Wigan Athletic - It's that time again?

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Vital Latics member Paul Thorp, aka Thorpyness, takes a look at what the media have been saying about our chances this season, over to you Paul.

It's that time of year again, the time when the national media predicts what will happen in the coming season. The only prediction that is guaranteed to be right, is the prediction from Wigan fans that they will write us off again before a ball is kicked.

It will not have escaped the notice of any Latic that picks up a newspaper or reads a website that once again the prevailing opinion is that the only team to have made it into the top flight and stayed there are about to lose that proud record. Whether this opinion is based upon a weekly dose of the last 5 minutes of Match of the Day, one can only speculate. It's almost as if some people have a grudge against the town for some reason. Did you come and expect the pier to jut out into the sea? Hate the Verve? Don't like pies? (If it's Limahl that causes you to hate us, then I understand!)

We also get mud slung at us due to the fact that our crowds are lower than those of our neighbours, the mudslingers never mention the locals that desert their town in favour of the clubs in Manchester and Merseyside, they take the easy route and blame the egg chasers. One national newspaper even printed a picture of a shut stand to illustrate their point about low crowds at Wigan. The other bandwagon they jump on is 'The Bridge'. The vast majority of supporters leaving the ground have to funnel across that bridge, which just happens to be bang in line of the camera positions. Making it look like we're emptying out early in droves, when in fact they are just able to film everyone leaving all at once, an easy target.

This opinion we are ready to drop is certainly not one shared by many of the fans or those associated with the club. If people think Roberto Martinez stayed purely out of loyalty, and not in large parts due to faith in his squad, then they are as stupid some of the clowns that have been on our streets over the last few days. The loss of Charles N'Zogbia is regularly being cited as one of the main reasons that we will struggle. After all we haven't bought a replacement, have we? Actually we bought the replacement 18 months ago. If anyone has watched us pre season, they will know this. If you limit yourself to the last 5 minutes of Match of the Day, you won't.

My Parents taught me to learn from my mistakes. The talking heads seemingly can't learn from theirs as they predict gloom again. The squad sound like they learnt from opening day last season and are ready if the interviews are anything to go by. Let`s be ready ourselves to make some noise on Saturday, to support the team and to start shoving the criticism where there's no sun, right from the off.

Paul Thorp


























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