Coyle brings back memories of Allan Brown

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Reflections and tagged with , , , , , ,
Wigan Athletic 1964-65. Back row, Wilf Birkett (Trainer), Les Jackson (Chairman), Alan Halsall, Roy Wilkinson, Alf Craig, Ralph Gubbins, Derek Houghton, Derek Crompton, Frank Latham Front Row: Les Campbell, Carl Davenport, Harry Lyon, Allan Brown (Player Manager), Walter Stanley

Wigan Athletic 1964-65.
Back row, Wilf Birkett (Trainer), Les Jackson (Chairman), Alan Halsall, Roy Wilkinson, Alf Craig, Ralph Gubbins, Derek Houghton, Denis Crompton, Frank Latham.
Front Row: Les Campbell, Carl Davenport, Harry Lyon, Allan Brown (Player Manager), Walter Stanley.
Thanks to WiganWorld for the photo.

A couple of weeks ago at Blackpool with Latics a goal behind, Owen Coyle made a bold move.  He already had two wingers on the field, Callum McManaman and James McClean, and decided to boost  Latics’ attack further by bringing on  two central strikers, Grant Holt and Marc-Antoine Fortune.  For a while Latics played in a formation akin to  4-2-4.

Seeing what was happening my mind drifted away to when I was a teenager watching Allan Brown’s team destroy rivals using that 4-2-4 system.

Brown took over at Wigan as player-manager in 1964 with a mandate to win the Cheshire League title. Latics had finished in mid table the previous year and it was obvious that a transformation was required. Brown and the Latics’ board at the time certainly meant business as they took the radical step of bringing in full-time professionals to give them a big advantage over the other clubs who use part-timers or amateurs. On top of that Brown brought in a 4-2-4 system, which was to reap high dividends.

As a teenager I was thrilled to get Brown’s autograph and those of his full time squad, who he would often take to the Roy Café in the centre of Wigan, where my mother worked. Sometimes I would even get a free ticket to the match.

LaticLatics4-2-4_formation_svgs played an orthodox 4-2-4 system like the one Brazil had used to win the 1958 World Cup. They had a flat back four with two ‘halfbacks’ – usually Dennis Crompton and Brown himself –  in the centre of midfield. Crompton was the ball winner/water carrier and Brown the number 10 who would put the passes through to the forwards, scoring goals himself in the process.  Wingers Les Campbell and Walter Stanley were there to supply crosses to the central strikers, although they did do a share of defensive duties.

Latics were to take the league title from Macclesfield, who were to finish five points behind. Wigan scored 121 goals in 42 matches, most of them  down to central strikers Harry Lyon and Carl Davenport. With such an emphasis on attack they needed a defence which could hold its own when the half backs and strikers got stranded upfield and the opposition counterattacked. The superb Derek Houghton was at right back and Roy Wilkinson on the left. Ex-paratrooper Alf Craig was a rock in the centre of defence alongside the elegant Ralph Gubbins.

Association_football_4-4-2_formation_svgIn 1966,  during Brown ‘s tenure at Wigan,  Alf Ramsey’s “wingless wonders” won the World Cup with midfield players – Alan Ball and Martin Peters –  playing in the wide positions. The 4-4-2 system he used was eventually adopted by most English clubs for years to come.  It provided more defensive cover with the wide players being regarded as midfield players, helping the attack and shielding the defence.

In recent years both Paul Jewell and Steve Bruce successfully used 4-4-2 at Wigan.

Whether Owen Coyle would call the system he briefly played at Blackpool 4-2-4 or 4-4-2 is academic. One system reverts into the other depending on the degree to which  the wingers/wide midfielders roles are focused on attacking.

There were times at Blackpool when both McClean and McManaman were both thrust into largely attacking roles. 4-2-4 is a dangerous ploy these days when a single goal can so often determine the final result.  Although it gives powerful attacking options it leaves the defence light on cover.

What a breath of fresh air it was to see Coyle attacking with two wingers and two central strikers. However, the wingers are only going to be effective if they get the ball. Too often the ball is launched long to the central strikers, cutting them out.

