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Let The Opposition Have Their Say
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Written by Chestermackem
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 When will this bad run of form end?
Although we have avoided defeat at home this season on many occasion, the wins have dried up and we have started drawing these vital winnable matches. Stoke City provided the opposition for our anything but entertaining game on Monday night and we now invite a Wigan Athletic side fresh off the back of an FA Cup replay exit midweek. But that means nothing, Wigan had just shipped 100 goals against Spurs when they beat us earlier this season so I’m expecting a tough game on Saturday.
Francis was my interviewee for Wigan this week, a season ticket holder and forum member of wiganer.com…..
Fan profile
Name? Francis but I get called Fran off most
Age? 45 years young
Where do you live? Why do you need to know? Ha. I’m not far from Wigan. Place called Skelmersdale.
Season Ticket holder? Yes
Occupation? Recently made redundant. Less said the better on that.
Favourite film of all time? The Shawshank Redemption
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Hi Francis
Disappointing defeat midweek against Notts County?
Yeah, abit. How I look at it though, we are in the lower part of the league and a cup run was probably going to be an unnecessary distraction. We were never going to win it were we! I’ve supported this club long enough to know cup runs are uncommon at Wigan.
What’s your opinion on Wigan’s season and what were your pre-season expectations?
After a decent finish last season under Steve Bruce’s stewardship, I thought Roberto could come in and build on that, but he has failed to emulate that so far. He trys to get us playing pretty football which more than often doesn’t work with the calibre of player we have at the club. Don’t get me wrong, we have some good players at Wigan but not good enough to try and play like Arsenal. We are far better off with Bruce’s old tactics of direct, hard-tackling and stubborn in a sense. Abit like a shit that wont flush.
Do you wish Bruce was still at the helm?
I don’t miss or pine for Bruce but if your question was if he had turned Sunderland down in the Summer would I be happy, then yeah probably. I think we would be higher up the league table for a start. He was never going to take us into Europe but safe from relegation yes. I’ve witnessed some horrible times at Wigan in the past, so Bruce keeping us “safe” is like me waking up next to Kylie Minogue. Heaven.
Sunderland have been linked with Figueroa and it seemed many Wigan fans had accepted his departure. Are you surprised he stayed?
A little yes. Past transfers of Cattermole, Valencia, Heskey, Palacios,etc have underlined our role in this league as a selling club. We can delay the loss but eventually money talks. I was a big fan of Cattermole for example and for us to lose him was hard to take, but I hold no grudges. He returned to his native north east to play for a manager who was so instrumental in his rise to success at Wigan last season. I am pleased Figs has signed a new contract but that means nothing these days and I expect him to be away in the next 12months. I’m a realist unfortunately.
Wigan signed a player ive kept an eye on over the last few years; Victor Moses. Happy with that?
Following on from my previous answer, we are a selling club and Wigan will take chances on young players like Moses, he can develop and perform here for a few seasons and then we can sell him to a bigger club and make a tidy profit. Sad really that I’m predicting this all ready but when Dave Whelan even says this, you kind of accept it. Still, better than playing back in the old third division.
Moses could be a top player, but he will need time to settle.
How do you see Wigan’s season going?
All depends on the next four games in the league. Sunderland away is a realistic 3 points for us at the moment as we have a decent record against your lot in recent seasons but more importantly Sunderland look horrendous at the moment, and this is something we can capitalise on.
I watched your game against Stoke on Monday and sorry to say, it was one of the worst game so football I have watched all season. Nice to see Catts is still a dirty little bugger though.
After the Sunderland game we have three straight home games and we must look to take at least 6 points from 9 there. Bolton and Stoke are winnable games and Spurs is the revenge mission. Its written in the stars we will beat them!
The table is so tight in the bottom half and we are not safe by any stretch of the imagination. Those games will determine if we can finish mid-table up, or mid table down.
What’s your opinion of Sunderland this season?
Fantastic start but now us Wigan fans cant help but smile at your demise under Stevie Brucie.
He left Wigan for a bigger club so the aim has to be to do the double over Sunderland and finish higher up the table. Then maybe we can poach Bent in the Summer? How a man can wish.
Which Wigan players have impressed you this season?
Mohamed Diame has had an impressive first season at the club so far. Brought in as a replacement for Cattermole, he has actually proved to be a more talented acquisition than I first envisaged.
I’m concerned Rodallega’s goals have dried up a little and he hasn’t been as influential as earlier in the season but he is a talent.
Any Sunderland players impressed you?
Darren Bent. His goals have been mightily important for you this season. Id love the guy at our place.
Nobody else off the top of my head of late. Shame Cattermole has been injured all season, but looking forward to seeing him at the weekend.
Are you making the trip up on Saturday and are you expecting a Wigan win? Prediction please…
I most certainly am. Ill be travelling up with my son and friends. We go to most games home and away. I enjoyed the game at the Stadium of light last season for obvious reasons and hoping for more of the same again this time round. I think we can win but defensively you looked quite solid on Monday so not expecting many goals. 1-0 Wigan.
Who do you expect to be relegated this season?
It’s a really tight league again like last year and its hard to determine an obvious trio. Newcastle proved last season that established Premiership sides can get caught out and that’s why I am never too overconfident as a Wigan supporter. As a guess though, I’d say Portsmouth because of their financial issues and no doubt a points deduction before long, Burnley now that Coyle has left. They don’t have goals in them. And I’m going to say Hull. They will battle till the end but Brown will fail.
Top four?
Obviously Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal will be the top 3 and in what order I have no idea!
Fourth spot will go to Manchester City. They are looking stronger each week and both Tevez and Bellamy are in fine form. Id love those lads at the DW.
World Cup Winners?
John Terry to lead us to glory and rub it in our faces for calling for his head. Nah, not likely.
Brazil will win it.
Thanks Fran.
Chestermackem's Conclusion:"Another realistic fan interview, but the more guys I speak to, I notice less sympathy for our demise? I thought we were a likeable football club unlike the scummy Mags? The Wigan game I expecxt will be much like the Stoke game. Boring, scrappy, two tough defences and little chances. Sorry, but Im going for a scrappy 1-0 win to Sunderland at the most, btu by god how we would take that pre-match!!!!
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