The past two weeks have been something of a pleasant break for Latics fans, not least because they give us the chance to catch our breath after the non-stop barrage of fixtures the beginning of the season normally brings. There’s been the usual ups and downs, talk of hirings, firings and rollockings as the Latics bumbled their way to three points from four games.
In that respect, it’s a much-needed break, as it also gives Roberto and his squad the opportunity to regroup for this weekend’s clash with West Ham. When I say ‘squad’, I mean a slightly depleted one, what with the international fixtures taking place this week.
One player who won’t be taking to the field for his country any more is Jason Koumas, who’s retired from international football with immediate effect. I suppose this could only be a good thing for Wigan, as he will presumably be concentrating all his efforts on performing on the Premier League stage and sticking in a few goals for us this forthcoming season.
The transfer window may have ended with Ben Watson the only real casualty of the deadline day negotiations — he’s gone out on loan to QPR for a while — but that hasn’t stopped Big Bob from bringing in the big(ish) names. Cameroon World Cup star Modeste M’bami looks set to bolster our midfield after he impressed in a closed-doors trial. His intended spell at Portsmouth didn’t go that well, but he has scored seven goals in 28 international appearances for his country, so there is at least some potential as he is still relatively young.
And that’s pretty much it. Here’s hoping that the international break has revitalised the Latics team and we’ll be back to winning ways on Saturday.
