Tag Archives: Fortune

Doncaster Preview – Maynard set for debut

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

keepmoat

Wigan Athletic travel to the Keepmoat Stadium this afternoon having won their last three away games and being unbeaten in the league in seven matches under Uwe Rosler. Doncaster are fighting to get themselves out of the relegation mire, currently sitting on 22nd place. Their home record reads W4 D2 L6.

Under normal circumstances one would expect an emphatic Latics win. However, Wigan come into the encounter following an energy-sapping 120 minutes FA Cup win at MK Dons on Tuesday. It is by no means an ideal preparation for a trip to any team in the Championship division.

Uwe Rosler will be keen to avoid slipping on the banana skin with three points going begging. Ideally he would refresh his starting lineup to rest some of the tired legs in his squad. However, his options may be limited because of injury problems. In the centre of defence both Ivan Ramis and Thomas Rogne have been out for several games and Emmerson Boyce has had to move over to cover from the right back position. This might be the case today with James Perch on the right. The attacking option on the left of defence is Jean Beausejour, but Stephen Crainey is a possibility.

Midfielders Roger Espinoza, James McArthur, Chris McCann and Ben Watson played the full two hours at Milton Keynes.  At least two of them will make today’s lineup, with a possible start for Jordi Gomez, who came on after 72 minutes in midweek.

Callum McManaman was rested in midweek and could prove a key player today. Rosler wants to avoid burn-out of his young players. He is clearly nurturing McManaman, who has been starting to regain his form. Rosler is also concerned about overplaying the excellent 19 year old Nick Powell. However, had Powell not come on in the second half at Milton Keynes Latics might well have been knocked out of the FA Cup. He provides that extra touch of class and creativity that the team lacks when he is not on the field.

Marc-Antoine Fortune can at last see some light at the end of a dark tunnel, having scored two well taken goals in his last two games. Fortune was in danger of being written off by some fans and lumped into the same category as the hapless Grant Holt – that of two 32 year old strikers past their best.

Fortune has always been a good footballer, a mobile striker with no mean level of skill. His career record shows he has never been a consistent goalscorer, but with his previous clubs he would often be played wide, away from his natural position in the centre. The French Guianian might be into his thirties, but he still has pace and is benefitting from an extended run in the team. In league matches he now has 2 goals from 10 starts, but he leads the ‘assists’ with four.

Fortune fits in the Rosler mould as a mobile centre forward who can contribute towards the high pressing, but also has the pace to launch rapid counterattacks. The same cannot be said of Holt, who has temporarily left the club.

Holt was brought in by Owen Coyle to employ him in the kind of role that Kevin Davies played in the manager’s time at Bolton. He scored two goals in nine starts at Wigan. There has been much vitriol from fans aimed at the big Cumbrian, who has been offered a lifeline by his old manager Paul Lambert at Aston Villa. This is a good move for Wigan, not only freeing up space on the wage bill, but giving the player a fresh chance to show that he is not ‘over the hill’.

This week the social media has been riddled with images of Holt as an overweight, out-of-condition player. However, he was recently quoted as saying that he is in the best shape of his career. Holt has never been a player known for his pace, but more of an old fashioned English centre forward, a battering ram to attack any defence.  A future for Holt at Wigan remains unlikely given the style of play that Rosler seeks and the fan reaction towards him.

Rosler will probably start Fortune at centre forward at Doncaster today, bringing on Nicky Maynard at some stage. However, Fortune has started in the last four matches in a space of 17 days, including the marathon at Milton Keynes. A bold move on the manager’s part would be to put on Maynard from the start.

Maynard fits into the Rosler mould as a mobile central striker who can score goals. At 27 he should be nearing his peak, but serious injuries have held him back. Rosler will ease him in gradually and he could well share that centre forward position with Fortune, the two interchanging between the starting lineup and coming off the bench.

Whether Wigan Athletic come away with the points from today’s game depends largely on the energy and commitment they can put into it. Quite often the adrenalin that comes from a successful run of results can be sufficient to keep those tired legs moving.

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Coyle’s revolution ends, but the foundations are laid

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

Owen Coyle has laid the foundations for success

Losing three home matches in a little over a week would put huge pressure on any manager, let alone one whose initial appointment did not go down well with so many of the fans.

The media say it is the fans who ended Owen Coyle’s tenure at Wigan.

The more rational argument is that Dave Whelan still wants promotion back to the Premier League and events led him to believe that Coyle could not hack it.

