Tag Archives: coyle

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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Phasing out Martinez’s men?

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

Fraser Fyvie

“It’s not great. The manager’s just not given me any chance at all. Of course it’s demoralising. You go down there and a manager (Martinez) buys you and tries to mould you into the player that he wants you to be and then of course he went to Everton. The new manager (Owen Coyle) has come in and he’s got his own players, so there’s not much I can do apart from prove a point to him that I want to get in the Wigan side.”

The words of Fraser Fyvie quoted by the Scottish Herald, before he joined Yeovil Town on a three month loan deal today. The young  Scot had not even been made the bench, let alone started, in a league game this season.

Were Roger Espinoza  less tactful he too might say something similar.  A star in  an Honduras side that has secured qualification for Brazil, he has started in only two league matches for Latics this season.

Despite his international experience – 34 caps for his country at the age of 26 – Espinoza has not appeared in either of the Europa League games up to this point.  In the league matches where the Honduran made the starting line-up he was taken off after 65 minutes against Nottingham Forest and 55 minutes at Leicester.

The loan of Rob Kiernan to Southend was announced earlier this week. It is the central defender’s fourth loan  move since joining Latics in 2011.

Kiernan is 22 years old and does not yet have the right kind of experience to enable him to challenge for a first team place. He has made regular appearances for Latics’ under 21 team, but the lack of serious competition in the Central League would not have done much for his development. The under 21s  find themselves in a division of clubs from the third and fourth tier of English football. The gap between the level of football in the Central League and that of the Championship is huge.

Fyvie is only 20. Unlike Kiernan he has considerable  experience at a competitive level. He was signed as a 19 year old with more than 50 senior games prior experience under his belt for Aberdeen. Roberto Martinez used him sparingly last year, presumably giving him a year to adapt to English football. Fyvie has the potential to be a good player at Premier League level.

When Coyle signed Chris McCann, Fyvie probably saw the warning signs.  The squad was already overloaded with quality midfield players despite relegation from the Premier League. McCann himself has had few opportunities, despite his previous record of success in the division and might well prove to be a player of Premier League quality were the opportunity to arise.

Conspiracy theorists will say that Coyle is ridding himself of players he inherited.

Questions remain about the futures of long term injured players – Gary Caldwell, Ali Al Habsi and Ivan Ramis. Two of the three are ex-players of the year for Latics. The third – Ramis – might have received the same honour had his season not been curtailed by a cruciate knee ligament injury at Fulham in January.

One also wonders about Shaun Maloney.

A new manager typically brings in his own players. Coyle has done well in recruiting new players who can help Latics get back to the Premier League. That is quite distinct to preparing a squad that can get promotion and hold their own at that higher level.

Coyle runs the risk of losing players who have already proven themselves at Premier League level, let alone a potential talent like Fraser Fyvie.

One hopes that the conspiracy theorists are misguided.

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Wigan Athletic 3 Maribor 1 – champagne then flat beer

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

Ben Watson is congratulated after Latics’ second goal

Wigan Athletic put in a Jekyll and Hyde performance in beating Maribor.  At times we were reminded of that brand of champagne football that Roberto Martinez’s teams could sometimes conjure up.  But then again we saw that lethargic side of this current team’s make-up. Champagne it wasn’t – flat beer maybe.

Both teams had gone into the game knowing that Rubin Kazan had thrashed Zulte Waregem 4-0. The most important thing for Wigan was to get the three points, although Owen Coyle had been suggesting they might go further and produce a footballing feast. At times they did.

Unlike the first match in Belgium, Coyle put out his first choice players. Emmerson Boyce came in, pushing Ryan Shotton to centre back. Jean Beausejour replaced James McClean who was not fully fit, but made the bench.

Coyle’s starting line-up and formation was spot-on. James McArthur and Ben Watson played the midfield holding roles, with Jordi Gomez in his best position in the attacking midfield role. Callum McManaman and Jean Beausejour played wide, with Nick Powell in the lone centre forward role.

Latics dominated the first half playing calm, controlled possession football reminiscent of times gone by. Nick Powell ran through the Maribor defence in the 7th minute following a poor back pass, but goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic made a good save.

