Tag Archives: David Perkins

Caldwell’s first choice – David Perkins

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

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The 2014-15 season will be remembered as among the worst in Wigan Athletic’s history. Ironically Uwe Rosler had put together a squad that, on paper at least, was as good as any other in the Championship division.

How Latics could have suffered relegation with the talent they had at their disposal beggared belief. But the reality was that by the end of April, under their third manager of the season, the unthinkable happened and Latics were heading for League 1.

Why it happened remains open to debate. The authoritarianism of Rosler, the lack of acceptance of Malky Mackay by the players, divisions between factions recruited by different managers, plus a host of other theories came to the fore during the month of May. But there was a bottom line which all could agree on – last season’s players just did not seem to want to fight to make things better.

Fans wanted players who would be proud to wear the Wigan Athletic shirt, those who would battle against the odds, as so many had done in the club’s rise up the English footballing tree.

Given the seeming lack of commitment from last season’s players, fans were largely supportive of the club’s moves to dispatch so many of them to new clubs. Young chairman, David Sharpe, talked about bringing in the “right kind of player”, someone who was “hungry” and would fight for the cause. But at the same time there were fans who wondered how successful the club’s recruitment team would be in securing the services of such players. Moreover would those players have the quality needed to get the club out of League 1?

Caldwell’s first signing was announced near the end of May. It was a 32 year old on a free transfer from Blackpool, on a one year contract. Latics were going to be his eighth club. Moreover feedback from Blackpool fans was not exactly positive. Why would Caldwell want to sign a player with David Perkins’ track record?

However, some fans remembered Perkins performing well against Latics in the past and others thought that the contract was only for a year, so what was the harm giving the player the chance?

At the time Caldwell had commented “It’s a no brainer for me. I’ve always been impressed with his energy and willingness to give 100 per cent, and we feel he can contribute greatly this season. He is a very combative player, always willing to work hard and I’m delighted to add him to the squad. We’ve been looking at him for a while, I’m sure he can do a good job for us.”

However, despite his comments, Caldwell’s first signing of the summer appeared somewhat underwhelming. Was it a sign of things to come? Would the next signings to be made follow a similar pattern? Free transfers and players appearing to be past their sell-by dates?

But despite initial impressions, Perkins has been the best of Caldwell’s twenty-plus signings up to this point. From the outset Perkins has set the tone, showing the type of commitment so sadly lacking last season. At 33 now,  he seems to have more energy than players ten years younger. During a game he never stops running.

But there is more to Perkins’ game than to hassle the opposition. He certainly does that, but it is to his great credit that he has almost seamlessly fitted into the style of football Caldwell espouses. Despite his workhorse image, Perkins has a good left foot and is comfortable with possession football.

The first signing of the summer was to become the first name on Caldwell’s team sheet. Perkins has made 19 starts, more than any other player. Moreover he goes the full 90+ minutes, not one to be substituted. But how good a player is Perkins?

Wigan Athletic fans have always loved a player like Perkins who will run himself into the ground for the cause. His performances speak for themselves. But there are critics who question the player’s ability. There are those who question the performances of a side where Perkins can stand out largely through his commitment. Many would doubt that a team of eleven Perkins(es) would achieve promotion.

For me, there are three moments that encapsulate the huge contribution the Lancashire-born player has made up to this point.

At the end of September, Latics were 2-1 down at home to Millwall going into time added on. Perkins put a lovely pass inside the full back for Tim Chow to provide the cross that was to lead to Will Grigg’s equaliser.

In early October Latics faced high-flying Walsall, but having committed so many forward for a corner in the first half Wigan found themselves short-handed. Tom Bradshaw raced in on goal from a counterattack. But Perkins somehow got back and miraculously blocked the Walsall striker’s shot, saving a near certain goal.

Then last Saturday Latics were 2-0 ahead at Rochdale, in the closing stages. Somehow Perkins was up there supporting the attack. He has never been much of a goalscorer. Moreover at that stage of the game he must have been near-exhausted, given what he had already put into the game. Nevertheless he put in a blockbuster of a shot but was unfortunate to find the goalkeeper at the right place at the right time. The exertion of the shot, following his immense physical contribution to the game, seemed to knock him back. But he is not one to be deterred and finished the game out.

Given Perkins’ huge contribution, a couple of weeks ago Caldwell announced an extension of the player’s contract for another year, stating that:

“Everyone can see what he gives us on the pitch, he’s the sort of player that every team needs and typical of the man, there are no airs and graces, he just gets on with his job day-in, day-out and gives us great consistency. We’re delighted he’ll be here for another season because his experience and energy has been an invaluable asset to the team.”

