They may have suffered eight defeats on the bounce before –
on two occasions in fact – but this latest nightmare run could prove terminal
for Wigan’s Premier League hopes.
Their latest defeat, at Wolves on Sunday, left them bottom of the Premier League without a win since August. Yes, it is only November, with plenty of football still to
be played, and Wigan have always being among the favourites in the relegation betting in their seven year stay in the top flight to date, but the options available
to boss Roberto Martinez and chairman Dave Whelan appear limited.
Martinez has changed Wigan’s style of play in recent years,
moving away from the more rugged, direct football of his predecessors.
However, in order for that to be successful you need players
with enough technique to pull it off. The summer departures of Charles N’Zogbia
and Tom Cleverly hit the Latics hard, and with Whelan seeking to cut costs Martinez
has not had the funds to bring in direct replacements. Neat, passing football rarely flourish in uncompromising relegation battles.
He should be commended for rejecting the advances for Aston
Villa in the summer in order to stay loyal to Wigan, but now his chairman is
facing a test of his own. There are plenty of examples down the years of club’s
failing to act decisively in order to dig themselves out of trouble, while
others have made a tough – but ultimately successful - decision.
My hunch is that Whelan will not sack Martinez, he knows the
restrictions his manager is under and has a long enough memory (unlike many
other Premier League chairman) to remember all the good things Martinez has
done.
Next up for the Latics is gargantuan relegation clash with Blackburn,
a point above them at the foot of the table. Lose that -and with Arsenal,
Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool to come in their next six games – then
you can bet on relegation finally coming to haunt Wigan and their fairytale run in the Premier
League come to an uncomfortable end.
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