Let's Hang On

Ali is a Wiganer – keeper signs permanent deal

Posted on July 4, 2011 by ianhaspinall

: Ali Al-Habsi seals his dream move to Wigan

The on and off transfer from Bolton to Wigan has now been resolved and Ali Al-Habsi is now a Wiganer. After much wrangling an undisclosed fee (probably £4m) was today agreed by the two clubs and Ali signed a four-year deal.

It was always clear that Ali wanted to come to the club where he had performed so valiantly on loan last season, but Bolton held out for a somewhat inflated fee.

The 29-year-old was so impressive last season that the latics fans were desperate for him to sign permanently.

When Ali broke into the first team at Spurs few people (except perhaps Roberto Martinez) expected him to make such an impact. His faultless performance in a crucial 1-0 away win turned around latics season after the two early heavy defeats against Blackpool and Chelsea.

It is no exaggeration to say that without Ali’s performances Wigan would probably not have survived in the Premier League. During his tenure he kept eight clean sheets and the team went onto register their fewest defeats during their time in the Premier League.

Ali was voted player of the season for 20110/11 and if he continues where he left off last season he will play a crucial role in Wigan’s progress further up the league table.

Ali is now truly a Wiganer and of course…… he hates Bolton.

Posted in Ali Al Habsi, Bolton Wanderers, Transfers, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Ali Al Habsi, Bolton Wanderers, Transfers, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

Canaries, Swans and Tigers – the prospects for 2011/12

Posted on June 20, 2011 by ianhaspinall

Wigan Athletic’s first game of the 2011/12 Premier League season will be against Championship runners-up Norwich City. The Canaries travel to the DW Stadium on August 13th and this fixture is followed by Swansea away on the 20th and then Queens Park Rangers at home on 27th.

Some may say that these first three games are an easy start to the season, but my personal view is that the newly promoted teams will be determined to make a good start in the top flight. The adrenaline will flow and they will want to show that they can compete with the very best. Last season’s opener against Blackpool shows how a team who have built up a winning momentum during a promotion season can continue that progress in the early stages of the Premier League season.

So let’s look in more detail at the three promoted teams.

Norwich City

Captain Canary - Norwich City mascot

Norwich have made two successive promotions and have risen phoenix like under manager Paul Lambert. Only nine months after leaving his post at Colchester he led Norwich to the first promotion and last season managed to galvanise his team into a second promotion to the promised land.

The Canaries had been in a downward spiral since leaving the Premier League in 2005 and had gone through a succession of managers including Nigel Worthington, Peter Grant, Glenn Roeder and Bryan Gunn until Lambert arrived to rescue them.

Norwich like Blackpool before them have no stand out names. Grant Holt their captain and player of the year for the last two seasons is a solid player, but is far from being a household name.

Lambert is not looking to make signings from overseas, but has targeted seven additions to his newly promoted side.

He has already made three pre-season signings, midfielder Elliott Bennett and strikers James Vaughan and Steve Morison, but they have added little Premier League experience to the Norfolk outfit, with Vaughan’s eight starts and 39 substitute appearances for Everton making him the only one of the trio to have tasted top flight football.

Only four other City players have notched up games in the Premier League – John Ruddy (one), Adam Drury (33), Leon Barnett (11) and Andrew Surman (seven) – and Lambert has hinted he will not be bucking the trend with future acquisitions.

Familiarity, hard work and teamwork will play a crucial role in Norwich’s attempt to stay up, but ultimately I think the lack of top quality players will be Norwich’s downfall.

Swansea City

Cyril the Swan - Swansea City mascot

Just like like Wigan Swansea City play a very attractive style of football. It is no coincidence they both play this way given that the architect of this approach is Roberto Martinez.

Martinez took over as manager of Swansea in 2007 and immediately transformed the club from top to bottom. He recruited new players, changed the style of football, overhauled the coaching and fitness regime, in fact, he changed the whole ethos of the club.

When he took over the Swans were struggling in Division One, but in his second season the club were promoted to the Championship with a record haul of 92 points. Before he left to takeover at Wigan, the Swans had just missed out on the play offs in the Championship. The club’s progress under Martinez had been exceptional.

Roberto explains his footballing philosophy in his book ‘Kicking every ball’ published in 2008.