Perkins himself is clearly enjoying his football at Wigan. On signing his new contract he reflected on his performances time at Wigan compared with  his previous clubs:

“I couldn’t be prouder to play for the club, all of the players and staff have been great since I arrived here. It’s one of the most enjoyable times of my career. I’m coming into work and actually enjoying it, over the last two or three years I’ve not enjoyed my football at all, and it became more of a job whereas now it’s my passion again and I look forward to every day at this club.”

It could be argued that David Perkins is Caldwell’s best signing up to this point. Perkins epitomises the “new era” type of player at Wigan Athletic. He is a key cog in a machine that will fight up to the last minute to get a result, a far cry from what we saw last season.

Perkins might not be the most talented player in the squad, but he should not be underrated. He fits well into Caldwell’s tactical system and that demands some level of skill. At 33 years of age he might well be playing the best football of his career.

Latics’ legs go as Bury take advantage

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Match reactions and tagged with , , , , , ,
Jordan Flores showed glimpses of genuine class on his debut in the starting lineup.

Jordan Flores showed glimpses of genuine class in his debut in the starting lineup.

“In the first half and at the start of the second half I think we played with the intensity that I know we can, we kept the ball well and gave it to our attacking players in the right areas. We got in their faces and made it very competitive throughout the first half, and came out with even more intensity in the second. “

Gary Caldwell was right about that. Some two thirds of the way through the match the Latics had started to flag. The early intensity and running off the ball had dissipated and it came as no real surprise when Leon Clarke headed his first goal from a left wing cross in the 63rd minute. Neither was Clarke’s second goal in the 89th minute as Bury had continued to threaten.

Caldwell fielded a 4-3-3 formation, akin to those of the Uwe Rosler era. Kevin McNaughton started at right back, with Leon Barnett partnering Craig Morgan in the centre of defence and Reece James on the left. Max Power, David Perkins and Jordan Flores made up the midfield, with Will Grigg at centre forward, Sanmi Odelusi on the right wing and Michael Jacobs on the left.

Wigan looked lively in the first half, with Jacobs marauding inside from the left, willing to take on defenders. However, the most clear cut chance came in the 33rd minute when Flores went on a long run from the half way line, rounding goalkeeper Walton in the six yard box before the keeper recovered to parry his shot. There was lots of running off the ball, with the players full of effort and commitment, but not surprisingly the players appeared to lack that telepathy which guides the final pass.

One wonders if Caldwell had told his players to make a point of running at the Bury defence as Jacobs did that straight from the kick off in the second half. He was upended in the box and Grigg hit home the penalty. It will do the centre forward a world of good, getting off the mark. He had been lively throughout and was soon to pull the ball back for Odelusi who spooned over the bar with the goal gaping.

Bury had by no means played badly by that stage. They were well organised and had played some good football. As the game moved on they looked so much more physically stronger than Wigan. Following Clarke’s first goal Latics had a throw in on the left hand side, at the half way line. There were four players close to the ball but not one made a run to receive it. The result was a short throw being made and Latics losing the ball. So many players had seemed to run out of steam with one third of the game still left.

Caldwell brought on Ryan Jennings after 70 minutes to replace the ineffective Odelusi. Grigg went off 8 minutes later for Craig Davies to enter. But neither substitution was to breathe further life into Wigan’s play. The substitution of Billy Mckay for Flores in the second minute of time added on seemed pointless, but somehow reminiscent of the treatment the Northern Ireland international received from Malky Mackay.

But there were positives for Wigan. Perkins shone, once again being the standout player. At 33 years of age he seemed to have the legs that his younger teammates lacked, covering acres of ground, solid in defence and with good distribution. Jacobs looks a good signing, with his willingness to take defenders on and to shoot. He has pace and determination. There were signs that Grigg and Jacobs will make a formidable pairing up front as their understanding of each other’s games improves. Both have skill has commitment and have enjoyed previous successes in League 1. McNaughton looked like an accomplished player throughout and will surely stake a claim for a regular starting berth. James performed well on the other flank.

Flores had a starting debut to remember, showing silky touches of genuine class, including that superb run on goal in the first half. Like any young player still learning the game, there were times when he switched off and made mistakes and by the end of the game he looked exhausted. Caldwell will have to decide how to develop the 19 year old further, whether to carefully nurture him within the club or to send him out on loan where he will get more game time. At any rate, Latics have got a player for the future in the Wigan lad who has a Spanish father and English mother.

It will be interesting to see if Caldwell sticks with 4-3-3 for the Doncaster match on Sunday. The centre of defence looked vulnerable to high balls in the second half and it led to two goals. Against teams with big, physically imposing forwards he might well opt for a line of three central defenders, including the powerful Donervon Daniels, who was on the bench last night. Moreover the return of Jason Pearce will surely strengthen the centre of defence. If Caldwell opts for three at the back it is to be hoped that he will play a 3-5-2 formation, rather than a 3-5-1-1 which leaves the centre forward isolated.

