Category Archives: Other

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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The backlash against Coyle

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

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Why has there been such an angry backlash from Wigan Athletic supporters on Owen Coyle’s appointment?

Well, it seemed to take an eternity for Roberto Martinez to finally go and the recruitment process to begin. Things seemed to be perking up when we heard about a quality field of applicants for the position. Our hopes were building up. But there was a warning sign when Dave Whelan said that he was focusing on managers currently out of work. That cut out some more exciting possibilities and narrowed down the field.

Then the announcement came through that the ex-Bolton man had been appointed. That was when so many supporters hit the roof. Why such a reaction?

Do  people simply not believe that he is the man to get Wigan Athletic back into the Premier League? Or is the impression that Whelan was trying to do things on the cheap? Or is it that Coyle worked up the road in Horwich for three years until he left Wanderers last October?

I had been pondering over this for  days now. My initial gut reaction to Coyle’s appointment was not positive, but when I saw what was being said on the social and electronic media it was quite shocking. Logic told me that Coyle had done a wonderful job in bringing a Burnley squad up from the Championship on a low budget. Moreover they were a joy to watch and would have surely stayed in the Premier League had Coyle not jumped ship half way through the season. Surely he can do it again at Wigan.

“I have tried to stay away from managers who are in work at the moment because there is a fee involved with those.”

That quote from Whelan prior to Coyle’s appointment did nothing to relieve the anxiety of Latics fans who had been swept into a whirlpool of emotion over these past weeks. The ecstasy of winning the FA Cup was combined with that sinking feeling of dropping down a division, with so many players out of contract. The ‘will he-won’t he’ of Martinez’s move to Everton dragging on followed by the harsh realization of his departure.

The media have provided enough ammunition for fans to believe that Whelan really was doing things on the cheap. Reports say that Coyle has been appointed on a one year rolling contract, with a bonus if the club gets promotion. The cynics are saying that Whelan did not want to pay the kind of salary Steve McClaren would demand. It fits in with his penny pinching over compensation payments for managers already under contract.

There was frustration building up among supporters for all these reasons.

HPIM4238Yesterday my wife and I were discussing the traditional rivalry between Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers. She reminded me of a trip we took to the Malaysian island of Langkawi last year. We had just checked into our hotel in that tropical paradise, taking a walk through the neighbourhood. We had only been walking for a couple of minutes when I saw it. A bar with ‘Bolton Wanderers’ plastered all over it – a truly incongruous sight in south east Asia. My wife reminded me that I refused to go there for a drink, even if though it was so conveniently close to the hotel. What was my problem with Bolton Wanderers?

So was it that Coyle was at Bolton that rankled with myself  and fellow Latics supporters? Wigan and Bolton are neighbouring Lancashire towns with a similar way of life. Growing up in Wigan I was never aware of any enmity between the two towns or their populations. Mind you in those days Latics were a non-league team while Bolton in the higher divisions of the Football League.

I first went to watch a Bolton game in 1976, albeit inadvertently. My father and I had taken a football bus to watch Latics play in the Manchester area, against Altrrincham I think. As we were nearing the ground we were told that match had been postponed. The driver asked the people on the coach if they would prefer to go back to Wigan or to go to watch a match somewhere else. We ended up watching a Second Division match between Bolton and Charlton.

It was pretty grim in the rain at the aged Burnden Park. Ian Greaves’ Bolton side had a couple of rugged central defenders in Paul Jones and Sam Allardyce, with a skilful young midfield player in Peter Reid. It was not only the weather that was grim – the football was too – the long ball being the order of the day. It was typical that the game be settled by a header from Jones, after he and his corpulent central defensive partner had gone up for a set piece.

How ironic that Allardyce should go back to Bolton as manager, 23 years later, and promulgate that same style of football, if not worse . A “Bolton goal” was to become a common expression for football commentators and journalists. To be fair, Allardyce was shrewd in bringing in quality players who were a little bit past their best, but were very influential. He was to lead his club to eight years of unprecedented success with his ugly football.

