The 2011/12 Premier League season may still be in it’s infancy with 11 games not really enough to gauge how certain teams will do over the course the year. However one thing is becoming certain with each passing week – relegation is a strong possibility for Wigan Athletic. Roberto Martinez’s side have had a disastrous start to the campaign taking only five points from a possible 33 and finding themselves rooted to the bottom of the table after a club record eight defeats on the spin.
The Latics have escaped the dreaded drop for two years in a row narrowly surviving by the skin of their teeth as others perished, dropping into the gloomy waters of the Championship. Martinez, who took over the reins at the DW Stadium from the relatively successful Steve Bruce, has failed to build on the progress made by his predecessor. Last season they clung onto their Premier League status by the narrowest of narrow margins but their current crusade to extend their Premier League stay to an eighth year looks to be a lost cause as they find themselves embroiled in yet another battle to avoid relegation. Is their time in the top flight finally coming to an end?
Answering this question is simple and although it might cause angry Latics fans to point and snarl at the number of games played this season, Wigan’s performances have been frighteningly poor. Draws in their opening two games were followed by their only win of the season against QPR on the 27th August with Sunday’s defeat against Wolves their eight in succession. It’s rather bewildering to see the club in this position once again because they actually do play some quality football at times. Martinez has always been an advocate of controlled, passing football and he has instilled that philosophy into his players.
I was at St James’ Park two weeks ago to watch them take on Newcastle and for large parts of the game they were the better side. Their disciplined defending and smooth passing and movement to retain the ball frustrated the Magpies although it all meant nothing in the end as Yohan Cabaye won the game with a phenomenal goal in the dying embers. But watching that performance highlighted two key aspects of Wigan’s play that have contributed to their rapid slide to the foot of the table.
I will say that their midfield impressed me a fortnight ago with Ben Watson, James McCarthy, Mohamed Diame and Victor Moses all look competent footballers who could perform key roles in better teams. If they had a goal getting centre forward and a solid back four either side them then Wigan would be in business. Regrettably they have neither they are the two biggest issues that currently exist in the squad. Again it’s mystifying as to why the Latics have struggled to find the back of the net this season with their fans treated to only seven league goals this season.
With a front pairing of Hugo Rodallega and Franco Di Santo you’d expect the net to be bulging on a regular basis. That isn’t the case and whilst the latter started the season in prolific form his goals have dried up and performances become substandard. Worringly the same affliction has fell at the feet of Rodallega who has yet to score this season despite being gifted a countless number of chances to break his duck. The once deadly Colombian seems to have lost his knack of scoring, snatching at chances he would normally bury and it looks as if his confidence has sunk to rock bottom.