Here’s to proving the world wrong.
1. Paul Jewell. The Latics could not have a better manager for the season that lies ahead. PJ has been here, seen it and he even bought the t-shirt when he kept Bradford up with a final day victory over Liverpool.
|
Add to this the experience of John Filan in goal and captain Matt Jackson alongside Henchoz and the defence looks sound. The addition of former skipper Arjan De Zeeuw from Portsmouth could only help things.
3. Teamwork. It helped the club get to the top level, and it will help them stay there. Within the club there is a tremendous desire to work for one another and play a team game.
Each player knows his role and works his socks off. All the best sides have a great team spirit and the Latics are no different.
4. Goals. Nathan Ellington, Jason Roberts and Henri Camara. Three strikers with bags of pace and talent.
Goals are very difficult to come by in the Premiership and are often the reason why many promoted sides go straight back down.
In these three striker, aligned with the goal-getting talent of midfield dynamo’s Damien Francis and Lee McCulloch it could be a fruitful season for the Latics going forward.
5. Backing. Dave Whelan has put his heart and soul into the club since he bought it. He has built a new Stadium and has been through plenty of managers.
He has now found the right man to compliment his funding and personal desire to see the Latics successful.
|
6. Underdogs. As shown in today’s Observer Sport. It is obvious that the Latics are considered underdogs and are not expected to stay up.
This will play into the team’s hands as other clubs turn up expecting all three points, perhaps even fielding weaker squads.
They are in for a shock upon visiting the JJB.
7. Support. The Latics have broken all previous records held for ticket sales. Season tickets have been selling better than the pies this summer and the figure is set to hit 13,000. Meaning that over half the stadium will be full each week with season ticket holders.
The opener with Chelsea will also be a sell-out as the town of Wigan gets behind their Premiership football club.
8. Commitment. All the clubs stars have been putting pen to paper on new deals. Steve McMillan, Gary Teale and Jimmy Bullard have led the way this summer with the Duke set to follow suit this week.
The squad is committed and they are all pulling in the same direction.
|
Here’s to proving them wrong and pelting a certain nobody with tomatoes.
10. Rivals. Ah thank you God for West Ham. They have set the transfer market alight this summer.
Why would you want to buy two goalkeepers? Why would you pay £25,000 a week to an Israeli, no matter how good he was in Spain.
Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora have already proved they are not up to the Championship and so should have a nice time in the Premiership. Whilst Teddy Sherringham is 40!!
The addition of Danny Gabbidon is a shrewd one, but the other transfers are average at best.
West Brom, Fulham and Portsmouth will all give us a hand no doubt. Player for player I don’t see how any of these four teams can compare to ourselves.
Here’s to a great season for Wigan Athletic Football Club.