Under Roberto Martinez,  Wigan Athletic reached the heights and plummeted to the depths. However, his legacy will remain one of good football. That is not something that can be said about Bolton.

Owen Coyle tried to improve their style, but his hands were tied with the players he had inherited. Like Martinez in his last season at Wigan, Coyle had some terrible luck at Bolton. Injuries to key players at crucial times, plus that terrible situation with Fabrice Muamba. There is a fine line between success and failure that often depends on getting the rub of the green and keeping key players fit.

Owen Coyle is a charismatic, intelligent manager who believes in attacking football. He can do a great job at Wigan Athletic.  He is much more suited to taking over at Wigan with the Martinez legacy, than he was at Bolton trying to change the style at a club that had been playing ugly for so long.

At Wigan we have grown accustomed to good football, even if the results have not always reflected the quality of the football. I suppose my frustration with Bolton over these years has not been the club itself, but the manner in which its teams have performed. My mistake was to mentally label Coyle with Bolton. For him it was guilt by association, rather than by action.

Once the emotions die down Wigan Athletic fans might well get to appreciate Owen Coyle. He could be an inspired appointment.

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It’s Coyle or McClaren for Wigan

Posted by JJ (Tony) in News, Other and tagged with , ,
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Coyle or McClaren to replace Martinez? The two main candidates are as different as chalk and cheese.

“I have tried to stay away from managers who are in work at the moment because there is a fee involved with those.”

So said Dave Whelan, according to a report from a national newspaper on Wednesday.

It seemed a strange thing to say, but maybe the comment was taken out of context.

True that having to haggle with another club about compensation could delay the appointment of a manager. True that haste is a necessity with Wigan needing to get things moving again, with so many players leaving the club. But then again, is Whelan seriously baulking at paying maybe a couple of million to get the right man?

If this is the case it rules out young, exciting prospects such as Karl Robinson and Gus Poyet, together with alternative candidates like Rene Meulensteen if he remains under contract. Given reports saying that Whelan will be naming the manager before the end of the week, the field now seems to have to narrowed down considerably.

It is probably for such reasons that the bookmakers currently rank Owen Coyle and Steve McClaren as the prime candidates. Both are experienced managers who can do a good job, given the right resources and the backing of the chairman. However, like any other experienced football manager, each has has ups and downs in his career.

Appointing an ex-Bolton manager, known for his “uber confidence”, might not go down well with some Latics supporters. Owen Coyle was released by Bolton in October 2012, after a roller-coaster ride with them. He had joined Bolton in controversial circumstances, leaving Burnley mid-way through the 2009-2010 season.

After doing a good job at St Johnstone, helping them reach the Scottish Cup final, Coyle had taken Burnley back into the Premier League. Burnley were playing some exciting football and it looked as though they would finish around mid-table. Sadly Coyle’s untimely exit led them to be relegated that same season.

When Coyle arrived at Bolton in January 2010 they were in relegation trouble, but he managed to get them into 14th place by the end of the season. The 2010-2011 season saw Bolton rise up the Premier League, seemingly challenging for a Europa League place in the early  months. It was even said that his team were playing good football, despite the legacy of the previous regimes of such as Sam Allardyce and Gary Megson. However, there were those who could provide statistics to suggest that this was not the case.

Ironically it was Coyle’s success in helping his club reach the FA Cup semi final that was to lead to his eventual demise at the club. After losing 5-0 to Stoke at Wembley in April 2011 results took a steep downturn, Bolton once again finishing in 14th place, despite their early season promise. The poor form continued in the 2011-12 season, leading to them being relegated. It had been a very difficult time for the club, with Fabrice Muamba suffering a heart attack during a match in March 2012.

Despite relegation, Coyle continued as manager until October 2012. Around the time of his departure from Bolton a Guardian article, relating to Coyle’s tenure there,  quoted a fan as saying “(His)signings haven’t worked out, some of his team selections are hard to understand and he often sends out sides that are set up to attack rather than stop the opposition playing, but if you had to name one principal failing it is that he doesn’t appear to know how to set up a defence or stop leaking goals.”

