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Ultimately I Think It Will Be an Incredibly Frustrating Season - Notes for Wigan
Friday, 20th Sep 2013 12:00 by HarryFromBath

HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Sunday's game by delving into their forums.

"It's been a long time since I have been at a match with so little for the fans to shout about. It was feeble." "I am baffled as to why we are so bad. Even if they aren't gelling, they could at least put a shift in." "There is no formation and no consistency with the team being changed every game."

"The reason we are all getting a little frustrated is Owen Coyle's team selections and lack of flair in games. We look slow in attack and very open to conceding in every game. We are not improving by the game, and the performances have been poor and occasionally shocking."

"We have a team who at the moment are not playing like a team, and are quite frankly awful." "We can have all the talent we want, but we won't win anything without effort." "There is a distinct lack of purpose in our play."

"The team performance I endured at Leicester (in a 2-0 defeat last weekend) is one of the worst I have seen in some seasons. Not many seemed up for the battle once we went behind. There was a collective lack of desire, judgment and effort. There are jittery times ahead, I fear."

Fans were happy with the result, but not the team's performance in the scoreless draw against Zulte Waregem in the Europa League on Thursday: "If the midfield drops any further back it'll be sat in the stands with the fans. We're just inviting pressure." "It is a very good point, but only in the context of such an abject performance."

Owen Coyle

"There is no way that Owen Coyle is going to get Wigan promoted this season. We might as well come to terms with that now."

"I don't think that Coyle has a clue about what system to play with the players he's got." "Coyle doesn't have a Plan B, and I am struggling to fathom out his Plan A."

"The nucleus of our squad remaining from last year is not suited to this style." "All the work that Martinez did here is going to waste instead of being used as a platform, as Swansea have done. We didn't appoint a manager with a different philosophy. We appointed a manager with no philosophy."

"There's no will from the top for players to develop a passing game. Instinctively, Coyle wants to get the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible."

"The formation of a flat 4-5-1, or 4-1-4-1, leaves the striker isolated and he is completely ineffective all game." "A sole striker is not for me. By the time the midfield get up to support the front man, the ball has been lost and we are all over the place."

"You wonder if we are looking at another Chris Hutchings departure if this goes on. He doesn't really know how to set out the team, and you do wonder if there is dissatisfaction among the players too."

Martinez Legacy

Coyle does have his supporters at the club, and they are urging patience: "Coyle is being blasted after six games, in which he has won two and drawn two, and has had to sign 12 players. Give him a week or two!"

Roberto Martinez

"Give Coyle a chance. He might have managed Bolton, but bloody hell, let's get something straight, he inherited a bag of s***." "If fans don't give him a chance, we will end up like Blackburn Rovers, and the family spirit we have created will be gone forever."

Martinez was not universally loved: "He relegated us, and left us with a squad of 12 players, eight of whom were midfielders. He has taken the spine out of our team with four of them going to Everton."

"His reign was characterised by very occasional brilliance, mired in Himalayan-sized mountains of dross."

Defence

"One-nil to Leicester - we were doing some zonal crap. They just moved to a different zone. Our marking was absolutely disgraceful." Coyle has had to completely rebuild Wigan's defence over the summer, and they are still gelling together.

"We didn't pressure Leicester at all." "At the moment, we have two mop-up men, who are disappearing up their own backsides and running around like headless chickens most of the time. We need a commanding centre-half."

Scott Carson

In goal, Scott Carson has replaced the injured Ali Al-Habsi. The England keeper, who joined from Bursaspor this summer, is "a good shot-stopper, like Ali, but a bit weaker in other parts of his game". "He's pretty shaky, mixing good saves with hesitancy and poor decision-making."

"Carson is less of a problem than the four in front of him. None of the four I have seen playing there seemed either willing or able to be vocal enough to sort things out." "There is no organisation in there, and nobody to take charge."


