Wigan : The Next Phase

Momentum and confidence if these were commodities, then their share price would be higher than rhodium. When a team or an individual has momentum they hold onto it for as long as possible and to ensure the decline isn't as steep. The other side of the equation, losing becomes a habit leading to a lack of confidence and momentum which lowers morale and is difficult to arrest the slide without major changes in personnel and attitude which take times to adjust.

At the end of last season Wigan Athletic were one of the few teams who didn't want the season to end when it did. After a poor start where relegation was looking likely, they turned it around playing some high quality passing football and getting results eventually surviving comfortably relative to their positon at Christmas.

On the back of that form, the question was Wigan: Where To Now? . Finally Victor Moses was sold to Chelsea, where his career will stall as he needs playing time at this stage of his career not get saddle soreness from warming the bench. Wigan should have held out for money but the best part of business this season was retaining Roberto Martinez as manager especially after the annual silly season speculation on his future.

Not quite there

Wigan's start to the season has been mixed. As with Roberto Martinez sides they tend to struggle early as they incorporate new signings into the specific system that Martinez wants Wigan to play. Naturally it's easier to get adjusted to the Stoke City or West Ham where the ball bypasses the midfield and a chimpanzee with minimal training could fit into their systems. Once the players get used to it, then we have seen the results for the Latics.


Roberto Martinez

Of the five league matches so far, only the Stoke City match at home would classify as 2 points thrown away. Wigan had more than enough chances to bury Stoke, but that's the old Wigan disease of not converting chances, it only takes a defensive lapse to be punished. The first 15 minutes against Chelsea and last half against Man United were poor. Defensively they lost their shape and discipline, this is the easiest part of the game to get right, yet the most neglected. No, it doesn't mean having 10-0-0 but it's about reading the play and having good decision making.

What the season has confirmed so far that the gap between the starting 11 and the squad players needs to close. Yes, the two League Cup wins which the reserves have shone has been positive though it's at a lower level.

Depth

Watson and Gomez should never start together, yet they are among the first subs to used. Gomez while he has good technique his decision making is poor, he passes when he should shoot and vice versa. With he and Watson the passing tempo is so slow than the Over 45s pub team could get men behind the ball. Wigan are at their best when the tempo is varied and not so narrow which was a problem against Fulham, a team they've also struggled with.

For all the stick he gets Alcaraz not being at the centre of defence is a big loss. It took him time to adjust to the EPL , once he adjusted, his partnership with Caldwell flourished and his presence helped Caldwell in other areas. Yes, can tinker in other areas but Alcaraz/Caldwell are the best defensive combination which leads on to the new recruit Ivan Ramis. There have been some differing views on Ramis, it was down to him that Chelsea scored their two goals so early, he got a bath and tough introduction into the league. Yes, he defended like Harald Ramis in that match and the price tag at the time was high. It'll take time for him to adjust and think eventually he will do so, currently he has a way to go.


Franco Di Santo

A few things Fulham match showed was that Wigan miss Franco di Santo. Never thought that I'd say that and mean it. Yes, I have been pretty critical of di Santo previously, he was one along with Beausejour who wished last season hadn't ended when it did. He gained confidence from that, while he'll never score plenty of goals he can hold the ball well, has good technique and his presence has helped Kone settle in quickly. Di Santo/Kone has shown promising signs of a fruitful partnership which is something Wigan has lacked previously.

When di Santo wasn't there, the attacking options were poor with Beausejour just hitting crosses and hoping for the best. Kone needs the ball to feet to be most effective and di Santo is a perfect foil. Ryo Miyaichi and Callum McManaman showed some positive signs in their cameos against Fulham. As the season progresses, hope they will get more opportunities and develop as Wigan need pace and width to stretch the defences to create space for Maloney, Kone and di Santo.


Arouna Kone

So far the season hasn't been bad for Wigan, but they need to improve their home form. The squad players have to take their opportunities when offered. Controlling the tempo when in possession was vital to their revival, not just pedestrian passes which do nothing except build up possession stats.

Saturday's match against Sunderland is an important one even at this stage of the season. Hopefully they remember the positive memories of the fixture last year where they did the football a world a favour and helped Steve Bruce get sacked. More importantly a win here can create positive momentum in the pursuit of an improved final league position.

