12th Man – Time to make changes

Posted on February 24, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Approach to Springfield Park by D.W.Barrow

Latics received a major setback to their survival chances when they lost at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night. They remain in 22nd spot and are two points behind 21st place Bristol City who have one game in hand.

Calls to sack Warren Joyce by some supporters are very premature and are unlikely to have any benefit at this stage in the season. However, Joyce would be wise to consider changes to his tactics and formation as they go into the last 13 games of the season.

QPR was yet another narrow defeat and a change in approach for the upcoming fixtures is now required if they are going to survive. Latics lacked width at Loftus Road and this has been a constant problem since the departure of Yanic Wildschut to Norwich City.

The manager has brought in numerous midfield players but it appears that apart from Gabriel Obertan who has been used sparingly, they are bereft of the wingers who can get good delivery into the box.

Also the departure of Jordi Gomez to Rayo Vallecano has meant they have been without the type of creativity and guile that can unlock opposition defences.

They showed signs of fatigue in the second half at QPR and the recent unrelenting schedule seems to be taking its toll on the players. Joyce now needs to re-assess his squad and make some strategic changes to the line-up if they are to get the wins required.

Omar Bogle is proving to be a handful for opposition defences, but he often lacks support as Latics rarely get more than one or two players in the opposition box.

Despite Will Grigg’s recent lack of form I believe he is still the best partner for Bogle. Joyce’s long ball tactics are not doing Grigg any favours as he would prefer the ball to feet or just beyond the last man but he is playing behind Bogle in a 4-4-1-1 formation.

A goal for Grigg would certainly do wonders for his confidence, but both Grigg and Bogle need support in and around the box, if the goals are going to flow.

Joyce does have attacking options and could bring in Gabriel Obertan, Mikael Mandron or Ryan Colclough and attacking midfielder Alex Gilbey is nearing match fitness.

Injuries to Michael Jacobs and Shaun MacDonald have not helped the situation and they are likely to be missing for tomorrow’s vital home game against Nottingham Forest. Latics will need to set up to attack Forest and be on the front foot right from the kick off.

They have a chance to narrow the gap against a team who have slipped down to 18th in the table and are just six points ahead of them. Anything less than a win is unthinkable.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 24th February 2017.

Posted in Championship, D.W.Barrow, Nottingham Forest, Warren Joyce, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Latics’ survival hopes receive a setback – QPR 2 Wigan Athletic 1

Posted on February 22, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Omar Bogle scored a penalty for Latics

Wigan Athletic remain rooted in the Championship relegation zone after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Matt Smith opened the scoring for Rangers after only four minutes when he converted Conor Washington’s cross from 12 yards out.

Omar Bogle scored his third goal for Latics from the penalty spot on 17 minutes after he had been brought down by Joel Lynch.

Rangers keeper Alex Smithies produced stand out saves to deny Bogle and Jake Buxton before Washington scored the winner.

The former Peterborough United striker secured the three points for Rangers on the hour mark when he executed a smart finish from the edge of the area.

Latics remain in 22nd spot in the table behind 21st placed Bristol City who have two games in hand. QPR move up to 15th in the Championship.

Warren Joyce made one change to the starting line-up from Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Preston with Jamie Hanson replacing the injured Shaun MacDonald in midfield.

Wigan went behind after only four minutes when Matt Smith produced a neat finish. Rangers attacked down the left hand side and Washington crossed low for Smith who beat Gilks from 12 yards out despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball.

Gilks then saved well from Ryan Manning from 20 yards as Rangers looked to double their lead.

In Latics first significant attack of the game they drew level. Max Power played through Bogle and as the striker moved into the box he was brought down by Joel Lynch.

Bogle had to wait to take the penalty kick as Grant Hall received treatment but he held his nerve and sent penalty save expert Smithies the wrong way from the spot kick. Smithies has now conceded 20 and saved an incredible 19 of his previous penalty kicks.

Bogle nearly gave Latics the lead on 36 minutes when his strike from inside the box deflected off Lynch and struck Nedum Onuoha when it had seemed destined for the top right-hand corner of the net.

