Latics Vs Chelsea Preview

Latics take on Chelsea today with boss Roberto Martinez insisting that we are going for the win and if we sit back and allow them on to us then that is a recipe for disaster, I agree.

If the club can get a good result from this game then it would be a fantastic boost to the confidence of the players and set them up nicely for next weeks trip to Humberside to face Hull City

Last week saw the Latics torn apart by an Arsenal side that looked a class above, but the disappointment of that performance needs to be banished and a new focus by the team on spirit and passion to be used alongside their possession football or Chelsea will simply muscle us off the ball.

Latics are crying out for a leader on the pitch to pull them together and get them bonding, the realisation that the team are taking time to gel as a unit has been noticed by Martinez and this week he has taken steps to combat this with some revolutionary methods used in training, don`t mention Eileen Drury though.

The main problem last week was support or should I say lack of it for the isolated Hugo Rodallega, his attacking partner and foil, Jordi Gomez was conspicuous by his absence and neither supported Rodallega or battled in the midfield area and he probably had his worst game since his summer move from Espanyol and was withdrawn on 57 minutes.

I don`t want to make Gomez a scapegoat and he has undoubted talents but for me there is a distinct lack of application, apart from the first game of the season against Aston Villa the Spaniard has looked a yard off the pace and lost at his new found level, he appears to lack confidence, I`d say he is in desperate need of a goal to give him a boost and a bit of luck, but as Bill Shankly used to say 'Ya make yer own luck laddie`

Lets hope that the Latics can click today just like they did in that Villa game and we just may be in for a treat and hopefully spoil that 100% record of Ancelotti`s men

Latics boss Roberto Martinez:

'What we are going to do is be ourselves and go for a win, it would be fantastic for the town of Wigan.

'It's a glamourous game and we need to make sure we are ready.'

'They are not predictable at all, they have different dimensions and they can hurt you in many ways.

'They can be patient, they can be direct, they are a complete team. If you want to approach a game against Chelsea to keep a clean sheet, I think it's a recipe for disaster.

'Instead we have to face them and make sure we can hurt them as much as they can hurt us.'


Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti:

"Wigan like to play the ball on the floor and we have respect for this team"

"They have some very good players and they like to hold the ball with short passes"

"Deco and Alex are out but Drogba is fit to play"

Martinez has a full strength squad to chose from apart from Scott Sinclair who cannot play because he is on loan from Chelsea, Olivier Kapo played another 90 minutes for the reserves in the week and he is pushing for a place in the squad

Latics from:

Kirkland, Edman, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Scharner, N'Zogbia, Gomez, Koumas, Rodallega, Scotland, Cho, Thomas, Figueroa, King, DeRidder, Pollitt, Amaya, McCarthy, Diame, Kapo

The Latics need a leader in midfield for this game and Diame needs to step up to that mantle now that he has settled in, a fantstic prospect it's time to start fulfilling his potential

Deco and Alex are out injured but Joe Cole reurned in midweek bt today is too arly to see him start.

Chelsea from:

Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Carvlaho, A.Cole, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba, Turnbull, Ferreira, J.Cole, Kalou, Mikel, Borini, Hutchinson

Talented forward who suffers from 'horrendous' episodes of cramp that see him fall to ground at the slightest touch

Although Chelsea have won all 8 of our Premier League clashes we have had sucess in the cup competitions

A 1-0 3rd round FA cup win at Stamford Bridge back in 1980, and a 4-2 League cup 3rd round victory in the 81/82 season

Phil Dowd Oh no!!!

Heart says 1-1 draw and so does the head this week

Premier League

Hull City Vs Latics
KC Stadium
Saturday 3/10/09
3pm

Latics Vs Manchester City
DW Stadium
Sunday 18/10/09
4pm

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