Wigan target Celtic star Caldwell

January 13, 2010


Wigan have made a bid to hijack Scotland star Gary Caldwell’s proposed move from Celtic to Middlesbrough.

Caldwell, 27, had been expected to be reunited with former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan at Championship (second division) club Middlesbrough after falling out with the Glasgow club over the terms of a new contract.

But he could now be on his way to Premier League side Wigan after Latics chairman Dave Whelan confirmed that they had made an offer for the centre-back, who can also operate as a midfield holding player.

“We knew the lad was keen to work again with Gordon Strachan at Middlesbrough but we wanted him to come here and made him a very good offer,” Whelan said.

“You always think a player will fancy a crack at the English Premier League rather than the Championship.”

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has already signed one defender, former Ivory Coast international Steven Gohouri, and Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic in this transfer window.

Gohouri, 28, has signed until the end of the season after being released by Borussia Moenchengladbach last month, and is hoping that playing in England will help him regain his place in his national squad in time for the World Cup in June and July.

“It’s a big challenge for me overall coming to the Premier League, but as a footballer I’ve always wanted to play in this country,” Gohouri said.

“All the strikers in the league are big players and every week will be a new test and I’m looking forward to that. There are big differences between the Premier League and the Bundesliga, notably the intensity.

“In England that level is much higher and there are many more one-on-one incidents during the game, so I know it will be very hard but I’m here now and I’ll have to work hard and challenge for a place in the team.”

Martinez added: “He’s a powerful defender with plenty of pace and we all hope that he’s going to reach match fitness really soon, because he’s not had that recently.

“As a player he’s going to give us a different outlook and he’ll be a great asset to have in the squad. He’s got great experience, international pedigree and is desperate to get into the Ivory Coast squad for this summer’s World Cup.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Berbatov confident United are on course

December 30, 2009


Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov believes his side will retain their Premier League crown this season ahead of Wednesday’s encounter with Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.

A Wayne Rooney-inspired 3-1 victory over Hull City on Sunday helped United reduce Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table to just two points – prior to the Blues edging Fulham on Monday.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson stated publicly earlier this season that if his side are that close to Chelsea on the eve of 2010 then he would expect them to win their fourth consecutive league championship and Berbatov agrees.

“I think we are in a great position,” said the Bulgaria striker.

“There are still a lot of games to go and it will be difficult, but in the end I think we’ll end on top,” Berbatov added.

“We’ve had a difficult time with injuries, but we still have a great squad and players are starting to come back and we will go on a winning run now.

“The boss knows what to do in terms of changing things when he needs to and I’m sure we’ll finish on top at the end of the season.”

Berbatov is not exaggerating when discussing United’s injury plight.

They have been short of most of their recognised first team defenders with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, John O?Shea, Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Jonny Evans all recently struggling.

The tide would appear to be turning though for Ferguson’s side as he welcomed back Brown and Vidic for the match with Hull and the United manager believes the return of those two at the back will help United overcome Wigan.

“Hull was a step forward for us,” Ferguson said.

“We’ve got the win which is very important as we’re entering a crucial stage, and we’ve got two of our centre-backs back which will make a big difference to us. And they were absolutely magnificent (against Hull).”

Wigan will make the short journey to Old Trafford knowing history is against them.

United have won all 10 previous matches against the Latics – scoring 30 goals – and this season’s reverse ended in a 5-0 away victory for the champions in August.

Wigan’s own form has also been worryingly lacklustre of late – they are winless in four matches, have only managed one point from their last four away fixtures and they have conceded 39 goals in 18 league matches this term, the second worst in the division behind Hull.

A 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day means they hover dangerously close to the relegation zone on just 19 points but the manner of Wigan’s comeback against Sam Allardyce’s side has given Latics boss Roberto Martinez hope ahead of the United encounter.

“For me the (Blackburn) performance is a turning point in this season,” Martinez said.

“There are always many things that we could do a lot better but you’re looking at the way we controlled the game in the second half and we created the chances we created, I think it was a key moment in our season.