Wigan took the lead after 22 minutes when an almost comic punch by Handanovic went backwards, allowing Powell an easy chance to head home. McArthur and Watson were controlling the game from central midfield, with Gomez and Beausejour linking up very well. Although well marked, Callum McManaman was a danger on the other wing,

Wigan’s second goal in the 34th  minute came from a fantastic curving cross from Beausejour, headed in by Ben Watson, who had made a great run from midfield.

Powell squandered a chance in the 36th minute when clean through, putting in an audacious chip that went wide. Roberto Martinez was sat there in the stands and would surely have loved that kind of arrogance that Powell had shown, even if the effort was unsuccessful.

In the 38th minute McManaman made a surging run with a good cross for Beausejour who could not control the bobbling ball and scuffed his shot. The same player went through again in the 44th minute and was unlucky with a cross shot that went wide of the far post.

After going in with a 2-0 lead at half time, with Maribor on the ropes, Latics could have won by a landslide. However, once again  they defended deeper and allowed the away team more possession. After 61 minutes the dangerous Jean-Philippe Mendy outpaced and outmuscled Shotton and Magno Tavares scored from the chaos that followed the Frenchman’s cut back.

The whole feel of the game had changed. Latics were edgy, although they were still creating chances at the other end. In the 61st minute a pass from McArthur found Beausejour whose superb low cross just needed a touch with an open goal ahead. Powell stretched but could only manage to hit the post with the ball being cleared.

In the 89th minute it took a spectacular save by Scott Carson to deny a powerful drive from Tavares as he pushed the powerful effort over the bar. Latics were living dangerously.

However, in the 91st minute, Powell who had been a real handful for the Slovenian team all night, got a deserved second goal dribbling through the defence before slotting home with his left foot.

The Good

The well balanced team that Coyle put out provided Latics with the width that they used to stretch Maribor’s defence. They started with six of last year’s squad in the lineup and the understanding between those players was the key to Wigan’s dominance of the match.

Wingers McManaman and Beausejour constantly threatened, until the former was taken off after 67 minutes. In the first half we saw calm, patient build ups with the ball passing through a very capable midfield trio. Even goalkeeper Carson played his part, making short passes, rather than hoofing the ball upfield as has been his wont on previous occasions.

With better finishing Latics could have won the match by at least five clear goals. Powell was guilty of wasting several chances, but his effort and technique cannot be faulted. He is already starting to look like a top quality centre forward, although it is not his natural position. There is no question that he is a future England player.

The Bad

Once more Latics took their feet off the gas in the second half, allowing the visitors back into the game. It has happened so many times this season. Some say that the root of the problem is a lack of fitness.

However, it is nothing new and happened under Martinez too. Apart from the epic cup run, Latics have not had a winning mentality. Constantly struggling against the elite clubs of the Premier League is not good for a team’s psyche. It is going to take some time for Latics to get back that winning mentality and not pay overdue respect to the opposition.

Maribor’s goal should have been avoided. Tavares was the only opposition player within yards of Mendy’s cutback, but nobody marked him.

Player Ratings

Scott Carson: 8 – not overworked but inspired confidence when he made interventions. His superb save in the closing moments kept Latics ahead.

Emmerson Boyce: 7 – solid in defence and linked up well with McManaman.

Ryan Shotton: 6 – exposed for the Maribor goal and not at his best.

Leon Barnett: 6 –  needs to build up more of an understanding with Shotton to be at his best.

James Perch: 6 – solid, but limited in attack.

Ben Watson: 8 – getting back to his best. Hardworking and cultured in his passing. It was good to see him getting into the penalty box for his well taken goal. Substituted after 77 minutes.

James McArthur: 9 – covered every blade of grass on the pitch, a midfield dynamo. It has not been an easy season for the Scot, adjusting to the Championship, but he is back to his best.

Jordi Gomez: 7 – much more effective in his natural role as the midfield playmaker. However, he will need to fight to keep that position with Shaun Maloney and Nick Powell also in the frame.

Callum McManaman: 7 – gradually getting back to form. Looked dangerous at times, although well policed by the Maribor defence. Substituted after 67 minutes.

Nick Powell: 8 – dangerous throughout. Spurned some chances but was a real headache for Maribor’s defence.