There has been so much doom and gloom over these past days. The “Coyle Out” movement was growing and growing, but fans have also been having a go at players too. The two experienced central strikers signed by Coyle – Marc-Antoine Fortune and Grant Holt – have been the main targets through fan and social media.

But it is not just Coyle’s signings who have been under attack.

The treatment of Jordi Gomez by fans in the Zulte Waregem was highlighted by Coyle in the press conference after yesterday’s game. “I will take what criticism comes my way. There is expectation at Wigan and there is a majority who are outstanding. But there is a section that is ultra-critical. We have already seen that in the treatment they give Jordi Gomez. We should all be sticking together.”

Coyle was right in saying that there is expectation at Wigan. After eight seasons in the Premier League, a League Cup Final appearance and winning the FA Cup people do expect better than what has been seen this season. Last season Latics put out weakened teams to demolish Championship teams Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town away from home in cup competitions. This season’s home victories over those teams were ‘grind-it-out victories’ with little of that flair on view.

Coyle’s appointment was always going to be about revolution rather than evolution. Whelan had chosen a manager whose ideas of playing style was diametrically opposed to that of his predecessor, Roberto Martinez.

Coyle had to deal with players used to passing the ball out of defence, keeping the ball on the ground. But he signed defenders of the ‘no-nonsense’ type, hoofing the ball away when under the slightest pressure.

Coyle was unable to find a consistently happy medium. Too often the players seemed confused about what was expected of them. The playing style lacked “identity”. They played in a tactical vacuum.

However, it could be argued that Coyle knew what he was doing and was not allowed enough time. He had a monumental task ahead of him rebuilding a team from the rubble remaining at the end of the Martinez era. He did a fantastic job in recruiting a dozen new players, all of whom are capable of playing a role for Latics in their quest to get out of the Championship and back to the Premier League.

Despite the frustrations Latics remain in mid-table in the Championship and still have a chance of progressing to the next round of the Europa League.

A new manager coming in will have the luxury that was not afforded to Owen Coyle – starting with a strong squad of players capable of winning promotion. All that is needed is a couple of astute signings in the January transfer window.

If Latics are promoted come May it is the new manager who will receive the plaudits.

Only the more discerning of fans will recognize the great job done by Coyle in putting that squad together. He has laid the foundations upon which the incoming manager can build.

Coyle was only at Wigan for six months, but he has left a legacy that will serve the club for seasons to come.

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Coyle’s January Shopping List

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

shopping

Time is marching on and the January transfer window is creeping up on us.

Owen Coyle has worked wonders so far in the transfer market, his dealings having placed Latics balance sheet firmly in the black.

Coyle will go into the January market with ample funds available for transfers, but will be constrained by the club’s salary policy. That would rule out signings like Blackburn’s Jordan Rhodes. Once again Coyle will be looking out for bargain buys whose salary demands are realistic.

With the win at Yeovil, Latics have moved up to 10th place in the Championship, only two points short of the playoff zone with a game in hand. If they can continue in this vein they will be in a good position to mount a realistic promotion challenge. Moreover Coyle has the chance to bring in new blood to cover the squad’s weaker areas through the transfer window.

By January the futures of short-term loanees Marc Albrighton and Ryan Shotton will have been determined.

If Albrighton does not stay at Wigan then Coyle will need to look elsewhere for a wide player who can make a difference.  Ivan Ramis is approaching full fitness after a ten month absence through injury. If Shotton is recalled by Stoke, Coyle has a more than adequate replacement for him at centre back.

So what are the areas that need strengthening?

Latics have scored a paltry 17 goals in the 14 league matches they have played. Coyle’s two mainline central strikers are both 32 years old and past their best.

Both Marc-Antoine Fortune and Grant Holt have had injury problems. They have mustered only three league goals between them. This is not to suggest the two players cannot play a major role in a promotion push, but Coyle needs another option given their record up to this point.

At least one more central striker is a necessity for that promotion push.

Two new full backs would also make a difference.

The left back position has been problematic. Stephen Crainey has had a hard time adjusting following his move from Blackpool. He is also 32 years old and might not have the pace he used to have.

Jean Beausejour has stepped in at left back several times, but it is not his natural position and he is better employed further forward.  James Perch has provided defensive stability over recent matches in that position, but his attacking skills on his ‘wrong side’ are limited.

Specialist left back Juan Carlos Garcia remains untried. The Honduran has been given just one start – away at Manchester City in the League Cup, where he was played out of position in left midfield. Coyle seems reluctant to put him in at this stage.