“We’re going to go there and try to win the football game,” the Spaniard added.

“Obviously it’s going to be difficult. You look at their record at home and it’s outstanding and obviously they’ve got a big squad and they can approach the game in a different manner but we are all excited.”

United will still be without Ferdinand and Evans, who have calf injuries, and Neville (groin) although Nani and Federico Macheda could return following ankle and hamstring complaints respectively.

Meanwhile Wigan are only missing midfielder Mohamed Diame, who has torn his medial cruciate ligament and will be out until February.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Birmingham come back to beat Wigan

December 5, 2009


Birmingham City stretched their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six games by coming from a goal behind to beat Wigan Athletic 3-2 at the DW Stadium here on Saturday.

Charles N’Zogbia’s 33rd minute curler put Wigan in front before three goals in 11 minutes after the half hour mark, two free-kicks from Sebastian Larsson separated by Christian Benitez’s effort, saw Birmingham in front.

Wigan substitute Jordi Gomez pulled a goal back with a late free-kick but it was not enough to deny the Blues all three points.

The Latics dominated the opening 45 minutes and deservedly went ahead when Jason Scotland’s cut-back found N’Zogbia and the Frenchman curled the ball high into the top corner.

By that stage Wigan had already seen goalkeeper Chris Kirkland go off with a back injury and replacement Mike Pollitt made a fine save to deny Benitez.

Birmingham though were level when Larsson’s free-kick from deep on the left evaded everyone in a crowded penalty area and somehow crept past Pollitt.

But there was no denying the quality of his second free-kick goal, a sharply curling strike from just outside the box that left Pollitt helpless.

By then Birmingham were already in front after Ecuador international Benitez latched onto Lee Bowyer’s pass, beat Titus Bramble and fired past Pollitt.

Wigan substitute Gomez’s 88th minute free-kick gave the home side hope of a draw but Birmingham held out.

WIGAN, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Wigan refund fans who witnessed Spurs massacre

November 24, 2009


Wigan’s shell-shocked players on Monday offered to refund supporters who travelled to London to watch their side being thrashed 9-1 by Tottenham.

The Latics crashed to the second worst defeat in Premier League history as they conceded eight second-half goals at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Defender Mario Melchiot admitted the result was embarrassing and, along with the rest of his team-mates, will pay away fans the cost of their tickets.

Melchiot told the club’s website, www.wiganlatics.co.uk: “We feel that as a group of players we badly let down our supporters yesterday, and this is a gesture we have to make and pay them back for their tremendous loyalty.

“There is not a lot else to say, just that as a group of professionals we were embarrassed by the way we performed, we feel it was below our standards and this is something we feel we owe to the fans.

“Now we have to draw a line under the game, focus completely on training this week and bounce back on Saturday.

“We are professionals, we will take it on the chin and move on but it’s important that we do not take our supporters for granted.”

Wigan return to action when they host Sunderland this weekend and the club’s owner, Dave Whelan, has insisted that manager Roberto Martinez’s job is safe, despite the humiliation at Spurs.

“9-1 is a serious, serious defeat and we have got to get our heads up and I am sure Roberto will be working on the lads now to get them going again and get their heads back in the air and get some pride back in Wigan Athletic,” Whelan said.

“He is Wigan’s manager and I have complete faith in him and I know the supporters have.

“I am absolutely 100 percent behind Roberto, he’s a great manager and he will pull this team around.”

WIGAN (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Furious Terry lays into Chelsea after Wigan shock

September 28, 2009


Chelsea captain John Terry accused his team-mates of giving up without a fight after Wigan handed the Blues their first defeat this season.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side had won all eight of their matches in all competitions until last weekend, but were out-fought by Wigan as the Latics claimed a shock 3-1 victory at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

The win was Wigan’s first against one of the ‘big four’ in 35 attempts and Terry was furious with Chelsea’s lack of spirit.