Smithies then made a spectacular save to deny Latics the lead. Jake Buxton met Hanson’s corner with a powerful header from eight yards but the keeper produced a superb reflex save to his right to deny the centre back a second ever goal for Latics.

The teams went into the interval level, but Latics had another great chance early in the second half. Ryan Tunnicliffe broke quickly from his own 18 yard box and ran the full length of the pitch before feeding the ball to Bogle, whose powerful effort was again denied by Smithies.

The game was now entering a frantic phase with chances at both ends but it was QPR who capitalised on the hour mark. Conor Washington was given limited space on the edge of the area but the striker turned and fired low and powerfully past Gilks.

Joyce replaced Grigg with Gabriel Obertan on 72 minutes and then gave Mikael Mandron his debut when he replaced Hanson as Latics went 4-3-3 for the last 10 minutes. But Latics were unable to penetrate and it was QPR who looked the stronger team in the dying minutes.

The result was a major setback to Latics’ survival chances but they must quickly pick themselves up and go again on Saturday knowing that a victory over Nottingham Forest will keep them in touch with the teams above them.

Posted in Championship, Conor Washington, Matt Smith, Omar Bogle, QPR, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deadlock at the DW – Wigan Athletic 0 Preston North End 0

Posted on February 19, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Matt Gilks saved Jordan Hugill’s penalty

Latics were held to a hard-fought 0-0 draw by Preston North End at the DW Stadium.

In a game of few chances Latics’ Matt Gilks saved a penalty and the follow up from Jordan Hugill and they were denied a penalty themselves when Paul Huntingdon brought down Omar Bogle in the area but referee Chris Kavanagh waved away appeals.

Bogle might have won it for Wigan in the second half when he had a one-on-one opportunity but he was denied by Greg Cunningham’s last ditch tackle.

Latics remain in 22nd in the table, two points behind Bristol City and North End remain 10th.

Warren Joyce made one change to the team which had won at Wolves with Ryan Tunnicliffe replacing the injured Michael Jacobs.

Latics were on top in the early minutes with Omar Bogle posing plenty of problems, first he forced Chris Maxwell into a good save at the near post and then had a header cleared off the line by Ben Pearson.

Bogle was then in the action for the wrong reasons as he fouled Callum Robinson in his own area and the referee awarded a penalty.

North End’s top scorer Hugill took the spot kick and Gilks saved low down to his left, the ball came back out to Hugill and Gilks saved superbly for the second time but this time to his right.

North End’s Aiden McGeedy was lucky to escape with a only a yellow card on 36 minutes when he made a two footed challenge on Shaun MacDonald.

Fortunately the Latics midfielder was not seriously injured in the incident.

Sam Morsy then drove forward at the North End defence and saw his shot deflected just wide of the post.

Three minutes later Latics had a very good shout for a penalty when Paul Huntingdon brought down Bogle in the box. Referee Kavanagh waved away appeals despite it looking like a very similar challenge to the one which gave North End a penalty at the other end.

North End started briskly at the start of second half with Ben Pearson shooting wide before Latics responded with Callum Connolly shooting over the crossbar in the 51st minute.

Preston made a double change on 60 minutes with Jermain Beckford and Simon Makienok replacing Hugill and Robinson.

Beckford soon tried his luck from distance but his shot was well over the crossbar.

Bogle then had the best chance of the game for Latics but he was denied by a superb last ditch tackle from Greg Cunningham when he was one-on-one with the North End keeper.

Jamie Hanson replaced Max Power in midfield on 76 minutes but it was perhaps surprising that Joyce did not introduce winger Gabriel Obertan in an attempt to win the game.

Ryan Tunnicliffe had an effort from 20 yards after 84 minutes, then Bogle tried a speculative attempt from the right hand side three minutes later but his shot over was well over the crossbar.

Latics continued to press in added time but they were unable to break the deadlock. It was disappointing not to take all three points but the point gained keeps them in touching distance of the teams above them with 14 games still to play.

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12th Man – Relegation battle – who will go down?

