Nick Powell

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Elliott said:
I reckon I agree with those who don't see his future in midfield. Both Gradi and Fergie called him a future midfielder when he signed for us but since then he's exclusively played in more advanced positions - for the reserves, various England sides, Wigan under Coyle and now Wigan under Uwe fecking Rösler. If we still see his long-term future in midfield we need to loan him to someone who'll play him there week in, week out. Personally, I think he lacks a bit of work-rate for central midfield.
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That and consistency of pass. Someone posted pass completion stats recently and they were fairly terrible. Not what you want from an aspiring CM. Obviously, he'll be playing riskier passes higher up the pitch but players like Welbeck and Rooney consistently complete a very high % of passes, so it is possible.
 
Wigan vs Leeds is on Sky Sports 1 from 12.15, if anyone fancies watching him (I'm guessing he's starting)
 
Might be good if Wigan get promoted. I imagine they'd want to keep him in the PL.
 
His movement has been good, both offensively and defensively. Seems to be targeting Wootton in possession. Rösler always got his strikers to run their socks off when he was managing in Norway, hopefully he'll have a positive impact on Powell.
 
Taken off early in the second half, presumably with a knock.
 
Thought he looked dangerous when they got the ball in and around the box, but it happened too little so he was on the fringes of the game
 
Elliott said:
I reckon I agree with those who don't see his future in midfield. Both Gradi and Fergie called him a future midfielder when he signed for us but since then he's exclusively played in more advanced positions - for the reserves, various England sides, Wigan under Coyle and now Wigan under Uwe fecking Rösler. If we still see his long-term future in midfield we need to loan him to someone who'll play him there week in, week out. Personally, I think he lacks a bit of work-rate for central midfield.
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This was a concern for me too but most Wigan fans see his work-rate as one of his main strengths. He may look lackadaisical but that's just the way he looks when he runs and walks. I've heard from all Wigan fans that he works his socks off and never gives up.

Pogue Mahone said:
That and consistency of pass. Someone posted pass completion stats recently and they were fairly terrible. Not what you want from an aspiring CM. Obviously, he'll be playing riskier passes higher up the pitch but players like Welbeck and Rooney consistently complete a very high % of passes, so it is possible.
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Under Coyle the few times I watched him he was play as a lone-striker getting the ball hoofed up field at him with no support in site so there was no surprise his passing % was low. I'm sure he has to improve on his passing consistency, he's only just turned 20 he has to improve in many areas but the conditions he's been in have hardly been ideal to picking up high passing %. I haven't been able to catch any matches since Rosler came in but they played some dreadful football at times under Coyle. Looking at today's match he only made 8 passes and got 75%. Touching the ball that little it's quite easy to misplace 2 passes.
Edit: Just looked at his last 3 full 90 mins appearances and he made about 80 passes combined with 5 key passes. Its easy to get bad % by missing a few passes when you attempt so few passes as well.

As I said he has only turned 20, if he is to become a CM he has loads of time. When did Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard start playing regularly in a deep 2 man midfield? At the moment he is best in behind the striker, I don't like him as a striker at all personally. He looks uncomfortable with his back to goal and at his best when he can run in late or pick the ball up deeper and have a go at the defenders.

A PL loan is what I want for him next season playing every week at the top level. He has got an eye for goal, a cracking shot, big and physical, decent dribbling and ain't too slow. The boy has got talent and I think he is going to make it far here. Who cares what his best position is, let's just get him playing good and it'll fall into place.
 
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limerickcitykid said:
This was a concern for me too but most Wigan fans see his work-rate as one of his main strengths. He may look lackadaisical but that's just the way he looks when he runs and walks. I've heard from all Wigan fans that he works his socks off and never gives up.
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I've seen too many performances from him where he hasn't put in a shift, including for Wigan, to be unconcerned by it. But this is the first time I've seen him under Rösler and I liked what I saw.
 
He seems to turn his back in a sulk if a cross or pass goes beyond him. A couple of times today he had his back turned and he was walking away when a Wigan player had actually reclaimed the ball and something could have happened.
It could be a good thing that he has an angry streak, but I'd rather he'd concentrate on where the ball is at all times.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
When was that game? How'd he get on?
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Think it was midweek, they lost 1-0; def one eye on the semi. He did OK and had a couple of good chances to score but the whole team were a bit lacklustre in finishing which is a shame for them as they are still in playoff contention
 
Inigo Montoya said:
Think it was midweek, they lost 1-0; def one eye on the semi. He did OK and had a couple of good chances to score but the whole team were a bit lacklustre in finishing which is a shame for them as they are still in playoff contention
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Ok, thanks. Pity he didn't get the nod today but, like you say, he'll hopefully make an impact off the bench.
 
A bit worrying for me he isn't starting such a massive game for them. I thought he was one of their key players?
 
Blasphemy said:
A bit worrying for me he isn't starting such a massive game for them. I thought he was one of their key players?
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Powell's never going to be Fortune's size or even close but McManaman isn't anything to care about physically, neither is Jordi Gomez or most of Wigan's midfield.
 
Powells physical attributes is not the problem or the reason why he is not starting. Lingard would have been a starter for Wigan.
 
Nick Powell has played in 35 games this season for Wigan, he's hardly been out of the side. He's their top scorer and best player.
 
Blasphemy said:
Watch Wigan all the time do you?
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Not all the time, but about 10 times this season. He was by far their classiest player on most of those occasions, even though he was stuck feeding off scraps up front most of the time.
 
Lu Tze said:
Not all the time, but about 10 times this season. He was by far their classiest player on most of those occasions, even though he was stuck feeding off scraps up front most of the time.
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Agree with all of that. He carried them in the Europa League and is definitely one of their best players.
 
They've jus gone for a different game plan that other players are better suited too. Powell most definitely is there best player.
 
Powell is just back from injury. Played about 1.5 games since, they probably want to make sure he's on the pitch from an hour onwards because hes the most likely for them to score
 
Wigan fans love him and certainly regard him as their best or at least one of their best players. He has played plenty this season and was their main man before his injury. He is only back a month now and has played in most of those matches but mainly off the bench. He is working his way back in and will likely feature today. Wouldn't be surprised if Rosler preferred Fortune's physicalness today and McManaman's pace down the wing's will be one of their best chances at nicking a goal.
 
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