© Franco Di Santo

For the first time in its short and distinguished history, the Progress With Unity Podcast reaches beyond the confines of this humble town to bring you correspondence from the Commonwealth. The Western and Eastern Hemispheres are aptly represented by Adam and Tom, whose respective towns of residence in the US and Australia provide a welcome contrast to snowy Wigan for one night only.

Discussion naturally turns from the weekend’s events at Stamford Bridge to, erm… farting in lifts. No, seriously. Well, we are all in need of some light relief amidst the travails of a Premier League snake pit scrap. Thank goodness for the FA Cup, eh? The Leicester-Huddersfield tie is briefly reviewed in preparation for what promises to be another magical weekend – let’s just hope it’s in favour of Wigan.

Mid-season warm-weather training camps are also mentioned, but only because the mainstream media seem intent on branding them ‘glorified winter holidays’. We did not go so far as to mention exactly which chip paper publication has been stirring the medicine this week, because they aren’t worth it.

Contents: Chelsea review (0:00); warm weather training camps (15:40); Huddersfield preview (29:30); Barry’s big gamble (36:40); Question Time (42:00)

Progress With Unity is currently the only Wigan Athletic fan podcast on the web. If you would like to get involved or have any topics you’d like to be discussed please get in touch with Barry at wigan@vitalfootball.co.uk, marking your email PWU Podcast.

Thank you all for your Twitter questions! If you have any more, feel free to tweet us at @PWUPodcast or @JesusIsAWiganer and they shall be put to the panel on next week’s show. Don’t forget, you can also follow proceedings via the PWU iTunes and RSS pages as per usual should you so wish. Thanks for listening, and have a nice day!

2:50pm. An expectant Stamford Bridge eagerly awaits the entrance of Wigan’s gladiators and Chelsea’s lions for a potentially season-defining contest. This is almost certainly the case for Rafa Benitez, who is one narrow loss away from burning chips at Burger World this time next week, at least if you believe all you read in the blogosphere.

Though fellow Spaniard Roberto Martinez enjoys the altogether more comfortable situation of having an eternally faithful chairman that would gladly employ him for life, his club’s position just inside the relegation zone is equally as daunting.

But as kickoff draws near, there is no sign of either side. Not one player has taken the field for their usual pre-match warmups or autograph-signing obligations – what’s going on?

Without warning, previously-hidden smoke machines fill one half of the stadium with a dense artificial fog. The cacophony of 5,000 confused spectators simultaneously clearing their throat is just enough to drown out thundering heavy metal music that begins to blast from the Stamford Bridge PR system.

From out of the haze stumble two leotard-clad figures, escorted by some bloke in a suit. Wait, that can’t be… former world wrestling champion Hulk Hogan, can it? And what, those two half-dressed blokes – they’re… *rubs eyes* Benitez and Martinez?!

As the laughter begins to subside (some ten minutes later), there comes a familiar, Spanish-Scouse accented voice: “Roberto Martinez, I challenge you and the Wiganmaniacs to an all-or nothing soccer game here at Stamford Bridge, TONIGHT!”

Before his opposite number has time to even think of a witty response, the players come hurtling out of the tunnel and hurriedly shove the match ball onto the centre spot.

“Enough of the formalities,” announces an impatient Hogan, “let’s get it on!”

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Following another Progress With Unity all-nighter, half the team resembled a boxer who had just completed ten bruising rounds with the heavyweight champion. Events of last Saturday tempered any positivity that may have been starting to build as Latics begin their ascent of that metaphorical wall of this time last year, and that now-traditional end-of-season apprehension is beginning to set in.

You can’t deny it all makes for great debate, however. Hey, where would we be without something to worry about? No doubt the Manchester United podcasts are rather boring right now, largely consisting of their panellists sitting back to light up a stogie and announcing ‘bring it on, fools!’ Drama is what we football fans feed on, and there’s plenty of it to come in the next three months. I just wish we could all enjoy it. :/

Contents: Southampton review (0:00); internationals (19:25); Chelsea preview (21:40); relegation straw poll (47:40)

Progress With Unity is currently the only Wigan Athletic fan podcast on the web. If you would like to get involved or have any topics that you’d like to be discussed please get in touch with Barry at wigan@vitalfootball.co.uk, marking your email PWU Podcast.

A sucker for punishment? Then you’ll be pleased to know there are Progress With Unity Twitter, iTunes and RSS pages for you to enjoy/endure! Tweet your questions to @PWUPodcast or @JesusIsaWiganer and we shall endeavour to reply live on air. Well maybe not live or on air, but you get the general idea.

Cheers for listening.

The football season is back, and I don’t know what to think. On the one hand it is one of the few things that give my sorry life meaning, while on the other it is the source of much frustration and tension, not to mention the primary reason for my receding hairline. I will, however, say this: through all the media sensationalism and talk of hyper-inflated wages, it’s wonderful to see some actual on-field action in the Premier League once more.

Today’s opening game against Chelsea inevitably evoked memories of 2005 and that highly memorable encounter between the very same two teams. I remember getting there extra early and having to wait, along with hundreds of others, for the turnstiles to open. As I began to soak in the atmosphere of Wigan’s first game in the Premier League, I felt a tap on my shoulder followed by a gentle ‘excuse me’. I barely had time to turn around before Pascal Chimbonda brushed past me in his suit and tie! Apparently not even players get preferential treatment, and have to force their way through the crowds like the rest of us.

It’s worth glossing briefly over just how far both clubs have progressed in the subsequent seven years. Chelsea now stand proudly as the Champions of Europe, having ground their way to a win over Bayern Munich just three months ago. Though Wigan haven’t quite matched the magnificent performance of their début season, to stay in the Premier League and slug it out with the big boys on a shoestring budget, year after year, is an admirable achievement.

Where is Chimbonda now? Truth be known, I haven’t a clue. Last time I checked he was at Doncaster Rovers, but nobody has seen him since. But life at Wigan goes on, and there’s no time for sentiment when the Euro champs are in your back yard, pinching yer carrots.

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