Posted on February 17, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Latics players celebrate at Wolves. Photograph courtesy of Wigan Athletic.

Latics are now entering a critical phase in the season and have 15 games to secure their Championship status. Tuesday night’s last gasp 1-0 victory at Wolves ensured that they reduced the gap on the teams above them and they know that they must put a strong sequence of results together to survive.

But what are the prospects for the other teams around them? Up to 12 teams could realistically be involved in the relegation shake-up.

Even 13th placed Ipswich Town and 14th placed Birmingham City both currently on 40 points are not yet safe from relegation. Birmingham in particular are on a dreadful run having only won one in their last 13 games since Gianfranco Zola took over from Gary Rowett.

In 15th and 16th are Brentford and Aston Villa who have both surprisingly dropped down the table. The Bees looked like play-off contenders earlier in the season but have struggled recently, however both teams should have enough quality to stay up.

17th placed Nottingham Forest have been inconsistent performers and are still in some turmoil both on and off the pitch. Kuwaiti owner Fawaz Al Hasawi has been trying to sell the club for some time and recently offered Nigel Clough the manager’s role after the sacking of Philippe Montanier but Clough decided to stay at Burton.

Gary Brazil and Jack Lester have taken temporary charge of first team affairs until the end of the season and they should just about survive.

18th placed Wolves have perhaps been distracted by their FA Cup run and have now lost their last three league games and could easily be dragged into the relegation zone if results do not improve rapidly.

Ian Holloway returned to currently 19th placed Queens Park Rangers as manager in November but results have not improved enough to pull Rangers away from the bottom end of the table and it looks like a nervy end to the season for them.

20th placed Bristol City have been on a dreadful run and have only won 2 of their last 17 matches. They lost top scorer Tammy Abraham to a thigh injury on Tuesday night at Leeds and they could be without him at a vital time. I expect them to be right on the cusp of relegation.

21st placed Burton Albion received a boost when manager Nigel Clough turned down Nottingham Forest but I don’t think their squad will be strong enough to stay up.

22nd placed Latics are now in a good run of form having won three and drawn one of their last six games.

They have a tough local derby against Preston on Saturday and then have some winnable fixtures against the teams around them in the table, QPR (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Blackburn Rovers (A), Bristol City (H) and Aston Villa (H). If they can get a good return from these games I expect them to stay up.

23rd placed Blackburn have staggered from one crisis to another over recent years and all the indications are that they will drop down to League One this time around.

24th placed Rotherham United already look doomed with only 17 points taken from their 32 games.

With so many teams involved in the relegation battle it’s difficult to predict the final outcome, but I’m going to stick my neck out and say that Latics will now finish above Rotherham, Blackburn, Burton and Bristol City.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 17th February 2017.

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Buxton’s brilliant boost – Wolves 0 Wigan Athletic 1

Posted on February 15, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Match winner Jake Buxton. Photograph courtesy of Wigan Athletic

Jake Buxton boosted Latics’ Championship survival chances with an 88th-minute headed winner at Molineux.

It was Buxton’s first ever goal for Latics as they managed their first double of the season by defeating Wolves.

In a scrappy game with few chances at either end, it was the former Burton Albion and Derby County centre-back who headed Max Power’s corner into the bottom left corner of the net to give Latics a vital win in their relegation scrap.

Latics move up a place to 22nd in the table two points behind 21st place Burton Albion. Wolves remain in 18th place and could now be drawn into the relegation dogfight with 15 games remaining.

Warren Joyce made two changes to the team which started at Fulham with Matt Gilks replacing the injured keeper Jakob Haugaard and Will Grigg replacing David Perkins in a 4-4-2 formation.

In a disjointed opening half both teams struggled to create any clear cut chances.

Keeper Matt Gilks saved comfortably from Helder Costa an 21 minutes and Shaun Macdonald had Latics first attempt on 30 minutes.

There were numerous fouls and stoppages, and both teams lacked any penetration often due to a poor final ball.

Jamie Hanson replaced Michael Jacobs at the half-time interval and after an uneventful opening to the second half Omar Bogle was replaced by Gabriel Obertan.

