Bottom of the Premier League table is a precarious place to be with only six games remaining on the fixture list. Wigan Athletic currently hold this unenviable position, but the scenario is not quite as disastrous as it may seem. With a mere eight points separating themselves from 9th placed Newcastle United, up to eleven clubs, in theory, could still tumble down to the Championship – the Latics have a fighting chance.
If offered 17th place right now, Roberto Martinez and Wigan supporters would undoubtedly bite your arm off and yet, the Latics are currently just two points off a Blackpool side in that position, who themselves have just one win in their last twelve games. Wigan go to Blackpool this weekend and with a relatively handsome run of games to conclude the end of season dogfight (blp, sun, EVE, avl, WHM, stk), it’s fair to say that we shouldn’t write them off both as a Premier League side and a source of Fantasy talent.
The first Wigan player that springs to mind for many a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) veteran is Charles N’Zogbia. The French left winger has been something of an institution in recent seasons due to his modest price tag and an ability to fetch hefty FPL returns – this season he has claimed 117 FPL points, which is almost double the majority of his team-mates have mustered.
One of N’Zogbia’s major draws is his blossoming relationship with the FPL Bonus Points judges. This season has seen this maintained – N’Zogbia has collected 26 – bettered by just Charlie Adam, Luka Modric and Carlos Tevez. With six favourable fixtures to go, you wouldn’t put it past N’Zogbia to surpass his tally of 31 from last term. Aside from his Bonus potential, N’Zogbia can also pose a serious threat when the mood takes him. With regular set piece involvement thrown into the miz, N’Zogbia has found the back of the net on 4 occasions, assisting 5 times this season.
N’Zogbia is unquestionably a class act but it’s Wigan’s need for points and the Frenchman’s own ambitions to catch the eye ahead of a potential summer move, that makes him worthy of consideration.
Wigan’s form shouldn’t necessarily be a concern. Speaking after the recent loss to Chelsea, gaffer Martinez admitted that his side are playing decent football and thinks they have what it takes to pick-up the points needed escape the drop:
“The players were on the floor but more because of the lack of the result. They are all aware in the last eight games we have reached a level. We’ve finally clicked and the players know that. I think 41 points is needed to stay up especially as we have the worst goal difference.”
N’Zogbia has the ability to play a major part in Wigan’s escape act and emerge as true end of season Fantasy force. Roberto Martinez and any Fantasy investors will be relying on the Frenchman turning up though – the fact that N’Zogbia was subbed after 60 minutes of the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea indicates that Martinez will sacrifice the winger if he feels he lacks the stomach for the battle. That’s a concern, but at just 5.5 and with an ownership of 7.2% in the FPL, N’Zogbia is a player of proven Fantasy pedigree about to embark on a kind run of fixtures that could put him firmly in the summer shop window.
