Editors Blog: Wigan's Best Starting Eleven - Goalkeeper

Scott Carson

Former England international and the man brought in under Owen Coyle has slowly become the clubs number one goalkeeper. Carson has slowly built up a reputation with the fans and within the club. I think as fans most of us would have chosen Ali Al Habsi should be our number one choice this year following all his injuries.

Yet Carson has shown why he was tipped to go all the way to the top. Carson specialises in great handling technique and shot stopping, however the flip side is poor box control and unable to come for a lot of the aerial balls into the box.

It has though been something they have worked on the training ground with him, and Carson has improved over the season so far. Would he be your number one choice?

Ali Al Habsi

He came as a Bolton player, and well he will remain a fan favourite for life. Always shows his feeling and has built an amazingly special relationship with us the fans. Had it not been for a sever shoulder injury which required surgery last summer then Al Habsi would probably still be our number one. Things don’t work that way in football though.

Great reactions, always quick off his line and one of the best penalty stoppers I have seen play for Wigan Athletic. Yet he can’t fight his way back in between the sticks. Is he being pushed out of the club? Reports in the summer suggested that he may be the one to leave the club.

So far this season though he has had to deal with being the guy on the bench and picking up the odd start; which has turned out to be the cup game. Will he make it back into the starting line up? I am not too sure if he will under Rosler, would he under you though?

Lee Nicholls

Nicholls our young and very talented protégé we have at the club, and very surprised that we haven’t loaned him out for the season, could arguably force his way into being the number one. Lee played a handful of games last season and well he looked good.

Very confident with someone so young and with a lack of experience he controls his box well and has the nose to come for crosses and take the pressure of the defence. Combine that with a very good shot stopping ability at his age.

A very talented young man, but would he be your first choice?