By statto_the_yid
April 25 2006

This season we have had a very large number of midfield players, which come the end of this season, was reduced to a core of around 8 players who have featured this season including the Peace Cup. This season we have had a very large number of midfield players, which come the end of the season, was reduced to a core of around 8 players who have featured this season including the Peace Cup competition.


Its been interesting that Pedro Mendes was sold, time and time again I refuted that he was sold down to his ability and more to the style of play Jol wanted to implement and the players already at the club. During the next transfer window there will again be some activity in the transfer market not only for the defence (new right back anyone ?) but some midfield players as well.


I’ll go for the obvious midfielders to talk about first; Routledge hasn’t set the world alight in the PL this season at Portsmouth coming off the bench for plenty of games but failed to make the impression in the same vein as our new wonderkid Lennon. There are question marks about Lennon’s ability to keep running the way he does for 90 mins and maybe Routledge would be a great sub to bring on in Lennon’s place. However I feel Routledge days are numbered at WHL as he will want to play week in week out and with an outburst against Jol he will be on the transfer list for schure, not sure we would be carrying players who are not up to the job like Routledge, Brown, Davis and also Andy Reid.


Irish pieman Reid is another player I expect to be offloaded in the next transfer window to maybe a newly promoted club to the Premiership or a good CCC side. He did show some good play last season but didn’t offer us the promise he came with, for example goals of which he has scored just the single goal for us against Villa during our 5-1 win at White Hart Lane. I’m sure the goal wasn’t a myth either, for a winger he is quite slow and I’m sure there would be some day light between Reid and Davids over a 60 yrd sprint.


Will Davids stay with us next season ?! Yes is the answer but not playing as many games as this term, however he is a one off never to be repeated player who’s touch has left him a little the last part of the season. Davids has given us a much needed bite in midfield but maybe he needs to start giving Carrick some lessons in how to tackle even if Carrick has improved 100% this season. Carrick bashing was almost a sport Grandstand were going to bid for but that faded away as fans started to get behind the player who did play some duff games (against Charlton away last season). He will become the player we hoped. Carrick showed he wanted to play for the badge when he stepped up to the mantle against Arsenal & Man United, proving he is worthy of a space on the plane to Germany in SVGs last WC squad.


Tainio is a player who excited me greatly but as everyone has seen he has become Anderton mk2, only with bundles of energy. Teemu has had 4 – 5 knocks this season which have limited him to only 22 showings for the club since he arrived. Whist he was at Auxerre he managed to put in 150 games over the duration of his stay so that says to me he wasn’t injury prone before he arrived here. Lets keep the faith with Teemu.


Murphy I’m still not sure what he has given us and not really made any kind of impression, but Ill trust Jol on this and keep back from judgement right now.

One player I’m sure will progress is the unpredictable Jenus, having some goals coming from midfield is fantastic to see, something like 6 goals this term isn’t a bad return (Carrick take note) it took him 149 showings to score 12 for his previous club so I feel we are getting things out of Jenus the barcodes were not able to. Will he go to Germany ? I don’t think he will, hasn’t been stella for us this season and needs to improve but progress has been made so I don’t think anybody can moan about him just yet.

Zeigler is the forgotten man at WHL and I feel whist he might leave could have a future here, I hope he does as everyone seams to get excited when he got the ball in a Spurs shirt and I’m sure he has enjoyed his time in Wigan and will come back wiser and stronger.