Jean Beausejour: 8 – a cultured attacking display from the Chilean. Set up great opportunities with his sublime crossing. Made an outstanding defensive intervention in his own penalty near the end with his defence all at sea.

Substitutes

James McClean: – poor. His lack of close control let him down on too many occasions.

Chris McCann: – came on for Watson after 77 minutes. A cultured midfield player who has received few opportunities so far.

Nouha Dicko: – brought on in stoppage time at the end of the match.

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Europa or Championship for Latics?

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

When Ben Watson scored that wonderful last minute header at Wembley he changed the face of Wigan Athletic FC, as we had known it.

Latics had announced themselves on the global map.

For so many years Latics had to put up with the “little club” tag, seemingly doomed to the lower reaches of the Football League. Outsiders viewed Wigan as a rugby town, a view more than supported by Maurice Lindsay in an infamous television interview in the 1980’s. His stance was symptomatic of the condescending attitude of rugby league followers of the time. It made Latics supporters’  blood boil. Was the club ever going to rid itself of that image?

How times have changed. After eight years in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup, the name of Wigan Athletic is now known worldwide. Although the rugby club remain a big fish in a small pond their football counterpart has moved on.

Latics now have an opportunity to gain further prestige through their participation in the Europa League.

In the days prior to the FA Cup final so many Latics fans were saying that, if they had the choice of staying in the Premier League or winning the FA Cup, they would choose the former. One wonders how many were to think differently when the Cup came to Wigan.

So what would be the priority this time around – promotion out of the Championship or progression in the Europa League?

It could be argued that Latics’ FA Cup run had an adverse effect on their league position in the last campaign. The end of season fixture congestion that resulted in them having to play a make-or-break match at Highbury only three days after the Cup Final victory was cruel and merciless.

However, if anything put Latics out of the Premier League last season it was injuries. The result was a lack of continuity in team selection and a cruel decimation of playing resources at the end of the season when all those fixtures came raining in.

Owen Coyle has worked wonders in the transfer market by bringing in 12 new players since he started in July. It leaves him with a squad of 30 players – marginally bigger than that of Roberto Martinez last season – but containing  Ali Al-Habsi, Gary Caldwell and Ivan Ramis who are still out of action due to long term injuries.

Much will depend on his deployment of the young professionals contained therein. Last year Callum McManaman and Roman Golobart were the ones who made the starting lineup in the league. We will have to wait to see if Coyle will include the other young pros – Adam Buxton, Nouha Dicko, Rob Kiernan, Jordan Mustoe, Lee Nicholls and Danny Redmond – in the rotations.

If Coyle’s squad has a weakness then it is in the area of attack, with only two central strikers available. With Grant Holt already out until October Latics fans will pray that Marc-Antoine Fortune avoids injury.  Coyle continues to look for forwards through the loan market. Speculation suggests that he wants to bring Jordan Rhodes from Blackburn initially on loan with a view to a £9 m permanent move in January. But, however cash-strapped Blackburn might be, they are unlikely to want to lose their most prized asset to local rivals. Moreover Dave Whelan is going to think twice about spending so much on a player who has never played at the highest level of English football.

It will be interesting to see what kind of lineup Coyle chooses for the Zulte Waregem tie on Thursday. It will be an indication of how important he sees the Europa League compared with the Championship.

Latics fans will hope they give a good account of themselves in both.

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Leicester City 2 Wigan Athletic 0 – Shapeless Latics go down

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

A woeful performance from shapeless Wigan. They handed Leicester a gift after 15 minutes when big central defender Liam Moore headed in a corner with ease, nobody having marked him. The goal gave the home team the impetus and they never looked back. The result was sealed with a soft penalty in the last 10 minutes.

Owen Coyle had used the same starting lineup that he used in the previous match against Nottingham Forest, except that James Perch came in for the departed James McCarthy. It was like replacing a thorough-bred with a pit pony.

Wigan struggled to get to grips with the game in the first half. Their packed midfield looked sluggish and ceded control to Leicester . When Latics tried to attack they had no width, except for when Jean Beausejour moved up from his full back position. There was nothing happening on the right hand side. There was a distinct lack of purpose in their play.