Wolves went closest on 74 minutes when a Dave Edwards header from Connor Ronan’s cross forced a full length save from Gilks.

Just as the game looked to be moving towards a stalemate substitute Obertan did well to win a corner, Max Power fired in a tempting cross and Buxton met it near the penalty spot to head powerfully past Carl Ikeme. 

There were four minutes of added time, but could Latics now hang on for a vital three points?

Wolves pressed for the equaliser and on 92 minutes Gilks made another fantastic save to deny Connor Ronan’s 30 yard drive.

Obertan might have added a second for Latics a minute later but his shot was superbly pushed away for a corner by Ikeme.

It hadn’t been a great game of football, but in Latics current position it is the result that matters. They now move to within touching distance of the teams above them and the prospect of a great escape looks more likely.  

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Latics 94th minute heartache – Fulham 3 Wigan Athletic 2

Posted on February 13, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Craven Cottage – A view from the away end

Latics suffered a potentially devastating blow to their Championship survival hopes when Neeskens Kebano scored the winner in the dying seconds at Craven Cottage.

The visitors had produced a spirited and hard working display which deserved some reward but they came away from South West London empty handed.

Floyd Ayite had put the Cottagers ahead from close range on 25 minutes, but Latics fought back to draw level through Scott Malone’s own goal and then Michael Jacobs had given them the lead just before half-time.

Omar Bogle had a great chance to make it 3-1 early in the second half but keeper David Button saved well with his legs.

Denis Odoi then fired a superb 35-yard shot past substitute keeper Matt Gilks to draw the teams level before Kebano’s dramatic stoppage time winner.

Latics remain second bottom and are five points from safety with 16 games remaining. Fulham move up a place to ninth the table.

Warren Joyce made one change to the starting line-up with David Perkins replacing James Weir in midfield.

Fulham dominated possession in the opening half and went ahead after 25 minutes through Ayite after good work by Sone Aluko down the right hand side.

But Latics soon drew level under rather fortuitous circumstances.

Stephen Warnock’s cross was delivered into the corridor of uncertainty and with Omar Bogle pressurising Scott Malone the hapless defender put the ball into his own net.

Fulham tried to respond and they went close when Stefan Johansen fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal.

But in first half stoppage time Latics went ahead. Perkins found Max Power wide on the left and his low cross was turned home at the back post by Jacobs.

Substitute keeper Matt Gilks replaced the injured Jakob Haugaard at half time.

Bogle then had the best chance of the game on 53 minutes when Morsy put him through on goal but Button managed to save with his legs.

Aluko then tested Gilks and soon afterwards he crashed another shot onto the top of the crossbar.

Fulham were now camped in the Latics half and constantly probing for the equaliser. The visitors were struggling to gain any meaningful possession.

Loanee Jamie Hanson replaced Perkins after 65 minutes but Fulham continued to dominate.

The home team drew level in the 71st minute when Callum Connolly conceded a free-kick 35 yards from goal. Johansen side footed the ball to Denis Odoi, who produced a spectacular dipping drive to beat Gilks from 30 yards.

Latics had a rare chance when Jacobs got clear in the box and his curling shot was superbly tipped away at full stretch by Button.

Will Grigg replaced the tiring Bogle with four minutes of added time remaining.

Latics had been defending in numbers throughout and as the match moved towards the final whistle they had retreated even further and with almost the final kick of the match Kebano was in the right position to angle his effort past Gilks to devastating effect.

Latics had produced a spirited display which probably deserved at least a draw. But there was also the feeling that Joyce should have changed his system in the second half. Latics were defending too deep and inviting pressure and they suffered the consequences.

Playing Grigg and Bogle together upfront would have given Latics an outlet in the second half rather than leaving the increasingly isolated Bogle to fight it out alone.

With two strikers they would have posed a much greater threat and Fulham would have been reluctant to commit so many men forward.

Joyce’s reluctance to play Grigg and Bogle together is now starting to cost the team vital points.