“The least we expect from every player is that we work hard and fight and we did not do that,” he said in The Sun.

“We didn’t win our headers and we didn’t win our tackles and that’s simply not good enough.

“You can go anywhere and not play well. But when you come to places like this, you’ve got to match their work-rate.

“We didn’t do that, the whole team. That’s the most disappointing thing.

“All the other big sides had emphatic wins, so it’s even more disappointing we’ve thrown away three points.”

Even Didier Drogba, who had started the season in superb form, was subdued on Saturday and the Ivory Coast striker described the performance as the worst of his five-year Blues career.

Drogba told the Evening Standard: “We didn’t play very well. We lost all the battles, all the duels. We didn’t win anything. We were poor.

“This is the worst game I have played in since I have been at Chelsea. We need to think about it, correct what was wrong and try to go again.

“We equalised just after half-time and we were trying to improve our game, but then there was the penalty and a red card (for Petr Cech), which I think was a bit harsh.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Ancelotti expects Chelsea to respond to Wigan setback

September 27, 2009


Carlo Ancelotti has promised Chelsea will provide a response when they travel to Apoel Nicosia after suffering their first defeat under the Italian.

The Blues head to Nicosia for Champions League duty on Wednesday hoping to make up for a miserable 3-1 defeat at Wigan on Saturday.

It was the first time they have been beaten since March and the first time they had lost since former AC Milan coach Ancelotti took over at Stamford Bridge in the close-season.

The concern for the Italian is that Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel could both miss the Champions League match after sustaining injuries at the DW Stadium.

Cole picked up a knee injury that forced him to be carried off while midfielder Mikel suffered an ankle problem.

Ancelotti is also facing up to the fact that Henrique Hilario will have to fill in for Petr Cech against Liverpool next Sunday, after the Czech goalkeeper was sent off in the defeat to the Latics.

Manchester United’s 2-0 win at Stoke meant that Sir Alex Ferguson’s team moved above Chelsea on goal difference.

But while Ancelotti wants to see more from his team in Nicosia, he expects to fight United all the way in the title race.

He said: “I think that there will be a lot of competition until the end of the season.

“I don’t know why we lost at Wigan because we prepared very well and we knew what was important.

“This can happen after a lot of victories and we have to accept this loss and fix it in the next match in the Champions League.

“I don’t think we were over-confident. In football it can happen that one day it?s not good and now we have to look forward.”

Titus Bramble opened the scoring against the Londoners before Dider Drogba equalised a minute after the restart.

But after Cech was sent off for tripping Hugo Rodallega, the Colombian converted the resulting spot-kick before Paul Scharner added Wigan?s third in the closing stages.

Latics manager Roberto Martinez felt Wigan have shown how to play against Chelsea after picking up a first victory over a ‘big four’ team in 35 attempts.

He said: “The only way that you can upset Chelsea a little bit is to not allow them the ball, not allow them to feel themselves and they found it difficult in that respect but the moment you switch off you’re going to be punished.

“All the positive things we did were backed up by the concentration levels at the back and it was a complete performance.

“When you are a team like Wigan and you’ve got Chelsea at home, you’ve got two options. You can be brave and beat them or you can get hammered.

“In the the last two games (against Manchester United and Arsenal) we lost 5-0 and 4-0 and the only reason that we won against Chelsea was that we maintained our standards, we learned our lessons and we were brave from the first second.”

WIGAN, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Ancelotti suffers first defeat as Chelsea slump to Wigan

September 26, 2009


Wigan handed 10-man Chelsea a first defeat under Carlo Ancelotti as the Latics took advantage of Petr Cech’s dismissal to win 3-1 at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

The Blues had won all six of their Premier League matches since Ancelotti arrived from AC Milan in the close-season.

But Wigan over-powered Chelsea with a dominant display. Roberto Martinez’s side, who had won just twice so far this season, took the lead through Titus Bramble.

Didier Drogba looked to have restored order when he levelled just after the restart with his 100th Chelsea goal.