The overworked central defenders – Thomas Rogne and Leon Barnett – struggled to cope with the movement of Leicester strikers Jamie Vardy and David Nugent.  Marc-Antoine Fortune was a truly lone centre forward, although when for once he got away he went down in the penalty box following a push, only for the referee to wave play on.

Wigan’s best chance came just before half time from a fine effort from Barnett, whose rocket shot could have gone anywhere, but went to keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The second half started in the same pattern and one was expecting Coyle to make wholesale substitutions at any minute. Jordi Gomez  and  Roger Espinoza were replaced by Callum McManaman and debutant Nick Powell after 55 minutes, but it made no noticeable difference.  It was followed by another change after 61 minutes with James McClean coming on for Shaun Maloney.

Despite now having two wide players there continued to be no pattern to Wigan’s play. It was no surprise when Leicester added a well-deserved  second goal, albeit through a generous refereeing decision. Latics fans could argue that Vardy ‘s fall after colliding with Beausejour was less of a penalty than in the first half when Fortune hit the ground after being pushed. Scott Carson almost saved Nugent’s penalty, but the power of the shot beat him.

However, the referee cannot be blamed for Wigan’s defeat. Leicester are a well organized team with a solid defence. They more than merited their victory.

The Good

Once again Scott Carson looked reliable in goal and the centre backs had to work hard due to  the lack of shielding from midfield. Thomas Rogne and Leon  Barnett need to continue to play together and develop that mutual understanding that centre back pairs need. One hopes that Coyle will resist the opportunity to tamper once again.

The Bad

Coyle was quoted as saying that if he could have made seven substitutions he would have done so.  He also criticised refereeing decisons. However, the manager needs to take more responsibility for a poor team performance.

Roberto Martinez’s tactical approach at Wigan could be rigid and Latics were criticized for passing the ball across the field rather than being direct. However, Martinez managed to instill a system in which each player knew his role.

That is not the case with Coyle’s teams. There has been no consistent tactical pattern up to this point and changes have been reactive, rather than proactive.  The end result is the whole adding up to less than the sum of its parts. Players don’t seem to be able to read each others’ games. Part of this is down to having so many new faces, but much is also due to the lack of structure in the tactical approach.

With a host of quality midfield players available Coyle chose to put the limited James Perch in front of the back four. With two specialist left backs in the squad he chose to play Beausejour – a wing back maybe –  but never a full back,  in that position.

Wigan tried to keep the ball on the ground in the first half but every time the goalkeeper got the ball his long kicks went straight back into opposition hands. It was a revelation around halfway through the second half when Carson threw a great pass to the half way line to start a Wigan move. This is not to criticize Carson himself, who is probably playing under orders. The big goalkeeper has been Latics best player so far this season.

One mistake that Martinez habitually made was to play Jordi Gomez in a forward role. Coyle is falling in to the same trap. Supposedly Gomez was playing some way forward on the right. The Spaniard never has been and never will be a wide player. He looked lost most of the time and it was no surprise when he was substituted. Gomez’s natural role is as a creator in the centre of midfield, but last season he really improved in the midfield holding role. A forward he is not.

Player Ratings

Scott Carson: 7 – alert and solid. Unlucky not to save the penalty.

Emmerson Boyce: 5 – poor. His lack of pace was exposed by winger Lloyd Dyer.

Thomas Rogne: 6 – a disciplined performance;  he never gave up trying  despite being under constant pressure.

Leon Barnett: 6 – with a little more poise and composure he could be a top central defender. Lucky not to concede an own goal in the second half when he headed back to Carson who was not where he thought.

Jean Beausejour: 5 – covered acres of ground in the first half trying to get Latics’ attack going. Made some errors but played with commitment. Unlucky to have another dubious penalty against him.

James Perch: 4 – poor.

Ben Watson: 5 – unable to stamp his class on the game.

Roger Espinoza: 5 – not as involved as usual. Probably jaded from World Cup qualifying matches with Honduras.

Shaun Maloney: 5 – ineffective. Maybe also jaded from matches for his country.

Jordi Gomez: 4 – lost.

Marc-Antoine Fortune: 6 – sacrificed to the robust Leicester central defenders who constantly surrounded him. Worked hard without support.

Substitutes

Callum McManaman: – unable to prise open a tight Leicester defence.

Nick Powell: – not able to make much impact.

James McClean: – ineffective.

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