It is interesting how Latics’ regular wide players are listed on the club website. Both Jean Beausejour and James  McClean are regarded as midfielders, whereas Callum McManaman is listed as  a forward. One wonders how they will categorise Marc Albrighton.

One of the strengths of Allan Brown’s team was their consistency of approach. All players coming in knew the 4-2-4 system they had to fit into. The same could be said about Jewell’s and Bruce’s 4-4-2. Roberto Martinez was a tactical innovator, but his teams had a clear purpose, if they found it difficult to implement against star-studded opposition.

If there is one main criticism of Owen Coyle’s reign so far it has to be that there is no tactical blueprint of that type.

Moreover his wide players have not consistently delivered the goods in the opponent’s penalty box. Part of this is down to a lack of good form on their part, but too often their defensive duties have limited their scope in attack.

We will have to wait and see if the Wigan Athletic defence is going to be strong enough to allow the wide players to adopt a more attacking role. When that happens strikers like Holt and Fortune are going to get goals.

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Albrighton ready for crunch match with QPR

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

Albrighton

Marc Albrighton could be thrust into the crunch match with Queens Park Rangers at the DW Stadium tonight.

The 23 year old has been  signed from Aston Villa on what must be one of the shortest of loan periods –  reported to be just 28 days. However, the winger  has had injury problems and has fallen out of favour with Paul Lambert. If he can prove his fitness and fulfill his potential he might well become a player that Latics want to keep.  The possibility remains open for a permanent deal when the transfer window opens up again in January.

The QPR match is the acid test for Owen Coyle’s Wigan Athletic revolution. Failure to win will be viewed as a failure by most fans who feel that Latics need to build more momentum for a promotion challenge. They face an expensively assembled QPR team that is currently on track in 3rd place, with only one defeat so far.

At this point Latics stand in 14th place with a record of won 4, drawn 3 and lost 4 matches. The games they have lost have all been away from home to teams above them in the table – Leicester (in 2nd place), Blackpool (4th), Watford (7th) and Bournemouth (11th).

Up to this point Latics are unbeaten at home, a considerable improvement given the terrible record they have had at the DW Stadium, albeit against much stronger opposition over recent years. However, Coyle will be keen to make the DW a fortress for visiting teams to scale as the promotion battle unfolds.

Given the indifferent form of Latics’ wide players it could be that Albrighton will find himself in the starting lineup. Coyle has already shown he is not afraid to throw in new players at the first instance, after doing the same with Leon Barnett and Nick Powell earlier in the season.

It will be interesting to see how Coyle deals with the squad rotation for this game. On Sunday, Ben Watson looked tired, but was withdrawn only after 72 minutes. The man best known for his famous header has been a key component of Coyle’s lineups in recent weeks.

Roger Espinoza came on and looked useful at Charlton and it could be that he will see more playing time tonight, but one doubts  that he will make the starting lineup ahead of Watson. Moreover Jordi Gomez is higher up in the pecking order and is due for a return.

Leon Barnett is the outfield player who has played most matches this season, only missing the game at Zulte Waregem. If Coyle is willing to risk resting Barnett he will have the option of bringing in Ryan Shotton to partner Thomas Rogne in the centre of defence, although the big Stoke man might come in at full back for Emmerson Boyce. Another option would be to move James Perch across and bring in Stephen Crainey at left back.

The risk with too much rotation in defence is that in a radically new formation the players are not going to have that mutual understanding built up through regularly playing together.

Up front Coyle has to decide whether he wants to play with twin strikers – any two of Marc-Antoine Fortune, Grant Holt and Nick Powell – or play with two wingers.  Latics actually  played with two strikers and two wingers – an old fashioned 4-2-4 system –  for a period in the defeat at Blackpool.  Coyle is unlikely to risk it against a midfield as strong as that of QPR . His other option would be to play Powell in what is his best role, in attacking midfield behind the central striker.

Latics will want to narrow the 12 point gap between themselves and QPR.  Although they look good on paper the visitors are by no means invincible.

