EPL Talk - Latest Comments in Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Mark — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:41:40 -0000

Do you take it back Michael?
Thats all I want to know? How about a new article?????? Maybe do a little research first!
Much love

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

laticstar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:22:00 -0000

IMO:

WIGAN, THIS SEASON

Zaki, star player, and Heskey upfront.
With De Ridder and Valencia swapping on the flanks we will be a constant threat in attack.
And Scharner and Melchiot as key players in a solid defense.

WIGAN goes Europe:

Mark my word, dear Michael ...

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Lez — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:21:39 -0000

Michael,

you may say that Wigan played ugly football last season. Don't forget that we had the knife on our throat almost all the season after Hutchings bad run.

I my country (I'm no Brit) we call it pigfotball which we unfortunately had to play for not jeopardize the Premier League status.

I have hope that you find Latics play more attractive football in the coming season.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

joeyjoejoejunior — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:08:35 -0000

about putting 11 men behind the ball against bigger teams, prior to bruce's arrival we always used to get tonked usually by 4-0 or similar, when bruce took over we kept our normal 4-4-2 formation and we drew 1-1 at liverpool, 1-1 at Chelsea and 0-0 at home to Arsenal and we were quite unlucky against man united but at least we put up a fight

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

tod_wigan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:32:07 -0000

I think this bloke is just a bit of a moron. We played some great football last season, especially down the right, and u say we havn't got a star player. Kirkland was awesome last year and also valencia. You must have missed your specsavers appointment mate. Have you been put up to this by Rodney marsh? lol

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Pork Romeo — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:20:25 -0000

Fun read. I like the debate regarding the starting 11. First time I can remember Wigan having such a deep squad.

Ugly football is a bit unwarranted. I admit Wigan will put 11 men behind the ball when up against the big clubs. But sometimes they play quite nice football. Particularly during the first PL campaign.

Regarding the pitch, last year was a one time problem. I dont recall much complaining in the previous few years.

Siberski, I thought he was already cut loose. Kind of glad he is still on the squad. Has a talent for coming off the bench and getting a goal.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

joeyjoejoejunior — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:06:55 -0000

i dont think there will be much more trimming going on, we cut the deadwood out with getting rid of olembe, skoko and somehow getting rid of aghahowa to kaysperior. Bruce has never seen camara play as he was on a season long loan at west ham last season so i think he will wait before making judgement, Sibierski i personally wouldnt keep as although he scored ssome important goals for us last year he is low on fitness and Bramble is a good defender its just he is prone (happened 2 times last season) to lapses in cocncentration, we at Wigan are a much more forgiving crowd than say the barcodes in newcastle and i think bruce can still improve him.

I think you touched a nerve by calling the football we play "ugly", simple would probably have been more apt, we dont try for the flair approach, and nothing gets me more annoyed when arsenal keep passing the ball along their back 4 for5 minutes at a time. I don't really think we can be critiscized for our pitch, if you want a poor pitch look up Chelsea v Charlton at Stamford bridge a few seasons back, it looked like a beach.

The masters of grinding out 1-0 victories are undoubtedly Chelsea.

The point about our stadium as well being shared with Rugby, well Watford did it a few seasonsd back, Reading do it, and even the promoted Hull City do it.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:44:24 -0000

Excellent Michael. I cannot believe there are so many latic supporters around. Nice you managed to get them stirred up.

Looks like Wigan's best squad since they were promoted. Fairly big too. Wonder if Bruce is going to trim a few players. Surprised Camara and Seberisk (and Bramble) are still hanging on.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Michael — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:48:22 -0000

I do appreciate soccer, I'm sorry if you can't see that.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

d_manga_fanatic — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:21:17 -0000

if u actually have been keeping up to date with the news about wigan, u would know that kilbane is almost certainly NOT going to start as our first choice left back but instead Figueroa will be and then when Edman is fit, will be challenging him for that spot.

we are gonna do well this season just u wait and we'll shut up 'journalists' like urself who dont know how to appreciate football

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Jabba — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:56:11 -0000

You shouldn't write articles about things you know nothing about. The piece shows a genuine lack of knowledge of Wigan Athletic and seems to be based purely on assumption and other inaccurate news articles.

We don't pretend that we are the biggest, most glamorous team in the league. But to go from where we have come from to where we are now in the space of the last 25 years in a real life fairy tale.

We have defied the odds and no one gives us an ounce of credit or respect. We are the victims of more poor, lazy and plain vindictive journalism than any other Premiership team.

