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’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.
“The second half was everything that we want, and the complete opposite in the first half.”
So said Shaun Maloney as Latics had narrowly gone down to a 1-0 defeat.
A look at the team sheets an hour before football games start can give us an inkling of what might follow. It probably provided more than that in this case. Matt Smith and Jordan Jones on the bench, Jonny Smith at right wing back, three centre backs in place to blunt the home team’s aerial approach.
Given such a crowded fixture list and with having players suffering from injuries, knocks and strains a football manager can have difficult decisions to make. In this case Maloney decided the rest midfield king-pin Matt Smith, still easing his way back in after a long spell out with injury. With Liam Shaw, Sean Clare and Steven Sessegnon unavailable he decided to pair Baba Adeeko and Scott Smith in midfield. Jonny Smith had not looked comfortable previously at right wing back, but Maloney was short of options for that position, given the formation he chose.
The lifeless first half performance was another of those we have seem so often: practically devoid of life, players opting for the easy way out when receiving possession by passing the ball sideways or backwards. However, a rare slip by Sam Tickle was to prove the difference between the two teams in the first half. In the 19th minute Josh Scowen had easily got past Scott Smith on the edge of the box to put in a hard cross that the goalkeeper deflected into his own net. Tickle has been Wigan’s outstanding performer over the course of the season, but this time his technique let him down.
Playing with three centre backs had certainly blunted Wycombe’s cutting edge, but Wigan’s lack of movement and mobility in midfield and further forward meant that they posed little threat to the home team’s defence. We were to see that sterile football that has reared its head too often with centre backs gobbling up time passing the ball among themselves, central midfield incapable of providing the link between defence and attack and a blunt and ineffective strike force.
The manager introduced Jordan Jones, Matt Smith and Martial Godo following the half time break, taking off the ineffective Adeeko and Jonny Smith, plus Liam Morrison who had been his usual solid self. Reverting to a back four and with an injection of energy and creativity Latics looked a different team. Wycombe were pushed back into defence with Wigan on the front foot. The ineffective Stephen Humphrys and Josh Magennis were replaced by Chis Sze and Charlie Kelman after 62 minutes. However, despite their much-improved approach play Latics could not put the ball in the back of the net, with Argentinian goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli having a fine performance for Wycombe.
The first half of this game was depressing from a Latics point of view, but the second period saw them playing with some degree of flair and drive. The challenge for Maloney is to find a way to induce his players to play with tempo and be brave on the ball from the start, not having to rely on bringing on a swathe of substitutes to provide impetus.
Of the 11 players who started the game, 5 were products of the Wigan Athletic Academy, 3 were loanees, two signed by previous managers and one by Maloney last summer. Given the trajectory defined for Maloney by the owner it reflects the kind of balance that we can expect in the coming years. The squad is likely to be made up of a handful of senior pros, together with academy products and loan players.
There are a handful of players in the senior squad whose contracts expire this summer. There has been media speculation that some of them will be offered new contracts, but on much reduced salaries. The likelihood is that all will depart in summer, as will the loan players.
Wigan’s best performing players this season, Charlie Hughes and Sam Tickle, are academy products. Of last summer’s signings Matt Smith stands out as a real bargain, a key cog in Maloney’s preferred style of football. Sean Clare and Steven Sessegnon offer versatility, although the latter has had problems with injury. Jonny Smith has struggled for consistency. Callum McManaman has provided energy and dynamism when used off the bench and might well be offered an extension on his one-year contract.
Whether Hughes and Tickle remain at the club over summer will depend on the offers that will surely be coming in for them on the transfer market from the big clubs. Owner Mike Danson will be keen to cash in on transfer fees following another major loss-making season. Transfer fees for players in League 1 tend to be low compared to those in higher divisions: it will be interesting to see what develops.
“Anytime you come away from home and go 1-0 down, though, maybe you have to take the point. The performance though…for me, it was even better than Barnsley on New Year’s Day. Barnsley was very different, in that first half, it was very counter attack. Today for me was as good as we’ve played in a long, long time with the ball.”
Sean Maloney’s comments after the game. Latics had 65% possession during the course of the contest.
Maloney made two changes from the team that played Manchester United with 19-year-old Liverpool loanee Luke Chambers coming into the left side of defence and Josh Magennis as a central striker. There was a tweak in the formation with Thelo Aasgaard largely operating a left midfield role, alongside Stephen Sessegnon and Baba Adeeko.
Maloney’s tactical approach invariably involves players interchanging positions, making it difficult to define one specific formation. Such fluidity can make it difficult for the opposition to counter, although at times there can be glitches with gaps in the defensive formation, particularly if a player misplaces a pass. In this game Adeeko’s passing error gifted the home side a goal after 15 minutes after Sam Tickle had conceded a penalty in an attempt to rectify the error. Latics had dominated the game up to that point, but the goal lifted the confidence of the home team for the remainder of the first half.
When the half time whistle blew Latics were a goal down and the social media was awash with comments suggesting Magennis should be substituted out of the contest after being repeatedly causing attacks to break down through being off side.
No changes were made at half time, but there was an improvement in the tempo from Latics. After 61 minutes Maloney made a tactical adjustment took off centre back Liam Morrison, bringing on Callum McManaman. He also brought on Matt Smith for Adeeko. Smith immediately stamped his class into Wigan’s play and his defence-splitting pass to Martial Godo provided a tap in for Magennis after 64 minutes.
In the end a draw was a fair result and the point was enough to put Latics 5 points above the relegation zone with a record of W10 D6 L10. Northampton had started the game in the top half of the table and had won 3 and drawn one of their previous four home games. They seemed content to share the points at the end of the proceedings.