The evergreen Emmerson Boyce is 34 years old now, but remains a fine right back. He might have lost a little bit of pace over the years, but what he might lack he makes up for it in experience. Boyce’s passing skills are sorely missed when he is not in the team. Ryan Shotton is a promising young central defender but his miserable 57% pass completion rate in the Rubin game in Russia shows how Latics need a specialist right back when Boyce is not available.

Wigan Athletic have the third best defensive record in the Championship, with only 12 goals conceded.  It provides a solid base on which to build a promotion challenge. It is scoring goals that is the problem.

Coyle’s main aim in the transfer window will therefore be to bring in at least one quality striker. A quality attacking left back would also help in the creation of goals. Moreover there is a need for a specialist right back in case of an injury to Boyce.

Perhaps Coyle will also look for a playmaker in the long-term absence of Shaun Maloney, although he already has Nick Powell and Jordi Gomez .

Providing Latics can maintain their defensive strength and  cover the weak areas of the squad through the transfer window they will surely be challenging for a Premier League place over the coming months.

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Wigan Athletic 2 Atromitos 1 – a game of two halves

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Other and tagged with , ,
Leigh Sports Village

Leigh Sports Village

Wigan Athletic continued their run of pre-season victories with a win over  Atromitos at Leigh Sports Village. The Athens-based team, also competing in Europe, promised to give Wigan a  stern test and so it was to prove. Despite standing on a 2-0 lead at half time, Wigan must have been glad to hear the final whistle as the Greek team continued to press in the second half.

Wigan started the game with a patched-up defence, with midfield players Chris McCann and Jean Beausejour playing at left centre back and left full back. Adam Buxton started at right back, with James Perch in the middle. There was a packed midfield with Ben Watson anchored in front of the back four with Fraser Fyvie, Roger Espinoza and Jordi Gomez further forward. Callum McManaman and Marc-Antoine Fortune provided the threat upfront.

In an open and entertaining first half Wigan had their excellent young goalkeeper, Lee Nicholls, to thank for maintaining a clean sheet. Wigan had opened the scoring with a Gomez penalty after 6 minutes, after Fortune had been fouled. The big centre forward was to make it two in the 34th minute , when he turned and hit a rocket left foot shot into the right hand corner of the net. The Greeks had their fair share of chances, but Nicholls’ positioning and agility was to deny them.

Atromitos made a raft of changes at half time and the fresh legs of their substitutes challenged a Wigan side that had begun to look lethargic after that bright first half. The Greek team’s approach in the second half was over-physical for a friendly game, with McCarthy being the main recipient. Three yellow cards were handed out as a result, although more serious consequences would surely have resulted had this been a  match with more at stake.

Owen Coyle had tried to bring back some spark to Wigan by bringing on James McCarthy, James McArthur and Stephen Crainey after 54 minutes, but the midfield continued to be dominated by the Greek team. Bringing on two new front players – Nouha Dicko and Grant Holt – after 60 minutes also failed to wrest  the initiative from Atromitos.

Given their constant pressing, it was no surprise when Karamanous scored a well taken goal for Atromitos after 76 minutes.

In the end a tired Wigan held on to seal a 2-1 win.

The Good

Marc-Antoine Fortune is clearly enjoying playing in the lone centre forward role at Wigan. It suits him much more than the supporting striker role he has had to play at previous clubs. He is strong and has good technique, which he demonstrated through the 54 minutes he was on the pitch. Fortune is not a striker who has a good goalscoring record throughout his career, but he has scored in each of the last three games for Latics. Moreover each goal he has scored has been well taken.

It was revealing to see Lee Nicholls get the nod once more ahead of Scott Carson and Mike Pollitt in goal. Nicholls is a very accomplished young  keeper and has a bright future ahead. With Ali Al Habsi due to return in the near future, Wigan will have a surfeit of goalkeepers. There remains the possibility of Nicholls once again being sent off on loan, but the departure of Al Habsi would not be a surprise.

In the absence of experienced defenders,  James Perch once more stepped up to the plate and delivered. He has been an ever-present in the starting lineup and looks like he is going to be a real force in the centre of the defence this season.

The Bad

The starting lineup revealed the need for experienced, specialist defenders. Coyle might be able to get away with playing midfield players in defensive positions in friendly games but they are likely to get found out in the harsh reality of the Championship division.

This is surely something that Coyle is working on.

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