But the key moment came when Cech tore out to trip Rodallega, earning himself a red card. The Columbian lashed in the spot-kick before Paul Scharner added a late third.

Chelsea, who surrendered top spot to Manchester United, were first to threaten when Frank Lampard skipped a free kick through the wall only for Chris Kirkland to save.

At the other end Hendry Thomas gave Cech an early test with a rifled free kick that the Czech goalkeeper held with a scrambling save.

Just before the quarter of an hour mark, Charles N’Zogbia cut on fro the right and slipped Jason Scotland through but the Trinidad front-man’s strike thumped away off Cech.

And shortly after that Chelsea went to sleep at a Wigan corner and the Latics took a shock lead.

Ancelotti’s side failed to react as N’Zogbia was given the time and space to cross for an unmarked Bramble to guide in a header.

The Londoners looked for an immediate response but Florent Malouda’s through-ball saw Drogba waste the opening.

Wigan looked confident and slick on the ball and Scharner fired straight at Cech after another classy passing move.

And Cech had to be alert again to hold a stinging N’Zogbia drive from another free kick.

Another opening passed for the hosts when strong play from Scotland saw the front-man off-load to Scharner, who scooped over the bar.

Scharner slipped as he was about to shoot after swapping passes with N’Zogbia and bursting into the area.

Only a well-timed slide from John Terry stopped Scotland firing in after the ex-Swansea man seized on hesitation from Ricardo Carvalho.

From the corner that followed, Wigan again played short and N’Zogbia’s hanging cross was knocked back in for Emmerson Boyce to force a fine block from Cech.

Just two mintues after the restart, Chelsea pulled level.

Malouda found space down the left and crossed for Drogba to scuff his shot through Kirkland’s legs for his sixth goal of the season.

The Blues almost pulled in front when Carvalho found Terry and his snap-shot deflected wide off Bramble.

But five minutes later, the match was blown wide open once again when Cech was given a straight red for clipping Rodallega after the Columbian was sent through by N’Zogbia.

And substitute goalkeeper Hilario’s first action was to pick the ball out of the back of his net after Rodallega blasted the spot-kick straight down the middle.

Scharner could have added a third for Wigan but dragged his shot wide from just outside the area.

When substitute Salomon Kalou swung at thin air and then lashed over the bar in the space of a couple of minutes, Chelsea must have realised it would not be their day.

And after Ashley Cole was carried off, Scharner tapped in Maynor Figueroa’s cross to complete Chelsea’s misery in the 90th minute.

WIGAN, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Keogh ruins Martinez´s Wigan return

August 19, 2009


Wolverhampton forward Andrew Keogh ruined Wigan boss Roberto Martinez’s first home match in charge of the Latics as his early goal clinched a 1-0 win on Tuesday.

Former Wigan midfielder Martinez saw his side win 2-0 at Aston Villa in Saturday’s Premier League opener, but his homecoming at the DW Stadium ended in disappointment thanks to Keogh’s header.

Wigan pressed hard for an equaliser but the visitors battled gamely to hold onto their first victory since promotion from the Championship last season.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was without former Manchester United striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who had a hamstring injury, while captain Jody Craddock made the 500th start of his club career.

But Keogh filled in nicely for Ebanks-Blake. He was close to putting McCarthy’s men ahead in the second minute when he cut back onto his right foot to curl a shot which struck the far post.

Keogh didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring. In the sixth minute the Republic of Ireland international rose above Paul Scharner to glance Nenad Milijas’s free-kick past Chris Kirkland and in off the post.

It was Wolves’ first Premier League goal since 2004 and they should have had another soon after. This time Keogh was the provider as his flick found Greg Halford, only for the unmarked midfielder to shoot over.

Wigan gradually began to exert some pressure of their own. Martinez’s team had the ball in the net when Jordi Gomez headed in Charles N’Zogbia’s free-kick but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Latics defender Titus Bramble headed wide from a corner, then N’Zogbia squandered a glorious chance when he ran on to Hugo Rodallega’s flick only to shoot tamely at Wayne Hennessey.

