What Has the BBC Got That Sky Hasn`t? Amateurism

Following yesterdays game at the DW Stadium between Wigan Athletic and Fulham, a game that I thoroughly enjoyed even though we didn`t win, I couldn`t wait to re-view it on the TV, faced with the options of Football First or Match of the Day 2 I decided to Sky+ Football First and sit through MotD2 so I could watch some of the days other games….what a mistake.

Is the BBC in love with West Ham? The highlights of the Hammers against Everton were on for an absolute age, a game that West Ham totally dominated? Had all the chances? Conceded two unlucky goals? Scored one themselves but could/should have had another 6?

The analysis of the West Ham game went on and on and on, finally the beeb decide to advertise the fact that they have some live Rugby games coming up on one of their channels, here we go I thought, a sly dig, but no, worse was to come.

An introduction to the Latics Fulham match that featured the music of some awful brass band, a comparison between Wigan and Rome, showing a woman sweeping the stands at the DW Stadium, pictures of the Coliseum flashing between an aerial shot of Wigan town centre what on earth was going on? What had this got to do with football?

OK so Fulham had played in Rome during the week, why not show the violence of Roma supporters when they face English clubs against the friendliness and generosity of Wiganers, the happy faces around the DW Stadium against the snarling faces of Roma supporters, why not? Because the Match of the Day production team are the joke, not Wigan.

The bloke doing the commentary, who ever he was, harped on about it being the lowest Premier League attendance of the season, showed loads of empty seats and the camera focused on a group of about twenty people with almost a completely empty stand behind them.

What they failed to mention was the fact that they were showing the AWAY END and that in fact they were Fulham supporters who because it was Sunday and travel is difficult, because they had just been to Rome, because it was Remberance Sunday, because the ultra-professional Sky Sports had the Chelsea Manchester United game on live and because times are hard for people who actually work for a living maybe they couldn`t justify to their families the cost of travelling to watch the game they could see later on TV, the BBC also FAILED to mention that the Latics had sold 80% of all home seats for, in all respect to Fulham, one of the least attractive games of the season. I`m sure Fulham fans will share that sentiment.

No wonder Match of the Day ratings are tumbling, the actual footage of the game was sparse to say the least and when we 'went back to studio` host Adrian Chiles was fumbling through some script papers on a stool at his side? Both Lee Dixon and Alan Hanson looked like they didn`t want to be there and maybe they shouldn`t be.

So they don`t like the fact that we get low crowds, we are a dull Northern town and to them our novelty value has worn off and now is the time to poke fun. Well we are where we are because the club has earned the right to be there, I make no apologies for the fact the Leeds, Newcastle, Leicester, West Brom, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, QPR and Crystal Palace are not in the Premier League and we are, the BBC, especially the Production team at Match of the Day need to revisit their attempted humiliation of Wigan and focus on a bit more factual broadcasting.

The Latics as a club are working extremely hard to turn around the low gates, they are attempting to play attractive football, have great initiatives and have the lowest tickets prices in the Premier League, the last thing they need is a bullying organisation like the BBC trying to take the you know what

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Fans Forum Ticket Competition

Vital Latics have two tickets on offer for the up and coming Wigan Athletic fans forum to be held at the DW Stadium in the DW Fitness Lounge located in the South Stand on Tuesday 17th November 7pm kick-off.

The fans forum will give supporters the opportunity to meet and question manager Roberto Martinez; also there is a hotpot supper included, now that does make the mouth water.

Full details of the event are on the official site and can be viewed by clicking here

The event has always proved very popular in the past so if you want to be the lucky winner of two tickets, supplied by Wigan Athletic, then answer the following question and enter via link provided, closing date 10th November 5 pm.

Who is Roberto`s assistant manager:
a) Graeme Jones
b) Steve Bruce
c) Arsene Wenger

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