Paper Talk: Star Search

Last updated : 02 February 2004 By Paul Farrington
The manager has revealed that more width on the left side of the midfield is his priority.

That could see him trying to push through a deal for Blackburn's Alan Mahon who it is believed he tried and failed to land last week.

Jewell feels that Latics have lacked a cutting edge down the left for quite a while despite the best efforts of Lee McCulloch.

And that was evident again on Saturday in the goalless draw with Burnley at the JJB Stadium.

He started with McCulloch on that side and later replaced him with substitute Andy Liddell, but without any joy.

Jewell said: "We do need someone to play wide left.

"Lee McCulloch gives everything he has got in that position and is a smashing player.

"But at this level, he should be a centre-forward, and we desperately need a left-sided player.

"It's not Lids' natural position, either, and at the moment we are a little bit unbalanced.

"Away from home it's not too bad because teams come at us and we can hit them on the break.

"At home, though, when sides sit back it is important to get in behind them.
"With all respect to the people we have at the moment, we haven't got what we need to do that on the left-hand side."

Jewell has been trying for a while to strengthen down the left, failing with a £750,000 bid for Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing before Christmas.
Steve Guppy was a target before he left Celtic to join Leicester, while scouts have checked out Hearts wideman Robert Sloan.

Mahon has now emerged as a front runner and it might be that some business can be done once Rovers sort out their squad by the close of the transfer window at 5pm today.

The deadline doesn't affect Latics and other Nationwide League club when it comes to domestic transfers.

Another pressing concern for Jewell at the moment is the state of the pitch at the JJB.

It again hindered Latics on Saturday with heavy rain before the kick-off leaving it muddy and heavy.

Jewell said: "It wasn't a great spectacle although both sets of players deserved credit for their effort, commitment and honesty.

"There was an argument that it shouldn't have been played and you don't realise how bad the pitch is until you walk on it.

"At 1.30pm on Saturday I thought the game might have been off, and had it continued raining any longer, it would have been.

"There was no standing water on it but the people weren't entertained that much as far as decent football was concerned.

"I think that with a pitch like that, it is always easier to be a defender but difficult for strikers.

"The ball was either bobbling around or dying on the surface. But we have to get over that hurdle and we are not going to be playing on bowling greens every week in nice conditions."

Commenting on the actual football played, Jewell wasn't too distraught only to have picked up a point.

He said: "I felt in the first-half that one goal might be enough to win the game.
"I'm relieved we didn't lose because I've been involved in games like that as a manager, coach, and player, where you have the majority of play at home but end up losing 1-0. At the end of the season we might be happy with the point we got from it.

"Burnley came here and worked extremely hard, defending deep, and it was difficult to create chances.

"I was disappointed with the 'goal' we had chalked off and certainly Jason de Vos wasn't guilty of any pushing.

"It might have been given against Ian Breckin or McCulloch, I don't know. But if we're going to talk about not getting decisions, then we could be in for a long night!"

Courtesy of the Wigan Evening Post.