“I was looking forward to the new challenge and putting my philosophy into action. Football is a results industry, but I don’t believe the result can ever make your style of play irrelevant. To me it is important that the route to the result is attractive. “

He goes on to explain,

“You have to find the chance to score rather than chase it. As well as the skill, you need a clear understanding of the game and a clear control of the tempos of play with the possession of the ball. As a manager I want to rely on the talent of the player, not on percentage football, to win a game. I believe this approach is vital. I will never subscribe to the view that as a manager you can take any way to a win because that can only bring success in the short-term. It doesn’t allow you to build and grow something for the future”.

Subsequent Swansea managers Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rogers have continued with the same style of football, with the team gaining promotion to the Premier League via the play off final beating Reading 4-2, with former Wigan loanee Scott Sinclair scoring a hat trick.

It is interesting to note that following the promotion the Swansea players paid tribute to the important influence Roberto Martinez had on the club.

Swans chairman Huw Jenkins says that they will continue to play the same attractive style of football in the Premier League and believes they can compete with the big teams.

However, it is often difficult for teams who gain promotion through the play offs to plan and recruit appropriate players for the top flight.

The summer transfers have so far been limited. Swansea have released key midfielder Darren Pratley and are in discussions to sign Spanish international Marcos Senna. Swansea don’t have the resources of most of the other clubs and I do not expect them to spend heavily on transfers.

Swansea will win many admirers for their attractive football, but I think their lack of resources will restrict the quality of their signings, and this in turn will limit their chances of survival.

Queens Park Rangers

Spark the Tiger - QPR mascot

QPR were promoted to the Premier League as Champions but the promotion was somewhat tainted by an FA investigation into QPR’s acquisition of Alejandro Faurlín which threatened to deduct points from the side and put their promotion into jeopardy. The investigation found QPR to be at fault in two of the seven charges, and they received a £875,000 fine, but no points deduction came into play.

QPR have some extremely wealthy owners. In fact, Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Lakshmi Mittal rival Roman Abramovich or Sheikh Mansour as the richest owners of a Premier League club.

The trio are never far from controversy.

Flavio Briatore’s future as QPR chairman came under question in September 2009 after he left the Renault F1 team in the midst of race fixing allegations.

The owners have been accused of cashing in on the club’s promotion by hiking the prices of both match day and season tickets.

Queens Park Rangers supporters have reacted angrily after learning they will be charged up to £72 to watch their team in the Premier League next season.

The cheapest tickets will be £47 while season tickets are up by almost 40% from last term, although with four home games less in the Premier League compared to the Championship, the increase is even more in real terms.

Paul Finney of the Independent R’s website said,

”Flavio Briatore’s dream is a ’boutique’ club, which has an exclusive feel to it and is the place for wealthy people to be seen. Not only is that a slap in the face of QPR supporters, it is not in the long-term interests of a club that has two other Premier League clubs (Chelsea and Fulham) on its doorstep.”

QPR’s season ticket price changes will see the most expensive band – platinum – increasing from £699 to £999.

The motivation of the trio in owning QPR remains unclear. None are natural fans of the club, and whilst they have bankrolled losses (injecting £41m up to 31st May 2010 on top of the £14m paid originally), there has been no substantial investment in the playing squad or ground. Briatore has famously spoken of turning the club into a ‘global brand’, but no mechanism to achieve this has been suggested.

In the three seasons up to 2009/10, the club spent a net £4.8m in cash on players and a net £5.3m on the ground. Net transfer spending in 2010/11 was close to zero. Success has come from finally finding a manager in Neil Warnock who is a proven promotion specialist, not from spending.

Meanwhile Ecclestone placed a £100m price tag on the club in April and there were abortive talks about he and Briatore selling out to Mittal in May this year (ending with the Mittal offer being dismissed as “insultingly low”).

So QPR and its owners remain steeped in controversy. They are the mega-rich owners who haven’t bought any players and who, despite the £40m windfall coming the club’s way, feel that they need to hike season ticket prices by an extortionate 40%.

QPR have an experienced manager in Neil Warnock and although some people may not like his style he does have a good track record in getting his teams promoted. He has managed in the Premier League previously with Sheffield United, but as we all know his team were relegated on the final day of the 2007 season against Wigan.

Rangers have players with Premier League experience in Paddy Kenny, Shaun Derry, Danny Shittu and ex latics player Fitz Hall, plus some exciting youngsters, but they will need to add more quality to the squad.

