The season starts now and we have some ground to make up. We’re adrift in the bottom three and mission number one has to be to get some wins under our belts, starting with the visit of high flying Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Cherries league fortunes polarise those of the Latics since the two clubs met in that famous FA Cup tie and subsequent replay. Under Eddie Howe Bournemouth have soared to the top of the Championship table whilst the Latics have plummeted out the Premier League and fast tracked their way to the foot of the Championship table.
With only Emmerson Boyce remaining from the FA Cup triumph the January transfer activity served to prove that, despite whatever Malky Mackay has said publicly, there were a number of players on the payroll purely for the money. A host of big name, and big money, players haven’t performed for the Latics this season.
We now have a team of short term signings and loan players who all have a point to prove for the remainder of the season. Leon Clarke and Billy Mckay will be interesting additions to the front line as both players have impressive goalscoring records.
Whilst Sheyi Ojo is an exciting an unpredictable prospect on the flanks. Latics supporters will be hoping he can replicate Jordan Ibe’s form at Derby County.
There have also been a number of moves to shore up the defensive side of the field with the interesting named Gaetan Bong, Chris Herd and Jason Pearce joining Liam Ridgewell in a new look defence.
The number of changes represent wholescale adjustments to the team and hopefully it will yield wholescale changes in the results. We’re in a difficult position in the table and there is a long way to go. Fingers crossed we can make progress and Bournemouth on Saturday represents the chance to start our season again.