It is being billed as the biggest derby between the two sides in years. It has normally been a small, low-key affair, but a feisty one nevertheless. Though not many people out side of Lancashire even know of its existence, I can assure you it is one the fieriest derbies I have ever witnessed. But now there is much more than just local pride and 3 points riding on it, there is the potential for both teams to save their seasons and premier league status’. On the 11th February, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic will meet at the Reebok stadium to fight it out for the biggest 3 points this match has ever rewarded.
Wigan is in dire form, rooted to the bottom of the Premier league 5 points from safety. So what? You may ask, well 5 points may not sound like much but considering Wigan’s simply substandard form for most of the season it is indeed quite a mountain to climb for Martinez’s young squad. They started the season well, drawing two and winning one of their first three matches, all against the three newly promoted teams. But losing four of their last 6 matches and drawing the remaining two has not given much, if anything, for the Latics faithful to cheer. Seeing the departure of their star player Charles N’Zogbia in the summer and the serious injury of their main striker Hugo Rodallega has drastically weakened their squad. Winger Victor Moses has been the only shining light in the squad. A young talent they picked up from Crystal Place two years ago, he has done well to fill the boots of the departed N ‘Zogbia. But even so, a team cannot rely on a single player too heavily. Moses aside there has been a breath of fresh air with the recently signed Ali Al Habsi. Signed from Bolton after spending last season on loan with Wigan. He has been by far the Latics’ most consistent player and many would feel they would have lost a lot more of their matches without him guarding their goal.
These have been two great signings by the young Spanish manager Roberto Martinez, but all over the rest of the pitch they are found wanting. Wigan is the lowest scorers in all four football league divisions. They have the young Argentinian striker Franco Di Santo, who is coincidentally Wigan’s highest scorer with 4 goals, yet this is a poor return for a striker who has struggled to fill the boots of the missing Hugo Rodallega. Di Santo’s strike partner whilst Rodallega has been injured has been the ineffective Conor Sammon. brought south from Scotland in last season’s January transfer window, he scored on his debut to help relegate West Ham but has since then failed to find the back of the net in any of his previous matches since that day in June, in both the cup and league. Since Rodallega’s return however, he has been thrust into the first team and the immense pressure from the fans to “save their season” he has also had a poor goal return, with just one goal since his return from injury in late October.
Their lack of goals if without doubt a source of concern, but not nearly as much as their defensive line. Gary Caldwell, Wigan’s centre-half, has the worst disciplinary record in the league, and certainly in the team. Ironic considering he is team captain. His partner Antolin Alcaraz was signed in the summer of 2010 after an impressive world cup campaign with Paraguay. With interest from numerous other clubs he chose, surprisingly at the time, Wigan. However since signing he has also got into a run of poor form and between the two of them have shipped more goals than any other team in the premier league this season and the season before that. Their wingbacks however are impressive. Maynor Figueroa is probably best known for his 60 yard wonder strike against Stoke city last season. With him on the left and the pacey Ronny Stam on the right, they do get forward and create some attacking movement. It is in the middle of the pitch Wigan are probably best equipped. The lively James McCarthy- a £12million transfer target for Liverpool last summer- holds a key role in getting forward at also getting back to make crucial interceptions. The other central midfield role is exchanged with Wigan’s very own ginger prince in Ben Watson, widely accepted as Wigan’s penalty and free kick specialist along with Jordi Gomez. James MacArthur- another lively, hard tackling yet surprisingly skilful Scotland international holds the other central midfield berth shared with the highly controversial Jordi Gomez. The ex Barcelona B midfielder has had a mixed reception since signing from Wigan from Swansea in 2009. Many Wigan fans have complained that when he gets the ball on the counter attack instead of running at defenders he slows down and does the opposition a favour by breaking up the attack himself. This and the lack of tracking back when Wigan is of the defensive had made him an unpopular choice of player. However, this season he has hit form. Whatever his style is he has always been Wigan’s deadball specialist, always being the chosen man for free-kicks and sharing corners and penalties with the Ben Watson. it seems Wigan have finally largely accepted him as, on closer inspection, it is found that Gomez does slow down Wigan’s attacks to pick the right passes, rather than run at the defence and potentially lose the ball- a trick he leaned when playing for Barcelona B. he possesses a languid style of play similar to Manchester United’s Dimitar Berbatov. However as a squad, despite the lack of options and talent in some areas of the pitch, Wigan always seem a team capable of a surprise. It is normally just ten minutes of defensive madness that loses them the game. Also as a club they are very united and extremely well run. Should Wigan Athletic get relegated, they will not be surrounded my cash flow problems such as the likes of Portsmouth and Birmingham suffered. Their fans, like Bolton’s seem to be largely behind their manager, which he deserves considering the amazing loyalty he showed at turning down the then vacant Aston Villa position to stay at Wigan. Roberto Martinez is widely regarded as one of the bright young managers in the game and although a little naive in some games and post-match interviews, he certainly has a talent and the smooth flowing passing style of football he has introduced at Swansea and later Wigan have given the team a new look. He is working a miracle on a shoestring and should Wigan drop down, it will not reflect too badly on his CV.
