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Transfer Thoughts


Twenty four hours ago many Latics fans, like most fans up and down the country, would have been on the edge of their seat watching the final few hours of the summer transfer deadline. Well time is officially up for the clubs, after another year of Premier League spending, which came in at over £400,000,000.

So did we spend well? Or will our departures leave major gaps in the Wigan squad. It hasn't been that busy of a summer, but with 17 players having either come in or left the club, we haven't been boring.

Now lets take a look at whether Bobby managed to wheel and deal is way through the summer. First looking at who has left the club.

Free Agents

A total of seven players left the club this summer on a free transfer. Mainly because we had been unable to sell them last summer and January and they were a burden on the wage bill. Players such as Jason Koumas and Daniel De Ridder, who never really reached the heights of their true potential.

While four young players left the squad who unfortunately were unable to make the cut at the club.

Antonio Amaya

The Spaniard never managed to bed into the squad. He did show, on the few occasions that he played, he has talent and could have made it in the Premier League. But the language and cultural difference were too much for the player, who returned home to spain.

Mauro Boselli

The Argentinian striker who nearly played in the 2010 world cup, never quite made it. More game time and given time to work at the club more, and he could have turned into something special. However the £6 million striker turned into more of a farce.

Loaned out in January to Genoa where he made some impact. He has returned to Estudiantes for the season, and it is believed that there is a buy clause in the contract. Whether he will return to Latics, we can only guess.

Roman Golobart

The teenage defender, who has struggled at Latics through injury, was given the chance to go play some first team football for the first half of the season.

The move will be very important for the players development. Having spent last two years in Latics reserves where he has performed brilliantly. He now needs first team football. Roberto likes the lad, and sees the potential he has.

Charles N'Zogbia

The winger who was hotly linked with a number of different clubs, eventually went to Aston Villa for £9.5 million. Now that is a good sum of money for a player who isn't very consistent and was in the last year of his contract, but I wonder could we have got more?

Downing left Villa for £20 million, when in my books Charlie is a better winger. You can argue that Downing is English and so has more value to English clubs and so on. But at the end of the day, if one player is better than another, surely they are worth more?

Either way we still got a decent sum of money, which saw Charlie and Wigan depart happy.


Now for the players we have brought in. Roberto said he wanted to add a few extra faces, and expected it to go right down the last day. He didn't disappoint.

David Jones

The former United midfielder signed of a free contract after being released by Wolves at the start of the window. He had been training for the Latics for some time and played against Preston North End, where the fans cheered for Roberto to sign him.

And so he did, he adds depth to our strong midfielder. He looks calm and cool on the ball and will fit into the Roberto way of playing football. I would expect to see him more as the schedule gets heavy and players are rested.

Nouha Dicko

The relatively unknown teenager signed a two-year contract from French side Strasbourg after being let go. The pacey winger looks like he could light up the wing for Latics, but it will be few years before he will. Roberto playing as part the reserve side and bring the player through as and when he is eventually ready to make it in the Premier League.

Albert Crusat

The 29-year-old winger, who signed on Tuesday for £2 million. The player was one of Martinez main targets of the summer. He has come into add a new creative spark to the Latics forward line up.

He will add a different dimension to the squad. Hopefully he will be able to adapt to the Premier League style of play and carry on playing the kind of football he has played for Almeria.

Shaun Maloney

The Scottish winger, who signed from Celtic. Was Wigan's first of two deadline day deals. The £1 million fee seems a bargain buy for a proven player who has played in the Premier League and in European football for many years.

He may not bring goals to the side, however he will bring experience to our young squad.

Patrick van Aanholt

The young Holland left back, who has many previous loan spells, gets his first taste of a Premier league move. The Chelsea man, has a great career ahead of him and Roberto is keen to add talent to the squad.

He will provide good cover to Figeroua, who has been our only real left back for the past season.

Ali Al Habsi

The number one target for Wigan this summer was signed, after the clubs agreed a £4.5 million deal for the goalkeeper.

Ali who last season, won fans player of the year, is an outstanding goalkeeper. Signing him permanently will sure us up defensively, by giving the team and the back four a sense of continuity. Which has already shown in the first three games of the season, having conceded only one goal.