It was a delight to see Matt Smith back in action: his ability to receive the ball in tight situations and find his man with the pass makes him virtually irreplaceable in the style of play preferred by Maloney. Luke Chambers made a fine debut, being able to slot into that hybrid role of left back/left centre back. Together they provide rays of hope in their ability to effectively slot into the manager’s style of play.
Since Adeeko played for the Republic of Ireland U21 team in November he has not been able to consistently play at the same level as he did previously. Adeeko certainly provides the physicality and energy needed in the centre of midfield, but his passing has disappointed of late, being prone to pass backwards or sideways. But Adeeko is only 20 and in his first season as a regular in the first team. He has made remarkable strides and made himself a contender for an automatic place in the starting lineup. Given more time he could become a key player.
Matt Smith: a key player in “Maloneyball” (photo courtesy of Wigan Athtletic)
“We’ve pushed really hard to get him and he’s very important to how we are looking to play this year”
It was Shaun Maloney commenting on signing Matt Smith on a free transfer from Arsenal.
The 23-year-old Smith was hardly a “marquee signing”, having spent the past three seasons on loan at Swindon, Charlton and Doncaster. But he had been at Arsenal since he was seven and was steeped in the footballing style of the north London club. Why is Smith so important to the way Maloney wants his team to play this season?
Wigan Athletic’s early season form was a revelation. It was characterised by a possession-based style of football diametrically opposed to the long-ball approach that had been the norm over the past five years at the club. In true “Maloneyball” players get lots of touches of the ball, being required to create space for themselves in order to receive it. It is a purposeful style of football, based upon opening up the opposition, rather than merely retaining possession for possession’s sake.
Matt Smith played a pivotal role in excellent team performances in August. He constantly made himself available in tight situations, to receive the ball from defenders, rarely wasting a pass. Latics gained 10 points from their first four games in League 1, including wins at Bolton and Derby, both among the bookmakers’ favourites for promotion.
After a series of outstanding performances in August, Smith’s form dwindled. He was not able to stamp the same kind of authority on the play. In the first week of October Maloney revealed that Smith had been playing through pain caused by a hernia injury. He would receive surgery and would be out of action for up to six weeks.
The manager added:” I don’t know how these injuries happened; he was wrestling with his stomach. He was the ideal type of No. 6 or No. 8 I needed this summer, as seen by his performances against Derby, Carlisle, and Bolton.” Maloney also stated his expectation that other players would step up to cover Smith’s absence.
Sadly, Latics’ performances and results have taken a dive since August. They have lost their last four league games and the 8-point deduction means that they are in 23rd place with 5 points. Dire refereeing has played its part in the decline: controversial red cards and penalty decisions have hit Latics hard. The low point of the season was a 4-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers, followed by narrow defeats to Portsmouth, Burton Albion and Stevenage.
The praise that Maloney was receiving from fans in August has now veered towards heavy criticism as the results have nosedived. Among the many complaints are those that there seems little method in the way the team has been playing, a far cry from early in the season where the style of play was well-defined and the players clearly knew their roles. Team selection has also come under fire, some saying there has been too much squad rotation. The midfield, which was excellent in early season, has not provided sufficient protection for the defence, nor has it linked up well with the attack. It needs a hard man in the style of Sam Morsy in midfield. There have been too many changes in defence in particular. The inverted full back system has limited the attacking scope of the full backs. Maloney has been too loyal to some players over others. The cynics say that Maloney does not know his best starting X1.
At the start of the season Maloney named Josh Magennis as club captain and Callum Lang as vice-captain. Charlie Wyke has established himself as the first-choice centre forward, with Magennis as back up. Lang had an awful time last season in the Championship and his nightmare has continued in League 1, where the player had excelled a couple of seasons ago. Despite his woeful form Lang has featured in all 11 league games, in the majority of which he was a starter. The manager has continued to believe in the player, but with capable backups in the squad his preference for Lang has been questionable. Magennis has neither the goal scoring talent of Wyke, nor his ability to play as the target man role. With Wyke suspended, Maloney started the game at Burton with with a front three of Lang (one goal in his last 46 league games), Magennis (one goal in 44 league games) and Callum McManaman who scored a great goal against Northampton, but was never a prolific goal scorer.
With the international break Maloney has been afforded time to ponder over his options. Team selections and tactics have to be right. With Wyke suspended he has the option of playing Steven Humphrys at centre forward or to give the 19-year-old Josh Stones a league debut. Without Matt Smith we can expect less inter-passing between defence and midfield, unless Liam Shaw can play such a role. It is important to have a consistency in the centre of defence. Charlie Hughes will start, but who will play alongside him? Liam Morrison was excellent in early season, but has fallen out of favour. Omar Rekik and Kell Watts have been disappointing, although the former has had to play at full back at times. Lang has been mainly playing in the number 10 role, putting in lots of energy, but with close to zero end-product. Thelo Aasgaard is a natural number 10 but has been very disappointing so far. Humphrys might also be tried there.
Ideally Maloney would have Latics play that brand of football we saw in August, but Latics are in a relegation dog fight. Perhaps when Matt Smith returns to action, they will be in a healthier position to revert to that silky football we saw at the start of the season. Smith’s injury certainly had an effect on performances but it is not the sole reason that Latics have fallen down the table.
Maloney is still a relatively inexperienced football manager, but he is bright and talented and has shown real commitment towards the club. He has a young squad, operating on a quarter of the budget of last season. There is sufficient talent in the squad for Latics to avoid relegation and establish themselves in the division. Such is the youth of this squad that we can expect ups and downs along the road. It could be a bumpy ride until the season ends.
LOS THREE AMIGOS 