hard. Never ceases to surprise with the quality of his efforts on goal. He has scored some crackers for Latics in the past and his sublime volley 10 minutes from the end could have won the game for his team.

James McCarthy: 7.5 – played a little further forward. He is a class act and will almost certainly be snapped up by a big club this summer. A transfer fee in excess of £15 million would not be unreasonable for  a player with  all round ability and a good temperament.

Shaun Maloney: 8 – a typical performance,  full of running and guile. Deservedly voted ‘Player of the Season’.

Jordi Gomez: 6 – ineffective playing wide on the right. Substituted after 69 minutes.

Arouna Kone: 6 – finishing not sharp enough.

Substitutes

Fraser Fyvie: – came on for Watson after 69 minutes. Has the ability to become a top player.

Angelo Henriquez: on for Gomez after 69 minutes for a rare appearance.

Eduard Campabadal – made his debut after 88 minutes. Could make a major impact next year.

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Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa Preview

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

wigan

It was billed as the grand finale to a topsy turvy season for Wigan Athletic.  The home match with fellow strugglers, Aston Villa, was to be crucial in determining Latics’ future in the Premier League. But sometimes things just don’t work out as you hope they will.

Wigan Athletic go into their last match at the end of  a remarkable eight year stay in the Premier League. They come out of it stronger than when they went in. Latics now have a strong identity, a sound infrastructure and a much increased fan base. The wonderful cup final victory has gained them millions of admirers all over the world, not just through the result, but by the style with which they played.

The encounter with Aston Villa allows the opportunity for fans to celebrate those eight years and to savour the incredible achievement of winning the FA Cup. The match also gives Roberto Martinez the opportunity to blood young players outside the pressure-cooker atmosphere that has prevented him doing so in these past years of fighting relegation.

Despite looking a poor side for most of the season,  Villa have maintained their Premier League status through an end of season rally. Much of that upturn in results  was down to  goals from the striking partnership of Gabriel Agbonlahor and big Belgian striker, Christian Benteke, who has netted a remarkable 19 goals in his first season in England’s top league. Moreover Agbonlahor’s pace has often proved a thorn in the side for Wigan – he has scored 5 goals against them in previous encounters.

Benteke will not be lining up at the DW Stadium on Sunday due to a red card received in the home loss to Chelsea. However, Villa do have Darren Bent ready to step in. Bent has been frozen out by Paul Lambert, making only seven starts all season, scoring two goals.

Like Wigan Athletic, Aston Villa are making every effort to keep a balanced budget and it looks like Bent – who reportedly earns £65,000 a week – could be playing his last match for the club. Villa’s problem is that he still has a couple of years left on his contract. Other high wage earners, Stephen Ireland and Shay Given, also remain under contract and will be difficult to budge.

Aston Villa have a fine record at the DW Stadium having won four matches and  drawn two over the previous six seasons. Latics will be keen to break this pattern.

The pressure is off for both teams in Sunday’s encounter. It promises to be a good match, with either team capable of winning.  Reports suggest that Jean Beausejour will make a welcome return from a hamstring injury and that Adrian Lopez has a chance of making the game after an injury plagued season. Lopez could well become an important player in the Championship next year and Martinez might be tempted to give him a run out.

It is conceivable that up to a half of the players who play for Wigan Athletic on Sunday will not be with the club next season.  In terms of team selection Martinez faces the dilemma of whether to stick with the nucleus of his cup  winning team or to look to the future. The match provides a great opportunity to give youth a chance.

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Latics go global

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Other and tagged with
Martinez

Photo courtesy of Nathan Peters

Last summer  Indonesia played a friendly against  Inter Milan in the Senayan Stadium in the centre of the city.  One expected to see the red and white colours of Indonesia in that ground that holds 65,000 people, but probably around 70% of the crowd wore the blue and black replica shirts of Internazionale. They had not traveled from Milan, but had traversed through the horrendous traffic of this huge city, wearing shirts that they had in their wardrobes.

Inter shirts are popular here and so are those of arch rivals AC Milan. However, the most common are those of Barcelona and the English giants – Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.  Wigan Athletic shirts are not yet apparent on the Jakarta streets, but might well make an appearance soon.

The Daily Express claims that 500 million people  watched the FA Cup Final, with over 100 countries having television rights to the match. You can add to that a few more million who watched the match through p2p channels on the internet.

Whelan

Great photo from Nathan Peters. Who could have deserved this more than Dave Whelan?

Yesterday there was big buzz here. Latics’ win captured the imagination of the Indonesians, who are fascinated by the concept of a club the size of Wigan Athletic winning the FA Cup. They want to know more about the club and its history.  In a country of 260 million people you will have a lot of followers even if only a small proportion of them decide to join your side.