This is not helpful when we are trying to build our fan base and break free of the stereotypes and false impressions created by the media.

That’s why us Wiganer's take things like this so personal.

We have sorted out the pitch problems that hampered us, tied down all our key players, brought in some extra quality and have built an excellent squad over the past 6 months. This is going to be an exciting season for Wigan. Expect to see us fighting for the top half of the table.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

tixmon — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:20:42 -0000

Blimey - a slightly xenophobic over reaction from the tixmen I'm afraid. Chill out people - this is embarrassing.

What's all this about Ryan Taylor leaving???

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Michael — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:24:30 -0000

Don't get me started on Michael Brown, because for the one time Alex "punched him", Brown has done something equally dirty and reckless five times over to other players.

I did see the Wigan-Blackburn game in full, and yes, it was a great spectacle. When I mean ugly soccer though, I mean that for most of last season, Wigan couldn't string more than three or four passes together on that slop of a field. On the road, they sat back and played for a draw, content to hoof it up to Bent and Heskey all day.

You all are right, when Valencia and Palacios played in the second half, they did bring their Spanish flair and brought class and quality into the side. Kapo will add more of that this year. I expect Wigan to play a more attractive style this season, but it was awful to watch at times a season ago. It was effective, yes, and I never denied that, and I'm all for doing whatever it takes to get a result. I respect hard work and determination just as much as anyone else, believe me. I would rather play ugly and get something positive than play like Arsenal and win nothing.

I think everyone is taking too much offense with the comment I made; I wasn't being critical, I was just stating my opinion. Ugly doesn't mean ineffective, it just means ugly, and that's what Wigan was for the majority of last year.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

yams — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:13:55 -0000

You're more than entitled to comment, free speech and all that, it's your opinion, but "Ugliest soccer" - if this is genuinely what you think, explain what you mean.

To me, ugly football is Arsenal's Fabregas losing the ball to Emile Heskey, then pretending Heskey hit him in the face to stop play, Chelsea's Alex punching Michael Brown in the chest to stop him taking the ball past him and Man U's Ronaldo banging the grass with his hands in a tantrum because Palacios's fancy footwork had tricked the ball off him (again).

This is Wigan we're talking about, who came to the premier league through hard graft and determination, no media darlings, so you won't see these things replayed on MOTD, the ref won't blow the whistle, nobody's going to report this in the press e.g. saw match highlights of a game we won against Blackburn, only the Blackburn goals were shown, so I guess it's understandable you have no clue how we play!

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Michael — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:11:56 -0000

I think Edman is the first-choice, but as you said, he's injured right now. That's why I put Kilbane in my projected starting lineup. I understand he's a natural left winger and is getting on in age, but he's the best they have at left back until Edman returns.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

joeyjoejoejunior — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:48:36 -0000

Michael - The only reason we started with Kilbane at left back is because we had no one else to go there. Our previous manager chris hutchings had the clairvoyance to sell our only left back and not buy a replacement.

When erik Edman arrived he was given a starting role after he had gained match fitness in the reserves and when he was fit he was our first choice left back until he got severly injured, Kilbane filled in again until we were safe as even though we had figueroa as a left back we were not in the position to risk a player who had never played in the premiership before in a precarious situation. When Figueroa played against man united in the last match when we were safe he put in a very good performance and is a good prospect of challenging for the starting place, i think very few wigan fans would call Kilbane our first choice left back or left winger, but we all praise him for his effort but he isnt getting any younger and i will say (though i maybe wrong) that he will not get much of a look in this year. So yes Kilbane started 30 games at left back, but unless you really watch the team week in week out and watch the developments of the team as a fan would it gives the impression that Kilbane was first choice left back.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Michael — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:35:13 -0000

Kilbane started 30 games at left back last season..

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Phil — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:01:17 -0000

Michael,
A few observations:-
Just to point out that Rugby Leage switched to a "summer" sport some years ago and although there is some truth in the fact that the ground sharing has not helped the pitch - it is another piece of misinformation to suggest that the winter will cause a problem due to Rugby League! Also - not sure if anyone with any knowledge of the team would seriously think that we would start with Kilbane as first choice defender!!? You later state that Zaki will probably not start the season but include him in the starting line-up!?? Have another look at the players we apparently "sold" to pay for the new signings - simply not true. None of those listed were sold for any significant sum and all were clearly surplus to the requirements of a progressing team

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Michael — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:55:52 -0000

"Mick (may i call you Mick) pray tell how you are qualified to comment on somewhere you have never been to ?"

pkok, that doesn't make sense. Have you ever been to Italy? Have you ever been to Spain? Have you been to Portsmouth or Newcastle? Have you been to the US? Have you been to Africa?

