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MARTINEZ PLEASED WITH 'STRONGER' SQUAD

Roberto Martinez has no doubt Wigan are in a better position after the January transfer window.

Last Updated: 02/02/12 at 15:31 Post Comment   

Roberto Martinez: Thinks Wigan are stronger

Roberto Martinez: Thinks Wigan are stronger

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has no doubt his club are in a better position after the January transfer window despite only bringing in Jean Beausejour.

The Latics, who are five points adrift of safety and sit rock bottom of the Barclays Premier League table, were linked with a number of names on deadline day, including Andrew Johnson and Adrian Mariappa, but did not make any further signings.

Chairman Dave Whelan was quoted saying Fulham striker Johnson did not want to move up north but Martinez was keen to put the matter to bed and look ahead to their remaining 15 games.

He said: "The real situation is we finished the window with a stronger squad than the one we had at the beginning, and that's always the work we're going to put in.

"We welcomed an outstanding footballer, a great international with incredible experience, Jean Beausejour, and I think he showed straight away the impact he had with the squad, so we're delighted with that.

"We work hard as a football club, we lost nobody and we added, so it's been a positive period for us. We're in February now and it's time to move on.

"We've got an exciting month in front of us, it's a time where we know as a football club we have to find a way to be consistent and win games on a regular basis.

"Whatever happened in January, whatever happened early on in the season, it will count for very little from now on.

"We are together, it's been a difficult period, nobody enjoys not getting points on a regular basis but we've found a way to be competitive in every game.

"Now it's a matter of affecting the scorelines and making sure we start a very strong run, especially in the eight games that we've got left here at the DW Stadium, and that's what we're going to focus on."

Striker Hugo Rodallega and winger Victor Moses were heavily linked with moves away from the DW Stadium but both stayed put and Martinez is now hoping to get the best out of Rodallega, who was a key figure in last season's successful battle against relegation.

The Colombian is out of contract at the end of the season, but the Wigan boss insisted that would not be a distraction, saying: "The most important thing is Wigan Athletic and nothing will distract us as a group from concentrating on every performance.

"Individual cases, individual situations, are going to benefit or suffer from what we do as a group so it's not a real concern for anyone.

"What I'm delighted about is we've got a player of the quality of Hugo with us for the next 15 games. Hugo has shown over the last few seasons what an impact he can have on the football pitch and we need to make sure he's as sharp as he's always been."

Martinez again expressed his disappointment with referee Lee Probert for failing to punish Benoit Assou-Ekotto for a challenge on Franco Di Santo in Tottenham's 3-1 win over the Latics on Tuesday.

The Football Association announced yesterday the full-back would not face any retrospective action and the only consolation for Martinez was that Di Santo suffered only a cut leg and should be fit for Saturday's clash with Everton.

He said: "For a player to get banned after the game, I've never been a huge believer that that's the right thing. I'm delighted because in a challenge like that I've seen broken legs many times and Franco Di Santo escaped with a minor injury."

The FA's decision was based on the fact Probert had seen the incident, but Martinez added: "I'm sure he (Probert) didn't see it.

"If he saw it, at least it would have been a free-kick and a yellow card or a red card. If he didn't see it [like that], you cannot referee a football game, simple as that."

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here has only been 3 players who made me hold my breath in dread when they picked the ball up anywhere near our penalty area...in their prime Scholes and Giggs... and always Drogba. Awesome player who on his day was the best striker in the world in my opinion.

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Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

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remember him scoring a 25-yarder, either the season just gone or the one before, against Bolton at the Reebok. I've never seen a ball hit that hard before in my entire life. You could almost feel the shockwave from his foot contacting it 40 yards away in the stands. Didier Droga. You might not have loved him, but you just had to be in awe of him.

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den Hazard, def. - 1) that girl in a club who makes eyes at you all night, who allows you to buy her a drink and walk her home arm in arm, who then gives you a suggestive kiss on her doorstep before declaring how tired she is and how she has to be up early the next day. 2) A cock tease.

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