If  for once Latics take their chances and the ball does not keep crashing against the woodwork  there is no reason why they should not come away with three points tonight.

Whether they can do that will depend largely on Coyle’s tactics and how he rotates his squad.

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Grant Holt – where do we go from here?

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

grant-holt_2635269b

He was lauded as the best of Owen Coyle’s new signings. But if you were ask a room of Latics supporters which of the twelve new players brought in by Coyle has been the most disappointing – the name of Grant Holt would be the one which comes up most.

What has happened to Holt? Is he past his best? Does his style of play suit Latics? Can he still make a major impact on the promotion push for Latics?

Up to this point Holt has made seven starts, with two appearances as a substitute. He has scored two goals, one being a penalty. He was injured in the Middlesbrough match in late August, coming back as a substitute against Blackburn in early October.

In the last two matches, against Rubin Kazan and Charlton, Holt has looked slow and cumbersome.

One cannot say that Holt is past his best. He has not played enough games to tell. But what is noticeable is that when he does play there are more long balls played by Latics. His mere presence causes the midfield to be by-passed.

Two years ago, in Norwich’s first season back in the Premier League, it was a surprise to their supporters to see their icon often being used as an impact player. Before that  Holt had been the first name to be written on the team sheet as his 45 league goals helped the Canaries ascend two divisions in consecutive seasons.

However, Paul Lambert used Holt to good effect as a super-sub. By the end of November Holt had scored four Premier League goals,  three of them being when he had come on as a substitute. At the end of the season Holt’s record in the Premier League was 15 goals from 24 starts and 12 appearances as a substitute.

Holt can clearly be very effective as an impact player, but the broader question remains – is he the right type of player for Wigan Athletic?

Despite it being the end of October  Latics still do not have a defined style of play. The manager continues to tinker on the tactical side and it does not help a squad with so many new players to gel together.

However, in general Latics try to play the ball through their highly capable midfield for the first 60 minutes. After that the defenders start to loft the ball over their heads, adopting a ‘more direct’ approach.

In the last two matches Holt has been substituted in the 63rd and 76th minute, leaving Marc-Antoine Fortune the task of beating big central defenders to high balls. That is not Fortune’s forte. He is big and powerful certainly, but is much more effective with the ball to his feet. If Latics are to continue to play ‘direct’ in the final third of the game it would make more sense for Holt to be the player coming on, not going off.

Grant Holt has a great reputation  as a top professional and a real team player. He will run himself into the ground for Wigan Athletic. He has a superb goalscoring record over the course of his career and is likely to get them out of  the Championship, given the right service.

The more cogent question is not so much whether Holt is the right type of player for Latics, but how to get the best out if him.

Holt is as good as anyone in the division in the role as a target man for long balls out of defence. He has the physical strength and technique to hold off two or three defenders, keeping the ball until teammates advance. In fact his enthusiasm is such that you see him actually courting the long pass.

However, Holt’s primary purpose is to score goals. He gets a lot of his goals through headers and deflections and needs the ball coming into the box from the flanks. Up to this point only Jean Beausejour of Latics’ wide players has been able to put quality crosses into the box. Callum McManaman and James McClean have not produced up to this point, but the season is still young.

Maybe we have expected too much from Holt. Given the physical exercion of holding off big opposition defenders he is expected to be sharp and lively in the box. All at 32 years of age.

Coyle needs to be realistic about how to get the best from the big Cumbrian. Give him the right service and don’t allow defenders to take the easy way out with long balls up to him when they are under pressure. Let him receive the ball facing the goal rather than with his back to it.

There will be matches where Fortune or Powell’s mobility will be required rather than Holt’s combativeness. Holt has proved how effective he can be as a super-sub.

Whether Grant Holt has a successful season and gets the goals to take Wigan back up depends on Coyle’s tactical approach.

In the match at Charlton there were signs that Latics were willing to play the ball through midfield when under pressure. Instead of taking the easy route of a long ball to an isolated central striker they sought the counterattack.

Give Holt good service from the flanks, minimize those speculative long balls and we will see the big Cumbrian get a lot of goals.

It is the tactics that have to be right for Holt to succeed.

