Landzaat speaks out

Last updated : 09 January 2007 By Paul Farrington

The £2.5 million summer signing from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar is a little dismayed as to the thought-less long ball football that the Latics have adopted.

He believes a little more thought needs to go into our attacking play with more possession and build up play.

Landzaat said: "The football we play at Wigan is not something I'm used to. Some matches the long ball is the only kind we play. We'll then like to take throw-ins from the halfway line, and hurl the ball almost as far as the opposing keeper.

"We have quite a good squad, but no thought goes into our play. It quickly turns into lottery football, where we're hoping the ball will break kindly for us for once.

"I hope that we will go on to use our heads more when we play in the future. We had a spell of games when we tried to play proper football, but it did not survive — even though just one of those five matches did not go well.

"I often think that as I'm not getting the ball played to me, I might as well run to get on the end of it when it drops from the sky. That is gambler's football. But the thought behind a team's play needs to start from their goalkeeper."

Landzaat's ideas certainly make sense as the Latics spend to much time giving the ball away, putting more pressure on the defence to win the ball back.

The attacking play currently resembles that of a poor League One (no dis-respect meant to Oldham) outfit who rely to heavily on their target man striker.

The 31 year old midfielder was also unhappy with his recent reserve team outing insisting that he didn't want a rest.

He added: "The manager felt I had played in a lot of games, and wanted me to give me a rest, but that was not what I wanted at all."

Landzaat has started to turn in better performances of late after struggling to settle. Perhaps a switch in tactics would see the creative midfielder come into his own?

What do you think, let us know on the messageboard.