Bolton on the other hand has hit a bit of good form of late. Winning two of the last six, including a very convincing 3-1 win over a stuttering Liverpool. They have drawn a further two including another extremely plucky performance against very attacking Arsenal, and lost the further two, most recently a 0-2 defeat away to Norwich. Bolton started the season extremely promisingly, a 0-4 away win at premier league new comers QPR. However since then their form dropped drastically. Bolton have lost 8 of their 12 games at home so far this season, making the Reebok stadium a place where many teams go targeting a win. Bolton do posses the same, if not more quality than Wigan in many more broader areas. Up front they have their talisman in 35 year skipper Kevin Davis- recently called up for an England cap. They also have the ex Liverpool flop David N’Gog, who has earned a a livewire reputation since joining Bolton on the summer. Then there is the veteran Robbie Blake and the journeyman Tuncay, both of whom are proven goal threats and scorers. Down the wings why have the pacey ex Manchester United and Burnley winger Chris Eagles, who has made a positive impact since joining last year and the consistent martin Petrov down the left. they have the very promising youngster Fabrice Muamba playing through the middle, the u21 England midfielder always keen to keep the game going and up the tempo when the Trotters are struggling. Their other recent signing in Nigel Reo-Coker is definitely the workhorse of the midfield and always put’s in a shift with a keenness to rove forward in search of a cheeky goal for himself. Their backline however, is every bit as vulnerable as Wigan’s. Since losing their star defender Gary Cahill to Chelsea for £7million Bolton have suffered in their last few games without him. Although Coyle did splash some of that transfer cash on the American international Defender Tim Ream. Little is known about him and it will be interesting to watch his performance and development at the club and whether he will be an asset or a burden to the club. In goal however, instead of the usual inspirational goalkeeper in Jussi Jaaskelainen, there is the Hungary international Adam Bogdan. Bogdan’s performances have improved of late but he is still considered by some a poor replacement to their outstanding regular #1 in Jaaskelainen. Their manager is considered another bright spark after winning promotion with Burnley in the 2009-2010 seasons; he was guiding them to mid-table safety when he jumped ship in 2010 to join Bolton. although this left a sour taste in Burnley fans mouths and having the audacity to return and raid his former club for three of their best players in Eagles, Mears and Blake, the Bolton faithful embraced him and he brought the feel-good factor he is so famous for bringing to every club he’s managed, back to Bolton.
Overall this match is geared up to bring the spectators a very entertaining 90 minutes. Both team’s defensive frailties suggest goals in abundance. The atmosphere will be an very heated on and both sides, especially Bolton being the home side, will have to be careful not to make any mistakes and get their passionate fans on their backs. Tactically it will be a very midfield orientated match. Bolton play a 4-4-1-1 with N’Gog playing off Kevin Davis up front, whereas Latics will play a 4-5-1, packing the midfield and getting those wingers and centre-midfield players forward. It will be an open game and Bolton have the upper hand on past form, winning 2 of the last 6, with the other 4 being draws. However Wigan are often considered a surprise package and give every team they play a thorough work out. Local pride counts for lot in this part of the country and this will do doubt be a sell out attendance. Whoever walks away with the 3 points after this game has a real chance clawing their way out of the relegation zone and putting some distance between them and their rivals. Bolton tasted the sweet sensations of lifting themselves out of the relegation zone following their draw with Arsenal but disappointingly dropped back into it after their defeat by Norwich. Wigan will without doubt be up and ready for this challenge and this by far the game of the weekend.
I predict there will be tears come the end of the 90 minutes when the final whistle goes. Whether they’re tears of joy or bitterness only time will tell. but mark my words this is will be the most tense, exciting, open, breath-taking display you will see this weekend. sure, where might not be the skill you see in the bigger games further up the top but there will be every bit as much passion, determination, and grit you see in those games. Blood (not literally I hope) sweat and tears will be the order of the day. And one team will emerge victorious, one team will see this as the start of the rest of their season, and one team will hold bragging rights over their neighbouring town just 7 miles away for the rest of the season. These fans work together, see each other day in and day out and those bragging rights are more important than the very air they breathe. So, may the best team win.
Unless it’s a draw of course.
