WIGAN ATHLETIC
League Position - 16th
Current Away Form - D L W D L L
Top Scorers - Heskey (8 goals)
Camara (6)
McCulloch (5)
Recent Encounters between teams
02-12-06 Liverpool 4 V 0 Wigan EPL (Bellamy 2, Kuyt, McCulloch OG)
11-02-06 Wigan 0 V 1 Liverpool EPL (Crouch)
03-12-05 Liverpool 3 V 0 Wigan (Crouch 2, Gerrard)
Interesting Facts
*Wigans highest attendance this year came at home to Liverpool with a gate of 22,089.
*The Verve, whose split was announced recently became Wigan's most famous musical export since ... George Formby! The band were all from the Wigan area and met while at Winstanley College, a sixth form centre on the outskirts of town.
*Wigan were the first team in England to play a game with three Spaniards in the line-up.
*And finally.... what's the link between an old-style red telephone box and Wigan's war memorial in the grounds of the Parish Church? The answer is that they were both designed by the same architect, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (who was also responsible for Liverpool Cathedral).
Club Honours
Third Division Champions: 1996-1997
AutoWindshield Winners: 1999
Second Division Champions: 2002-2003
And now thanks to the lads and lasses at Offical Wigan Athletic Message Boards
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First and foremost, you have lingered around the relegation dropzone for a while now, do you think Wigan have what it takes to stay up this year?
de_zeeuw:You never know with us, all depends whether the players can be bothered to turn up. If we show the form we are capable of then most definatley. I would expect us to stay up due to us having the best run in.
Meat & Potato:There are a few matches left where bottom teams are playing each other and I think there will be a couple more twists left yet...but I do think we have got enough in our team to keep us out of the bottom 3. Thats not just because we are good enough, its partly because there are teams around us who are worse than us.
samuelsharp:Yes
Why do you think there has been such a change from you flying high last year, to the inconsistency you have shown this year?
de_zeeuw:Basically losing our best players and replacing them with utter tripe.
Meat & Potato:Goals & injuries. We have found it hard to replace someone as strong and as powerful as Jason Roberts, he had a great season for us last season, was sorry to see him go. I don't think we have missed Bullard & chimbonda as much as i thought (although they are good players) because Skoko and Taylor have played very well indeed when they have got their chances. As for injuries, we lost the centre of our team in one go...De Zeuuw, Scharner and Camara. You take the spine out of any team in the Prem and they are going to struggle, especially when the squad does not have the strength in depth
samuelsharp:Alot of new players have come in and some of them have never played in england before. Some signings such as Fitz Hall just aren't up to much but seem to get a game anyway. But mostly it's because we haven't been scoring enough goals. I think the last game we scored 2 goals in was at Reading and we lost 3-2. Why have we not scored goals? We don't have anyone who you'd expect to score. Just alot of players who can score but sometimes it's difficult to see where it's going to come from.
What were your hopes at the start of the season? What are your hopes for next year?
de_zeeuw:Avoiding relegation if I'm honest. I didn't expect to be where we are now. I was hoping for 11th-15th place overall. As for next year, if we don't make some crucial signings we'll be down there again but if the right signings are made, mid-table.
Meat & Potato:I was hoping we would have hit the 40point mark about a month ago meaning we could enjoy the football for the last 2 months but this hasn't been the case. As for next year, as long as we survive then it depends on how the management spend their money. there will be a lot of changes for most teams next season as teams throw their extra money around in a bid to remain in the prem. At this stage I would be happy with survival...anything extra is a bonus.
samuelsharp:I just hoped that we'd be able to show some consitent form. I knew top half finish was always going to be tough but i thought we might have been able to nick in for a 10th place spot again.
Next year, i have the same hope and that we do it in the premiership.
Who do you think is your most important player(s) been this season? Any young up and coming players in the squad that we might not know about?
de_zeeuw:Emile Heskey has been brilliant throughout, may not have popped up with the goals but he's been such a major force. Matt Jackson has been a revelation again at Centre Back. In his mid 30's but still showing signs of pure classs. As for young players, gotta be Leighton Baines and Ryan Taylor, 2 scousers!
Meat & Potato:Leighton Baines (probably already know about)& Ryan Taylor (both full backs)have added good support to the wingers and I think they are 2 good young players to watch again next season, especially as Ryan Taylor has been out for a full year with an injury and has recently had a good spell in the 1st team. Hopefully with a good preseason under his belt, he will be quality next season. Definitely one to watch. Matt Jackson and Boyce have been solid for us at the back so they would be another 2 that i would like to shout about.
samuelsharp:Hard to say. Probably has turned out to be matt jackson. He's brought a solid foundation to the defense at a crucial time of the season. It might not have played all season. But thats just the way the season has been. We've had so many crucial injuries that it's difficult talk about the entire season. But i guess where you finish is most important and Matt Jackson has definetely brought some much needed calm to our defense. Honourable mentions for John Filan, Heskey, Caleb Folan and Emmerson Boyce.