When I took my wife out yesterday to one of those giant air-conditioned shopping centres they have here I wore a Latics shirt. As soon as I walked in my shirt was the focus of attraction. Wigan Athletic are now famous, even in a city more than 7,000 miles away from Wigan.

threeamigos

The Three Amigos at Wembley

I wish I could have been at Wembley on Saturday, but it was just not possible, with an impending move to another country coming up. However, the Amigos were represented –  my son and fellow writer Ned and his wife Kathleen flying across the Atlantic to watch it. They were joined by a third amigo in son-in-law,  Nate, who grew up on American football in Iowa, but has become a Latic fanatic.

Yesterday’s  Premier League results were like a dousing of cold water for Wigan Athletic fans. Latics now need to win at Arsenal on Tuesday and at home to Aston Villa to stay up. They were never easy games in the first place, but making Wigan play at the Emirates only three days after a cup final is just not fair. The odds have always been stacked against Latics, but the club is resilient and keeps bouncing back.

Whatever happens in the two league games it cannot detract from a wonderful cup final win. If anything has helped the image of the club it is the style in which the Wigan selection overcame a star-studded Manchester City team.

They have won admiration from all over the world, perhaps even among the most fickle of football people in their own country.

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A dream come true – Wigan win the FA Cup!

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

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The greatest performance in Wigan Athletic’s history saw an incredible victory through substitute Ben Watson’s 91st minute header.  This was no fluke – Wigan played the better football and were deserved winners.

Just over three weeks ago Latics had gone to Eastlands and had been the better team. That day the result went against them. Today they got what they deserved and left Manchester City shell-shocked.

Latics had been buoyed by the return of the excellent Antolin Alcaraz, joining Emmerson Boyce and Paul Scharner in the centre of defence. The end result was real solidity at the back – enough to keep out City’s talented forwards.

Roberto Martinez pulled off  a tactical master stroke by fielding James McArthur at right wing back.  He was a revelation. On the other side Roger Espinoza played with enthusiasm and no little level of skill, given the protection of the back three behind him.

Many Latics supporters had expected Martinez to bring back Ali Al Habsi, but he stuck with Joel Robles, who saved the game for his team with crucial interventions.

Wigan played controlled, skillful football throughout and once again made City look ordinary. Gael Clichy had an horrendous time coping with the pace and directness of Callum McManaman and Arouna Kone gave the City central defence a torrid time. James McCarthy and Jordi Gomez worked hard in midfield and Shaun Maloney showed what a high class player he is in the creative midfield role.

Given the sheer bad luck Latics have faced in the closing minutes against top teams, one was dreading a last minute goal from City. The turning point came when Pablo Zabalata was sent off after 84 minutes following a foul on McManaman, his second yellow card in the match. The tide had turned and one started to see the game going into extra time, with City’s ten men starting to look ragged. Watson spared Wigan the extra minutes with a well taken, opportunist header.

A wonderful win  that brought tears to the eyes.

Few would have believed that this dream would come true – except maybe Roberto Martinez!

The Good

Huge credit for this victory must go to manager, Roberto Martinez. He out-thought the highly experienced and successful Roberto Mancini. Wigan played to their  strengths and did not allow Manchester City to play to theirs.  Martinez’s tactics were spot-on.

Martinez refused to panic, given the horrendous injury situation he faced. He had the foresight to put two central midfielders into the wing back positions and it came off. He was to make what turned out to be probably the most inspired substitution of his career, bringing on match winner Ben Watson after 81 minutes.

Latics played without fear, despite the star-studded lineup Manchester City put out. Once again great credit to the manager for motivating his players, following the horrendous midweek defeat to Swansea.

Player Ratings

Joel Robles: 9 — An outstanding display from the young Spanish keeper, making several superb saves. His last ditch save from Carlos Tevez in the first half was crucial.

Emmerson Boyce: 8.5 — The admirable captain’s best performance in a central defensive position.

Antolin Alcaraz: 8.5 — His return made a huge difference to the defence. An excellent performance.

Paul Scharner: 8.5 — His best ever match for Wigan in the centre of defence. Showed great technique and concentration.

James McArthur: 8 —Did a great job in adapting to the wing back position. Full of heart and determination, with no mean level of skill.

Roger Espinoza: 8 — Full of running and enthusiasm. A key player for the future.

James McCarthy: 9 — Excellent as always. Bossed the midfield.

Jordi Gomez: 8 – Worked hard and covered a lot of ground. Substituted after 81 minutes.

Shaun Maloney: 8.5 – Once again looked a class act. Constantly probed the City defence looking for openings.

Callum McManaman: 9.5 – Maturing into a very fine player. Full of confidence and his direct running was a constant headache for Clichy and the City defence.

Arouna Kone: 8.5 – A high class centre forward: strong, fast, intelligent. Played a key role.

Substitutes:

Ben Watson: — Not long returned from a broken leg and scored the winner at a Cup Final. That will be something he will remember for the rest of his life.

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