A home defeat to a team just promoted from League 2 can hardly be looked upon as a success. But few fans will bemoan an exit from a League Cup competition that adds extra games to a season that is already long and arduous.

Fans can accept last night’s result to some degree, knowing that Caldwell’s new team is a work in progress and the players need more game time together to develop that mutual understanding which enables good team play.

What is hard to accept or understand is why Bury looked so much fitter than Latics. The conspiracy theorists might say that Caldwell was not really interested in the League Cup and the players’ performances in the final third of the game reflected that. But the more likely explanation is that the visitors were simply physically fitter than Wigan.

Last year’s start of the season was marred by a disastrous pre-season programme that left the players largely unfit. Changes were clearly made this year, but the players still do not look fully fit. At the final pre-season match at Blackburn, Caldwell surprisingly made eight substitutions. Of the starting eleven at Coventry only three – Morgan, Perkins and Power – played the full 90 minutes at Blackburn.

The fitness issue at the beginning of the season goes back to Owen Coyle’s days. One can only hope that the people in charge of the physical preparation of the players at the club are getting it right this time around.

The Doncaster game will provide not only a glimpse into whether the players are starting to meld together as a team, but also whether they can match their opponents physically.

 

 

 

A Blackpool fan’s view of David Perkins

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Fan Views and tagged with , , ,

Yesterday Wigan Athletic announced the impending signing of David Perkins from Blackpool. Perkins is a 32 year old central midfield player who has just completed his second season with the Tangerines. The 5 ft 6 in Perkins is to sign a one year contract.

Perkins is from Heysham and began his career at Morecambe at the age of 18. He was to spend seven years with the Shrimps making 176 appearances in the Conference before joining League 2 Rochdale in 2007. He went on to make 58 appearances for Rochale before joining Colchester United for a six figure fee in July 2008.

In the 2009-10 season manager Aidy Boothroyd loaned Perkins out, first to Chesterfield where he made 13 appearances, then to Stockport County where he made 22. John Ward’s arrival as manager at Colchester in the summer of 2010 saw Perkins blossom and have an outstanding season, making 40 appearances and receiving the Player of the Season and Players Player of the Season awards.

After 79 appearances over three seasons at Colchester he moved to Barnsley as a free agent in the summer of 2011, rejoining his ex Rochdale manager Keith Hill. On a visit to Charlton in October 2012 he was dubbed ”Barnsley Boris” by the home fans, his blonde hair reminiscent of that of the Mayor of London. Perkins was to make 69 appearances in  two and a half years playing for Barnsley in the Championship. In January 2014 he joined Blackpool on a free transfer. He made 64 appearances before being released this month.

In order to learn more about Perkins’ time at Blackpool we reached out to Phil at the AVFTT Blackpool fan site. AVFTT started out as a fanzine in 1996 and transferred to the Web in 2000. It has been going in various forms for the last 15 years and is now part of the FansNetwork group of websites.

The fan view below is also to be found on the avftt.co.uk site:

“He could do a job in League One” – probably the worst compliment anyone could pay a player who’s been plying his trade in the Championship for the last two seasons! However, that seems to have been the general consenus about David Perkins who was released by Blackpool officially yesterday and has been ‘snapped up’ by Wigan Athletic today.

When he first arrived at Bloomfield Road, many remembered him as the combative midfielder who had often been a thorn in the side when we’d played his former club Barnsley and whilst there wasn’t much around him when he arrived, it’s fair to say that in his time under Barry Ferguson he was one of the few players who could hold his head high at the end of the season. Therefore, much was expected of Perkins last season – few would say he delivered.

Maybe the biggest indictment on Perkins only full season in a tangerine shirt was that he only missed one game all season and yet only saw us win 4 games. In fact in his 64 games in a tangerine shirt he only enjoyed 7 victories – ironically one of which was against Wigan. At 5’6″, and through not fault of his own, many a game was spent chuckling as our keeper delivered a high ball in to midfield and Perkins failed to get within a foot of it! If he was a confidence player, then his confidence was shot at Blackpool. Quite often he’d do the hard work winning possession in midfield, only to give the ball straight back to the opposition. You could never question his commitment but too many times he fell short in the talent department.

At least he was one of few ‘recognisable’ players in the Blackpool team last season who you didn’t have to squint at in order to see who he was and we’ll see on at least two occasions next season if it was just the curse of the tangerine shirt which turned him in to a very average Championship player or if he excels as a League One player at Wigan.