Point is, just because you haven't been somewhere doesn't mean you comment on what comes from there. If that was the case, many people would be unqualified to speak their minds about anything. That's the beauty of technology, my friend, you no longer have to be there in person to see it.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

J_Mo — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:41:55 -0000

Tagging our style of football as "ugly" is both unfair and untrue. Yes, we're not going to play like Arsenal or Man Utd, our players aren't good enough to do so. It is certainly not the worst in the league though - the likes of Valencia, Palacios and Melchiot are all very skillful. The likes of Kapo and De Ridder aren't going to be playing ugly football either. Stats don't paint the whole picture, you actually need to see us play.

Our issue with the pitch is sorted, as you probably guessed from all the other angry posters in these comments.

It's not a bad article overall though, and I can appreciate that you probably don't have much to go on for a club like ourselves who probably get little attention in the States.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

pkok — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:49:15 -0000

Mick (may i call you Mick) pray tell how you are qualified to comment on somewhere you have never been to ?
Why don't you come over the pond and visit our little team and then you may write an article on Wigan Ath.
I will even put you up in my humble abode (mud hut) for the length of your stay and if you survive the excitement will also run you back to the airport.
Please do not make comments which may cause offence without thinking first.
It is easy to critisies but do try to make positive comments sometimes .
Then we the fans of Wigan Athletic may read your articles and smile at the understanding that Americans have of the only true worldwide game.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

joeyjoejoejunior — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:33:03 -0000

Ok, we are not arsenal or barca, we dont have flair, but were not bolton or fulham, we dont just wack the ball up the pitch, in a method similar to "american football", if we are honest, we are hopefully top of the bottom half potentially and shouldn't really have much trouble staying up with the quality of the promoted teams being questionable.

The pitch shouldnt be a problem this year as it has had a full rebuild, but i dont think anyone can comment on that till it shows whether it is up to the job.

Bolton are located more in Manchester than we are and Wiganers still consider themselves to be part of Lancashire, i think in US terms it would be considered to be suburban manchester as our cities are much more concentrated and our population considerably denser. It is possible to get from Liverpool to Manchester (40 miles apart) without passing through a single bit of countryside, ie. its all surrounded by housing.

wigan have managed to do what many other clubs havent by staying in the premiership without spending more than they could afford like clubs like Leeds and others in lower divisions who are in poor positions due to going into administration.

I would say wigan are sensible, in their football and management.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Mark — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:37:35 -0000

You really dont have a clue, you have made some serious mistakes in your piece and you talk balls! We dont play ugly football,We have got stars maybe not british stars but we have in the form of palacios, valencia and zaki now. We have a quality keeper Kirkland and A first class striker in heskey, albeit not a goal machine, and we have quality defenders. You really dont now what ur talking about so keep your idiotic writing about your 'hand'ball that u call football and stay out of our reach!

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

Michael — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:42:22 -0000

That's my point exactly.

I welcome disagreements from jm and from everyone else, and I understand that others have different opinions than myself. But when the argument becomes geared towards bashing me because I'm American, that's where we have a problem. It makes those who do that seem ignorant, juvenile, and immature, and doesn't do you any justice as fans of your clubs.

What difference does nationality make, really? Soccer is a universal game, not an exclusive club. If you want to talk about football or baseball, I'd value your opinion just the same as I would if I was talking with anyone from this country.

Come on, let's keep it intelligent. If you want to bash me or cuss at me or whatever else, do it to yourself or to your friends at home, not here.

Re: Premiership Preview–15. Wigan Athletic

jm — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:02:38 -0000

Bravo to Michael for withstanding the slings and arrows heaved at him in this thread, and nearly every other thread in his Premiership preview feature.

I have frequently been critical of Michael's essays, but it is distressing that the discussion of them has so often devolved into name calling and nationalistic shots at Americans. Indeed, the great thing about blogs is that minds from all over, with complementary and competing expertise, can come together to discuss these topics. We are all the richer for this kind of discussion. I, for example, only to get to see a few Wigan matches as I am working most weekends, and would love to hear intellectual discussion of Michael's assertions.

Here's to interesting and enlightening discussion throughout the rest of Michael's series of previews.