Has Al-Habsi’s Move to Wigan Been Scuppered?
Monday August 30th, 2010
The loan of Ali Al Habsi to Wigan Athletic was seen as beneficial to all parties. It gave the player a chance of first team football, eased the load on Bolton’s wage bill and provided Wigan with a goalkeeper who wasn’t:
a) Always injured
b) Crap
Yes, Chris Kirkland, that’s you we’re talking about.
However, there have been a couple of snags. After being roundly thrashed by Blackpool and Chelsea, Roberto Martinez’s side were expected to go the same way at Spurs. Instead they scored an unlikely victory and the big Omani stopper performed heroically to keep a clean sheet for the second time in five days.
Wigan. Clean sheet. Same paragraph. Doesn’t compute does it?
Agent Al-Habsi appears to have misunderstood his instructions. He was supposed to keep the result respectable, not stop the other lot scoring altogether.
Secondly, events at the Reebok on Sunday, have got some fans in a panic, frantically calling for Bolton’s reserve ‘keeper to be recalled. Jussi Jaaskelainen will receive a three match ban for violent conduct after giving Roger Johnson what John McGinlay might have described as a ‘wee push’, albeit in a somewhat girly fashion.
Owen Coyle doesn’t agree and has already pledged his faith in Adam Bogdan.
‘I have belief in the lad, that is why we were able to let Ali Al-Habsi out on loan because I knew Adam was competent and ready to go in goal and he showed his qualities in this match,’ he said after Bogdan’s debut at Southampton. It’s a view that was re-iterated in his Birmingham post-match interview.
Bogdan faces a tough time. His first league start will be at Arsenal, followed by a visit to Aston Villa, where Bolton have conceded thirteen times in three matches. Then there’s a trip to Burnley, which may well be a feisty affair, with the town still mired in bitterness after Owen Coyle’s perceived treachery. The young Hungarian has the ability to cope, provided nerves don’t kick in.
This is how to slap someone around on a football field
The problem will arise if something happens to Bogdan. His understudy for those three games will be Rob Lainton, who is well regarded amongst the backroom staff, but completely untested at first team level.
In that eventuality the only option will be to recall Al-Habsi, which can’t happen if his move becomes permanent. Jaaskelainen’s reaction on Sunday was viewed as a rush of blood to the gloves, but it may well have cost Bolton a sum in the region of £3 million.
So is this.[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvubZ9xGUxw[/youtube]
Adam Bogdan, Ali Al-Habsi, BWFC People, John McGinlay, Jussi Jaaskelainen
2 Comments to Has Al-Habsi’s Move to Wigan Been Scuppered?
al habsi is the better goal keeper than jussi in the short term and most definitely in the long term. so we gain much more than 3 million if he remains in the reebok.
Super John McGinlay….Just Knockout!!!
Maybe BWFC will still sell Ali, as this would represent a good £ return, as Bolton will always be a selling club.
Owen will try to give young talent a chance and is obviously backing & trying to instill confidence in Adam. As a manager he is trying to do all round best for the Club. If he sells he will be raising funds for the transfer kitty. Also quietly he will be keeping his fingers crossed that lightning doesn’t strike twice and loose another keeper within 3 games before Jussi returns! Emergency transfers are allowed.
But who would be a manager!!?
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August 30, 2010