Category Archives: Player profiles

Looking for a Goalscoring Striker? Try Adam Moseley

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Player profiles and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,
Courtesy of therealefl.co.uk

It is Wigan Athletic’s worst start for 32 years. Latics lie at the bottom of League One after successive defeats in their first three games, and the alarm bells are already ringing. There is talk of relegation and, once again, the club is being criticised for not investing a significant sum to bring in a proven goalscorer over the summer. The question being asked by supporters is an obvious one: where are the goals going to come from?

The defeat at Wimbledon on Sunday was the most frustrating of the three. The losses at Cambridge and at home to Leyton Orient, goals were conceded through a combination of defensive errors and an inability to deal with pressure. Yet, despite conceding seven goals in three games, it is not the defence that seems to worry many supporters most. Latics would have won the Wimbledon game if they had not squandered so many scoring opportunities.

Up to this point there has been no settled defensive line-up. Individual mistakes in the back three have proved costly and, as a unit, they have not yet looked particularly comfortable. However, there is still a feeling that the defensive problems can be overcome as the new players settle in and the back three develop an understanding.

The arrival of centre-back Finley Burns from Manchester City has certainly been welcomed. At 23, he brings a sense of calm to the defence, is thoughtful in his passing and uses his 6ft 5in frame to good effect when dealing with the high balls that often rain into the penalty area in the third tier of English football. Having already made 69 League One appearances during spells with Stevenage and Reading, he looks, on paper at least, a very good signing at this level.

Despite his injury niggles, James Carragher remains a top defender at this level, while it appears that the experienced Morgan Fox could be moving on before the transfer window closes. Latics already have Llyton Chapman, who did well in the nine league games he played during the second half of last season, while Jeremiah Chilokoah-Mullen arrived as a free agent from Dunfermline after making 43 appearances for them last season. Jon Mellish has also returned following his year-long loan at Milton Keynes Dons, where he played 34 games. He has been used at left centre-back so far, although he is likely to become more of a utility player as the season progresses.

There are therefore reasons to believe that the defensive situation will improve. New players need time to settle, defenders need an understanding of each other’s game and, perhaps most importantly, there is plenty of the season still to play.

But where are the goals going to come from?

Gary Caldwell continues to insist that goals are not the sole responsibility of centre-forwards or central strikers and that everybody in the team needs to contribute. There is a rationale to that argument. Modern football is increasingly about goals coming from all areas of the pitch. But supporters will remember the dramatic turnaround last season when a player with a proven goalscoring record was brought in during January.

Ryan Lowe had brought in Dara Costelloe, Paul Mullin and Christian Saydee over the summer, while Maleace Asamoah was already at the club. Costelloe had scored regularly for Burnley’s academy before loan spells at Bradford City, St Johnstone and Dundee, although his record at those clubs was just one goal in 39 appearances. He then improved his return considerably at Accrington, scoring five in 17, and Mansfield, where he scored six in 15.

Unfortunately, his first season at Wigan produced only three goals from 25 starts and 16 substitute appearances. Asamoah, Mullin and Saydee contributed just seven goals between them. When Mullin’s loan from Wrexham was terminated in January, Wigan brought in Joe Taylor on loan, and his 11 goals helped lift Latics out of the relegation zone.

That is why the current situation is under some scrutiny.

Over the summer Caldwell signed Sonny Perkins, 22, for a small fee from Leyton Orient. Perkins had been a regular goalscorer for England’s junior teams during his time with Leyton Orient and West Ham, but those goals have become increasingly difficult to find as his senior career has progressed.

A look at the current forwards’ career EFL league records gives some cause for concern:

Player Appearances   Goals
Dara Costelloe      68     14
Sonny Perkins    48       5
Christian Saydee    161      14
Chris Sze    13       1

This is not to say they are bad players, and it is certainly not an argument for writing any of them off. Perkins, in particular, has a pedigree that suggests there could be considerably more to come. He came through the West Ham academy, moved to Leeds and represented England at U16, U18 and U19 level. You do not achieve that without having considerable ability.

