Antolin Alcaraz

[Royal Blue Jersey]

Just gone on a Wigan forum to see their reaction to all these signings.

One lid on there reckons this fella is now our best defender.

Mental.

They were adamant he was man of the match in their 3-0 win. We were all impressed by Wigan's attacking football that day but we hardly got a a sniff - Alcaraz just intercepting everything before we even got close

 

[TX Bill]

I think that the Alcaraz signing is a very good one for us. Could spell Distin from time to time which Distin may welcome from a fitness and overall health standpoint. Maybe a career extender.

 

[Tree13]

I think that the Alcaraz signing is a very good one for us. Could spell Distin from time to time which Distin may welcome from a fitness and overall health standpoint. Maybe a career extender.

I can't help but think this is very close to the truth. The caveat, of course, is that we now HAVE to offload Heitinga in order to free up some cash and give Duffy a shot at playing time.

 

[Eggs]

I can't help but think this is very close to the truth. The caveat, of course, is that we now HAVE to offload Heitinga in order to free up some cash and give Duffy a shot at playing time.

....I have to say I have my doubts about giving Duffy playing time, I'm sure the powers that be know if he's up to it.

 

[andybaker]

for me duffy runs like hes carrying a piano on his back...way to slow imo and too young to be able to compensate against that with great reading and understanding.

 

[Eggs]

...I was talking to one of the Wigan 1st team backroom staff last night. I wont mention his name but he isn't one who is joining us. Anyway, I asked for his opinion of our recent acquisitions and he said Kone is 'decent' but Alcaraz is outstanding. He said he couldn't understand why the rs didn't go for him instead of Toure and how we had got him so cheaply. Other than one serious injury, he's not been prone to missing games and is an absolute top notch centre back. He can fill in job as a defensive midfielder but its in the centre of defence where his true quality lies.
All sounds promising. Obviously Martinez knows what he's getting and it appears that Heitinga will drop down the pecking order and that we will have 3 top drawer centre backs to select from next season.

 

[Neiler]

...I was talking to one of the Wigan 1st team backroom staff last night. I wont mention his name but he isn't one who is joining us. Anyway, I asked for his opinion of our recent acquisitions and he said Kone is 'decent' but Alcaraz is outstanding. He said he couldn't understand why the rs didn't go for him instead of Toure and how we had got him so cheaply. Other than one serious injury, he's not been prone to missing games and is an absolute top notch centre back. He can fill in job as a defensive midfielder but its in the centre of defence where his true quality lies.
All sounds promising. Obviously Martinez knows what he's getting and it appears that Heitinga will drop down the pecking order and that we will have 3 top drawer centre backs to select from next season.

Sounds good mate - tbh i never payed him much heed and i default assumed Wigans defence were permentently gash - so im looking forward to running the rule over this lad. Will be intresting mate, we may need four centre halves if not more if we play 3 at the back.

 

[billycopper]

Appearances last season:

Chelsea (H) 0-2
Southampton (A) 0-2
Forest (A) 1-4 Sent Off
Reading (A) 0-3
Liverpool (H) 0-4
Everton (A) 0-3
Newcastle (H) 2-1
Norwich (H) 1-0
QPR (A) 1-1
Millwall (A) 0-2
City (A) 1-0
West Ham (A) 2-0
City (Cup Final) 0-1
Arsenal (A) 4-1

He seems to be well-suited to keeping big forwards quiet. Lambert, Pogrebnyak, Fellaini and Holt were frustrated by him but Suarez and Podolski had a field day.

Remember that he received a three match ban for spitting at Wolves' Richard Stearman too.

 

[Gibbo4]

Appearances last season:

Chelsea (H) 0-2
Southampton (A) 0-2
Forest (A) 1-4 Sent Off
Reading (A) 0-3
Liverpool (H) 0-4
Everton (A) 0-3
Newcastle (H) 2-1
Norwich (H) 1-0
QPR (A) 1-1
Millwall (A) 0-2
City (A) 1-0
West Ham (A) 2-0
City (Cup Final) 0-1
Arsenal (A) 4-1

He seems to be well-suited to keeping big forwards quiet. Lambert, Pogrebnyak, Fellaini and Holt were frustrated by him but Suarez and Podolski had a field day.

Remember that he received a three match ban for spitting at Wolves' Richard Stearman too.

Came on when it was already 4-0.

 

[billycopper]

Came on when it was already 4-0.

You're right. He came on in the 52nd minute, so really that should count as another clean sheet. And he went off after 16 minutes against West Ham when the game was still goalless. So he conceded 10 goals in 14 matches or 6 in 13 excluding the Arsenal game. That's 0.71 goals per game. The meanest defence in the league (City) conceded 0.89 goals per game and Wigan let in 1.92 goals per game in the league. Maybe Martinez had a point about his injury costing them then.

 

[Maestro Haze]

You're right. He came on in the 52nd minute, so really that should count as another clean sheet. And he went off after 16 minutes against West Ham when the game was still goalless. So he conceded 10 goals in 14 matches or 6 in 13 excluding the Arsenal game. That's 0.71 goals per game. The meanest defence in the league (City) conceded 0.89 goals per game and Wigan let in 1.92 goals per game in the league. Maybe Martinez had a point about his injury costing them then.

Yet people think that he's ****e still because he played for Wigan. The facts still stand though. He's a good centre back coming into his prime.

 

[moyeslovechild]

hes a top top player, think peop;le underestimate what a smart signin this is

 

[bainesontoast]

Next season every single naysayer of his will learn the hard way. He is a very good defender. The fact he's a free transfer (minus agent fees) is the cherry on the cake.

 

[EFCNIK]

He did spit at someone though. Pretty much my only gripe with him. We don't do that **** at everton.

 

[Zatara]

He did spit at someone though. Pretty much my only gripe with him. We don't do that **** at everton.

Sums up my thoughts on him.