QPR have a prized asset in midfielder Adel Taarabt, but it is now looking likely that he will move on. Warnock is very good at organising and motivating his troops, but unless the wealthy owners are prepared to invest in the playing staff, they will have a difficult season ahead.

Posted in Norwich City, QPR, Swansea City, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Norwich City, QPR, Swansea City, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

The best value Season Ticket deal in the Premier League

Posted on June 10, 2011 by ianhaspinall

Whelan and Martinez - a great team

With Roberto Martinez now confirmed at the helm of the good ship Wigan Athletic, it is now time for all football fans in Wigan to get behind the club and show your support.

Under Martinez Wigan will look to push on next season and establish themselves as a top ten team. They will continue to play the same attractive passing game, which has gained many plaudits (apart from Mark Lawrenson) and this can only augur well for the future of the club.

Latics already have some exciting young players and I’m expecting Roberto to add to these over the close season. Roberto wants to establish a footballing dynasty at the club along the same lines as Barcelona legends Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola.

Come and join a club which is developing and progressing in the right way under Roberto Martinez and Dave Whelan.

Season Ticket Deal

Wigan – One Adult and One Child £270 ie £14.21 per Premier League game + Under 5’s Free. A fantastic price for a Premier League season ticket for an adult and one child. If you are already a season ticket holder it’s actually only going to cost £250 to renew ie £13.16 a game.

Get your Wigan Athletic Season Tickets here.

Posted in Dave Whelan, Roberto Martinez, Season Tickets, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Dave Whelan, Roberto Martinez, Wigan Athletic | 2 Comments

Transfer torment for the latics

Posted on June 2, 2011 by ianhaspinall

Transfer target Charles N'Zogbia

The close season transfer window is now officially open and the transfer rumours are already in full flow. It is no exaggeration to say that the transfer rumour mill now turns 24 hours a day, every day in the year. Fans of the Premier League big hitters look forward to seeing who they can sign, but for many latics fans the close season is a time of transfer torment.

The initial transfer Wigan rumours centre around James McCarthy, Charles N’Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega, Ali Al Habsi, Mohammed Diame, Maynor Figueroa and even manager Roberto Martinez all being linked with moves away from the DW Stadium.

While speculation about arrivals includes Pablo Piatti and Hernan Bernadello from Almeria, Cedric Hengbart from Auxerre, Craig Mackail-Smith from Peterborough and Guy Moussi from Nottingham Forest.

The major worry for Wigan fans is that we are seen as an easy target for the bigger teams to take our best players. Yes we often make a sizeable profit on these players but we are then faced with the difficult task of having to replace our star performers with players who cost less. We will have to recruit replacements who may not yet be at the same level as our star performers. We now have to recruit and rebuild the squad every close season.

The implications of all this were seen in the opening two games of last season when a quickly assembled new Wigan team faced Blackpool and Chelsea and were soundly beaten. It takes time to establish the style of play and to build understanding between the players.

Roberto Martinez clearly knows how he wants his teams to play, but if there are significant changes over the summer, we will have to bring in new players who may not have long to settle in before the season starts.

The team had found a rich vein of form towards the end of the season with Charles N’Zogbia scoring five goals in the final six games. Losing him, James McCarthy or in fact any of our star performers will pose Roberto with a significant challenge to replace them.

It will be particularly galling for Roberto and the coaching staff to scout, nurture and develop these players and then to lose them so quickly.

Latics have a wage structure and relatively small transfer budget, yet some of our fans don’t seem to understand that we cannot match the huge wage demands of players and their agents. So we continue to be an easy target for the Premier League teams with big budgets.

Some Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United players are now on £250,000 a week. There is massive wage inflation in the Premier League, with even some journeymen players demanding six figure salaries. The temptation for players to move should not be underestimated.

It would be nice if, after the tension and excitement of the final games of the season, the close season could be a relaxing experience. But the constant tirade of rumours via the TV, Internet, Twitter, Facebook and other social media mean that it is impossible to escape the speculation and the fear that we will be losing our best players or even our manager.

Unfortunately there is very little we as Wigan fans can do, but watch on the sidelines as the transfer madness unfolds.

