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Tottenham v Wigan – The Opposite View
I feel a little guilty at my lack of involvement in the FA Cup here on What A Fantastic Run. Sadly, just like Spurs, I see it as an opportunity to have a bit of a week off. The Watford game also coincided with my record label releasing its first album just 90 minutes before kick off. So aplogies for personally devaluing the FA Cup…still, not covering it on here is still a better effort than we get from ITV Football.
So it is not time for Wigan, which rather annoyingly is on transfer deadline day meaning most people will be more interested in looking for transfer rumours. The big one doing the rounds is Saha on loan and Zamora coming back to Spurs. Neither look likely or any better than what we previously have picking splinters every weekend.
I love it when we play Wigan, mainly because it means I get to interview Dan Harrison again. He is a man who has witnessed The Latics rise from the old Division 4 to the Premier League…he also knows a man who can sort out parking near the JJB on match days.
WAFR: Welcome back to What A Fantastic Run Dan, its seems like a bit of a same old same old season for Wigan this year. What’s your thoughts on the season so far?
Thanks for having me back. It has been a hard season, 3 wins and just 1 at home tells its own story and with just 15 points from 22 games we have left ourselves with a huge task to stay in the league for an eighth year.
WAFR: You are bottom of the table at the moment, do you think Wigan can survive again?
We can, but we need something extra and we need it straight away. As things stand it is looking very unlikely, we are a team of confidence players and a win can enable the team to play with that extra belief we need to get out of danger. We have some very talented players at the club it is time some of them stood up and took more responsibility.
WAFR: And how about Martinez? Will the fans take another relegation scrap?
It’s something I accept is going to happen on regular basis or for as long as we are in the league. Roberto has a limited budget, with the Chairman openly admitting he wants to leave the club debt free when he steps down. This means we will be forced to continue to buy from Scotland, the lower leagues of England and abroad. Players out of the first team at other Premier League clubs seem to be out of our wage budget.
As frustrating as this is, it is probably in the best interest of the clubs long term future, rather than throwing money we haven’t got on players that aren’t guaranteed to keep us in the league.
Martinez gets more stick from the fans as each week goes by, and as much as I will defend him on style of play and the wage bill, some of the criticism he gets is fair, we are a soft touch both on and off the field. I hope he stays and changes certain things, he will still be in charge at the end of the season so we may as well all get behind them and see if we can get out of the bottom three.
WAFR: From what I have seen this year I would say Al Habsi has been one of your stand out players of the season – who has been the main man for you?
Mohammed Diame is our best player, he is currently at the African Nations and although Senegal have now been knocked out I would be surprised to see him playing tomorrow.
Al Habsi, along with N’Zogbia, were the main reasons we stayed up last year. Ali is a fantastic shot stopper but he has made quite a few big mistakes this year, some leading to goals, but with the amount of work he has been forced into maybe the odd mistake is going to happen.
WAFR: Do you think Al Habsi will stick around? Surely there must be some other clubs sniffing around him?
Ali spent so long as a number two at Bolton to Jaaskelainen I’d only expect him to leave if we were to be relegated and to a club where he would be guaranteed to play regular football
WAFR: You are shipping away goals like they are going out of fashion, although I have to mention only Arsenal have conceded more, are there issues in the defence or is it your tactics away from home?
We changed formation to a 3/5 at the back and since we have looked more solid. The problem we have had for a while is that once the first goes in, heads drop and we are open to a hiding. At the back we have no real height.
WAFR: It’s transfer window time – surely in Wigan’s position they are looking at bringing in a couple of players. Are you hearing any noises and what positions do you think need strengthening?
You must be joking? Spend more money? After bringing in Beausejour (and paying for him) that should be the end of our spending. Rodallega and Diame are attracting interest and with contracts up at the end of the season, plus Whelan saying no saleable asset will leave on a free, they may well go. Rumours of £4 million for Hugo to Everton would be good business for us but to stand half a chance we must keep hold of Diame.
We have loan spaces available so expect to see Martinez using them if we are to bring new faces in, hopefully at the back.
WAFR: What are your thoughts on Spurs this season?
Playing good football. Every time I see spurs with the ball it is constantly moving with good pace, full backs getting forward and just having a go at teams.
I’d love to give Scott Parker some credit but sorry I just can’t manage it! Well, come on, he has had enough this season. Ok, in fairness he looks to have given you that extra bit in the middle and he’s always available either side of the pitch.
WAFR: And finally, what is your score prediction
Spurs 3-1
