Balaidos Stadium, Vigo welcomes Wigan Athletic

With the eyes of the whole world on the city of London last night, it’s no surprise that broadcasters chose not to screen Wigan Athletic’s clash with Spanish ‘giants’ Celta Vigo at the Balaidos Stadium. I should think that’s the only reason, however, and that such a high profile friendly would normally have ESPN scrambling for Big DW’s phone number. But with the lure of a Spice Girls reunion too tempting to resist, not a single public house in the Wigan area would be seen dead with a dodgy Latics satellite feed on their big screens.

Ordinarily, Wigan’s final pre-season friendly is a chance for the gaffer to try out his first choice XI, just to see how well they’re gelling with imminent Premier League tests to follow. No such luxury here, however, for with five players away on international duty, Bob was forced to field a somewhat experimental XI against Premera Division opposition. Not that McManaman, Fyvie, Crusat and Adrian Lopez would have complained much, but I have no doubt the backsides of many a Latics fan will be clenching simultaneously this morning. It wasn’t that great a game, you see.

With no new attacking options brought into the ranks as yet, the hopes of many are pinned on a returning Mauro Boselli. You’d have been forgiven for thinking we’d never again see the Ten Million Dollar Man, but here he is, back challenging for a first team place. So don’t call him a $10m flop just yet. He got a full 90 minutes and came close to scoring last night, but might not have done enough to warrant a berth in the starting line-up for Chelsea next week – pending injuries, of course.

Speaking of which, the James McArthur ‘injury’ ploy worked perfectly, ensuring he has not gone on international duty. Hahar, now we can rest him up for the start of the Premier League next week! Quick thinking that, Roberto.

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All the fun of a pre-season friendly, captured in glorious jpeggedness for your viewing delectation. Refer to the following gallery of photographs for a taste of the atmosphere at the DW Stadium, which saw the début of Wigan’s new home strip and more presentation-related mirth than you can squeeze into a fun-size serving of jamón serrano. That’s Spanish for cured ham, incidentally.

As for Hugo Rodallega, he was present to partake in the odd kickabout. One can only speculate as to whether his absence from the first team against Villarreal is a clue to his fate, with clubs such as Arsenal reportedly ready to table a bit. I’d take those stories with a pinch of salt for the time being, however, and venture that he was simply rested for more important forthcoming fixtures.

Victor Moses was on the scoresheet as Latics rounded off a successful pre-season with a 1-0 win over Villarreal. The Nigerian, who’s been tipped by many –including myself– to fill a Charles N’Zogbia-sized hole, was set up wonderfully for an almost unmissable chance by Franco Di Santo seconds prior to the half time whistle.

But the path was not all smooth for Wigan, who had initially struggled to cope with their Champions League opponents. In particular, Nilmar da Silva caused many problems, and on more than one occasion, he worked his way through the home defence to draw a solid save from Ali Al Habsi. The Villarreal forwards hunted down the Latics back line and forced them into a few sloppy passes, most notably from Ben Watson, who was spared too many blushes as Al Habsi palmed away the subsequent strike.

Wigan would recover to carve out some opportunities as the half progressed. Jordi Gomez hit the crossbar from a free-kick just outside the area, and James McCarthy fired just wide from eleven yards out. Di Santo found himself with only the goalie to beat, but could not get enough power into his volley to trouble Cesar Sanchez in the Submariners’ goal.

All the while, however, Villarreal continued to pressure Latics, hitting them on the break to some effect. Nilmar went close once more, and Jordi Pablo sent in a powerful strike which Al Habsi punched over the crossbar. It was a truly open affair right up until the 45-minute mark when Diame and Di Santo teamed up to provide Victor Moses with a glorious opportunity. He didn’t miss, and Wigan went into half time one goal to the good.

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"That time of the year already?"

After such a heart-stopping spring, we’ll all have been grateful of three months’ rest and relaxation. I know I certainly was, but the new season is almost here and it’s time to dig out the old scarf and Thermos for another hard-fought campaign. At the moment, I’m slightly apprehensive, but I’m sure this Sunday’s contest with La Liga’s Villarreal will blow out the cobwebs with the force of an Alex Ferguson hairdryer. It isn’t likely to be easy – the Yellow Submarine (not to be confused with Swindon Supermarine) completed the 2010-11 season in 4th ahead of Athletico Madrid, Espanyol and our conquerors of last pre-season, Zaragoza.

Roberto has once again been working his European contacts to attract a high-profile Spanish side to the DW for Wigan’s final pre-season friendly, but when you delve a bit deeper, the two teams are more closely related than one may initially think. Not in terms of success, mind, for Latics could only dream of a place in the Champions League play-offs, but in terms of size. Villarreal has never been the most fashionable of clubs, at least not with the Spanish national press, and as such has slipped under the radar to a certain extent. What’s more, the 25,000-capacity Estadio El Madrigal, where the Valencian team play their home games, may draw comparison with a certain multi-purpose sports stadium in south Lancashire. And I’m not talking about the Reebok. Or Prenton Park. But you got the idea, and now I’m being picky.

Thus, you could argue it is fitting for the two teams to share a football field, even if only for a friendly. Villarreal will, however, provide a stern test for a still-rusty Latics, whose squad members will be squabbling for a starting berth against Norwich a week on Saturday. Of course, we mustn’t forget the overriding goal here – a win on Sunday would be fantastic, but getting our Premier League season off to a winning start would be even better.

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