The Godlike Genius of Charlie Mulgrew

[Stuart]

Last season Mowbray went on a run of 

LLLLDLLWLLL

Fortunately it was bookended at each side by WWWW which game him breathing space with W8D1L9.

However it was prefixed by LLL and suffixed with LWD.

Making it W9D2L14 in that ‘half season‘ spell.

He is going to have to do worse than that to be removed. Gulp!

Under Mowbray we can have really long bad spells but then have a couple of decent runs and the fanbase lurch from “enough’s enough” to “ he’s earned more time”. The only problem is that more time looks like simply more of the same due to his inability to recruit well or to get the best out of his team due to his self-inflicted midfield rotation policy. Then you throw in that he can’t get us motivated for local derbies and it starts to grate.

He has to show a stepped-change in performances. Consistency of selection and a style of play and understanding between players developing rather than this schizophrenic approach brought on by too many changes. There have been times this season where we look like strangers on the pitch.

Our squad is significantly weaker than last season and must be addressed. Personally I have no confidence that Mowbray will address this in January. Or even that he recognises the need. This lack of confidence in there being any change is the most important factor to me. Do we have time to tread water?

[Amo]

2 hours ago, Stuart said:

Last season Mowbray went on a run of 

LLLLDLLWLLL

Fortunately it was bookended at each side by WWWW which game him breathing space with W8D1L9.

However it was prefixed by LLL and suffixed with LWD.

Making it W9D2L14 in that ‘half season‘ spell.

He is going to have to do worse than that to be removed. Gulp!

Under Mowbray we can have really long bad spells but then have a couple of decent runs and the fanbase lurch from “enough’s enough” to “ he’s earned more time”. The only problem is that more time looks like simply more of the same due to his inability to recruit well or to get the best out of his team due to his self-inflicted midfield rotation policy. Then you throw in that he can’t get us motivated for local derbies and it starts to grate.

He has to show a stepped-change in performances. Consistency of selection and a style of play and understanding between players developing rather than this schizophrenic approach brought on by too many changes. There have been times this season where we look like strangers on the pitch.

Our squad is significantly weaker than last season and must be addressed. Personally I have no confidence that Mowbray will address this in January. Or even that he recognises the need. This lack of confidence in there being any change is the most important factor to me. Do we have time to tread water?

It's Bowyer all over again. Fans would grow weary of his defeatist tactics and dour pessimism, when all of a sudden he'd pull a few rabbits out of the hat. In turn, fans cling onto this slither of hope because they're afraid of the alternative.

Edited October 25, 2019 by Amo

[Stuart]

1 minute ago, Amo said:

It's Bowyer all over again. Fans would grow weary of his defeatist tactics and dour pessimism, when all of a sudden he'd pull a few rabbits out of the hat. In turn, fans cling onto this slither of hope because they're afraid of the alternative.

Pretty much.

[tomphil]

So many similarities to GBs last months in charge, change of style suppossed to be designed to be better on the eye and aiming for top 6 but proving anything but.

Good young player sold out the blue on the eve of the season, struggling for goals yet defence making same old mistakes.  Poor demeanor and silly comments grating fans. Favouritism on the pitch despite other options and obviously not working.

Only difference Mowbray has his mates all there working for him and has a budget and been able to spend money Bowyer could only dream about. Therefore the similarities end.

Not good enough !

[Hasta]

The problem with shipping Mulgrew out is we are no better defensively, and now do bugger all with corners and free kicks. 

Whilst some people said they were happy he had gone, it was only a good move if we got adequate replacements in and stopped shipping 2 or more goals every game. 

We havent. It's another move by Mowbray which has failed.

Edited October 27, 2019 by Hasta

[Ossydave]

Just catching up on the highlights of the rest of yesterday's games and noticed Wigan shipped yet another late goal with Charlie at the heart of the defence.... 

I like the guy but I felt a lot more confident we'd see the game out yesterday than I used to.

[Blue blood]

Just now, Ossydave said:

Just catching up on the highlights of the rest of yesterday's games and noticed Wigan shipped yet another late goal with Charlie at the heart of the defence.... 

I like the guy but I felt a lot more confident we'd see the game out yesterday than I used to.

Yeah I checked to see if had been starting in Wigan's poor run too. No surprises he has and think he is finished as a centre back (but not necessarily at defensive mid). The other thing that struck me was looking at Wigan's team and Luton's how the heck could we have been below them/in a relegation fight earlier in the season given the dross in their teams? Shows that there are some very limited squads out there. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

On 27/10/2019 at 09:55, Hasta said:

The problem with shipping Mulgrew out is we are no better defensively, and now do bugger all with corners and free kicks. 

Whilst some people said they were happy he had gone, it was only a good move if we got adequate replacements in and stopped shipping 2 or more goals every game. 

We havent. It's another move by Mowbray which has failed.

Lol, this hasn't aged well. Don't worry, you could easily find similar from me around this time too. 

Wigan fans on Twitter saying Mulgrew needs to be dropped and a defensive mid, whose name I can't recall, needs to start in his place. I think we all saw the issues with him last season and it appears there is no Indian summer. He's not even scoring anymore. 

[Hasta]

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Lol, this hasn't aged well. Don't worry, you could easily find similar from me around this time too. 