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Charlton Athletic 0 Wigan Athletic 0 – losing run away from home halted

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

Chris McCann’s header on its way to rebounding off the crossbar in front of the visiting supporters.

A tired-looking Wigan Athletic rode the waves of Charlton pressure in the first half to come back with a better performance after the interval. Although it was a goalless draw both sides had opportunities to win the game. In the end a draw was a fair result.

Owen Coyle lost Scott Carson injured  in the warmup, with Lee Nicholls stepping up. Latics took the field without a substitute goalkeeper on the bench.

As expected Thomas Rogne, James Perch and James McArthur returned to the starting lineup. Ben Watson and Chris McCann occupied the central midfield positions with McArthur pushed across to the right. Nick Powell and Grant Holt made up the strike force, with James McClean on the left.

Charlton were the better team in the first half. That Latics went into the dressing room at the interval without conceding a goal was largely down to a confident performance by Nicholls. He had shown his confidence and technique with his handling early on. His reaction save just before half time to defy big defender Richard Wood’s point blank header was top-drawer. Latics produced little of note in the first half and it looked like another away defeat was on its way.

With no wide player on the right Latics’ play had been skewed and the link up play between Perch and McClean had been poor. Neither seemed to have the close control or passing ability to deal with a crowded zone on Latics’ left.

Ben Watson made some uncharacteristic passing errors in midfield and McArthur’s influence was marginalized in that wider position. There was little ‘running off the ball’ so that when a defender was ready to pass the ball forward there were options open. The passing in general was poor.

Latics came back after half time showing more resolve. They clawed their way back into the game and made Charlton look vulnerable in a way that did not seem possible in the first half. A rocket shot from Dale Stephens went narrowly wide, but soon after McCann’s header from a corner crashed against the crossbar.

McCann was the focal point of most of Latics’ better football, before they reverted to the ‘Bolton mode’ in the final third of the game. Wigan put on the pressure but Charlton were dangerous through their pace on the wings. Latics defence had to be on their toes to keep them out.

Coyle had taken off an ineffective McClean for Callum McManaman after 66 minutes, then at last relieved the jaded Watson after 72 minutes. The substitute was Roger Espinoza, who provided a lift to the game with his energetic approach, although being played out of position in left midfield. Marc-Antoine Fortune replaced Holt after 76 minutes.

Latics spurned  the chances they had in the second half and in the end Charlton were probably grateful for a point.

The Good

The run of four consecutive away defeats has been halted although the goalless streak on the road now stretches to five matches.

The second half display was full of effort and endeavour and Latics pushed forward creating opportunities.

Thomas Rogne and Leon Barnett controlled the aerial side of Charlton’s game and they continue to look like a strong partnership at the heart of the defence.  They dealt well with the danger coming in from the wings.

Chris McCann followed on from his fine performance against Rubin with another good display, tireless in defence and creative in attack.

Around the 70th minute Coyle had both Espinoza and Fortune warming up on the sidelines, close to where we were sitting.

Coyle  was soon to point the finger to beckon at least one of them on. Espinoza’s body language  said “Who me?”, probably assuming it was the big forward who was to go on. The Honduran did go on, with Fortune following four minutes later.

Espinoza was given a chance at last, if not in his best position.

The Bad

Once more we had a tactical change from Coyle. This time he chose to play with one wide player, McClean.  Key central midfielder McArthur was pushed out to the right, like a fish out of water. A  better option would have been to rest the jaded Watson and play the Scot in his normal role, with the deserving McCann alongside.

The left  flank play between Perch and McClean in the first half was inept. The full back’s passing was dire and the winger’s control poor.

In the final third  of the match it once again it looked like we were watching a Bolton game. A waste of the talent in midfield and in Nick Powell who received poor service. It is becoming a depressing trend.

Coyle deserves to be commended for the spirit he has imbibed in his players.

However, question marks remain about his tactical approach.

Player Ratings

Lee Nicholls: 7 – a composed performance from the rookie. Has a bright future ahead.

Emmerson Boyce: 7 – played a captain’s role. Solid in defence and provided good support for the attack.

