Latics looking ready for the Premier League

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

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A week or two back Stuart Gray, manager of Sheffield Wednesday, commented that Wigan Athletic had a Premier League squad playing in the Championship. A similar comment was later made by Brian McDermott, Leeds United supremo, although he qualified his remark by saying that it was second to Leicester’s.

Whether Leicester’s squad is any better than Wigan’s is doubtful, but neither manager mentioned Queens Park Rangers, the most expensively assembled squad in the division. According to the Daily Star,  QPR got relegated last year although their budget was higher than that of Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund. Their budget this year has been scaled down, but is still unrealistically high for a Championship club.

There was talk in the pre-season that Wigan Athletic were going to have a splurge in the transfer market, using money brought in from their summer sales. Many fans were disgruntled when it did not happen, with Owen Coyle paying no more than around £2m for any of the players he brought in.

With catapult payments and transfer fees coming into play the club had a financial decision to make – how best to use that money. Given the extra six matches they were due to play in the Europa League they chose to spend on building a large squad, capable of putting up a good show in Europe and competing for promotion back to the Premier League. Little did they know at the time that Latics would also end up playing six matches in the FA Cup!

In February Latics played at Cardiff in the FA Cup 5th round in a televised game. At the time the commentators remarked on how one team had so much more Premier League experience than the other. But it was Wigan Athletic they were referring to. In fact every single player in their starting lineup had previously played in the Premier League.

Similarly at the FA Cup Semi Final last weekend all the starters had that experience. Moreover  Emmerson Boyce and Scott Carson alone had amassed almost 300 starts at Premier League level.

Some might say that Latics’ cup run this year has detracted from their league form. However, on their way to knocked out through the lottery of penalties, Latics were unbeaten within normal time against four Premier League teams, including two in Champions League spots. The self confidence garnered from such experience should not be underrated.

The displays against Arsenal and Manchester City have shown that this Wigan Athletic squad is good enough to challenge not only teams in the bottom half of the Premier League, but also those at the very top.

It has been a season of highs and lows for Wigan Athletic. Moreover the sheer volume of games they have had to play has contributed to poor results against teams that they would have otherwise beaten.

Uwe Rosler has done a fantastic job in raising Latics up into the playoff zone and being within a whisker of reaching another FA Cup Final.

It could be that sheer fatigue, injuries or controversial refereeing decisions will come into play over the coming weeks. However, Rosler will be mindful of the need to grind out enough points to secure that playoff place, but at the same time making sure that his key players peak at the right time – in the playoffs themselves.

The Championship playoffs are a pressure cauldron, where the unexpected can happen. However, Rosler has at his disposal an experienced and capable squad which has proved it can compete with the elite of English football.

The German’s challenge will be to ensure that the players are not complacent over the coming weeks. Latics fans are hoping for another Wembley visit on May 24th.

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Arsenal 1 Wigan Athletic 1 – valiant Latics go out on penalties

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Match Reports

Arsene Wenger

Wigan Athletic gave as fine a performance as one could possibly expect, despite going down 4-2 on penalties to Arsenal after extra time. The leaps of joy from the Arsenal players on winning the shootout was testimony to the relief they must have felt. Latics had been leading until the 82nd  minute when a miskick led to a Gunners goal. It is a testimony to Uwe Rosler’s game plan and the commitment and quality shown by his players that they were only minutes away from another Wembley final.

Rosler surprised us by fielding a flat back four with Emmerson Boyce and Ivan Ramis in the centre of defence and James Perch and Stephen Crainey at full back. James McArthur, Josh McEachran and Jordi Gomez lined up in midfield, with Callum McManaman and Jean Beausejour nominally supporting Marc Antoine Fortune up front.

Arsenal put early pressure on Latics, particularly on the right where Oxlade-Chamberlain looked dangerous. He produced a superb cross that Sanogo headed towards goal, Carson making a terrific reflex save. However, after that initial 15 minutes Latics were starting to look more composed and their game plan was stifling their expensive opponents.

Sagna hit the ball wide after Vermaelen had headed a corner in his direction after 26 minutes, but Latics continued to fight their way back into the game, looking more composed. Callum McManaman was looking lively and he put a good effort just wide after cutting into the penalty box. Jean Beausejour had dropped back to cover the danger from Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Perch was giving Podolski no breathing space on the other flank.