"Boycie's a legend. He's given us heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears over the years, but he's not a good captain. He's an example-setter rather than a leader, and is not vocal enough for the armband." "He's too quiet to be captain."

Former Palace defender Emmerson Boyce plays at right-back. "He lacks pace and was exposed on Saturday by (Leicester's) Lloyd Dyer." "He gets past his man and uses the ball well, but attacking runs are limited due to our lack of width on the right." "Boycie's really starting to struggle against pace."

On the opposite flank, Chilean International Jean Beausejour "covers acres of ground and tries to get things going. He is error prone, but he plays with commitment".

The former Birmingham man "is a wing-back, and will never be a full-back". "At left back in a four, he's even more exposed."

"Rogne and Barnett need to continue to play together to develop the understanding that centre-backs need. Hopefully Coyle will resist the temptation to tinker once again." "They were overworked and struggled to cope with the movement of Vardy and Nugent against Leicester last week."

Summer signing from Celtic, Thomas Rogne is "assertive on the ball and strong in the air". The Norwegian international "is a disciplined player. He never gives up trying despite being under constant pressure."

Rogne's centre-back partner Leon Barnett also arrived at Wigan this summer, joining from the Budgies. "He has more pace than Rogne, puts his body on the line and has scored two goals." "With a little more poise and composure, he could be a top defender."

"Is Perch even playing?" "Don't get me started on James Perch. So many times he's just stood there not pressurising attackers." The former Newcastle player was deployed unsuccessfully as a solitary holding midfielder against Leicester. Latics are perplexed by selections such as this.

"I was surprised that Perch came in for McCarthy in that role. He didn't look comfortable at all." "Perch replacing James McCarthy (who left for Everton) was like replacing a thoroughbred with a pit pony." "Perch is a right-back and that is where he should play."

Scotland international Stephen Crainey joined from Blackpool this summer and has been widely criticised for a lack of pace. "He's not quick enough to play in a system where he has to push up. He gets caught on the wrong side of the attacker too many times."

Central Midfield

"Our strength was and is our midfielders." "We are now playing Championship football with a fantastic midfield, and not even creating chances." "Our midfield players are too good for Coyle to understand, and his ideas are prehistoric."

The biggest frustration for Wigan supporters is their lack of a threat from their most dangerous area, and they cannot fathom some of Coyle's early selection experiments: "The midfield, the key area for the side, is largely untouched from last season."

"There's no liveliness to our play. No players are making darting runs against their defences and there is no movement. In essence, it's piss-poor." "We're being undone by so absolute no-marks players you've never heard of, who are putting the effort in. and making movement that is tearing us apart."

"We have arguably the best midfield in the league, and he sees fit to think Ben Watson of all people deserves a place in it.

Former Palace player "Ben Watson was a legend for the FA Cup final goal, but he is far too slow in everything he does". "He has to be the most overrated midfielder we've ever had."

Scotland international James McArthur has appeared off the bench or been substituted in some recent games. "He should replace Watson, but he needs to get his finger out." "He made a lot of noise in the pre-season about getting us back to the Premiership, but he's not done it so far."

Roger Espinoza

Honduras international Roger Espinoza "is full of energy and tenacity". "He's not the finished article. His enthusiasm can be his strength, but he can be reckless in tackling." "He has a great left foot and has shown the ability to put in crosses that have led to goals."

"We lack a creative midfield player. If not Maloney, then Gomez has to start." "The Spaniard's natural role is as a creator in the centre of midfield."

Jordi Gomez "looks a different player in this division having what seems like all the time in the world to pick his pass".

Supporters were critical of his lethargic display in Belgium on Thursday. "Gomez is one of the most frustrating players on the planet. Every great pass is undone by a crap one." "He needs more movement from the other players otherwise he has nothing to pass to."

Chris McCann "has not shown much to suggest that he's the answer to our midfield problems". "He would get in any mid-table Championship side which had no ambition to get into the top six." He joined Wigan this summer from Burnley, and is "not being used for his strength in a holding role".