Tomasz Cywka and Julius Aghahowa will definetely come into their own in the next 2 seasons i think.
We are always hearing that Wigan have dropped their ticket prices etc, does it annoy you when you cannot get the crowd in for the games? Why does it not sell out?
de_zeeuw:It annoys everyone but when you look at the leap in attendances in 10 years, its pretty remarkable. We were averaging around 5,000 in 1997, now its 16-17,000. The reason it doesn't sell out is simple, there are too many in Wigan who will only watch a winning side and have therefore supported bigger local clubs such as Man United or Liverpool and see Wigan as shit. But the most annoying thing about it, is the true fans are the ones who get knocked for it.
Meat & Potato:Its annoying but when away teams only bring 1,000 - 1,500 in a stand that holds 5,500 then we are always going to struggle to get a full 25,000. The main thing is, the fans that do go should keep behind the lads and "support" them. Thats our role as supporters. As a season ticket holder, I am disapponted that we have missed out on all the special offers they have put on for a good few matches but hopefully that will be reflected in our renewal prices. Another reason is, Wigan is right inbetween Liverpool and manchester so as Wigan are not a "trendy" club to follow, historically people have followed Liverpoom and man Utd. Hopefully this will change but it will be a generation thing. My children will support wigan, and then that is how the fanbase will grow. Become established in the Premiership and the numbers will increase. Plus, you can't charge Wiganers £35 to watch their home team - there is not that much spare money in wigan...be realistic in the pricing policy.
samuelsharp:Not me. I think people are dillusional if they think premiership football should guarantee 25,000 attendance every home game. Compared to the entire population of 65 million, watching premiership football is a minority activity. It's easy to forget that most people don't care about football. So to expect 25% of the population of Wigan to suddenly switch on to Football and support Wigan rather than Man u, Liverpool, Bolton, Blackburn, Everton, or Man City is not realistic. Dropping the price of tickets is a good move but it's something all clubs should do, regardless of how many people will come anyway. I'm sure over 25% of wigans population do support a team, unfortunately Wigan has a very short history and a much more shallow pool of supporters to delve into.
How do you rate the Liverpool squad this year?
de_zeeuw:There have been signs of improvement from last year and Crouch has certainly come on a bit but you're still missing that world class up front that seperates you from united and Chelsea. You have 3, maybe 4 world class centre mids and then average wingers as well so your midfield needs working on, fancy kilbane? haha
Meat & Potato:Liverpool squad is better than last season, and rafa seems to be putting a good blend of players together. You need a quality striker though...not convinced with Bellamy, Kuyt & Crouch...
samuelsharp:Liverpool has a decent squad this year. Perhaps you don't have a superstar striker like Man U or Chelsea but i think you have better options than they have. For some reason you had a bit of a shocker at the beginning of the season. But it does seem to have alot to do with whether Gerrard is playing well.
What are your views on our manager - Rafa Benitez?
de_zeeuw:I like him, stubborn and determined which makes a good manager. Made some good signings and could be the guy to lead you to future success.
Meat & Potato:Tactically in Europe he seems to be on the ball, but he seems to start slowly in the domestic league. If you had had a better start to this season then you would definitely be challenging as you are playing some good stuff at the moment.
samuelsharp:Emotionless. He seems to get the job done though and next season will probably have you challenging for the premiership.
We've just got through to the semi's in the Champions League, what are your thoughts on our Champions League performances, and who do you think will win it this year?
de_zeeuw:I think you have put in better performances than you did in 2005 personally but I have a funny feeling Chelsea will get revenge.
Meat & Potato:Too close to call...any of the english teams are good enough to win it, but at the same time you cannot discount the Italians. they have done it before and could easily do it again
samuelsharp:I'd hoped you were gonna try and out do man u by thrashing psv but Rafa forced you into a pretty dull performance. I guess tactically correct but not great for the neutral. I want either you or Man u to win.
Any memories you wish to share that you associate with Liverpool, a recent game etc?
de_zeeuw:Being the first team to concede against Peter Crouch!
Meat & Potato:Crouch's 3rd goal of his hatrick the other week. Great footwork and a very cool finish.
samuelsharp:Nothing happy
And finally can you predict the score for the newkit forum?
de_zeeuw:3-0 to Liverpool unfortunaely.
Meat & Potato:2-0 Liverpool win unfortunately. But we won't be relegated just because we lose to Liverpool, the other games are critical. Anything from the Liverpool game will be a bonus.
samuelsharp:2-1 to liverpool. crouch with both. Heskey for us.
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They don't have many forums so it was a bit of a struggle to get this together folks, but they seem a decent bunch.
Rafa-Dodd