Posted in Ali Al Habsi, Charles N'Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega, James McCarthy, Maynor Figueroa, Mohammed Diame, Roberto Martinez, Transfers, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Ali Al Habsi, Charles N'Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega, James McCarthy, Mohammed Diame, Roberto Martinez, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

Mission accomplished

Posted on May 23, 2011 by ianhaspinall

Hugo Rodallega celebrates the winner

We did it! We stayed up! What an absolutely incredible finale to the season, with 13 minutes to go we were in the relegation zone, but a Manchester United goal against Blackpool and then Hugo Rodallega’s 78th minute headed goal made us safe.

The post match celebrations were something to behold, Roberto being bounced in the air by the players and then throwing his lucky jacket to the fans, wallet included! Dave Whelan showered in Champagne by Hugo and then warmly embraced by Roberto.

Little Wigan had proved all the doubters wrong and we can now look forward to a seventh season in the Premier League.

When I started writing this blog at the beginning of February Wigan sat second bottom of the league and had not won in 2011, and yet I still believed we could escape. Some may say this was blind faith, but I thought we could do it because we have some excellent young players, a great team spirit and one of the best young managers around in Roberto Martinez.

Roberto is a very intelligent manager, he has some very strong beliefs and he always wants his team to play football in the right way.

Roberto supports his players and gives them confidence, he does not criticise his players in public and he engenders a great team spirit. Some say he overly accentuates the positive but I think this gives players the belief that they can achieve great things. He always seems cool and calm, even under the most intense pressure, his decision-making during the final two games of the season were exemplary.

He wants to play football on the floor, pass and move – yes like Barcelona (although we are not at that level), he wants to build a team of young players who will go onto great success. His long-term plan is to establish Wigan as a Premier League force and to constantly improve the club’s status. He always has the best interests of the club at heart.

Now that we have stayed up, I think he will go on to establish the club higher up the table, the current crop of young players and the excellent youth policy means that the club has a very bright future ahead.

Posted in Dave Whelan, Hugo Rodallega, Roberto Martinez, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Dave Whelan, Hugo Rodallega, Roberto Martinez, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic | 2 Comments

Real Roy of the Rovers stuff

Posted on May 20, 2011 by ianhaspinall

Roy of the Rovers at Wigan Athletic – photograph courtesy of Homes of Football

Last Sunday saw a real Roy of the Rovers ending (see footnote for younger readers) to an incredible game at the DW stadium as Wigan overcame West Ham 3-2. This amazing rollercoaster encounter saw Latics come back from 2-0 down at half time and win 3-2 in the 94th minute with a modern-day Roy Race, Charles N’Zogbia getting the last gasp winner. It was a comic book fantasy ending to an emotionally charged relegation decider.

The fans went through the whole gamut of emotions during the mind-boggling 94 minutes, before they were able to celebrate what was an exceptional result.

Unfortunately we have to do it all again this Sunday. We go to Stoke probably needing to win with other teams slipping up. We are in a five way relegation battle with Wolves, Blackburn, Birmingham and Blackpool, with two of the five to be relegated.

Stoke have had a great season, FA Cup finalists, qualified for Europe and currently 9th in the Premier League table. Worryingly they have an imposing record at home this season with 10 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats, scoring 31 with 17 against.

Some may point to the fact that Stoke have lost their last two games against Manchester City but Tony Pulis is one of the hardest taskmasters and he will want his team to sign off with more points than last season and to finish in the top 10.

Stoke have several injury doubts with Robert Huth, Jermaine Pennant, Matthew Etherington, Rory Delap and Kenwyne Jones all facing fitness tests. Despite this long list I expect that Pulis will want to play his strongest team and this will no doubt include most of the above.

The Potters are one of the most hard-working and competitive teams in the league and their robust and physical style make them difficult to beat.

Many of Stoke’s goals come from corners, free-kicks and Rory Delap’s long throws. Wigan will need to stand firm and be combative against the aerial bombardment. The defensive lapses experienced against West Ham cannot be repeated if we are to prevail.

The big question for Wigan fans is whether Conor Sammon will start the game. Sammon scored a crucial equaliser against West Ham and can lead the line with strength and purpose. Roberto Martinez may however decide to start with his usual line-up and only introduce Sammon when required.

The player who could be the deciding factor between the two teams is Charles N’Zogbia. Wigan’s leading scorer has scored 6 goals in the last 5 games and if he is able to continue his scintillating form Wigan will be favourites to get the 3 points.

A Wigan win gives us a great chance of survival, but the scores at Molineux, Old Trafford and White Hart Lane will also have a say in our destiny.