Wolves appealed for a penalty when Keogh was caught by Bramble’s out-stretched foot, but referee Mick Jones booked the forward for diving.

Martinez made a double substitution in the 61st minute, sending on striker Jason Scotland and on-loan Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair for Michael Brown and Jason Koumas.

Sinclair headed Gomez’s cross agonisingly wide at the far post and Scharner fired over in the last chance of the game as Wolves survived.

WIGAN (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Wigan boss Martinez vows to pursue strategy

August 16, 2009


Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has insisted the Latics will play in the same attacking fashion that saw them beat Aston Villa when they face the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Former Wigan midfielder Martinez made a stunning start to life as a manager in the Premier League with a 2-0 opening day win away to Villa on Saturday and is determined to play positively even against the best sides in the country.

The Spaniard established a reputation for enterprising football at former club Swansea and has made it clear he is only prepared to lose in style.

Wigan secured their first ever opening day victory in the top-flight at Villa Park and Martinez’s classy side will undoubtedly be one of the more attractive teams to watch this season.

“I would still play football at the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea and we will always try and play this way,” Martinez said.

He added: “I’ve been told that Wigan have lost against those teams in the last four years but if we’re going to lose, we will lose in style.

“You have to be brave and take pride in what you’re doing. Football is about enjoying yourself and making sure you can express yourself.

“If you don’t enjoy football played like that you’re in the wrong business.

“I take pride in the high standards of the players and I want them to be creative. I want them to put a smile on the supporters’ faces and they have done that today (Saturday).

“We all knew this was going to be a difficult game but I’m very proud of the players for the performance. All the credit should go to them because we have lost a lot of players this summer.”

Hugo Rodallega gave Wigan the lead with a spectacular goal after 31 minutes before Jason Koumas made the points safe with a 56th minute strike.

Martin O’Neill’s Villa were well beaten and were booed off at the end of both halves by their frustrated supporters – only 90 minutes into the season.

Debutants Fabian Delph and Habib Beye were also substituted after disappointing performances but O’Neill refuesd to panic.

“If you (the supporters) pay your money, you can criticise if you see fit,” he said.

“It’s a disappointment really because after the initial 15 minutes we were second-best all afternoon.

“The fans would be disappointed with that performance. This is a new team and we’ve got to get ready for it.

“You can analyse everything but we were tired, which was a surprise. We need to get some more players,” O’Neill added.

“It’s a lengthy season and I’m going to have to look after the players. We played well enough last season to overcome a number of hurdles and we’ve got to do the same again.”

BIRMINGHAM, England, (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Wigan closing in on Vallecano duo

August 13, 2009


Premier League side Wigan Athletic have been in talks with Segunda Division side Rayo Vallecano for the signing of duo Antonio Amaya and Mohamed Diame.

And it now seems that the Latics, after holding talks with the Segunda Division side and now a fee for the pair have been struck.

With discussions over personal terms being done, three-year contracts are said to be on the table.

Manager Roberto Martinez is hopeful of landing defender Amaya and midfielder Diame as he believes they would both add much to his side for the new Premier League season.

He told the Wigan Evening Post: “We are quite close to agreeing everything, and the main thing now is thrashing out the personal terms.

“Hopefully that will be done quite soon and they will be excellent signings for the future.

“I’ve followed their progress and development for a long time, and they will bring something different to our squad.

“I’m happy with the way the squad is developing, there’s a tremendous work ethic and a fantastic spirit in the camp.

“I’m very excited about the challenge ahead and the players are very focused and ready for that challenge.

“I’ve got huge confidence in the quality of the squad, we have a good core of players and we are getting stronger every day.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Next Page »

 



Calendar

Related Sites

Free Page Rank Tool

eXTReMe Tracker


TinyPic Image and Video Hosting

Click Here

Categories

.