But potential is one thing. At some point it has to translate into production, and for an attacking player the obvious currency is goals.

Which brings us to Adam Moseley.

Moseley came through at Runcorn Linnets, and football runs in the family. His father, Mike, was himself a striker who played for Runcorn AFC before going on to enjoy a productive spell at Witton Albion. Adam followed a similar route, coming through Runcorn’s youth system before progressing into senior football.

He had already developed a reputation for scoring goals before Latics came calling. During his time with the Education &  Semi Professional Football Academy he won the North Division Golden Boot twice, scoring 23 goals in his first season and 30 in his second, before progressing into Runcorn Linnets’ first team.

Wigan took notice when Moseley joined the U21s as a trialist early last season. He did not waste the opportunity, scoring 17 goals in his first 13 appearances. That was enough to persuade the club to sign him permanently in January.

The goals continued to come, and by the end of the season Moseley had scored 27 goals in 30 appearances for Latics’ U21s.

It would be wrong to suggest that 27 goals in 30 games automatically makes Moseley a future 20-goal League One striker. The step up is enormous. League One defenders are stronger, more experienced and far less likely to give a young striker the time and space he may have enjoyed at development level.

Moseley might not be ready. He might struggle with the physical demands. He might need another season to develop. All of those things are possible.But how are we going to know unless he is given the opportunity?

There was already an indication that Wigan saw something in him before Gary Caldwell took over. Ryan Lowe included Moseley in the first-team squad for the FA Cup third-round trip to Preston North End. Wearing the No. 46 shirt, he travelled with the senior side for the 1-0 victory at Deepdale.

He didn’t get on the pitch, but it was significant nonetheless. Lowe had decided that the young striker was worth bringing into the senior environment.

Then Caldwell took over.

Despite Moseley continuing to score heavily for the U21s, the first-team appearance never came. I am not suggesting Caldwell should have started him, nor that a young striker with no senior experience should suddenly have been expected to solve Wigan’s goalscoring problems. But surely there was an opportunity somewhere towards the end of last season to give him 15 or 20 minutes and see how he coped.

Moseley did get a start this season in the EFL Trophy against Aston Villa U21s, playing at centre-forward. It was not an especially eye-catching performance, although he was credited with a goal when a defender’s clearance rebounded off him. Interestingly, he made little attempt to celebrate the goal, which perhaps said more about the nature of it than anything else.

The important point is that Latics clearly see something in Moseley. They watched him as a trialist, saw him score 17 goals in 13 appearances, signed him permanently, watched him finish the season with 27 goals in 30 appearances and then decided he was worth keeping.

In June the club gave him a new contract, with the deal running until June 2027. Moseley was clearly pleased to stay and was quoted by the club as saying:

“I’m really pleased to have signed a new contract with the Club. It’s a place that I have enjoyed my football since joining last season, and now it’s time to develop further over the next year.

“Committing my future here was an easy decision for me – I’ve enjoyed every minute, and I’m grateful for the trust the Club has shown in me. I’m looking forward to what the future holds.”

Maybe Caldwell thinks he isn’t ready. That is perfectly reasonable. The manager sees him every day in training and knows far more about his physical development, his strengths and weaknesses than we do. There may be very good reasons why Moseley hasn’t yet been considered ready for League One.

One obvious question is whether he has fully made the transition from part-time football to the demands of full-time professional football. That alone could explain why Caldwell has been cautious. But it doesn’t change the fundamental point: the one thing we still don’t know is whether Moseley can score goals against League One defenders.

The club’s financial situation means that Latics have a limited budget. If you do not have the money for the finished article, you have to be prepared to develop your own. That doesn’t mean automatically promoting every youngster who scores goals at academy level. It means recognising when somebody is producing numbers that are difficult to ignore and being prepared to take a calculated gamble.

Moseley’s numbers are certainly difficult to ignore. Seventeen goals in 13 appearances as a Wigan trialist and 27 in 30 for the U21s is a remarkable record. Meanwhile, the established forwards have the senior experience, but their career EFL goalscoring figures hardly suggest that goals are guaranteed.

Nobody knows whether the 21 year-old Adam Moseley could be the answer. Perhaps Costelloe will finally click. Perhaps Perkins will fulfil the potential that took him into the England youth set-up. Perhaps Sze will prove that the faith shown in him with a new contract was justified.

Despite his indifferent performances Caldwell has shown faith in Perkins up to this point, starting each game in the centre forward position. He scored a goal from a rebound at Cambridge, but other than that has been unconvincing. Having given the player a two-year contract Caldwell has to give him the backing to succeed. However, if there is no improvement over the coming weeks and the team has not climbed up the table. Caldwell will need to take action.

Caldwell has also kept faith in Costelloe, despite his woeful scoring ratio last season. The player has looked better playing wide with Perkins in the middle. He works hard and shows glimpses of skill and vision. However, his finishing is well short of the level it should be.

If the goals don’t come, there will be a need to make changes in the strike force. Sze continues to show glimpses of quality, but struggles to impose himself on the game.

Adam Moseley has spent the last year doing the one thing Latics desperately need somebody to do: scoring goals. He has done it at every stage of his development, and they have clearly seen enough to keep him at the club.

Maybe he isn’t ready. Maybe he isn’t the answer. But after 27 goals in 30 games, he has surely earned the right to show whether he can make the step up.Give him some minutes. Let him experience the physicality of League One. Let him find out what he needs to improve, and let us find out whether those U21 goals were a sign of something more.

Because when you don’t have the money to buy the finished article, sometimes you have to take a chance on the unfinished one. With Wigan’s current strikers struggling to find the net and the club once again working within financial constraints, surely it is getting close to the time to find out what Adam Moseley can do.

After all, if you’re looking for a goalscoring striker and you don’t have the money to buy one, perhaps the first place to look is the one you’ve already got.

Matt Smith’s Return: Boosting Wigan Athletic’s Midfield Options

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

Photo courtesy of Wigan Athletic

Matt Smith was a key player in Shaun Maloney’s tenure as Wigan Athletic manager. If any player was almost irreplaceable in the Latics legend’s system, it was he. Maloney favoured a brand of possession football where moves are patiently built up from the back. Smith played the role of pivot in front of the central defenders, providing both extra defensive stability and creativity going forward. His serious hamstring injury near the end of December was a hammer blow to a manager who was struggling to impose his style of play on a young squad.

The Maloney era was one which helped stabilise a club that had come so close to going out of existence. The Scot had to operate on a much-reduced budget than his predecessors and aim towards making the club sustainable though the development of young players. Sadly, he is largely remembered for lacklustre home displays last season that provided scant entertainment for the fans. However, there were moments in his two-year spell where it looked like the manager’s vision might eventually come to fruition. Matt Smith was the catalyst who enabled those glimpses of skilful, flowing football.

Smith is still only 24 years old. An ex-Arsenal youth and under-21 team captain, he spent loan spells at Charlton, Swindon and Doncaster before Maloney signed him on a free transfer in July 2023. Although Maloney used him solely in the pivot role, he had shown himself to be an all-round midfielder in his Gunners days where he notched 7 goals and 22 assists in 94 appearances for the Gunners age group teams  His attacking skills were also prominent in his stay at Doncaster.

In last night’s League Cup victory over Stockport County, he was employed in the #6 role in front of the defence, Baba Adeeko and Tobias Brenan playing further forward as #8s. However, Tyrese Francois has looked comfortable this season in the #6 role, which is also Adeeko’s best position. It leaves Ryan Lowe with options on how to utilise his midfielders. Both Smith and Francois have the skills necessary to play the #8 position. Adeeko’s strength lies in his ability to close down the opposition and protect the defence. Creativity is not his forte.

The return of Matt Smith was a welcome sight last night. Latics fans have not seen enough of him in his two years at the club.  A groin injury in his first season and hamstring injury in his second meant that he has was available for selection for only half the time he has been at the club. Providing he can stay fit he can play a major role in Ryan Lowe’s plans.  

A breakout season for Thelo Aasgaard?

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

“I thought Thelo’s performance in the second half against Charlton was as good as he’s produced since I’ve been here…I still think there’s a lot more he can do, but he’s doing okay.”

Shaun Maloney’s comment hit the nail on the head. His appraisal of Thelo Aasgaard was fair. Although the Norwegian did not have a great game against Charlton he was certainly one of the better performers that day. But one gets the feeling watching him that there he is playing below his capabilities.

Aasgaard made his league debut for Latics as an 18 -year-old in October 2020, coming on as an 88th minute substitute in a 0-1 home loss to Peterborough United. It was a bleak time to make a first appearance, with the club reeling from being under administration and the Covid pandemic causing football matches to be played behind closed doors. However, it provided opportunities for some of the club’s academy players with the club being cash-strapped, unable to bring in many experienced pros. Aasgaard went on to make 13 League 1 starts that season, with 20 appearances off the bench.

The following season he made just one league start, coming on as a substitute 4 times, in Leam Richardson’s League 1 title winning side. Last season saw the player making his largest number of appearances with 12 starts and 19 substitute experiences in the Championship.

Stats courtesy of Soccerway.com

In terms of playing time, it could be argued that Aasgaard has had more than enough to more consistently reveal his impressive range of talents. Click here to see his goalscoring prowess. He has been played in a variety of positions, although predominantly wide on the left. Although he has the attributes as a midfield playmaker he has rarely been employed in that position and when he has played there he has not over-impressed.

Together with Charlie Hughes, Aasgaard stands out as a player who has the capability to play at a much higher level. Although only 20 the former has already established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, seeming destined to become a Premier League player. But some players mature earlier than others.

In the last three games Aasgaard has played the full 90 minutes-plus, scoring two goals. He has thrived in the role of playing in a mobile, interchanging front three. Maloney clearly has faith in the player and has given him the opportunity to play in a run of games that he has rarely been afforded in the past. Aasgaaard’s skills blend well with those of Martial Godo and Stephen Humphrys in a pacy and stylish front three.

Will this be Thelo Aasgaard’s breakout season?

Click here to see our previous article “Finding the right place for Thelo Aasgaard“

Where will Wigan Athletic be in the table when Matt Smith returns to action?

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Player profiles, Specials and tagged with , , ,
Matt Smith: a key player in “Maloneyball” (photo courtesy of Wigan Athtletic)

“We’ve pushed really hard to get him and he’s very important to how we are looking to play this year”

It was Shaun Maloney commenting on signing Matt Smith on a free transfer from Arsenal. 

The 23-year-old Smith was hardly a “marquee signing”, having spent the past three seasons on loan at Swindon, Charlton and Doncaster. But he had been at Arsenal since he was seven and was steeped in the footballing style of the north London club. Why is Smith so important to the way Maloney wants his team to play this season?

Wigan Athletic’s early season form was a revelation. It was characterised by a possession-based style of football diametrically opposed to the long-ball approach that had been the norm over the past five years at the club. In true “Maloneyball” players get lots of touches of the ball, being required to create space for themselves in order to receive it. It is a purposeful style of football, based upon opening up the opposition, rather than merely retaining possession for possession’s sake.

Matt Smith played a pivotal role in excellent team performances in August. He constantly made himself available in tight situations, to receive the ball from defenders, rarely wasting a pass. Latics gained 10 points from their first four games in League 1, including wins at Bolton and Derby, both among the bookmakers’ favourites for promotion. 

After a series of outstanding performances in August, Smith’s form dwindled. He was not able to stamp the same kind of authority on the play. In the first week of October Maloney revealed that Smith had been playing through pain caused by a hernia injury. He would receive surgery and would be out of action for up to six weeks.

The manager added:” I don’t know how these injuries happened; he was wrestling with his stomach. He was the ideal type of No. 6 or No. 8 I needed this summer, as seen by his performances against Derby, Carlisle, and Bolton.” Maloney also stated his expectation that other players would step up to cover Smith’s absence.

Sadly, Latics’ performances and results have taken a dive since August. They have lost their last four league games and the 8-point deduction means that they are in 23rd place with 5 points. Dire refereeing has played its part in the decline: controversial red cards and penalty decisions have hit Latics hard. The low point of the season was a 4-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers, followed by narrow defeats to Portsmouth, Burton Albion and Stevenage.

The praise that Maloney was receiving from fans in August has now veered towards heavy criticism as the results have nosedived. Among the many complaints are those that there seems little method in the way the team has been playing, a far cry from early in the season where the style of play was well-defined and the players clearly knew their roles. Team selection has also come under fire, some saying there has been too much squad rotation. The midfield, which was excellent in early season, has not provided sufficient protection for the defence, nor has it linked up well with the attack. It needs a hard man in the style of Sam Morsy in midfield. There have been too many changes in defence in particular. The inverted full back system has limited the attacking scope of the full backs. Maloney has been too loyal to some players over others. The cynics say that Maloney does not know his best starting X1.

At the start of the season Maloney named Josh Magennis as club captain and Callum Lang as vice-captain. Charlie Wyke has established himself as the first-choice centre forward, with Magennis as back up. Lang had an awful time last season in the Championship and his nightmare has continued in League 1, where the player had excelled a couple of seasons ago. Despite his woeful form Lang has featured in all 11 league games, in the majority of which he was a starter. The manager has continued to believe in the player, but with capable backups in the squad his preference for Lang has been questionable. Magennis has neither the goal scoring talent of Wyke, nor his ability to play as the target man role. With Wyke suspended, Maloney started the game at Burton with with a front three of Lang (one goal in his last 46 league games), Magennis (one goal in 44 league games) and Callum McManaman who scored a great goal against Northampton, but was never a prolific goal scorer.

With the international break Maloney has been afforded time to ponder over his options. Team selections and tactics have to be right. With Wyke suspended he has the option of playing Steven Humphrys at centre forward or to give the 19-year-old Josh Stones a league debut. Without Matt Smith we can expect less inter-passing between defence and midfield, unless Liam Shaw can play such a role. It is important to have a consistency in the centre of defence. Charlie Hughes will start, but who will play alongside him? Liam Morrison was excellent in early season, but has fallen out of favour. Omar Rekik and Kell Watts have been disappointing, although the former has had to play at full back at times. Lang has been mainly playing in the number 10 role, putting in lots of energy, but with close to zero end-product. Thelo Aasgaard is a natural number 10 but has been very disappointing so far. Humphrys might also be tried there.

Ideally Maloney would have Latics play that brand of football we saw in August, but Latics are in a relegation dog fight. Perhaps when Matt Smith returns to action, they will be in a healthier position to revert to that silky football we saw at the start of the season. Smith’s injury certainly had an effect on performances but it is not the sole reason that Latics have fallen down the table.  

Maloney is still a relatively inexperienced football manager, but he is bright and talented and has shown real commitment towards the club. He has a young squad, operating on a quarter of the budget of last season. There is sufficient talent in the squad for Latics to avoid relegation and establish themselves in the division. Such is the youth of this squad that we can expect ups and downs along the road. It could be a bumpy ride until the season ends.

Where will Wigan Athletic be in the table when Matt Smith returns to action?

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Player profiles, Specials and tagged with , , ,
Matt Smith: a key player in “Maloneyball” (photo courtesy of Wigan Athtletic)

“We’ve pushed really hard to get him and he’s very important to how we are looking to play this year”

It was Shaun Maloney commenting on signing Matt Smith on a free transfer from Arsenal. 

The 23-year-old Smith was hardly a “marquee signing”, having spent the past three seasons on loan at Swindon, Charlton and Doncaster. But he had been at Arsenal since he was seven and was steeped in the footballing style of the north London club. Why is Smith so important to the way Maloney wants his team to play this season?

Wigan Athletic’s early season form was a revelation. It was characterised by a possession-based style of football diametrically opposed to the long-ball approach that had been the norm over the past five years at the club. In true “Maloneyball” players get lots of touches of the ball, being required to create space for themselves in order to receive it. It is a purposeful style of football, based upon opening up the opposition, rather than merely retaining possession for possession’s sake.