Posted in Championship, Denis Odo, Floyd Ayite, Fulham, Michael Jacobs, Neeskens Kebano, Scott Malone, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

12th Man – Time for a new double act

Posted on February 10, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Will Grigg. Photograph courtesy of Wigan Athletic

Latics second-half performance against Norwich City on Tuesday night was in complete contrast to their woeful first-half display and proved that they must be more attack-minded if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

Warren Joyce has mainly adopted a 4-5-1 formation since his appointment at the club. The emphasis has been on packing the midfield to both keep possession and make it hard for opponents to pass the ball through the team, but the 4-5-1 formation has essentially been used to avoid defeat.

However, this formation has not delivered the points to get the club out of the relegation zone. The team are currently the lowest scorers in the Championship and unless there is a change of system they are likely to be relegated.

An alternative is the 4-4-2 formation, which may not be a fashionable system, but Leicester City employed it to great effect last season in winning the Premier League.

Having two dedicated strikers means that the midfield and defence needn’t delay their attempts to get the ball forward. Unlike Joyce’s formation with only one striker, 4-4-2 allows the two-pronged attack to drive forward without having to wait for support from the midfielders.

Will Grigg is a striker with good all round ability and an excellent goalscoring record, but he has been expected to do too much on his own this season.

He has been asked to lead the line, provide link-up play, track back and score the limited opportunities he gets. It has been a thankless task.

However with the signing of Omar Bogle and Mikael Mandron, Latics now have an opportunity to pair Grigg with another striker.

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Omar Bogle. Photograph courtesy of Wigan Athletic

Bogle made an impressive start to his Latics career with two goals against Norwich City on Tuesday night. But it was only when Joyce changed from a 4-5-1 formation to 4-4-2 at half-time and pushed Will Grigg up alongside Bogle that Latics became an attacking force.

Some media reports have suggested that Grigg cannot play alongside another striker but this is just speculation and the evidence on Tuesday night was that he could.

The best strikers are adaptable and can contend with minimal midfield support. Latics lacked width in the first half against Norwich and it was only in the second half with two wide midfielders and two wide full-backs that they put more crosses into the box.

By forcing Norwich to stretch their defensive line to counter the threat down the wings, this left defensive gaps through the centre for Grigg and Bogle to exploit.

The double act of Grigg and Bogle have two great role models in former Latics strikers Nathan ‘Duke’ Ellington and Jason Roberts and if they can go some way to emulating that dynamic duo they will have great careers ahead.

Latics success is, of course, not just dependent on the formation, but unless they can get more players in the final third they will not score enough goals to survive. Surely the time has come for the combination of Grigg and Bogle to be given their chance.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 10th February 2017.

Posted in Championship, Omar Bogle, Warren Joyce, Wigan Athletic, Will Grigg | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Bogle grabs a brace as Latics go 4-4-2 – Wigan Athletic 2 Norwich City 2

Posted on February 8, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Omar Bogle scored twice on his full debut

New signing Omar Bogle grabbed a second-half double as Latics fought out a 2-2 draw with play-off chasing Norwich City.

Warren Joyce’s team had produced a woeful first-half display and were a goal down at the interval after Nelson Oliveira had headed home from Alex Pritchard’s free-kick.

Striker Bogle had cut an isolated figure in the first-half with a 4-5-1 formation but Joyce changed to 4-4-2 at the interval and pushed Will Grigg up alongside Bogle and the Latics fightback commenced.

First the former Grimsby Town striker headed home from a corner and then produced a superb free-kick to put Latics in front.

Mitchell Dijks then headed Norwich level, before keeper John Ruddy produced a point- blank save to deny Jake Buxton and Latics the three points.

Latics are now five points from safety with one game in hand on Burton Albion and the Canaries remain in seventh place just outside the play-off zone.

Wigan made two changes from the team which had lost 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday with Bogle replacing  Grigg and James Weir replacing David Perkins.

Joyce’s 4-5-1 formation proved ineffectual in a first-half dominated by the Canaries.

The visitors might have gone ahead when Ivo Pinto’s shot crashed against Jakob Haugaard’s crossbar in the 24th minute but Russell Martin was ruled offside when he headed in the rebound.

