Ben Watson didn't get much of a look in during the latter part of 2010, but returned to the side with a bang in 2011

When one looks back on 2010/11 campaign, one will tend to remember the exploits of Ali Al Habsi and Charles N’Zogbia who played a large part in keeping the Latics afloat for another glorious season of Premier League football. Someone who, far from entering into the equation, may not even garner a mention is our own midfield mastermind, Ben Watson. Well, I am here to set the record straight. The former Crystal Palace stalwart has played as big a part in Wigan’s successes as those who may more readily step into the limelight.

Watson came in for much criticism towards the latter half of the season due to his set pieces, which haven’t been of the standard he, or indeed Latics, would have liked. The truth of the matter is that we haven’t had an abundance of exceptional corner- or free-kick takers at the club of late, and Watson simply inherited the role from… well, nobody in particular, really. He turned around his poor form in those last few games of the season at least to some extent, and emerges with some credit for sticking at his task and actually making some progress on that front.

It’s a nasty fact that poor Ben was only remembered for his ineffectual corner kicks which had a horrible tendency to sail over all their intended targets in what could have been some highly crucial situations. Yes, they were disappointing. Look further than this, however, and you’ll see he more than made up for it elsewhere with those little midfield balls that glue together our play in the centre of the park and those last ditch blocks and hearty challenges that, whilst not entirely spectacular, are nonetheless integral to the system we like to play.

When we’ve been on the back foot and really pressed against our own goalmouth, the first line of defence has invariably been Watson, holding up opposition midfielders and giving time for the defence to assume its position. It isn’t as memorable as a goal or free kick that really challenges the keeper, but football is all about effort and putting in the hard yards: those that don’t realise this are doomed to failure. Watson plays superbly in this role, often slipping under the radar and catching the opposition off guard with some top-notch tactical genius.

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