As others have said, as far as transfer errors goes, Boselli wasn't any more of a horrorshow than Kroldrup or Bilyaletdinov (or Bebe, Kleberson, Jordi Cruyff, Poborski, Veron, Djemba Djemba etc.). He's done well in various types of transfer:
Big money risk: N'Zogbia - fairly big money for Wigan. Got him playing the best football of his career and sold him for profit.
Foreign import: Kone - bit of a hit-miss journeyman but was consistently impressive last season.
Lower league potential: Moses - moved quickly while others dithered and got a very good player who was sold for ~8m profit.
SCOTLAND: Maloney - had one indifferent season at Villa and returned to Celtic, yet an absolute snip at under £1,000,000 as Martinez knows how and where to play him effectively.
The 'can do a job' signing: the likes of Alcaraz and Figueroa certainly haven't been bad buys for Wigan, although we'd obviously hope for players of a higher standard. Ramis looked okay before he got injured, too, and while some people are unconvinced, McCarthy has looked very good at times.
Different budget and different needs means he'll be tested if he comes here, but his history (some very good buys for Swansea, too) suggests he's capable of doing well with what he has.
The concern over his tactics is justified: Wigan were not just beaten but absolutely hammered far too often. I'm hoping he retains key coaching staff and doesn't attempt a radical and immediate shift in playing style, as what we currently have is, when it works, a solid system of decent football and organisation. If he can maintain the structure and add a little more intelligence and variety to our attacking play we might be very happy. If he attempts to 'implement' his 'philosophy' from the off it means an inevitable transitional period that might yield some unwanted results.
Ultimately I'm somewhere between satisfied and happy. He's an intelligent coach with real ambition. He rejected Villa because he smartly saw a club on the wane. He rejected Liverpool because he wants to be more than a 'head coach'. If he comes we've shown that we're no 'small time' club who'll plump for a Hughes or O'Neill, but also not one that is willing to take the massive risk of appointing someone with no PL experience. When we consider our finances and our current stature, it's a sensible decision. Not thrilling, but with the faintest glimmer of promise.
Big money risk: N'Zogbia - fairly big money for Wigan. Got him playing the best football of his career and sold him for profit.
Foreign import: Kone - bit of a hit-miss journeyman but was consistently impressive last season.
Lower league potential: Moses - moved quickly while others dithered and got a very good player who was sold for ~8m profit.
SCOTLAND: Maloney - had one indifferent season at Villa and returned to Celtic, yet an absolute snip at under £1,000,000 as Martinez knows how and where to play him effectively.
The 'can do a job' signing: the likes of Alcaraz and Figueroa certainly haven't been bad buys for Wigan, although we'd obviously hope for players of a higher standard. Ramis looked okay before he got injured, too, and while some people are unconvinced, McCarthy has looked very good at times.
Different budget and different needs means he'll be tested if he comes here, but his history (some very good buys for Swansea, too) suggests he's capable of doing well with what he has.
The concern over his tactics is justified: Wigan were not just beaten but absolutely hammered far too often. I'm hoping he retains key coaching staff and doesn't attempt a radical and immediate shift in playing style, as what we currently have is, when it works, a solid system of decent football and organisation. If he can maintain the structure and add a little more intelligence and variety to our attacking play we might be very happy. If he attempts to 'implement' his 'philosophy' from the off it means an inevitable transitional period that might yield some unwanted results.
Ultimately I'm somewhere between satisfied and happy. He's an intelligent coach with real ambition. He rejected Villa because he smartly saw a club on the wane. He rejected Liverpool because he wants to be more than a 'head coach'. If he comes we've shown that we're no 'small time' club who'll plump for a Hughes or O'Neill, but also not one that is willing to take the massive risk of appointing someone with no PL experience. When we consider our finances and our current stature, it's a sensible decision. Not thrilling, but with the faintest glimmer of promise.