Manolo Preciado - Always With Us

Football as a sport attracts the most headlines sometimes it's positive, others negative. At times it's a small section of fans misbehaving and a greater section of administrators caring about themselves to detriment of the sport. Constructive criticism is valued, if it wasn't then the football world would be full of sheep without questioning anything.

Thankfully this piece is about the positive aspects of the sport and remembering a larger than life character Manolo Preciado who was given an emotional tribute by both Racing Santander and Sporting Gijón this weekend.

Racing and Sporting with Preciado's family.


Manolo Villarreal shirt signed

June 5 was a big day for Villarreal when they announced Manolo Preciado as their manager who would take them back to the top division. The next day on the eve of presenting Preciado to the press, the Cantabrian died of a heart attack which shook the football world in Spain from clubs and fans alike. Yes, it's been a few months since that day and the tribute wasn't written at that time due to personal issues, plus laziness which would not have given the due respect he deserved.

For those not familiar with Manolo Preciado he was a tough defender played mostly with Racing Santander who he later managed on three separate occasions once the B team and twice with the A side. Besides Racing Santander he also worked with Gimnastica, Levante, Murcia.


Manolo the Player.

Preciado was responsible for bringing Sporting Gijón back into the top division in his second season. He was the longest continous serving manager with Sporting Gijón lasting 6 seasons before being sacked after a poor start in 2011/2012. In spite of this he was and still loved in his adopted city of Gijón.

Apart from keeping Sporting up on a shoestring budget. Preciado's best ever achievement was defeating Real Madrid 1-0 at the Bernabeu which ended Jose Mourinho's 9 year undefeated record at home with the teams he has coached. Still remember de las Cuevas's goal like it was yesterday and the last one he scored more about that wonderful day for sportinguistas Sporting Gijón's greatest day .




Manolo at Sporting

There was a bit of bad blood between Mourinho and Preciado which was started by "The One" criticising Sporting for fielding a weakened side against Barcelona. Preciado kindly told him to shut up, sit with the Sporting ultras. and called him a "canalla" very hard to translate this word but scumbag comes close. After Sporting defeated Real, they sorted it out like men. Mourinho went into the dressing room and shook Preciado's hand. After his death Mourinho came out with some special comments "He had everything I like in people and sportsmen: character, honesty and the courage to fight on.

Why was there such an outpouring of emotion at the news of Preciado's death within the respective football communities. As sport has become more professional it has bought in the age of pampered primadonnas, showponies, don't talk to me unless my agent gets 20%, inflated salaries and players who think perspective is something you buy in a supermarket.

Preciado was definitely his own man, very honest, spoke from the heart and someone that many could relate to on an individual which explains his popularity. He suffered a lot of tragedy in his life his wife died of cancer, one of his sons died in a car accident and last year his father died after being run over. Naturally he wasn't perfect but through his character and strength of personality during these difficult moments made it easy to identify with him.


Preciado Hall of Fame

Racing Santander and Sporting Gijón have close links the more cynically minded would say they extend to some shared results of convenience in recent times to preserve their status in the top flight before relegation. Preciado who was a Racing Santander member (sardinero) through the playing and coaching links, but he was very much loved in his adopted hometown of Gijón. Only the petty minded individuals would fail to see that he belonged to both sides.

It hasn't been easy to find good videos of the homage at Sardinero but representatives from the all the teams that he played for and coached Gimnástica, Levante, Mallorca, Murcia, Villarreal were represented. At the 55th minute of the match both sets of fans applauded for the whole minute the number representing the age which Preciado died.

As per usual the match between the two sides was a draw this time 0-0. Both teams were poor at least Sporting finally have a point after 3 games, the result was fair as they were as bad as each other. Football and the result were secondary to homage from both sets of fans to Preciado.


Manolo always with us

There should be an annual event between Racing and Sporting honouring Preciado, whether it's junior or senior level the Copa Preciado would be fitting after what he did for both clubs. The football stunk but this was the rare occasion where football fans came together to honour and appreciate a man who was such a part of their history without the pettiness.