Norwich were enjoying the majority of possession and it was no surprise when they went ahead on 39 minutes following a period of sustained pressure. Alex Pritchard’s free-kick found Oliveira and the Portuguese international headed beyond Haugaard and into the net.

Bogle did have a rare opportunity early in the half when he avoided the offside trap, but his drive was deflected for a corner by John Ruddy.

Joyce brought Grigg on in place of Weir for the second-half and Latics immediately looked a more balanced team with a two-pronged attack.

Grigg was quickly in the action first heading wide from Max Power’s cross on 54 minutes.

Then his shot on 57 minutes was deflected off Timm Klose’s outstretched boot and Ruddy pushed the ball away for a corner.

From the resulting corner Power’s shot was goalbound but Martin was in the right place to clear it off the line.

Latics pressure was mounting and they drew level on 61 minutes when Michael Jacobs’ corner found Bogle in the six-yard box and the striker headed into the net from close range.

Six minutes later Latics were ahead when Bogle’s free-kick curled around the Norwich defensive wall and past keeper Ruddy. The Latics players and fans were jubilant and Norwich were stunned to be behind after such a dominant first-half display.

It all appeared to be going Latics way as winger Yanic Wildschut was replaced on 70 minutes after a very subdued performance against his former team.

But against the run of play Norwich drew level from a corner on 72 minutes. Pritchard’s corner was powerfully headed home by Mitchel Dijks with the Latics defence transfixed.

Cameron Jerome then broke quickly for the visitors and set up Josh Murphy, but Haugaard produced an excellent save with his legs to deny the substitute from close range.

Latics responded and on 86 minutes it looked as though they had won the game when Jacobs’ corner found Dan Burn who headed back across goal but Jake Buxton’s effort from close range was somehow saved by Ruddy.

Latics second-half performance had been in complete contrast to the first half and proved that they must adopt a more attack-minded formation if they are to have any chance of securing the points for survival.

Posted in Championship, Mitchell Dijks, Nelson Oliveira, Norwich City, Omar Bogle, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lack of attacking ambition proves costly – Wigan Athletic 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1

Posted on February 4, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Callum Connolly had a goal disallowed for a debatable offside.

Latics remain rooted in the bottom three of the Championship as they lacked a cutting edge in the home defeat to play-off contenders Sheffield Wednesday.

In a dour Friday night game in front of the Sky TV cameras the Owls went ahead with a Ross Wallace deflected goal just before half-time.

Latics created the best chances overall with Sam Morsy and James Weir going close and Callum Connolly having a goal disallowed for a debatable offside decision.

The Owls were far from convincing but the narrow win was enough to seal the three points and move them into sixth place in the table.

Warren Joyce surprisingly named an unchanged starting eleven with four new signings, Omar Bogle, James Weir, Jamie Hanson and Matt Gilks on the substitutes bench.

With the departure of winger Yanic Wildschut to Norwich City on deadline day it was hoped that new strikers Bogle or Mikael Mandron might get a start alongside Will Grigg, but Joyce preferred to pack his team with midfielders and rely on lone-striker Grigg.

In a scrappy first half neither team created many chances and just when it looked like the teams would go into the interval level the Owls went ahead somewhat fortuitously.

Wallace picked up a flick from £10m striker Jordan Rhodes following a long ball from Vincent Sasso, and his shot was deflected off Jake Buxton’s outstretched leg and spun over the head of keeper Jakob Haugaard.

Latics started the second half briskly and Man of the Match Sam Morsy went close in the 49th minute. The Eqyptian midfielder drove forward into the box evading several challenges before firing from close range but Westwood saved bravely.

The increasingly isolated Grigg should have done better when he received the ball in the box in the 57th minute, but his touch let him down.

Soon afterwards Dan Burn had a good opportunity when he met Max Power’s cross but his header failed to trouble Westwood.

Bogle and Weir made their debuts with 25 minutes remaining in place of Grigg and David Perkins. Weir in particular having a positive effect on the midfield.

Latics were then unlucky to have a goal chalked off for a debatable offside decision.

