Captive audience: Martinez pictured with (left to right) Barry from Vital, Paul from WIGANER, Andy from Mudhuts, and Jay from CockneyLatic.
He wants the players and the supporters to show their love for Wigan Athletic and just how important his club is. We’ve had a difficult season, perhaps the biggest so far in our history as Martinez seeks to transform the team from perennial relegation battles into something a bit more special. The green shoots are there for everyone to see. The team has a good solid young spine running through it. The players are hungry and at the right time in their careers to offer plenty to Wigan Athletic. Roberto Martinez is a very bright young manager with and equally bright future ahead of him in the game. Although there are still two games to go, the Latics manager invited the Wigan Athletic fans’ websites into the inner sanctum for a second time this season as he sought to give his reflection on what has been a very important season for the club. Once again, I am sure all the supporters are very grateful to have such a forthright young manager in charge of the club who isn’t afraid to offer supporters an insight into the working of their club. It’s taken quite some time, but once again, spread over the next four days will be the full transcript of the interview here for all to read.
PART IV
The sending off in that game (Thiago Motta vs Barcelona), as a manager, looking at it from both sides, you have got the guy who went down like he has been shot, and you have got the other fella who has put his hand in his face, which would irritate you more?
I have always said that I do not want players to cheat on the pitch, or to do things that are going to make the job difficult for the referee.
Now if I am being honest with you, this season I have changed my mind because I am looking at the decisions we have had this season and I can't really justify them.
I cannot explain why we conceeded a penalty at Birmingham, why Ridgewell never got sent off, I cannot explain why Gary Caldwell got the red card at Manchester City, and I cannot explain why Defoe is allowed a goal when he is a yard offsdie.
When you tell me all these things I say well you know what, I want my players to be as clever as they can be to get the decisions they can for my football club.
I know that that doesn't sound fair play, but that is through the experiences we have had this season.
It is very nice to come out and say that you don't want the players to cheat, but they want to win football games and you are going to get bad decisions.
If that is the case, when you were ordered to appear before the FA, after the Caldwell incident, why did you choose not to defend your comments?
We are doing that.
You won't win, but it is just to make a point!
I agree with you. I never said that that wasn't a red card. I understand when a referee gets a decision wrong.
The referee told me it was a two footed challenge.
He didn't put that in his report though did he?
No, exactly! So he is lying.
What is says in the report is a reckless challenge, with excessive force. You tell me what chances we have got for appeal?
If he had put in the report that he had seen a two footed challenge then we could have appealed.
Well he did see a two footed challenge but it wasn't from Caldwell!
Well yes exactly. That is where it infuriates me. If he had come out and said, 'I am sorry ,you know what, I only saw the end of the challenge.'
But what happens is he has got Momo Diame in front of the challenge and as he is looking out he sees Gary Caldwell with both feet off the floor because that is the end of the challenge.
If he had come out and said I am sorry I only saw the end of the challenge, then that is fair enough.
Well you could argue that cost us the game?
It did cost us the game and it cost us the game at Fulham. If Gary Caldwell had played at Fulham I guarantee we would have got something out of the game.
That is where people say no, no, that is the nature of the game. You are going to get bad decisions from the referees.
So I say ok, if that is going to be the case, if the players can be clever enough to influence the decisions to go our way, not by cheating, or doing anything wrong, then I say okay.
Do you think perhaps the FA or UEFA could look at decisions retrospectively?
I agree with that completely. Abroad, the approach is completely different. They will try to get a decision, and they don't see it as cheating, they see it as being clever.
So for your team, you are allowed to try to get a decision, and in a way, you are not helping the referee. I am talking about our players doing the same, and what I am saying is that if I get caught, I am risking getting a red card here.
I agree with you, if you could prove that Busquets, was looking (to see the situation with Motta), then you should get three games.
I am going to come back to our pitch now Roberto. We had it relaid a few weeks ago, are we going to be in the same situation next season when it is like a mud bath?
Well that is what we are working towards, trying to avoid being in that situation again. It is clear though that any ground which shares rugby and football, you are risking that if you get a bad winter. I think that is what we had last season.
What I would like to do next season is to make the pitch wider, to gain probably a yard each side. That is my biggest focus.
The only problem we have is with the lights from the top of the stand, these should be redirected. That is the only problem the Premierleague may have.
I think we would really benefit from having a wider pitch and if the winter is as bad this year then I think we are going to have the same problem. Playing rugby and football on the same pitch is tough.
Can we serve an eviction notice on the other lot?
Well you said that and not me!
What have been your real highs and lows of the season?
The biggest disappointment was Portsmouth away. We did many good things at Burnley and it was one of those moments where you say that we need to kick on and we need to do well here.
Throughout the game it was clear that we were well beaten. Like I say, in the defeat to Spurs, we did things well in the first half. but at Portsmouth, from the first minute to the last, we were disappointing.
The best moment was Liverpool because the performance had to be perfect to win that football game. And then the last ten minutes against Arsenal were something special.
And which players have disappointed and who have you been impressed with?
I don't like to say too much because we haven't finished the season yet. I would prefer to finish the season and then look back.
I know the players who haven't performed and many of those had to go out on loan. That has been a disappointment because we started from scratch, a fresh, and everyone had a chance.
Everyone who is left in the squad now, I am delighted with their approach on a daily basis. I keep saying on a daily basis but believe me there is a big difference when you are coming in and being a professional and train well and I value that.
Do you think Jason Koumas is lazy? We know he has been a big issue for you Roberto, that is no secret,.
At the moment he has been injured since erm, erm,
2005?
No, no, I think January. He is a massive talent, I think that every time he used to play with the national team in Wales, you could see the talent he has got.
The performance against Villa and the performance against Manchester United at home, showed the talent that he has got.
It has been a tough season for himself and since January he hasn't been available at all so it has been a frustrating season.
Has he got any kind of future at Wigan Athletic?
I don't like to speak about anyones future before we have finished the season. I would say that I am not making the decision for that, football makes the decision, and it has been a disappointing season from his point of view.
The home games, we have got upto 19,000 homes fans coming now, this must be something that pleases you?
I think this is important because we all know just how tough this season has been. The tougher the season, the bigger the party should be at the end to celebrate it.
I think it is a fantastic achievement to stay in the Premiership with six points still to play for. It should be a real, real party and we should let the players know what it means to play for Wigan Athletic.
Sometimes we don't appreciate ourselves as a football club as much as we should do.
We have been six years in the Premiership now and I think we are a different football club. When Mr Whelan went to the Spanish market in 1995 he showed that he has a different vision and we need to be a bit more loud about the achievements of Wigan Athletic.