Tag Archives: football

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.  

Wigan Athletic 2 Peterborough 0 – Latics show promise

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

The opening day 3-1 victory over Northampton was an enjoyable occasion for Latics supporters. Ryan Lowe’s new team certainly showed promise for the season ahead.  However, it was followed by an abject defeat at Leyton Orient and an insipid League Cup win over League 2 Notts County.

Yesterday’s win over Peterborough once again suggested that Lowe’s Latics team have potential, albeit tempered by the fact that the visiting team’s starting lineup was inexperienced, their two oldest players being 25 years old, the average age being 23.

Players’ age stats courtesy of FotMob.com

It is dangerous to make predictions at this stage of the season based on performances and results. Wigan’s best performances so far have been against two teams whose so far have gained just one point between them. Moreover, Peterborough had more than 70% possession and were awarded 10 corners compared with Wigan’s 3. Sadly, for the visitors, they could not show a cutting edge to their finishing.

However, green shoots have appeared to suggest that Lowe’s Latics have potential. The wing backs, Joe Hungbo and Fraser Murray, were excellent yesterday, as they had been against Northampton. Left wing back is a position that Hungbo is growing in to, having played as an inverted right winger previously. His approach burns up a lot of energy: he was substituted after 72 minutes yesterday, after 67 minutes against Orient and 70 minutes against Northampton. Hungbo has already shown the signs of becoming an effective wing back, a key component in Lowe’s system.

Murray really looks the part in the right wing back position, despite playing mainly on the left for Kilmarnock. His run and cross for Christian Saydee’s opening headed goal was quite superb. Murray is physically fit, intelligent, has excellent vision and gets himself into good attacking positions. He complements his attacking skills with sound defence and a determination to succeed.

Wing back is arguably the most physically demanding position to play in. Lowe has been dealt a cruel blow with Isaac Mabaya’s serious injury. He needs an alternative on the right-hand side as a backup to Murray. He has K’Marni Miller as a possibility for left wing back when fully fit. Already having a squad that needs to be reduced in size for economic reasons he will face difficulties finding someone to replace Mabaya.

Although they had such little possession Latics did create opportunities to increase their lead. However, the substitution of the defensively strong Luke Robinson for Hungbo, rather than Jonny Smith, signalled the manager’s intention of closing down the game. Peterborough did get into good positions around Wigan’s penalty area although they squandered their opportunities.

Another excellent performer yesterday was Christian Saydee. Not only was he in the right place to score the opening goal, but he had a fine all-round game. Saydee is not only physically very strong but has good skill on the ground, showing vision in finding teammates when under pressure. He is only 23 years old and looks like a bargain signing. Goalscoring is the side of his game that he really needs to work on.  His goal yesterday will do him a world of good.

Latics face trips to Luton and Rotherham this week. Each game will provide a stern test to Lowe’s squad which shows promise but still has a long way to go to prove itself as a contender in the upper reaches of the table.

Wigan Athletic 1 Notts County 0: disjointed Latics limp to victory

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

Wigan Athletic’s recent record in the Football League Cup has been far from impressive. In fact, this is the first time in the last four years that they have qualified for the second round.

“I want to go as far as we can” was Ryan Lowe’s prior comment on the club’s ambitions in the competition, but on the basis of this performance they might not even go beyond the second round. Good football was in short supply in this match for the sparse crowd that attended.

Lowe sprung a surprise in his starting lineup with Jensen Weir at right centre back, Luke Robinson coming in on the left to join Jason Kerr in centre of the back three. Callum Wright and Ryan Trevitt started in central midfield, with Tobias Brenan in the #6 role behind them. Isaac Abaya and Joe Hungbo were the wing backs, Maleace Asamoah and Paul Mullin the twin strikers.

Latics go off to an early lead after 10 minutes, Mullin blasting home a soft penalty awarded after Asamoah went down in the box. However, their play that followed was cumbersome and disjointed. There was certainly effort from the players but little cohesion, the opposition dominating possession.