Connolly was played through by Max Power and rounded Westwood to finish, but the linesman flagged for offside although the young full-back appeared to be level with a defender.

Weir then had a great opportunity when he met an enticing cross from Michael Jacobs but his header from inside the box flew just over the crossbar.

The Owls were offering little going forward and Latics were looking the most likely to score but time was running out.

In six minutes of added time, keeper Haugaard came up for a corner which resulted in a goalmouth scramble but the Owls managed to clear and then in the dying seconds Jacobs fired across the six-yard box and Burn was unable to stretch to make the vital contact.

Post-match Warren Joyce blamed Latics’ ‘composure in both boxes’, but the manger should also take some responsibility for his team selection.

Joyce had gone for just one lone striker in a line-up packed with midfielders. Will Grigg had a thankless task running the line and also tracking back under his manager’s instruction.

New striker Omar Bogle got a late debut but this was to replace Grigg and not to play alongside him.

Latics are the lowest scorers in the Championship and the manager must surely adopt a more attacking line-up, particularly in home games, if they are to escape the drop.

Posted in Callum Connolly, Championship, Ross Wallace, Sheffield Wednesday, Warren Joyce, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

12th Man – Will hectic transfer window deliver results?

Posted on February 3, 2017 by ianhaspinall
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Highly-rated striker Omar Bogle. Photograph courtesy of Wigan Athletic.

The January transfer window proved to be even more hectic than usual. It was always expected that the new manager Warren Joyce would want to bring in his own signings but the turnover this time has been unprecedented.

Latics brought in an improbable eight players on deadline day and fourteen in the window overall.

Joyce and his recruitment team have generally gone for young players with a high work rate and who are capable of improving.

The Manchester United connection is a strong one with many of the signings having played under Joyce before.

The manager has perhaps gone a little over board on the recruitment of midfielders, so the fight for a starting place in the centre of the team should provide fascinating viewing.

Fitness could be a problem for some of the deadline day recruits.

Loanee Alex Bruce signed from Hull City has not played all season due to an Achilles problem and he along with former Manchester United and Newcastle winger Gabriel Obertan may not be ready for first team action.

Some of the other young players may not yet be ready to make the step up to the high-pressure atmosphere of the Championship.

Midfielder Josh Laurent, 21, who joined from Hartlepool United, striker Mikael Mandron, 22, signed from Non-league Eastleigh, Midfielder James Weir, 21, who signed on loan from Hull City and midfielder Jack Byrne, 20, from Manchester City, may all have to wait for first team opportunities.

However, I expect highly-rated striker Omar Bogle, 23, signed from Grimsby Town to be thrust into the first team squad for tonight’s fixture against play-off contenders Sheffield Wednesday.

Latics will need more goals if they are to survive the drop and they will be hoping that Bogle can continue the form he showed at Grimsby, where he scored 19 goals in 30 games.

Experienced keeper Matt Gilks, 34, signed from Glasgow Rangers on deadline day could also come into the squad for tonight’s game.

As far as deadline day outgoings were concerned, the most controversial transfer business was Yanic Wildschut’s last minute departure to Norwich City for a reported £7.5m.

The Dutch winger had been very much part of Warren Joyce’s plans but the player couldn’t resist the opportunity of an improved salary at Carrow Road.

However, the club at least made a significant profit on the deal having signed Wildschut from Middlesbrough for around £1m only 12 months ago.

It was sad to see fans favourite and FA Cup winner Jordi Gomez move back to Spain to join Rayo Vallecano, but it seemed that Gomez just didn’t fit into Joyce’s plans for the club.

Overall it was a positive transfer window with some marquee signings, some promising young recruits and a few experienced older heads arriving.

The big challenge now is for Joyce and his coaching team to blend the new players into an effective unit that can escape relegation.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 3rd February 2017.

Posted in Alex Bruce, Championship, Gabriel Obertan, Jack Byrne, James Weir, Josh Laurent, Matt Gilks, Mikael Mandron, Omar Bogle, Sheffield Wednesday, Transfers, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment