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A well balanced view i think.
DAVE WHELAN admitted he was amazed Roberto Martinez did not feel “equipped” to take Wigan back up to the Premier League.
And that will also raise plenty of eyebrows among Everton fans.
Many Toffees supporters are already asking whether the man to replace David Moyes should be someone who has just taken a team down to the Championship.
Throw in the fact that Wigan were in the bottom three for more than 80 per cent of Martinez’s four years at the DW Stadium, and the alarm bells will really start ringing.
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright seems convinced that Wigan’s remarkable FA Cup triumph provides enough evidence that the Spaniard is the right man for the job — especially after the way they smashed his side 3–0 at Goodison Park on the way to Wembley.
But it is clear Martinez knows he still has a lot to prove — not least to himself.
Wigan owner Whelan seemed as surprised as anyone by Martinez’s doubts.
He said: “Roberto feels responsible for us going down, which is unfair on him. It’s not his fault.
“We had as many as eight first-team players out injured for certain games.
“The manager can’t affect that. He is blaming himself a bit too much.
“But he doesn’t feel he is equipped to take us back to where we belong — in the Premier League — and I have to accept his decision.
“I think it’s very unusual but shows his total honesty.
“And personally I feel he would be equipped to take us back.
“He’s been such a fantastic manager. We are great friends and will remain so all our lives.
“I don’t know if this would have even come up had Wigan stayed in the Premier League.
“He is contracted to us for another 12 months but he asked if he could be released.
“I said ‘Yes’, but of course there will be a little bit of compensation for whoever wants him. The amount is around £2million, not a fortune.
“And to get a manager like Roberto, I think that’s very cheap.
“I just feel very sorry and the supporters will feel the same.”
Maybe the manager’s doubts are not so surprising when you put that emotional Cup triumph to one side and examine Martinez’s overall record at the DW Stadium.
The widely-held belief that he inherited a struggling team that simply continued a constant battle with relegation is actually wide of the mark.
The season before Martinez arrived in June 2009, the Latics had actually finished 11th with 45 points — 11 above the drop zone.
In fact, the only time they were involved in a genuine relegation battle in their first four seasons in the top flight was in 2006–07, when they finished 17th, staying up on goal difference over Sheffield United.
They had finished 10th in their first year among the big boys and, after dicing with death the following season, they improved to 14th in 2007-08 and continued the upward trend before Steve Bruce quit and Martinez came in.
In Wigan’s first four years as a Premier League outfit, they managed 47 victories from their 152 matches, a win ratio of just over 30 per cent.
Under Martinez, that figure dropped to 38 victories from 152 — a win ratio of just 25 per cent.
And while Martinez’s teams are justifiably praised for their slick passing game, Toffees supporters will be particularly concerned by his failure to find a remedy for Wigan’s glaring defensive shortcomings.
In his first season in charge they conceded an alarming 79 goals — an average of more than two a game — and their goal difference of minus 42 was the worst in the division.
After a couple of seasons in which they let in ‘only’ 61 and 62 goals, they were a soft touch again as they stumbled towards the relegation trapdoor.
The 73 goals they conceded this season was the joint worst in the top flight along with Reading — and was 13 more than bottom club Queens Park Rangers.
OK, Wigan were particularly hard hit by injuries to defenders, with key men Antolin Alcaraz and Ivan Ramis missing most of the campaign.
But in crucial matches towards the end of the season — such as their 3-2 home defeat against Swansea and the costly 2–2 home draw with Tottenham — the Latics looked almost clueless at the back.
In their last six league games when fighting for their lives, they had 15 goals scored against them.
So it is no wonder they failed to avoid the drop.
Of course, it was not all doom and gloom. Wigan were always easy on the eye under Martinez and that incredible run of seven wins from their final nine games a year ago — including victories over Arsenal and Manchester United — showed what they were capable of.
But they could not repeat that form this time and if Martinez is to go forward at Goodison Park, he must show he can get it right at the back.
Yet BBC pundit Robbie Savage tweeted: “So Martinez has decided to leave Wigan after taking them down. Am I missing something here?”
Oh well, if Robbie Savage says so…The rest of it is nothing new.
Are you saying that the tweet savage has made is wrong?
Just shows what an excellent manager he is. Should he go to Everton i can see them top 2 next season ;)
Oh well, if Robbie Savage says so…
The rest of it is nothing new.
Are you saying that the tweet savage has made is wrong?[/quote]
Why, what exactly has he said? He seems to state a fact and then asks if he is missing something.
My general point is that if Robbie Savage thinks somthing is white, it’s more likely to be black. Wouldn’t trust the thick get to sit the right way on the bog.
I knew it would be bollocks when i saw the 3rd word in the title. If they told me it was Monday I would check a calender.
Oh well, if Robbie Savage says so…
The rest of it is nothing new.
Are you saying that the tweet savage has made is wrong?[/quote]
Why, what exactly has he said? He seems to state a fact and then asks if he is missing something.
My general point is that if Robbie Savage thinks somthing is white, it’s more likely to be black. Wouldn’t trust the thick get to sit the right way on the bog.[/quote]
Wouldn’t be the first time Savage has criticised Martinez either.
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