While Owen Coyle might be regarded as a manager who espouses attacking football, Steve McClaren’s approach has tended to be more conservative, based on solid defence. After being Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford for two years, McClaren did a wonderful job as Middlesbrough manager from 2001-2006, winning the League Cup, reaching the UEFA Cup final and two FA Cup semi finals.

Despite his considerable success at the north east club, McClaren was never well loved there. A WSC article from September 2006 entitled  “The anonymous man” provides a fascinating insight into the connection between the man, the club and its supporters.

McClaren took over as England manager in August 2006. It turned out to be a poisoned chalice. He was mercilessly attacked by the public and the media after poor England performances, including the failure to qualify for Euro 2008. He lasted 16 months in the position.

McClaren took over as manager ofl Dutch club FC Twente in June 2008. FC Twente was based in Entschede, a town of around 150,000 in population. They had never won the Dutch league since their formation in 1965. In his first season they finished second in the Eredivisie and progressed to the latter rounds of the UEFA Cup. In the following 2009-2010 season they won 16 of their 17 home games and lost only two away. They were to win the Eredivisie, finishing a point ahead of Dutch giants, Ajax Amsterdam.

McClaren then went on to brief spells at Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest before returning to Twente in January 2012. However, despite a good start things did not work out as well second time around and McClaren left in February 2013.

Both Owen Coyle and Steve McClaren are experienced and accomplished managers. Their approaches are contrasting.

Following four years of shaky defences under Roberto Martinez, Dave Whelan might look towards McClaren to provide the kind of defensive stability required to get Latics out of the Championship Division. On the other hand he might stick his neck out and go for the more effervescent Coyle.

Coyle and McClaren are as different as chalk and cheese, not just in personality but in footballing terms.

Only time will tell if Whelan makes the right decision in finding the right kind of personality and football manager to guide Wigan Athletic back into the Premier League.

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The next Latics manager

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


The latest bookmakers’odds for the vacant Wigan Athletic manager position put Karl Robinson and Gus Poyet neck to neck. One never knows how much inside information the bookmakers can get their hands on, but you can bet your bottom dollar they have something to go on.

When I first heard of Robinson’s candidacy I was skeptical. A non-league journeyman who took over at MK Dons. But the more I hear about him, the more impressed I am. In  terms of coaching qualifications few in England can match him. His teams are renowned for their good football. The appointment of a 32 year old Liverpudlian might go down well with Latics supporters.

For me, Gus Poyet is an outstanding candidate. He only came to the Premier League in his latter years as a player after having great success as a midfield goalscorer  over seven years for Real Zaragoza. He was to go on and become a top player for both Chelsea and Tottenham in his late twenties, early thirties.

The Uruguayan lacks the sublime PR skills of Roberto Martinez, but in so many ways would appear to be his natural successor. His Brighton team played “Latics-like” football last year. My great old university friend, Tim Attree, a Brighton fanatic, first talked about with me about Poyet coming to Wigan a year ago, when Martinez  was courting Liverpool.  He told me how much Poyet had transformed Brighton and how he loved the football they played. He is devastated that Poyet might leave.

Poyet lead his team to the League 1 title, then to the mid table in the Championship, then to the  play-offs.

During the past four years Roberto Martinez insisted on a level of football that many other  clubs in the Premier League made no effort to strive for. The culmination was a wonderful FA Cup Final win, against the odds, but without negative tactics, playing stylish  football.

Steve Bruce has been mentioned as a possible contender for the position. In his first two spells at the club he did a great job. His football was pragmatic, not pretty to watch,  but was the order of the day.

The prospect of someone like Robinson or Poyet coming to Wigan and continuing where Martinez left off is mouth-watering.

Whatever his faults, Martinez left a legacy of good football at Wigan. It is something to be built upon, rather than destroyed for the sake of expediency.

Both Robinson and Poyet represent the opportunity for Martinez’s wonderful football legacy to continue.

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