If Sunday’s game is anything like the West Ham game we are in for another emotional afternoon and I’m hoping for another real Roy of the Rovers ending from Wigan Athletic.

Footnote – Roy of the Rovers is a British comic strip about the life and times of a fictional footballer named Roy Race, who played for Melchester Rovers. The stock media phrase “real ‘Roy of the Rovers’ stuff” is often used by football writers, commentators and fans when describing displays of great skill, or results that go against the odds, in reference to the dramatic storylines that were the strip’s trademark.

Posted in Stoke City, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Roy of the Rovers, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic | 2 Comments

Still Hanging On

Posted on May 12, 2011 by ianhaspinall

Wigan players celebrate

Well we are still hanging on but it is now only by our fingertips. Results last Saturday went against us, despite a good performance at Villa Park we could only manage a draw, Blackpool gained an unexpected point at Spurs and Wolves strolled past a West Brom team who clearly had their minds elsewhere.

The bottom of the table does not provide good reading going into the last two games of the season.

P W D L F A GD Pts

15 Blackburn Rovers 36 10 9 17 42 56 -14 39
16 Birmingham City 36 8 15 13 36 54 -18 39
17 Wolves                  36 10 7 19 41 62 -21 37
18 Blackpool                36 9 9 18 49 71 -22   36
19 Wigan Athletic       36 7 15 14 36 59 -23 36
20 West Ham United 36 7 12 17 41 64 -23 33

Looking at the remaining games, I think goal difference could decide our fate.

Here’s my personal analysis of the remaining fixtures for the six teams involved.

Blackburn play Manchester United at home on Saturday and they probably need one more point to stay up, given their superior goal difference. United on the other hand require one point for the Premier League title. My feeling is that a draw will suit both teams nicely and if the scores are level in the second half, I can’t see either team trying to push on and get three points. A draw is my expected result.

Blackburn’s final game is against Wolves away and assuming Blackburn have secured a point against Man United, Wolves will be favourites to win this game as they desperately need to win and Rovers will be just about be safe. A Wolves win allied with a least a point in their game at Sunderland will take Wolves to 41 points and safety.

Birmingham play Fulham at home on Saturday and with Fulham having won only two away from home all season League, a Fulham win is unlikely. Birmingham will be desperate to win and secure safety before their final game away at Spurs, but given Fulham’s ability to counter attack and their record as draw specialists, I’m going for a draw. This will take the Blues to forty points.

Birmingham at Spurs is a tricky one to predict. Spurs have been outstanding in the first half of the season but since their Champions League exit their season has tailed off and they have now missed out on a top four slot. However, they still have the players to outshine Birmingham and I’m backing ‘Arry’s Boys to sign off with a win. If this is the case, Birmingham will sign off with forty points and goal difference will decide their fate.

Blackpool face Bolton on Saturday in a crucial local derby, I’m hoping that the Wanderers players show some pride and don’t just roll over against their Lancashire neighbours. I’m predicting a hard-fought draw with neither team gaining the upper hand.

Blackpool’s next game is at Old Trafford against a United team who are expected to have already won the League. The general feeling is that United will field their second string team as they have the Champions League final against Barcelona imminent. Another draw will not be a problem for United, but it will enough to relegate Blackpool.

Wigan have their biggest game of the season on Sunday (4pm KO) against West Ham. A draw or a win for Wigan will relegate West Ham. But realistically latics must win this game and probably the next against Stoke if they are to guarantee survival.

Many people are calling for striker Conor Salmon to start the game against West Ham, and Roberto to adopt a 4-4-2 formation and go all out to attack. At this stage in the season I think it is unlikely that the manager will change his approach. Wigan will adopt their patient passing game and hope that Charles N’Zogbia can unlock the Hammers defence.

My heart says a Wigan win and West Ham to be relegated. The pressure will then go onto the final game at Stoke City.

Stoke are facing Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on Saturday and I expect this game to be closer than many people expect. Stoke are physical and aggressive competitors, but they have now managed to combine this with some skill and creativity. I think they will pose difficult opponents for Man City and they could just edge it over the ninety minutes or possibly during extra time and penalties.

When Wigan face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday 22 May they will either be up against the FA Cup winners or the disappointed runners-up. How this will affect their performance on the day is hard to predict. Some will say that as winners they will not really care about the Wigan game, but others predict that they will want to sign off the season victorious and celebrate with their fans.