Wide Midfield

"Despite having two wide players, there is no pattern to our play." "The wide midfield isn't working, and it's leaving the full-backs very exposed." "No enough happens on the right side." This lack of balance concerns supporters.

"We need to decide if we play wide or narrow. We have tried to play wide on our left, but we always lack natural width on our right. When we have lost the ball on our left, we have been left too open on the opposite wing when opponents have switched flanks."

Shaun Maloney

"I was delighted at the lack of transfer interest in Maloney." Scotland international Shaun Maloney "is the key to Wigan's attacking play. He's two footed and can either cut inside or go down the line". "He's mature, knows a pass and can control and link other players into the attack."

"He's a game changer, and the type of player you should build a team around and not just throw into an eleven." The former Villa and Celtic man is seen as Wigan's strongest left-sided attacking option.

On the right flank youth product, "Callum McManaman is more of a ferret, dribbling into the area, and pulling balls back to the penalty spot. He's not a line hugger".

Discipline is an issue with McManaman. The 22-year-old was involved in the well-publicised reckless tackle on Massadio Haidara last season against Newcastle which went unpunished, and he was red-carded for a lunge on Brett Pitman in the Latics' defeat at Bournemouth in August.

"I have yet to be convinced by (former Sunderland winger) James McClean, who just runs around barking at his own players. He is like Joey Barton without the talent." "He is shockingly one-footed." "He has loads of energy but no end product."

Strikers

"We need two new strikers as soon as possible." "Why is it that every team seems to have one striker who looks like then can score when the get the ball and we can't get one?"

Marc-Antoine Fortune

"Marc-Antoine Fortune has the ability to create panic in the opposition's defence. He can 'play in' the attacking midfielders." "He needs to come deep more and drag the central defender out." "Fortune looks lively, wins penalties and creates plenty for others."

"He is the type of player who will walk barefoot through nails for the team." There is one problem highlighted with the former West Brom striker: "He really doesn't look like he's going to score." "We shouldn't be relying on one 32-year-old with a poor scoring record if we want to get promoted."

Grant Holt

"Holt's out." "Thank God for that. Let's hope he's out until Christmas." "He doesn't look like the player of last season. He seems to just want to whinge a lot. There's no sign of him looking like scoring from open play."

Grant Holt

"Holt needs crosses from the by-line, which we cannot do." A good number of fans are unsure whether the ex-Rochdale man is suited to the team's playing style. "When Holt plays, we look slow and lacking in ideas."

"He needs a second striker who can scamper on to headed balls and break the defence down." "We don't bang enough high crosses into the box for Holt. He has no other uses." "It's a blessing in disguise that Holt's out injured."

"Holt looks like a tub of slightly mobile lard." Some Latics are quite damning about the former Shrewsbury striker. "Holt looks overweight to me. The definition in his legs is non-existent, so to me it also suggests he's let himself go a tad. I'm not surprised he's sustained a knee strain."

There is a suspicion growing that he is playing the role of the last-contract professional marking time and trading on his reputation.

The Supporters Starting XI

"I don't think Owen Coyle has a real idea of his best team is yet. The swapping and changing cannot bode well." "With a squad of our depth and quality, it's amazing how virtually every fan has the same starting XI."

An aggregation of preferred starting line-ups sees the vast majority of Latics wanting the following team, playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Carson; Boyce, Rogne, Barnett, Beausejour; McArthur, Espinoza; McManaman, Gomez, Maloney; Fortune.

Latics' views on ITFC and the Game

"We need to rotate the squad so that players like Maloney and Fortune are fresh for Ipswich on Sunday." These two, as well as Rogne, Barnett, Beausejour and Espinoza all were rested for the Europa League game in Belgium on Thursday.

Little has been said about Sunday's game, as supporters have been preoccupied with their historic first European encounter. I will update the forum on Sunday morning with their specific thoughts on the game.