Latics continued to frustrate Arsenal as the second half progressed. Their pressing in midfield nullified the passing movements one normally expects from the Gunners and Latics were playing composed football. Sensationally Latics were to gain a penalty in the 63rd minute as McManaman was tripped by Mertesacker as he sped across the penalty box teeing up a shot. The penalty was delayed with the injured Monreal being taken off, but Gomez showed great temperament by dispatching the penalty past Fabianski. Ironically he placed it to the right of Fabianski in a similar way to the one that was saved at Bolton, but it was good enough to beat the Polish ‘keeper.

A minute later Rosler took off McEachran, bringing on Jack Collison. Four minutes after that he took off McManaman, who had been Latics’ most dangerous player, for Nick Powell. Arsenal brought on Giroud for Podolski and started to play a more direct game, putting Latics under pressure. Sagna headed against the post, then Carson made a superb parry from a Gibbs header, with Crainey somehow clearing it off the line.  Sadly Latics’ defensive heroics were undone eight minutes from time when the unmarked Mertesacker headed in a scuffed shot from Gibbs.

The excellent Ramis limped off after 86 minutes to be surprisingly replaced by Gary Caldwell, with Leon Barnett remaining on the bench. It was the club captain’s first senior outing for close on a year. Latics held on in the closing minutes of normal time.

Extra time was a cruel consequence for a Wigan Athletic outfit that had already played more games than any other team in the country. However, they maintained their organization and composure in extra time despite close calls with Carson making a fine save from Sanogo and Oxlade-Chamberlain hitting the underside of the crossbar.

The match went to penalties, but Latics just did not have the depth in that department. Caldwell and Collison had the first two penalties saved and although McArthur and Beausejour dispatched their’s with aplomb, it was not enough, as the Gunners scored four out of four.

The Good

A superb display, brilliantly choreographed by Rosler. As at the Etihad in the previous round he got his tactics just right and Latics were within a whisker of pulling off a spectacular victory against great odds.

The defence was superb with Boyce and Ramis showing their class and composure. The midfield worked so hard to nullify the Arsenal threat.

McManaman was back to his best, clearly enjoying his return to Wembley.

Rosler stuck his neck out by putting in Carson for Al-Habsi, but the Cumbrian was superb. The German did it once again by bringing in Caldwell to replace Ramis, but the Scot did a fine job in defence.

The Bad

The performance cannot be faulted. However, taking off McManaman so early in the proceedings took some pressure off Arsenal, even if he was suffering from cramp.

Rosler was not in a position to name five good candidates for a penalty shootout. If Ramis had not gone off, maybe Shaun Maloney would have come on and he has shown his skills with penalties in the past. Both Caldwell and Collison were brave in stepping up for the first two, but their efforts were saved. Why the self-assured Powell did not take one is hard to understand.

Player Ratings:

Scott Carson: 9 – a superb display.

James Perch: 8 – superb defensively, nullifying the threat of Podolski.

Emmerson Boyce: 8.5 – marshaled his defence superbly, looking a class player in the process.

Ivan Ramis: 8 – another quality display. Let’s hope his injury is not serious.

Stephen Crainey: 8 – a fine display. He has been improving game by game under Rosler.

James McArthur: 8 – a typical display from this fine player, full of industry and cultured passing.

Josh McEachran: 7 – so busy protecting his defence and not wasting the ball. A pity he had to be taken off. Taken off after 68 minutes.  One wonders when he will be fit for the full 90 minutes.

Jordi Gomez: 8.5 – excellent in all areas, covering so much ground and keeping possession under pressure.

Callum McMananan: 8 – looked like the player who electrified Manchester City last year. Let’s hope he can do this again in what remains of the season. Taken off after 64 minutes.

Marc Antoine Fortune: 7 – worked hard despite being so closely marked.

Jean Beausejour: 7 – the threat on Arsenal’s right flank kept him pegged back. In reality played a midfield, rather than a forward,  role.

Substitutes:

Jack Collison: – always ready to receive the ball, worked hard, but found the going tough.

Nick Powell: – could not stamp his mark on the game.

Gary Caldwell: – did well after such a long absence.

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The Dream refuses to die – but who will play?

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

Martinez

When Wigan Athletic won the FA Cup it really was a dream come true. Who could ever have imagined that they would be within close distance of making it come true again just eleven months later?

Just like last year Latics had a difficult time disposing of a team a division below them in the early rounds. Last season it was Bournemouth, this time around it was MK Dons. Martinez’s team had an amazing 3-0 win at Everton in the sixth round, while Rosler’s side also shocked the pundits with a 2-1 win at Manchester City.