If Stoke lose the cup final the mood will be more downbeat, but manager Tony Pulis will not want to finish the season on a defeat. Either way latics are in for an extremely difficult final fixture. I’m backing Wigan to get at least a point and go to forty points, it could then be that goal difference will decide whether we remain in the Premier League or start next season in the Championship.

Predicted Final Table

15 Wolves
16 Blackburn
17 Wigan
18 Birmingham
19 Blackpool
20 West Ham

Posted in Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Charles N'Zogbia, Conor Sammon, Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs, Stoke City, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic, Wolves | Tagged Birmingham City, Blackpool, Charles N'Zogbia, Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs, Stoke City, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic, Wolves | 2 Comments

Let’s build a statue of the ‘Three Amigos’

Posted on May 5, 2011 by ianhaspinall

The Three Amigos photograph courtesy of the Ultimate Wigan Athletic Website

Isn’t it about time we built a statue of the ‘Three Amigos’? If Wigan survive in the Premier League it will be remarkable achievement and a worthy tribute would be to create a statue at the DW Stadium of Roberto Martinez and his two trailblazing Spanish colleagues, Isidro Diaz and Jesus Seba.

Like Paul Jewell, when we survived on the last day of the season against Sheffield United in 2007, Roberto will be hailed as a hero by the Wigan fans, but we should not forget his two Spanish colleagues who deserve to be recognised for their role in changing the perception of Wigan Athletic.

We should never underestimate the significant role the ‘Three Amigos’ played in transforming the image of Latics from a lower league club to one with Premier league potential.

When Dave Whelan brought the players over from Spain during the summer of 1995 latics were struggling in the lower half of the third division with crowds of less than 2,000. The introduction of the new Spanish players was a bold move and created much media interest in the club.

When introduced to the Wigan faithful the ‘Three Amigos’ were a massive hit, displaying footballing skills and flair that had rarely been seen at Springfield Park. Seba’s ability to bend free-kicks, ‘Izzy’ Diaz’s runs down the wing, and “Bob” Martinez’s matador-style goal celebrations changed the outlook of the club.

At the end of the first season Martinez was leading scorer with 13 goals, and he was included in the Third Division Team of the Year. The team just missed out on a play-off place, losing the last game of the season at home to Northampton.

The following season Latics progress continued under manager John Deehan and by the end of the 1996/1997 season they were champions of the Third Division, with Martinez and Diaz both in the team that clinched the championship in the final game of the season. The road to the Premier League then commenced in earnest.

Roberto went on to play 180 games with a further 47 appearances from the bench, scoring 23 goals. Isidro played 66 games with 21 sub appearances, scoring 18 times. Jesus played 11 games with 16 substitute appearances, scoring 3 times.

The Spanish trio had transformed matters on the pitch and changed the public perception of the club. As manager Martinez has transformed the playing style, youth policy and professionalism of the club. If we stay up this season, a statue of the ‘Three Amigos’, Roberto, Isidro and Jesus would be a fitting tribute to their influence and the continued success story that is Wigan Athletic.

Posted in Isidro Diaz, Jesus Seba, Roberto Martinez, Three amigos, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Isidro Diaz, Jesus Seba, Roberto Martinez, Wigan Athletic | 2 Comments

Who do you want to go down?

Posted on April 29, 2011 by ianhaspinall

David Unsworth scores for Wigan against Sheffield United

As we enter the last four games of the Premier League season everyone is trying to predict the future results and what the final league table might look like. I have to say that having had a go for myself (Wigan stay up in 16th place), it is very difficult to predict the final outcome.

There will always be unexpected results in the run in – Wigan’s survival on the final day at Bramall Lane in 2007 is a case in point. Managers, players, referees and linesmen will inevitably make mistakes when under pressure and luck will no doubt play its part.

The abilities of the teams near the bottom are quite evenly matched and it may be that ultimately goal difference decides who goes down.

So it is practically impossible to predict the final outcome. It is much easier to say who I would like to see relegated.

The most obvious candidate from my point of view is West Ham United. The injustice experienced by Sheffield United because West Ham did not get a points deduction for fielding ineligible players Tevez and Mascherano still sticks in the craw. Following various court cases West Ham agreed to pay compensation to Sheffield United of between £15 and £25 million but by then Sheffield had lost their Premier League status and as I write this they are now on the verge of relegation to Division 1.

