Who do you want as the next manager? New poll option.

[Concrete John]

Goal scorers in Wigan's budget are VERY hard to come by.  And you also have to factor in that every season they'll lose a key player or two to bigger clubs.

[sonlyme]

Oh dear God - a mystery 3rd contender ?  Given the utter muppetry displayed about football matters by our CEO Mr Paul Faulkener I'm afraid this can mean only one thing.

The man who appointed Big F'eck did so because he had credentials on his CV - and CV and credentials are how people like Mr F do things.  If he was appointing a new accountant - he go through the same process - it is the corporate process - but not a football process.

Mr F is a clueless suit who  will want a proven CV - because a proven CV  fulfills the first rule of incompetent management - it covers his arse. 

Should it all go tits?  Well ... we went through the proper process so you can't blame me ... and he fulfilled all the clubs requirements so you can't blame me  ... and he had a great CV so don't blame me ... sadly, it just didn't work out, so let's all move forward together and don't blame me.

But who - Villa fans - has recently improved his CV?


Mr Balloon Head - is now a football genius

Yes - not good enough for Albion but I fear good enough for the dead smile of Mr F.

Oh woe is me.

[PaulTheVillan]

That's fair enough and was my opinion after watching Wigan several times. Great play with little cutting edge in front of goal. At Villa he could afford that and in Darren Bent, has it.

That's a fair comment, to which I have to say, after three years in the job why hadn't he identified and signed someone within his budget to do the business? He hasn't really progressed Wigan at all in that time in any quantifiable way, other than the last nine games of last season. Is that enough evidence?

Di Santo isn't as natural a poacher as Darren Bent.
Boselli had a good record abroad but didn't work out.
Rodallega either has a great game or a shocker. (Bruce signed him I believe).

[JJ-AV]

I voted RDM but meant to vote Martinez.

Really hope it is Martinez. When was the last time we've had a manager that uses technical midfield players and plays the ball through the middle?

That'd be great. Remember how Bannan ripped Man Utd apart from CM. We've been watching our wing play (or non-play this year) for bloody years.

Be great to get a little magician in the Silva/Modric/Cabaye mould from the middle, slipping through balls into Bent.

[sonlyme]

You'll know it's all gone tits when this product shows up in the club shop...

[James]

To be fair I think with better players a Martinez side wouldn't struggle so much earlier in the season, when you listen to him speak about the game he is very tactically aware. Also people saying that Wigan only overtook us with one week to go, whilst that's true it doesn't really matter. The bottom line is that over 38 games with much poorer players they finished above us.

And over 29 games, when we were total shit, they were even worse under him, and he was in his third year there, it was his team!

Still, we'll get who we'll get won't we?

[JJ-AV]

Our resources are significantly larger ?

Correct.

Wigan Athletic Record transfer Fee Paid: Mauro Boselli - £6.5M

Aston Villa: Darren bent - £18M (Rising to £24M with add-ons)

I can't remember the exact statistics, but I think Martinez's record signing was Al-Habsi at £4m and he's sold around £40m worth of players.

He sells N'Zogbia for £12m (£8m profit in 18 months), then gets Moses (£2.6m) to replace him. He'll probably get close to £10m for him if he sold him too.

[Brian Taylor]

Lambert into evens with Wm Hill. Martinez out to 9/4. Ole steady @ 16/1.

[PaulWinch again]

To be fair I think with better players a Martinez side wouldn't struggle so much earlier in the season, when you listen to him speak about the game he is very tactically aware. Also people saying that Wigan only overtook us with one week to go, whilst that's true it doesn't really matter. The bottom line is that over 38 games with much poorer players they finished above us.

And over 29 games, when we were total shit, they were even worse under him, and he was in his third year there, it was his team!

Still, we'll get who we'll get won't we?

Yes which would be a disaster if the season was over 29 games. I think with better resources and players Martinez has the right mentality and tactical acumen to do well and produce entertaining football. Sometimes people forget quite how small Wigan are.

[john e]

To be fair I think with better players a Martinez side wouldn't struggle so much earlier in the season, when you listen to him speak about the game he is very tactically aware. Also people saying that Wigan only overtook us with one week to go, whilst that's true it doesn't really matter. The bottom line is that over 38 games with much poorer players they finished above us.

And over 29 games, when we were total shit, they were even worse under him, and he was in his third year there, it was his team!

Still, we'll get who we'll get won't we?

you do know he's won the league with Swansea ?  you dont win a league by turning up in March.

OK it was only div 1, probably about the same standard that Molde play in, and we all got excited by OGS,

like you say its about opinions, but just going for the man with the best CV does not always work, look at Chelsea, and England for that matter,
in my view we have to buy into someone who plays attractive football in a modern way, Martinez does that as do others, and i feel could do a great job building something worthwhile at VP

[mr woo]

Ive suspected for a while the apparent lull in proceedings suggested we were waiting for an answer from somebody rather than actively chasing a target.
That, along with MysteryMans cryptic 'expect a few twists and turns' post suggests the person we were waiting on had options before committing to us.
Plus, it's gone quiet on the Lambert front, the tone of his quotes have altered, and dippers didn't want him giving us a free run. I think we could have had him by now if he was our choice A.

So, I'm sorry to say it looks like Martinez to me. I just hope I'm wrong.

After all, Faulkner acknowledged in his statement the need to give the fans what they want. Going by the HandV poll at least ten per cent of us will be pleased.

[QBVILLA]

I'd agree with that - he seemed to have trouble organising a defence, as well.

Although, to be honest, we've just had a season of playing terrible stuff whilst lacking a back bone, so even Martinez's thing would be an improvement.

At the same time Martinez's side, on their day, are capable of beating anyone, which would be a big change from the depressingly predictable dirge we've been seeing.

On the flipside he's also overseen a 6-0 home defeat and 8-0 and 9-1 away defeats.Personally i'm not that enthused by the thought of Martinez.

[pedro25]

I'd now be amazed if it wasn't Martinez or Di Matteo, I'd be happy with either, but would probably prefer Di Matteo.  I would prefer Lambert to either but this doesn't look likely now.

[Rick_avfc]

I hope we get lambert.  Have wanted him as manager from day 1 and my opinion has not changed even when we got linked to OGS.

[adbo9]

i think Martinez is so over-hyped its untrue........... he scrapes staying up everyyear and this master tactician has, for all his good results, presided over some record thumpings as well........  Amazing what a smart suit and foreign name can do for your image !!

RDM in most peoples opinions is no good as he had a bad run at Albion and got sacked - but has gone one to win the FA & Champs league double..............  - however, Brendand Rodgers is spaffed over by the same people who slaughter RDM cos his teams play nice tip-tap football - lets not forget he got the bullett at Watford and Reading pre-Swans.....

DI MATTEO all the way for me - make it happen Randy !!