However, Martinez’s team were to meet Millwall in the semi-final. Arsenal present a different proposition.

Whatever happens at Wembley tomorrow this team has done the club proud. They have got to the semi-final on merit following three successive victories over Premier League teams.

Latics had gone into the match at the Etihad following a series of good results, having won 4-1 at promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest in the previous game. Nevertheless they were facing a City team that had won 12 of its 13 home games in the Premier League and had already thrashed Latics 5-0 in the League cup.

As with the FA Cup Final last year against the same club, Latics’ manager got his tactics spot-on. Rosler’s team plays a more pragmatic style of football than that of Martinez. From the start they went at City, their high pressing game stemming the flow of the Citizens’ play. When Latics’ went 2-0 up not long after half time they dug in to conserve the result. City were to get a controversial goal that should have been disallowed for offside, but they were to pummel Wigan’s defence. With grim determination and a tiny bit of luck on their side Latics held on to get their victory.

At the Etihad, Rosler played a conservative 3-5-2 system, with Marc-Antoine Fortune and Callum McManaman upfront. However, the midfielders – Jordi Gomez in particular – pushed forward in the first half. He had surprised us by playing Chris McCann in the left of the backline trio. Leon Barnett was to take over that role after half time, due to the unfortunate injury to the Irishman.

Rosler will almost certainly adopt a similar approach tomorrow. Arsenal tend to pack their midfield with a lot of players and Wigan will need strength in numbers there to compete. James McArthur and Jordi Gomez will play in central midfield with James Perch and Jean Beausejour playing wide. However, it is that third central midfield position that will be up for grabs.

Jack Collison has the most experience, but played a full game in midweek plus most of the second half last Saturday. Would his knee stand up to him taking a starting role tomorrow? Josh McEachran played there at the Etihad, but has not figured much recently and was taken off at half time on Tuesday. However, this is an entirely different kind of match to the league encounter against Millwall and might well suit the young Chelsea loanee.

The lineup could well be that which began the second half at the Etihad, with the exception of Jean Beausejour for Stephen Crainey at left wing back : Carson ; Boyce, Ramis, Barnett; Perch, McArthur, Gomez, McEachran, Beausejour; McManaman, Fortune.

The 29 year old Michael Oliver has been named as referee for the encounter. Coincidentally he officiated last year’s semi-final against Millwall. One of the features of Rosler’s regime has been in the discipline shown by his players, with no red cards received. They will need to show that same kind of resolve tomorrow against a skilful Arsenal team whose supporters will be in the large majority at the Stadium, ready to pressurize the young referee.

The fourth placed team in the Premier League is playing against the fifth placed team from the division below, which has already played 55 matches this season. So once again the odds are heavily stacked against the Latics. However, only a fool would count them out.

The dream is still alive.

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Callum for Wembley

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

Manchester City v Wigan Athletic - FA Cup Final

Being ‘Man of the Match’ in an FA Cup Final can be hard to live up to. Callum McManaman knows that all too well.

Just eleven months ago McManaman was the toast of the town as he led Gael Clichy and the Manchester City defence a merry dance at Wembley. He had not only been the star of the Final, but also of the whole FA Cup tournament. He had started in all of Latics’ seven matches in that cup run, scoring three goals and making two assists. His free running in the final trapped Pablo Zabaleta into a red card, turning the momentum of the game. His superbly taken goal from Jordi Gomez’s exquisite pass had sealed the semi-final win over Millwall.

Who could have known that just three days later he would get an ankle injury that would not only put him on crutches, but seriously knock back his career prospects in the process. A burgeoning young talent had been coming through, with managers of the rich and famous clubs casting an eye in his direction. The injury put everything on hold.

Many Latics supporters had viewed McManaman’s injury as a kind of blessing in disguise. If it had not happened the young player would most likely have been whisked away to a big club rather than helping Latics get back to the Premier League. Moreover the excellent Shaun Maloney remained at the club following the large turnover of players in the summer. Latics had a new manager in Owen Coyle and he would have at his disposal two players who could tear the hearts out of the defences of Championship sides.

Those hopes were soon quashed as Maloney’s injury In September put him out of action long term. Moreover McManaman was dealing with illness and niggling injuries that hampered his return to full fitness. When Coyle left in December, McManaman had made hardly any impact up to that point. Fans were hoping that new manager Uwe Rosler could get the best out of the exciting young forward.