Matt Smith played a pivotal role in excellent team performances in August. He constantly made himself available in tight situations, to receive the ball from defenders, rarely wasting a pass. Latics gained 10 points from their first four games in League 1, including wins at Bolton and Derby, both among the bookmakers’ favourites for promotion. 

After a series of outstanding performances in August, Smith’s form dwindled. He was not able to stamp the same kind of authority on the play. In the first week of October Maloney revealed that Smith had been playing through pain caused by a hernia injury. He would receive surgery and would be out of action for up to six weeks.

The manager added:” I don’t know how these injuries happened; he was wrestling with his stomach. He was the ideal type of No. 6 or No. 8 I needed this summer, as seen by his performances against Derby, Carlisle, and Bolton.” Maloney also stated his expectation that other players would step up to cover Smith’s absence.

Sadly, Latics’ performances and results have taken a dive since August. They have lost their last four league games and the 8-point deduction means that they are in 23rd place with 5 points. Dire refereeing has played its part in the decline: controversial red cards and penalty decisions have hit Latics hard. The low point of the season was a 4-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers, followed by narrow defeats to Portsmouth, Burton Albion and Stevenage.

The praise that Maloney was receiving from fans in August has now veered towards heavy criticism as the results have nosedived. Among the many complaints are those that there seems little method in the way the team has been playing, a far cry from early in the season where the style of play was well-defined and the players clearly knew their roles. Team selection has also come under fire, some saying there has been too much squad rotation. The midfield, which was excellent in early season, has not provided sufficient protection for the defence, nor has it linked up well with the attack. It needs a hard man in the style of Sam Morsy in midfield. There have been too many changes in defence in particular. The inverted full back system has limited the attacking scope of the full backs. Maloney has been too loyal to some players over others. The cynics say that Maloney does not know his best starting X1.

At the start of the season Maloney named Josh Magennis as club captain and Callum Lang as vice-captain. Charlie Wyke has established himself as the first-choice centre forward, with Magennis as back up. Lang had an awful time last season in the Championship and his nightmare has continued in League 1, where the player had excelled a couple of seasons ago. Despite his woeful form Lang has featured in all 11 league games, in the majority of which he was a starter. The manager has continued to believe in the player, but with capable backups in the squad his preference for Lang has been questionable. Magennis has neither the goal scoring talent of Wyke, nor his ability to play as the target man role. With Wyke suspended, Maloney started the game at Burton with with a front three of Lang (one goal in his last 46 league games), Magennis (one goal in 44 league games) and Callum McManaman who scored a great goal against Northampton, but was never a prolific goal scorer.

With the international break Maloney has been afforded time to ponder over his options. Team selections and tactics have to be right. With Wyke suspended he has the option of playing Steven Humphrys at centre forward or to give the 19-year-old Josh Stones a league debut. Without Matt Smith we can expect less inter-passing between defence and midfield, unless Liam Shaw can play such a role. It is important to have a consistency in the centre of defence. Charlie Hughes will start, but who will play alongside him? Liam Morrison was excellent in early season, but has fallen out of favour. Omar Rekik and Kell Watts have been disappointing, although the former has had to play at full back at times. Lang has been mainly playing in the number 10 role, putting in lots of energy, but with close to zero end-product. Thelo Aasgaard is a natural number 10 but has been very disappointing so far. Humphrys might also be tried there.

Ideally Maloney would have Latics play that brand of football we saw in August, but Latics are in a relegation dog fight. Perhaps when Matt Smith returns to action, they will be in a healthier position to revert to that silky football we saw at the start of the season. Smith’s injury certainly had an effect on performances but it is not the sole reason that Latics have fallen down the table.  

Maloney is still a relatively inexperienced football manager, but he is bright and talented and has shown real commitment towards the club. He has a young squad, operating on a quarter of the budget of last season. There is sufficient talent in the squad for Latics to avoid relegation and establish themselves in the division. Such is the youth of this squad that we can expect ups and downs along the road. It could be a bumpy ride until the season ends.