MATCH STATS WIGAN ATHLETIC
Goals:
Magennis (30 mins), Smith (48 mins) lot of points and then the gap’s been too big and then when the gap has been too big we’ve known where we’ve been and I suppose it’s accelerated where we are right now in terms of the end of the cycle, which I’ve spoken about and I think the players have known that for a long time. It’s where we are. It’s a slight improvement on last season but we’ve got to make sure that there’s a bigger improvement at the end of next season.”
Taylor admitted, though, his side were well beaten by Wigan.
He added: “I thought they were better than us today, I have to be honest in relation to that. I thought they attacked and defended better than us, I thought they were collectively better than we were today but that’s not a fair enough reflection of what’s been previous. This is a oneoff game where we’ve got a certain amount of players and a certain group out on the pitch.
“Those middle months where we can speak about availability but we should still have been strong and really grinded out results and pushing through the league. Those are the ones, and there are several games that you can look back on, where those are missed opportunities in terms of points and then all of a sudden you’re probably nine or 10 points closer to it and then it makes the end of the season a lot more exciting than it has been.”
Taylor also had a message for Gasheads ahead of what s sure to be a big summer of change at the Memorial Stadium.
He said: “They have to understand
that this is a big turnaround and that’s not on myself as manager. I think this group of players and this squad has probably come to the end of, I use that word, that cycle. We’ve got six loans, that’s a big number, who are guaranteed to go back as much as we’d like some of those to come back to us and eight out of contract.
“We’ve got to get value on the pitch, I think that’s my message to supporters in terms of whatever we do spend money wise or wages wise or fee wise, the fans have got to see that on the pitch and see then the pitch contribution in terms of goals, clean sheets and ultimately points. Performances underline that as always.
“They’ll need to be patient because I’d love to say we’ll have everything out and everything in by day one of pre-season but that never happens in football. It will go right down to the end of this coming window, I guarantee the middle of the season window and possibly next season.
“It will take a while but I’m pretty strong in my head in, not where I want to take the team, but the profile of the kind of players and people I want to bring in. I’m excited but, as with everything, things will just die down a bit now and people will ask why’s no work being done, there’s been so much work going on behind the scenes and hopefully when they see we’re signing some players they can start to get excited like all supporters do in terms of what we can achieve next season.”