This post is sponsored by Barcelo Hotels – 4 Star Hotels in 19 countries worldwide. Click below and use code C8597571ABEB to get 5% off your booking.
So that was the game that we finally eluded the spectre of relegation. Other than that, all the talking points really revolve around the usual issues – that is failing to defend effectively, sloppy midfield play, and a lack of creativity. My desire to go into them in full is probably the same as Villa played for most of that game – that is with low interest. Most of Wigan’s attacks were going through the middle as the issues with Dunne and Collins are well known and understood. When Dunne somehow managed to concede a corner from about 40 yards out, it really illustrated just how sloppy some of our play is. Whether the effort was down to our position, lack of general morale, or whatever, it is unacceptable.
Downing played well, and is clearly our player of the season by a long stretch. Reo-Coker had a good game, but really needs to work on his long distance passing. Heskey was clearly very passionate and frustrated after the bust up with Alcaraz and Caldwell. Other than that though, the team were very sloppy. Sloppy in passing, slow in their approach to control the ball, panicked when closed down – all in all not the hallmark of a great team.
The players are responsible for their performances on the pitch, and the management is responsible for the tactics. In my eyes, neither group have performed well enough, and should take the time during the close season to reflect on the situation. We should never have less time on the ball than a team like Wigan, and I imagine those stats will be revealed to be true once the statisticians put them up.
I am sure that there will be people who will argue that we were never going down, but to only confirm our Premier League status in week 36 via a draw vs Wigan is not good enough. Relegation was a real possibility, and that isn’t good enough by any stretch, therefore people will need to take the consequences come the close season. I hope Randy Lerner makes the required changes that are needed to progress this football club, both on and off the pitch.
Purchases for the summer
Looking at that Wigan team, I could see both Moses and N’Zogbia being good purchases for us should Wigan go down. Both players are adept on the wings, and would fill a void if we do decide to sell Ashley Young to another team. Invariably, we will need to look to find at least 5 or 6 players come the close season, so the statement by McAllister saying no major surgery would be required made me laugh. That said, I don’t envisage him being in charge come next season. I’m sure most will agree we need:
A new long term goalkeeper. Brad Friedel is being relied on too heavily and we will need a replacement sooner or later. Marshall is too old, and Guzan seems unlikely to provide the solution.
A new right back, or to sign Kyle Walker permanently, as well as A N Other right back to replace Beye.
A new left back to back up Luke Young, or to reintroduce Warnock into the team.
Two centre halves to either partner one of Clark or Cuellar, or to come in to boost the squad.
A central midfielder, or a new contract for Nigel Reo-Coker. Petrov is unlikely to be able to feature heavily next season given his fitness, and we need someone to fill the role NRC will leave if he goes. Introduce Gary Gardner into the first team progressively next year.
Potentially one or two wingers to either replace Ashley Young, or to complement the squad. We have Downing and Albrighton, but beyond those two and Ashley, we aren’t overly covered in the wide roles.
Finally, we need to ensure that Robert Pires’ contract isn’t renewed or, if it is, it is as a coach rather than a player. I thought for a short while that he was going to come on for Heskey when I saw him warming up with Marc.
The rest of the season
Given that we are definitely staying up now, I would rather just go with youngsters for the rest of the season. One could argue that there is a merit in finishing as high up the league as possible, but we stand to get nothing extra from the placings besides a little more prize money. I would rather bring in the likes of Clark, Bannan, Albrighton and Delfouneso in order to fill the team with a bit more variation. After all, nobody here would put money on Messrs Dunne and Collins being here next season no matter the manager. I personally think that a Clark/Cuellar partnership couldn’t do any worse than we have seen from Dunne and Collins this year. That said, I could probably do better, and I always played on the wing as an amateur.
I apologise for the lack of in depth analysis, but I don’t really see anything massive to have as a talking point given the lack of any real creativity. Sure we fluffed a few chances via Bent and Heskey, but a draw was probably as much as we deserved on that performance. The only thing I’d like to find out is why Heskey went so mental at the referee because of Caldwell and Alcaraz. Maybe Match of the Day might show us more. Anyway, thank God we can breathe easy and know we are still up (although it infuriates me that I am even having to make that statement).
Here’s to next season, and plenty of changes both in the team, and in the managerial setup. A big thank you too to everyone who has contributed to this site too during the time we have been up. I will be looking to put some polls up in the next few weeks for you to vote of a few choice subjects. If you’d like to suggest we run a particular poll or polls, feel free to put your requests in the comments below.
*** NOTE *** Apologies to anyone who tried to log on between the end of the game and me getting here to write this report. It seems my server crashed under a load of heavy traffic.
The Author
