Once again, we link up with an opposing fan prior to our game. This time it is Alan Moore who runs the Wigan Athletic blog “Not a Patch On.” Alan has answered some questions I asked him. I also answered his, and you can find my answers here.
1. Thanks for this Alan. I guess that this season must have been a real disappointment for Wigan fans, but were you surprised that you have been in the “relegation” struggle?
I’ll have to admit that I expected better this season, but the reality is that the club is trying to manage its costs down and that’s meant a young squad with all the problems that bring. Inconsistency and a tendency to let your heads drop are never going to lead to a massively successful campaign. A disappointment? Probably not, there are fans who’d gladly sell the club’s soul for another season at this level, but there’s a sense now that the club is trying to build something stable after years of short-termism, if the result of that is that we have to play at a different level (temporarily or permanently) then, well we’d all rather have a club for our kids to support rather than some time in the sun, wouldn’t we?
2. Obviously Brucie left us to go to you, what did the Wigan fans think about him and his style of play? Following on, do you think that Martinez can keep you up?
I can only speak for myself. In Bruce’s first spell with the club, he worked wonders getting the best out of a squad that Bruce Rioch had struggled to get firing. In his first season second time around, he did the job he needed to do and kept us up, but by his own admission that had a lot to do with him having players come back from injury, particularly Heskey. Once we’d stabilised then he reverted to the pragmatic, defensive football that is the hallmark of most mid-table Premier League teams and at that point he lost it for me. Come January when Emile and Palacios left and Antonio Valencia was earmarked for a summer departure he seemed to either lose interest or lose the dressing room and there was a real sense at one stage that we might nose dive into the relegation battle. Personally I didn’t enjoy too much of the football on show and I think the perceived “success” is deceptive.
That said many would take him back tomorrow, which probably is a reflection of their view of Bobby (Martinez) as anything. Can he keep us up? I don’t know, but I’m currently keeping the faith. Bobby’s big selling point, for me, is that he genuinely has the club at heart, is passionate about the club as much as his team and has a proper plan for how he wants us set up from top to bottom. As I said before, I don’t think I’d swap that for anything.
3. There are a few connections player wise. What are your thoughts on De Ridder? Also we were linked with Boselli, but I see he is away on loan – so was he not a success then?
De Ridder, you’d be better off trying to get me to remember Kevin Langley for all we’ve seen of him. The Dutchman looks a technically decent player, but possibly not one for this level. But it’s difficult to comment without seeing him have a run, which we have under either Bruce or Martinez. Boselli is a different story altogether. His goal-scoring record in Argentina speaks for itself, but he found himself in a position where he needed to prove himself in this division very quickly.
The last 20 years are littered with fancy Dan foreigners who never settled in this country who could have been stars if they’d settled quicker (or been at clubs where they’d have more time) and Boselli might be the latest, although the official line is that his time in Italy will better prepare him for next season in England. Obviously the cynics are going the other way and have been quick to beat the manager up over a expensive signing.
4. Following on from the previous question, what was your take on the N’Zogbia transfer that never was to us?
Mmm, honestly, I think it was over hyped at the time and there was possibly no possibility of him ending up with you. If the rumours I’ve heard are true then you’d have been mad to even try and match his wages on top of a eight figure transfer fee, and I guess you never intended to. From his side, I imagine that he has his eyes set higher than either club, regardless of the deathly dull debates at the time about who was the bigger club.
Now some questions about us, but I’ll link to you too!
5. In regard to the Blues, were you cheering us on in the Carling Cup final? 🙂
I’m no great Arsenal fan, yes I admire their style of play, but not the arrogance that they get from it. That said, I’d got to kick off with almost an assumption that they’d walk it (sorry!), so I guess I wanted football to be the winner (take your fingers out of your throat). Was I please that you won, yes, more so how it came about. That’s what football should be all about, it’s so hard to find real romance these day that we should all cherish the few moments we get.
6. How would you sum up your season and our season so far?
It’s been a hard enough task concentrating on our season this year to be worried about how other teams have been doing. But I think for a lot of teams this season will be typified by never really getting going, false dawns and hoping that no other team gets on a good run before you do. We’ve been in that position since day one almost and yet we’re still there now, hoping that we’re still in touch as we hit the last six games (we have Spurs and Chelsea between Saturday and then).
7. As far as this weekend’s game goes, who do you see as the dangermen in the Blues side?
Have you got any strikers that are desperate for a goal? We’re usually good for breaking ducks and dry runs. Seriously though, I’ll be keeping tabs on Larsson and Bentley, their delivery could well make the difference against a defence that is better at pressing the self destruction than it is anything else.
8. Who should we be worried about in your squad?
We’ve got a fairly fit squad to chose from and I think that you’ll be facing an attacking four permed from James McCarthy, N’Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega , Victor Moses, Connor Sammon and Tom Cleverley. They’ve got the ability to keep you under pressure but the question is whether they have the cutting edge to break through your usually resolute defence. There were plus signs ain, new boy, Sammon’s cameo against Man City last time out, and you can expect a lively ten minutes or so from him, if we’re looking for a goal late on. I suspect that the biggest dangerman may turn out to be Curtis Davies (if selected) there’s every chance we’ll be relying on you to make mistakes and he seems most likely.
9. Who will be the bottom 3 in the Premier league at the end of this season?
Today I think Blackpool, West Brom and Wolves, but I fully expect that to change at least nine times between now and the end of May.
10. What will the score be this weekend?
My heart says 2-0 to Latics, my mind says a 1-1 draw.
Bonus question, what should I have asked you and what is the answer!
“Do you know what platform the Slough train is going from?”, “Six, but there’s an express that’s going from platform four that will get you there quicker” or
“Have you ever worn a kipper tie?”, “there was this one time when the missus tripped up when she was handing it to me”
Sorry, but the old ones are sometimes the best. Thanks for having us, hopefully we’ll be able to grab a brew again next season.
I hope so too Alan, thank you mate.
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