I'll have two orange squashes please, waiter.

It’s only just struck me that Latics have decided to officially launch their new Dutch-inspired away strip the day after England played Holland in an international friendly. Either this is all one big coincidence or these marketing types really know what they’re doing.

Actually, it’s more than likely the latter, as the kit launch even made Sky Sports News in the form of Dave Whelan, or Moneybags Whelan, as he has become known in the last 24 hours.

More on that later, but yes, the fact Mario and, erm, Rids(?) have put in appearance at the club shop to mark the occasion would seem to back up the theory that big-time sensibilities are beginning to kick in, at least where merchandising is concerned.

Well, I suppose we ought to face the fact we are a Premiership side now, and deserve some top-flight marketing. Top marks on that front, and I’m sure the Tangerine Dream will sell bucketloads as a consequence (despite the fact 50% of our fanbase seem to despise it, if experience is anything to go by).

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Couldn’t make it to this game, unfortunately — something about trains being unreliable — but thanks to the wonders of technology I was able to listen to a (rather biased, but what else would you expect?) Wigan Athletic World broadcast via the official website.

I do wish I could have been there, as all accounts seem to report a Latics side performing more like Manchester United than the Colchester United we’ve been used to of late. Well, maybe that was a bit uncalled for, but things are definitely clicking into place for Roberto Martinez’s side now.

Coupled with a below-par Preston performance, it turned out to be something of a rout as Rodders, Browny and N’Zogbia all found their way onto the scoresheet. There was also a goal for new boy Jason Scotland, which was met with cheers from the 2000-strong Latics travelling support.

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