Partner Clubs - A Look To The Future?

Vital Wigan member Daniel Griffin (centrelink1) comes up with a radical suggestion as he looks into the not too distant future and puts forward an idea for a partnership that could benefit two parties, over to you Dan:

Spurs love creating partnerships with clubs in far corners of the Earth. Why not look a little closer. I for one could see a relationship developing between a certain two clubs that are much closer to each other, at least geographically.

Now, call me crazy, but if a deal helps both concerned parties, then what could possibly go wrong? Tottenham love to talk nonsense about exchanging training methods and other garbage, and this agreement would be far simpler.

This agreement would come between two Premier League clubs, and can be as official or unofficial as referees in the world cup. The two clubs in concern, Arsenal, and the club labelled by some as the "Arsenal of the North". Sure, Wigan Athletic have just come off a trouncing from Spurs, but for an Arsenal fan, what better reason to support a club than a feeling of dissent towards Tottenham? Hell, if every team could just... well, that`s an argument for another day.

Now, many Arsenal fans may be wondering what comes on their end of the deal. I will use a simple example, Nicklas Bendtner`s loan move to Birmingham. It seemed a good idea, though Birmingham doesn`t play anything close to the style that these two clubs play (even if on different levels). Nicklas Bendtner didn`t come out of that particular loan any better for it.

What about Arsenal`s young guns? Arsenal are a club built on R&D (research and development) unlike the R&C (resources and cheque book). Players like Ramsey and Wilshire could do with a loan move to get not only Premier League experience, but experience at a club that plays in the style of Arsenal.

For Wigan, this is undoubtedly beneficial. Players like Ramsey and Wilshire would be a great benefit to a team like ours. And for the players themselves, they get some Premier League experience that they can use when they return to Arsenal, since the style of play is similar. Sending players like these to a club that plays in an overly defensive, long ball style would be pointless for all concerned.

This may seem a crazy idea, but after some consideration, it makes some sense. Well, it does to me.

By Daniel Griffin



T-Shirt Competition

Vital Wigan are running a competition for three lucky members to receive a Latics WN1 T-Shirt signed by the boss himself Roberto Martinez.

So how do you get to win a T-Shirt signed by the gaffer? Simply answer the following question.

Where is the new Latics WN1 situated?

A - The Galleries
B - The Grand Arcade
C - The Royal Arcade

Send your answer to: wigan@vitalfootball.co.uk, be sure to mark your email T-Shirt comp, include your name and a postal address and T-Shirt size required (these will be passed onto Wigan Athletic who will distribute the prize) and Vital username.

Closing date is Friday 4th December 5pm














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