Websites

Wiganer.net and Vital Wigan are the two busiest message boards.


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



Stewart27 added 12:32 - Sep 20
Fantastic as ever Harry.

You are to Phil and Gav what Ed Buchan (the historian) is to the DI and the Sargeant in Whitechapel.

They should give you a desk in the basement.....
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BrettenhamBlue added 12:53 - Sep 20
Well done Harry.
Much appreciated by all the fans!
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BillBlue added 13:00 - Sep 20
Very interesting. Let's hope Fortune has an off day and the rest perform according to the above comments on Sunday. Three points away to Wigan would be very acceptable. Thanks again Harry.
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arc added 13:04 - Sep 20
For all the moaning, there is a lot of quality in that squad. I am very worried about Sunday!
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gazzmac4 added 13:13 - Sep 20
Excellent as always Harry! Some interesting comments in there!

Would take a point and I still think we've dodged a bullet getting the away game so early. New manager, loads of new players and still in Europe. All factors that hopefully will help us!

COYB's!
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bluefeast added 13:19 - Sep 20
cheers Harry , 1.o win for us on Sunday
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stickymockwell added 13:19 - Sep 20
Cheers Harry!
Glad Fatty is out as he would have been well up for this one. After reading Harry's notes I'm feeling a lot more optimistic of getting a result on Sunday.
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michaeldownunder added 13:40 - Sep 20
After reading this great view I'm even more unsure about the result.
Started off couple of weeks ago thinking that we would get slammed 4-1. Now after reading this do I go for a tight 1-2 away win or an even tighter 1-1 ?

As prob Mick says behind closed doors in the dressing room, start with one point away from home, play it tight and hope for a lucky break.
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Lummylum added 14:10 - Sep 20
"Holt looks like a tub of slightly mobile lard."
Possibly my favourite line. And great to hear too.
Thanks so much Harry :D
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MaySixth added 17:14 - Sep 20
Keep this coming Harry.

It's great.
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algarvefan added 17:23 - Sep 20
As always Harry brilliant, top effort again. I must admit if offered a draw now I'd take it but I have a suspicion that we might just edge this one so long as we take our chances!
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chorltonskylineblue added 18:06 - Sep 20
Great review. And quite encouraging reading! Let's hope we can catch them out. Sounds like an unsettled team with a manager who hasn't got a system going yet.
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BuckieBlue added 18:17 - Sep 20
Thanks Harry, as ever. On paper should be a piece of cake then! (especially if their midfield play so deep that they are sat back in the stands- great line).
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TractorBeezer added 19:28 - Sep 20
Informative and entertaining as well as morale boosting. Thanks Harry!
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Ebantiass added 20:57 - Sep 20
I guess im the only one that thinks this is going to be very very hard for us then, as mentioned Wigan still have an awful lot of quaility and it sounds like they have´nt found out how to get the best out of the squad yet. Mick sets his teams up to be very hard to beat, so it wont be a highscoring game.
Good luck to us though.
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HarryfromBath added 23:45 - Sep 20
arc and Ebantiass, I have great sympathy with your apprehension about this game. For all of Wigan's struggling to find the right formation, the basic quality of their squad is still decent. I am most nervous about Maloney, who will give Luke Chambers a right good game.

Wigan's squad has suffered the same disruption as QPR and Reading, but they are behind in finding their best eleven, and we were unlucky in our other two away games. I think that we can definitely get at their defence, but it will be very interesting to see how Coyle sets his midfield up.

Many thanks for all of your kind feedback. Stewart27, you don't know how close you may be to the mark with your comparison at the top of the comments! Wigan's supporters certainly made some very fine observations this week when venting their frustration.
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AbujaBlue added 13:44 - Sep 21
"Tub of mobile lard".

Great as always Harry. And I like the way you refer to him as the 'former Shrewsbury striker' without having to muddy this lovely website!

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