Source: Team_Talk
Martinez cool on current table
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez insists it would be wrong for anyone to draw conclusions from the current state of the Premier League table.[LNB] If they did, Manchester United would be claiming the title, with Manchester City and Chelsea in hot pursuit.[LNB]Rather more surprisingly, Newcastle could be looking at a Champions League berth and Arsenal would be in a relegation fight.[LNB]Much closer to home, both Wigan and Saturday's opponents, local rivals Bolton, would be preparing to drop into the Championship.[LNB]It is hardly a shock therefore that Martinez is convinced present positions are misleading.[LNB]"If you are looking at the table and trying to draw any conclusions now, you are going to be wrong," he said.[LNB]"The difference between teams from 8th to 20th is very small and there are still the best part of eight months of the competition to go."[LNB]After only escaping the drop on the final day of last season, Wigan might have half expected to be in trouble again.[LNB]Yet it is opposite number Owen Coyle who finds himself under the spotlight, after following a woeful ending to last term, triggered by that FA Cup semi-final hammering by Stoke, with six successive losses following a handsome opening day win at QPR.[LNB]"Bolton won't be near the bottom at the end of the season," said Martinez.[LNB]"They have enough experience and know-how and the mentality to cope with this kind of pressure.[LNB]"I am not as extremist as other people.[LNB]"When you look at their opening seven fixtures, apart from that fantastic win at QPR and the home game against Norwich all the other games were ones anyone could lose.[LNB]"The real start of Bolton's season is the next few months.[LNB]"Owen controls his squad extremely well and I don't believe he is in a bad moment at all."[LNB]It might be overlooked somewhat in a region that can boast titanic clashes between the red and blue halves of Manchester and Merseyside, plus the inter-city rivalries that exist between the two areas, but the distance between Wigan and Bolton is a mere 7.6miles.[LNB]The gap is not filled with hate.[LNB]However, the healthy respect that exists instead is interspersed by a keen desire for victory, and these particular local bragging rights.[LNB]"Both clubs share the same sort of passion for these derbies," said Martinez.[LNB]"It is more than a football game. And the need for points is quite clear for both clubs."[LNB]Like Bolton, Wigan's solitary win this term came against QPR in August.[LNB]It completed a three-match unbeaten sequence against the newly-promoted sides that gave way to a lamentable September, results wise, which yielded not a single point.[LNB]Yet, with the exception of a trip to Manchester City, and the first-half against Tottenham, Wigan have been in contention for long periods, even taking the lead at Everton before subsiding.[LNB]It gives Martinez hope for what lies ahead, even if he cannot afford to adopt his present stance for too much longer.[LNB]"It is not a moment to look at the results. It is a moment to look at the performances," he explained.[LNB]"You can go through every game and see real good signs that will allow us to find the right formula and the right approach in the future.[LNB]"Yes, we want more points. But this stage of the season is the time to realise how strong we are going to be in this campaign.[LNB]"We will find the solutions to become a competitive side once more."
