wigan

FATBOY · Post by **FATBOY** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:55 pm

anyone noticed how well wigan have done???? but how they have done reminds me of our first season back in the premier! beating teams week in week out and having no fear, and a good run in the coca cola cup(ok we got to the semis). but i believe its that 2nd season thats gonna seperate the men from the boys!

twinpeakes · Post by **twinpeakes** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:10 pm

yeah lets see how they do in season 2!

Aza-itfc · Post by **Aza-itfc** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:26 pm

Seeing Wigan doing so well gives me mixed feelings. It gives me hope that the gap between the Premier League and Championship is 'closing', but at the same time I can't help but feel that it could be us in their position. Beating them 1-0 just before Christmas and being top of the table. o what could have been...

FATBOY · Post by **FATBOY** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:20 pm

i beleieve we beat them 2-1 before xmas mate???? darren bent last minute lob i think???? leighton baines' goal was a screamer tho! anyone remember that???

squiz18 · Post by **squiz18** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:32 pm

FATBOY wrote:i beleieve we beat them 2-1 before xmas mate???? darren bent last minute lob i think???? leighton baines' goal was a screamer tho! anyone remember that???

Yeah that was one hell of a goal ! I missed that game Cause i was on holiday, but watched the video without knowing the score when i got back. Naylors Equaliser was great as well, little flick past the keeper from a freekick. Bents last minute winner was quality as well. That was a great game, Those were the days

hallamblue · Post by **hallamblue** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:44 pm

Wigan have doen well so far...BUT they have done it on the back of hefty financial backing - Which Town did not have . If this guy continues to put money into Wigan...I think they will consolidate next season - their biggest problem will be dealing with potential EWuropean fixtures on a realtively small squad. Just like we did (not) !

It will be very interesting to see how they fair .

I remain convinced our downfall ...was totally due to our "previous success" in getting placed into the UEFA cup..if that hadnt happened we would have survived thats econd season IMO !

the-mole · Post by **the-mole** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:13 am

I think our biggest problem was that we believed we were good enough to stay in the premiership that second season and had nothing to prove!!!

Add to that a few serious injuries to boot i.e. Marcus Stewart and the sale of a couple of key players and it is easy to see why we failed.

I don't think european football was a problem - what was a problem was not having anything to prove - there was no big motivation to prove a point to the big boys - we were a team which really shook up the establishment.

Also does anyone else believe the loss of the North Stand had an impact that season???

I think Paul Jewel is a good manager - he has had his fair share of ups and downs and I think he knows what it takes to stay there. I don't think the glory will go to his head and while I don't see wigan achieving so well next year I don't see them as relegation material either!

Munty · Post by **Munty** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:35 am

Personally I was really pleased when Wigan won the other night, It is nice to see them doing well.... good manager and no debts must be nice to be an Latic at the mo!!

Mork · Post by **Mork** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:40 am

the-mole wrote:I think our biggest problem was that we believed we were good enough to stay in the premiership that second season and had nothing to prove!!!

Add to that a few serious injuries to boot i.e. Marcus Stewart and the sale of a couple of key players and it is easy to see why we failed.

I don't think european football was a problem - what was a problem was not having anything to prove - there was no big motivation to prove a point to the big boys - we were a team which really shook up the establishment.

Also does anyone else believe the loss of the North Stand had an impact that season???

I think Paul Jewel is a good manager - he has had his fair share of ups and downs and I think he knows what it takes to stay there. I don't think the glory will go to his head and while I don't see wigan achieving so well next year I don't see them as relegation material either!

The European campaign surely had an impact, you only have to look at how we picked up in January (iirc, Bent got player of the month!) - unfortunately, it was too late by then.

I do remember watching games thinking the team had half an eye on the European game that was coming up as well, as we slumped again. Over-achieving in that first season is dangerous, I would suggest any team with limited funds is going to struggle. Burley went out to build a squad to cope with both europe and the premiership, over-stretched, under-achieved, and the rest....is history

Aza-itfc · Post by **Aza-itfc** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:29 am

Sorry, you were right, it was 2-1. Only really remember that peach right at the death. Can't really remember the other goals, but i think the Wigan one was from bout 45 yards.

As for our second season in the Premiership, selling Richard Wright was never a good step, and bringing in Finidi George and Matteo Sereni didn't exactly help matters.

Number 9 · Post by **Number 9** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 11:21 am

Aza-itfc wrote:Sorry, you were right, it was 2-1. Only really remember that peach right at the death. Can't really remember the other goals, but i think the Wigan one was from bout 45 yards.

As for our second season in the Premiership, selling Richard Wright was never a good step, and bringing in Finidi George and Matteo Sereni didn't exactly help matters.

Yeah, I agree. I think a couple of bad purchases combined with a couple of bad sales and injuries left us a little weak. It's a shame really, because Burley would have been a great manager to keep around. Of course, as we all know Football is a results based business. As far as Wigan are concerned, I'm completely happy for them. I hope they remain in the Prem for many years to come. Paul Jewell has done extremely well for the club and they deserve to be where they are. Also, Wigan's players consistently give a hundred percent. I'd love to see them beat Man Utd. in the Cup final.

TractorRob · Post by **TractorRob** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:38 pm

I've had a bet with me dad that Wigan will finish higher than Wet Spam, whatdya reckon?

FATBOY · Post by **FATBOY** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:46 pm

its hard to believe now that we went out and splashed 4.5 million on a keeper!