Injuries have been a major problem in recent years for Latics and they continue to be so. A serious-looking leg injury to Mabaya saw him stretchered off after 29 minutes, Fraser Murray replacing him. Although Lowe had made six changes in this starting lineup the faces of Joe Adams, Baba Adeeko, Callum McManaman, K’Marni Miller, Matt Smith, Jonny Smith and Chris Sze have not been seen since the season-proper started. We await word on the injury to Jamie Carragher at Leyton on Saturday.

A key feature of that promising season start against Northampton was the effectiveness of the wing backs. However, with them being neutralised at Leyton and in this game, there has been reduced creativity. Murray’s sparkling debut against Northampton was a joy to watch, but the realities of playing in League 1 mean he could come in for some heavy marking by opposition defences as the season progresses. Moreover, Mabaya’s injury leaves Lowe short of options at right wing back.

Notts County enjoyed 64% of the possession in this game, with Latics struggling to find their men with their passes. They were fortunate that the visitors could not translate their possession into goals, although Notts could count themselves unlucky in the closing minutes as Sam Tickle and a resolute back three were key in putting their bodies on the line to keep their team ahead.

With the 3-1-4-2 formation and the influx of new players, Latics were always going to need time to adjust and gel as a unit in early season. The fine display against a Northampton side possibly heading towards the bottom of the table may seem like a false dawn after what we have seen since then. However, there is enough talent and experience in the squad to ensure a finish in the top ten of League 1.

In the meantime, one can only hope that Lowe can provide us with a passing game that can match the kind of effort that he expects from his players. A return for Matt Smith could be the kind of catalyst that is needed to cut down on wasted long passes and ensure a better build-up from defence.

Leyton Orient 2 Wigan Athletic 0: low-energy Latics fall to defeat

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

“We didn’t compete enough – we’ll address it on Monday morning, but the fact of the matter is, if you don’t compete, you’re not going to win.”

So said Ryan Lowe following an abject performance by his team.

Wigan’s performance was predictably dire. Predictable because Orient were wounded after losing their opening game, and Latics were probably made to look a bit better than they are against Northampton. The Carragher injury probem didn’t help. It was a bit if a nightmare for Sessegnon too.

Orient were far superior on the day. Lots of professional fouls to interrupt Latics, but with a fluid and dangerous front four. The Lowe version of hoofball – pass it back to Tickle so he can punt it as long as he can – will be frustrating against decent teams that can cope with it. But it’s percentage football and it could be enough to get Latics in contention for playoffs.

In January 2007 Denny Landzaat made a memorable comment reported by the Dutch press about Latics’ style of football under Steve Bruce:

 “Some matches the long ball is the only kind we play… It quickly turns into lottery football… I often think that as I’m not getting the ball played to me, I might as well run to get on the end of it when it drops from the sky.”

The ball went over the heads of Wigan’s central midfielders yesterday too. The 19-year-old Tobias Brenan had made a promising debut against Northampton, but looked a passenger in the first half. It would be fascinating to see him in a more possession-based team because he looks skilful. Moreover, most of the balls that had reached Dara Costelloe and Christian Saydee up front could be described as “hoofballs”, as opposed to accurately aimed long balls.

Jamie Carragher’s knee injury after four minutes of play was a bitter blow for Lowe. Already deprived of the combative Will Aimson through suspension the manager had to resort to a back three that had not previously played together as a unit. Jon Melliish was moved to left centre back, with the hapless Sessegnon moved to the right. Mellish did not perform at all badly and he showed an energy that many of his teammates were devoid of on the day. New signing Morgan Fox was not on the bench yesterday but will stake a strong claim to the left central defensive possession when fully fit.

Lowe has an opportunity to give other members of his squad a try in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup game at home to Notts County. He will be looking to re-energise his team for Saturday’s League 1 home tie against Peterborough.

Stats courtesy of WhoScored.com