At this point of the season McManaman has started in only 14 of the 41 league matches played, scoring one goal and making one assist. Moreover he has rarely played the full ninety minutes. However, he has started in four of the five FA Cup matches Latics have played, scoring in the home tie with MK Dons.

It has been a disappointing season so far for Callum McManaman, but there is still time for him to make a major impact. He has clearly enjoyed playing at Wembley, judging by his performances against Millwall and Manchester City, maybe less so than in his appearance as a 60th minute substitute in the Community Shield.

Rosler will surely take McManaman into strong consideration for lining up in the semi-final against Arsenal at the weekend. Coincidentally it was against the Gunners that his career took that set-back last season. Saturday’s game will be one in which he will be keen to impress, showing a big audience that he still has that talent that has been hiding under the surface for so long this season.

If he is given the chance McManaman can get his career back on fast-track with a star performance against the Gunners. At his best there are few more exciting players to watch in English football.

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Millwall Preview – a cameo role for Maloney in preparation for the FA Cup semi-final?

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

 

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A cameo role for Shaun Maloney tonight?

Given the sheer volume of fixtures Wigan Athletic have had to play over the past months it is no wonder that their form has been intermittent. There have been matches where they have looked full of energy, playing enterprising football, followed another a few days later where they would appear jaded and placing an over-reliance on the long ball.

The 1-0 win over Leeds on Saturday was typical of the latter. One could say it was because Uwe Rosler made only two changes from his lineup in the previous game, but then again the introduction of three substitutes in the second half did not catalyse any sort of spark. In the event Leeds did not have the quality to seriously challenge a solid Wigan defence and Latics ground out an important win.

If events continue to follow this recent pattern we can expect a more dynamic performance against a Millwall team struggling against relegation. However, there is the by no means small matter of an FA Cup Semi-Final coming up on Saturday. So what is going to happen tonight?

On Saturday Rosler took a risk by using all three substitutes by the 68th minute. Providing Latics are ahead midway through the second half he might do something similar tonight.

One of those coming on later tonight could well be Shaun Maloney, in preparation for including him on the bench at Wembley where he scored a goal in last year’s semi-final, coincidentally against Millwall. The Scot has been on the bench for the last two games, but Rosler felt the intensity of the Leicester match was too high for a player returning from long-term injury, then understandably did not bring him on against an over-physical Leeds.

It is an indication of the rotation policy that Rosler has operated that in the last five league matches twenty players have been employed on the pitch. Three players – Ali Al-Habsi, James McArthur and James Perch have started in all five. Five more – Emmerson Boyce, Jordi Gomez, Rob Kiernan, Ivan Ramis and Martyn Waghorn have started in four of those games. Josh McEachran, Callum McManaman and Nicky Maynard have been underemployed during the five matches, each starting in only one.

Rosler will certainly have to shuffle his pack following the limp display on Saturday. However, Latics have some tricky league fixtures coming up and the Millwall game appears the easiest to win, at least on paper. However, Millwall are locked in a relegation struggle and desperately need points. They can be expected to come out with guns a blazing. Rosler will therefore need to tread with caution, keeping a backbone of his regulars in the lineup, rather than make wholesale changes.

He has already announced that Ali Al-Habsi will be rested, with Scott Carson coming in. James Perch is overdue a rest, having played 43 games this season. Moreover Perch is sitting on nine yellow cards and one more would put him out of the FA Cup semi-final. James McArthur too needs resting, also having played 43 games.

Jean Beausejour is back from suspension. Rob Kiernan, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Martyn Waghorn are ineligible for the Arsenal game so have a good chance of playing, together with McEachran, McManaman and Maynard.

It is not going to be an easy match. Millwall had a crucial 2-1 win at promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest at the weekend. They sit in 23rd place but still retain hopes of lifting themselves out of the relegation zone. Under the management of Ian Holloway they will not go down without a fight.

Moreover the Lions will recall their 2-1 win over Wigan at the New Den, Latics’ sixth successive defeat at the time. Martyn Waghorn was on loan at Millwall at that time and was one of their top performers in a match watched by Rosler, prior to his taking the reins at Wigan. The Lions wanted to keep Waghorn, but their financial situation would not allow. Will Waghorn be the star player tonight?

It is never easy to predict Rosler’s starting lineups, but given the proximity of the Arsenal Semi-Final, it is all the more difficult this time around.

Which Wigan Athletic will we see tonight – the energetic or the lethargic? It could well be a mixture of the two.

 

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