Although West Ham may have a strong football tradition, their recent history has been characterised by financial mismanagement and some rather shady dealings, for example with the Icelandic owner Eggert Magnusson and the football agent Kia Joorabchian.

West Ham United owners Sullivan and Gold

The current owners Sullivan and Gold made their money in the sex industry having moved from Birmingham City in 2010. During their time at Birmingham Sullivan and Birmingham managing director Karren Brady were released on bail after being arrested and questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting in connection with an ongoing investigation of alleged corruption in English football, although the charges were subsequently dropped.

So who else do I want to go down?

Well Wolves have to be high on the list, purely because the BBC Match of the Day pundits Lawrenson, Lineker and Shearer etc seem to be in love with their manager Mick McCarthy. According to these sycophants McCarthy can do no wrong and therefore Wolves deserve to stay up. How do you explain this? The cynical amongst us would say that it is because they are his mates and impartial analysis is not to be expected from Match of the Day pundits.

Match of the Day favourite Mick McCarthy

Wolves haven’t been impressive this season and they currently sit second bottom. Wigan have outplayed them twice this season and the match at Molineux was particularly one-sided. McCarthy likes the direct approach which can on occasions can produce results, but against us it was clear that Wigan’s passing game was superior and surely this has to be how the game should be played both now and in the future.

The final team in my ‘Want to go down’ list is Birmingham City. The Blues may have won the League Cup this season, but their dour style does not make them an attractive team to watch. Only Fulham have drawn more matches this season. Alex McLeish’s team are hard to beat because of their hard physical approach to the game, but with players like Lee Bowyer, who has an awful disciplinary record, they will win never win many friends.

Lee Bowyer

It is not easy to like a team whose bluenose supporters have a reputation for bad behaviour. During the game at the DW stadium earlier in the season the Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi was showered with missiles from behind the goal and after the game some Birmingham supporters threw bricks and coins at Wigan supporters as they crossed the canal bridge. Most clubs seem to have a bad element amongst their support, but Birmingham seem to have more than most. These idiots don’t deserve to have a club in the Premier League.

Posted in Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic, Wolves | Tagged Birmingham City, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic, Wolves | 2 Comments

Pressure on Bruce – Sunderland V Wigan preview

Posted on April 21, 2011 by ianhaspinall

Steve Bruce in his Birmingham days

The pressure is mounting on Sunderland manager Steve Bruce as his team are about to face his former club Wigan at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have lost eight of their last nine games and sit just above the relegation zone with 38 points. Wigan will be hoping to maintain their current good form and move further away from the relegation zone.

Bruce’s teams have a tendency to fade in the second half of the season and Darren Bent’s untimely departure has had a negative impact on Sunderland’s season. Some of the defending has been erring on the tragic and some key mistakes by goalkeepers Gordon and Mingolet have plunged Sunderland down the table and into the relegation battle. They will be without former latics defender Titus Bramble, who is a key player in the defence and also striker Frasier Campbell.

Wigan will be without the suspended Maynor Figueroa and it is expected that Steve Gohouri will deputize as he did against Blackpool. Roberto Martinez’s men should not underestimate the importance of the game, as a win for Wigan could provide some breathing space from the relegation zone going into the last four games of the season.

Sunderland have invested heavily under Bruce and the expectation from the American owner Ellis Short was that Sunderland would be competing for a European place. The Wearsiders fans are growing restless with the Geordie born Bruce. The prospect of relegation was unthinkable at the beginning of the season, but if it was to happen, Bruce would almost certainly be on his way out of the Stadium of Light.

The reverse fixture at the DW Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw with former latic Lee Cattermole sent off. Now the Black Cats captain Cattermole recognises that Sunderland could be relegated, speaking to Sky Sports he said:

“I can understand why the fans are getting nervous. I can’t say we won’t get relegated, you never know. But we have to produce the goods to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

So the signs are that with the pressure mounting on Steve Bruce and with Wigan desperate for the points it is going to be a tense encounter at the Stadium of Light. I am not expecting a high scoring game, and with so much at stake I’m going for a low score draw. A point will do the latics, but a point for Sunderland is not likely to keep the home fans happy.

Posted in Steve Bruce, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Steve Bruce, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic | 1 Comment