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Stories began to break out that Paul Jewell had not signed many players because he simply couldn't attract them to the club. There were press reports suggesting that nobody wanted to play for Wigan Athletic.
Despite all the bad press the The town became awash with the blue and white of Wigan Athletic as the realisation of Premiership football began to settle in and the season exploded into action with the widely anticipated game against Champions Chelsea.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Paul Jewell had a number of meetings over the close season and seemed to become friends with many onlookers suggesting that the two are very similar, although Jewell argued he was the better looking! Mourinho went far enough as to recommend a centre back to the club and spoke favourably of the Latics both before and after the game. It was clear that he felt Jewell had built something special.
The game itself is possibly the best game any Latics supporter will have ever seen and could have certainly hoped for. I was amoung those who would have taken a three-nil defeat before the game. I know that is a terrible thing to say and think but I felt that the Champions would walk over everybody this season, and we we're only hopnig to survive!
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The game ended in a 1-0 defeat with Hernan Crespo scoring the heart-breaking last minute winner. But everybody knew that Wigan had arrived on the big stage and did not deserve to lose. I was particularly pleased with Paul Jewell for playing 4-4-2 and not going with the relegation formation of 4-5-1, we could even have easily snatched all three points with Francis hitting the bar.
Suddenly the stories changed. Mourinho admitted: "I felt sorry for Wigan because they deserved more out of the game," and the press responded with stories of a side that has come a long way, and looks like it has plenty of gas in the tank. The club opened many eyes with the result and the simple, poorly researched stories predicting a 20th place finish were gone, and survival became a real possiblity.
Jewell seemed unsuprised, he said: "My players were magnificent today and I could not have asked any more from them. We've shown we can compete, as I always knew we could." The name of Wigan Athletic was well and truely on the Premiership map.
Since that opening day drama, the Latics have gone on to some excellent form. Defeat to Charlton was almost expected as the club had just one recognised striker.
The respect went back out the window after this one, with many suggesting that the Chelsea match was a one off and the club were doomed to failure. We lay 18th in the table and the signs were not good. The performance against Charlton had done no favours. Andreas Johansson was embarrasing and Jason Roberts needs someone to support him up front. Jewell knew a striker was urgently needed.
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The stories from the summer again circulated, suggesting that Jewell couldn't get anyone to sign, many fans thought that the lack of a striker could see the club relegated.
Anyway, then came the Sunderland game. It was clear before the season started that it would be the games against fellow strugglers that would help keep our heads above water. We had to win this game with just one fit striker.
Thankfully that striker was Jason Roberts. He won and converted his first minute penalty which won the game, propelling the club upto 16th with a visit to Old Trafford in hand. We didn't play well but won the game, people outside Wigan still needed convincing.
Then along came David Connolly.
As the transfer window edged ever closer it looked as though Jewell would fail in his bid to add to the squad. Moves for Dean Ashton, Fatih Tekke and even Bradford's 36 year old Dean Windass fell through. Supporters got adgitated and many initially doubted the addition of £2 million David Connolly.
Despite this negativity towards the new boy, I was confident. He had always played well against the Latics, for both Leicester, and before that, West Ham (I didn't hold his Hammers past against him!). Paul Jewell had now amassed a good squad with some strength in depth. Up front there were three quality strikers pushing for the two places.
The visit to the Hawthorns came too early for Camara whose injury kept him out and Roberts led the line alongside newboy Connolly who was set to have a dream debut.
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This meant that we needed to draw at West Brom.
The game also coincided with a certain Nathan Ellington facing his old side. The Duke had left under a cloud. He failed to agree terms with the club over a new contract and felt he was better off at a "bigger club" like West Brom. Dave Whelan commented that Ellington's heart wasn't in Wigan and it was best that he left. Good luck to him, he was going to need it, I was going to be booing him on Saturday!
Despite the hoards of travelling fans cheering the Latic and jeering the Duke, Jonathan Greening put the Baggies into the lead, he capitalised on a poor punch from goalkeeper Mike Pollitt, 1-0 down. I honestly thought that would be it.
David Connolly however was going to change my mind in the best way possible. He fired past Kirkland after a great run, and an even better ball from Damien Francis. The sides went in at half time level, the result I was after.
Could we go home early please?
Enter the second half and a last minute winner from Jimmy Bullard. I can't remember jumping around as much as I did when that ball hit the back of the net. That goal made my week! Nothing could get me down. Thankyou Jimmy.
It was now six points from six and the critics were changing their minds once more, survival was more than a mere possibilty.
We now displayed great character and had hopes of survival if we could keep this form up, and they say fans are fickle!
These small minded people must think we have such short memories. Can we have some respect please?
Next up in the firing line, Steve McLaren's Middlesbrough and 1-1 draw. Again we came from behind, Yakubu opened the scoring for 'Boro before Camara came off the bench - sporting a lovely hamstring bandage - to toe poke the Latics back onto level par. One bonus point by my theory and plenty of the R word from reporters at the game who knew we were good value for the point.
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Now, anyway, the story so far concludes on Saturday with the trip to Goodison Park. Could the boys make it ten from a possible twelve?
Silly question really. Of course they could. The game ended 1-0, with Francis getting the goal.
Once again the travelling support was superb, something that has impressed myself. All three away games this season have been sold out, or very close to. With the spiraling cost of football games, this is a credit to every Latics fans who has made these trips.
The game itself was yet another example of how the team has matched the oppostion and made the most of the chances that fell their way. I like the way we have played this season.
I'll not get started on my feeling over the dropping of Mike Pollitt. All I will say is that PJ has gone against his usual practice regarding players who are in the team and playing well.
Paul has been bold and gone with two strikers up front, resisting the temptation to play with five across the midfield. He has reiped the benefits of this with the club sitting pretty in eigth position. For this bold outlook on Premiership life, I think we are turning heads. Those neanderthols who knew nothing about us and had never seen us play are starting to respect little wigan Athletic.
At this rate, We'll have to lose the little tag soon.
We have Bolton next week. This will be a tough game and Bolton will not underestimate us. What will interest me are the press articles surrounding the game. How will the game be billed, and whether those idiots who give the predictions will take our current form into account.
As for one critic inparticular, he must be feeling a slight twitch from his backside. Four more wins this season is all it would take to shut him up... I won't mention his name, he gets enough publicity out of this club.
Going by my initial theory of where we need to get points from, we are currently five above that target, half our current total.
Don't get too excited, have you seen November and December? Not only is the weather awful, but we have some tough games. Here's to survival, respect please...
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