Wigan Athletic 12th Man - 17/11/11

This weeks Wigan Evening Post 12th Man page featured two contributions from Vital Latics and they both had a similar theme, get behind the lads on Saturday:

Yet Another 'Must Win Game'

Latics face Blackburn on Saturday in what is without a doubt the biggest game of the season so far. The depressing run of form that we are on makes this game yet another must win, though the previous three must win games against Bolton, Fulham and Wolves all ended up in defeat. Another defeat can't be contemplated, even at this early stage of the season we would be cut off, despondent and looking doomed.

Now that's off my chest let's get the rally call going, if ever the club needed the fans to get behind the team Saturday is it, Blackburn, even though they are one position and one point better off than us in the table, are arguably in a much darker place. The Rovers fans have turned on manager Steve Keen, there is talk of yet another take over and they really do look like a club in turmoil. With a vociferous home crowd and the team buzzing we can surely get about our Lancashire neighbours and put some hope back into our season.

Last week Roberto Martinez spoke about the importance of the fans, the '12th man', how they can inspire the players by getting behind them, making the stadium rock and getting a buzz about the place, on Saturday this 'buzz` is needed more than ever. The fans have a huge part to play, creating the right atmosphere for the players to enjoy will allow them to play with more freedom and help calm the nerves, let us be that 12th man and play our part in what will hopefully be a win and a big step in the right direction, let's support the team from kick-off to final whistle and show the football world what it means to support Wigan Athletic, bring it on!

Barry Worthington


Let's Do Our Club Proud

Last week I had the huge privilege of visiting the DW stadium for an audience with Roberto Martinez and Jonathon Jackson. Not surprisingly in the situation the club finds themselves, lots of awkward questions were asked and all were answered with as much honesty and openness as the situation permitted. A remarkable facing of the public given the league position of the club.

We learnt that the behind the scenes work continues to do much good for the football club. We also learnt that the management team and playing staff understand the league position they are in, and believe in themselves and their ability to get out of it. The big issue that's apparent to almost all supporters is that on the back of this run, we're clearly not showing the results our performances deserve or that we're capable of and this is affecting performances in a snowball effect.

The big question surrounds whether the underperformance in results is because expectations were too high, or because we're just on a bad run? Personally I think it`s that we're on a bad run. Irrespective of what you believe to be the cause, there was a clear understanding that the management are making every effort to turn things around and want all the help they can get from the fans.

That was I suspect the overriding aim of the session as far as the Manager was concerned, to request the support of the fans to help the team on matchday. Whether or not you think the overall direction of the club is right, or the manager is the right man for the job, anybody that wants to call themselves a supporter of Wigan Athletic should listen to that request and provide as much backing to the team on Saturday as they can. Do your town proud, your club proud, and yourself proud, I can tell you that the team will do us proud in return.

Paul Thorp

















Latics and Proud



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