Leon Barnett: 8 – a powerhouse performance. Plays well with Rogne.

Thomas Rogne: 8 – negated the home team’s aerial approach. Totally dominant in the air and calm and calculating in his covering.

James Perch: 4 – woeful in  his passing and found wanting in defence.

Chris McCann: 7 – another good  performance from the cultured Irishman.

Ben Watson: 5 – not up to his usual level.

James McArthur: 5 – clearly did not enjoy being played out of position.

Grant Holt: 5 – ineffective, although to be fair he received not one decent cross during the whole game.

Nick Powell: 7 – cannot be faulted for effort. Spent too much time jumping for high balls. What a waste of such a talented player.

James McClean: 4 – poor. Taken off after 66 minutes.

Substitutes

Marc-Antoine Fortune: – showed a better touch when coming on for Holt. Should he be the starter and Holt the impact substitute?

Callum McManaman: – unable to breach the opposition defence.

Roger Espinoza: – not at his best in left midfield, but at least provided some much needed energy into the play. Had a lot of support from Latics’ traveling fans.

Two Amigos at Charlton. Photo courtesy of Nathan Peters.

Two Amigos at Charlton.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Peters.

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Charlton Preview

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

Wigan Athletic go to Charlton tomorrow following four successive league defeats away from home, not having scored a goal in any of them.

However, Latics come into the game following a fine performance, drawing 1-1 at home against  a strong Rubin Kazan side in  the Europa League. Charlton occupy 19th place but are unbeaten in their last three league games, with two home draws being followed by a 1-0 win at Blackburn.

Why have Latics had such poor away results this season? One could say they have been unlucky, with shots almost going in and some crucial refereeing decisions going against them.

However, the recipe for being a successful away team is based on a sound defence, with a capability for a goal on counterattack. Latics have not met these criteria in the last four away matches.

The defence has given away soft goals, albeit involving some dubious refereeing decisions. There have been few effective counterattacks. Too often a Wigan defence under pressure has hoofed the ball away rather than looking to pass the ball out of defence to launch a counterattack.

Latics have the quality to be a very good counterattacking team away from home. Tomorrow Owen Coyle might well field his pacy wingers Callum McManaman and James McClean. With decent service either one is capable of outpacing the Charlton defence. But much will depend on the ability to play the ball out of defence under pressure.

This is a game Latics can win, or at least get a draw. Charlton have won only one home game so far.  Much will depend on Coyle’s initial lineup and his tactical nous.

Regular league starters Thomas Rogne, James Perch and James McArthur are likely to return.  Leon Barnett has played a lot of games recently, but is likely to continue in the centre of defence, where he has been building up a good understanding with the excellent young Norwegian, Thomas Rogne.  The alternative would be to move Perch across for Barnett and play Stephen Crainey at left back, following his improved performance on Thursday.

In midfield Ben Watson is likely to start, but could well give way to Roger Espinoza at some stage. It would be a revelation if the Honduran/American were given a chance to start. Chris McCann played really well against Rubin, but will probably find himself rested.

McManaman and McClean are likely to play on the wings. At centre forward Coyle will have to choose between the combative Grant Holt or the more mobile Marc-Antoine Fortune. The former is more dangerous from crosses and set pieces, the latter more pacy and more suited to the counterattacking game.

What tactical formation Coyle is going to put forward remains to be seen. One never knows what is coming next. However, playing away from home it is likely to be more conservative and he has the option of playing Nick Powell or Jordi Gomez in the advanced midfield role behind the central striker. Alternatives remain of playing a more defensive-minded midfielder – such as Espinoza – in that role or playing two central strikers with one less wide player.

Let’s hope Latics can get an early goal to calm their nerves. They have been unlucky so far in the first half away from home, with a number of close calls.   If they do fall behind one hopes that they do not revert to the ‘Bolton style’, as they have too often as late.

Wigan Athletic have a superior squad to Charlton and are capable of beating the south London team tomorrow. Despite playing a game on Thursday Latics have sufficient strength in depth to be good enough to beat the Addicks.

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