Wigan fans on Twitter saying Mulgrew needs to be dropped and a defensive mid, whose name I can't recall, needs to start in his place. I think we all saw the issues with him last season and it appears there is no Indian summer. He's not even scoring anymore. 

True.

I'm putting it all down to Nyambe  ?

4 weeks ago I would have played Mulgrew had he still been here but not now. 

Edited December 9, 2019 by Hasta

[tomphil]

Same as here last season he was ok early doors then ran out of puff, his legs are gone.  I said this 2 seasons ago he needed to retire from international football if he wanted to remain a decent championship defender.

[Bigdoggsteel]

13 minutes ago, tomphil said:

Same as here last season he was ok early doors then ran out of puff, his legs are gone.  I said this 2 seasons ago he needed to retire from international football if he wanted to remain a decent championship defender.

Scottish international football is like the hotel California it seems....

100% he should have to pick at this stage. 

Is he out of contract here in the summer? 

Edited December 9, 2019 by Bigdoggsteel

[LeftWinger]

Was just having a look at Wigan's record with and without Mulgrew this season.

With: W3 D3 L7 - 0.92pts/game

Without: W1 D1 L6 - 0.5pts/game

So if anything, they do slightly better with him in the side.

Compare that with his record at Rovers since we have been back at this level:

With: W7 D9 L14 - 1pt/game

Without: W21 D8 L13 - 1.69pts/game

(Games include cup games, but I've put it as pts/game just as an easy comparison)

Edited December 9, 2019 by LeftWinger
Typo

[Admiral Nelsen]

37 minutes ago, LeftWinger said:

Was just having a look at Wigan's record with and without Mulgrew this season.

With: W3 D3 L7 - 0.92pts/game

Without: W1 D1 L6 - 0.5pts/game

So if anything, they do slightly better with him in the side.

Compare that with his record at Rovers since we have been back at this level:

With: W7 D9 L14 - 1pt/game

Without: W21 D8 L13 - 1.69pts/game

(Games include cup games, but I've put it as pts/game just as an easy comparison)

I'm still one of those who thinks that Mulgrew has something to offer in this division, even in defence, but if your team has already got a soft underbelly and then he's not going to do anything to remedy that. Strange signing for Wigan given that their away & defensive problems are not too dissimilar to ours last season, only quite a bit worse!

[rigger]

14 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

I'm still one of those who thinks that Mulgrew has something to offer in this division, even in defence, but if your team has already got a soft underbelly and then he's not going to do anything to remedy that. Strange signing for Wigan given that their away & defensive problems are not too dissimilar to ours last season, only quite a bit worse!

I am still a firm believer that his time at the Rovers had run its course. Thanks but goodbye.

[Rogerb]

3 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

 

Is he out of contract here in the summer? 

End of June 2021 according to transfermarket

[Bigdoggsteel]

10 minutes ago, Rogerb said:

End of June 2021 according to transfermarket

Be interesting to see how that plays out 

[Admiral Nelsen]

2 hours ago, rigger said:

I am still a firm believer that his time at the Rovers had run its course. Thanks but goodbye.

Wouldn't disagree, Tosin of the last few weeks looks a real upgrade on anyone we've had there in a good while, including Charlie.

Only saying that in a different set up which plays to his strengths a little more then I can still see him looking at home at this level.

[Bigdoggsteel]

Unpopular opinions 1

Tosin, best Centre half we have had since Duffy.

No, no stop throwing stuff at me, I'm leaving , I'm leaving  

 

[DE.]

In fairness there isn't much competition there save for Lenihan!

[Blue blood]

In fairness I think a lot of the uproar about Mulgrew was he wasn't replaced more than the quality of his defending. A lot of concern was also that we would miss his goals and set piece threat. Both of those things remain true. 

Had we another set piece specialist or brought in defensive cover (no defenders on the bench at the weekend) then there would be little sadness over him going. 

As it is, he isn't that great defensively and imo done as a centre back in a 2. That said a canny manager might still get a lot out of him as one of three centre backs or in defensive mid imo. Wigan are having him as one of two centre backs (or were when I last checked) and that isn't really working...

[tomphil]

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Unpopular opinions 1

Tosin,   POTENTIALLY best Centre half we have had since Duffy.

No, no stop throwing stuff at me, I'm leaving , I'm leaving  

 

Looks a bit better now ?

[Wegerleswiggle]

2 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Unpopular opinions 1

Tosin, best Centre half we have had since Duffy.

No, no stop throwing stuff at me, I'm leaving , I'm leaving  

 

Best since Nelsen!!! 

[Husky]

Does anyone know his injury status?

It could soon be a case of "SOS Charlie, we don't care about your 7 mistakes as we need your 10 goals".

We are absolutely dire at offensive set pieces.

[Amo]

Just now, Husky said:

Does anyone know his injury status?

It could soon be a case of "SOS Charlie, we don't care about your 7 mistakes as we need your 10 goals".

We are absolutely dire at offensive set pieces.

He might have lost the knack. Hasn't notched for Wigan yet.

[DE.]

We're still scoring goals, we're just back to conceding 2+ a match which Mulgrew isn't going to help with.

Edited January 1, 2020 by DE.