The La Liga outfit were certainly well drilled

Ins and outs, friendly bouts, international call-ups and dressing room bust ups. Well, maybe not so much of the last one (yet), but football is certainly back in Wigan with a vengeance for 2010.

Yesterday’s friendly at the DW Stadium kicked operations back into full swing for the no doubt gut-wrenching season of ecstasy and agony (hopefully less of the latter) to come, with a decent Wednesday night crowd of 3,500 out in force to sample the continental talent on offer.

This predicted test of Latics’ strongly European-flavoured lineup proved to be just that, a real trial for regulars and new boys alike. Though a bit rusty in parts, particularly the passing department in the first 45, Zaragoza’s finishing was clinical — at least, more clinical than Wigan’s — and once things had settled down they exhibited some of the confidence and assuredness Martinez aspires to.

But they weren’t that good. In fact, had the result of this game actually mattered, many will have walked away from the DW decidedly disappointed that Wigan just couldn’t create the shots on target or exorcise their defensive demons.

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Spanish flu: Roberto will be breaking out the paella

Good day fellow Latic fanatics and esteemed guests. I report to you from a rainy Hindley on the day of Wigan’s first and only home friendly (well, that’s if you don’t count the game at the Robin Park Arena) in preparation for the 2010/2011 campaign, which is now but ten days away.

A report on the Real Zaragoza match, which I am looking forward to, shall appear in due course, providing I make it back from the DW in one piece.

Now, readers, I am faced with a dilemma. Due to having a job that involves working Saturday afternoons, I am unlikely to make each home game as I did the previous season. In fact, I’m not sure how many I will actually be able to attend. Thus, it would be a bit of a gamble to get a season ticket… yet I probably will end up doing.

Can’t resist the temptation, you see. Even though there were some incredible downers in 2009/2010, nothing ever seems to discourage you from coming back for more. Am I sucker for punishment? Well, I wouldn’t say so – the victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea more than made up for the bad times, at least in my opinion.

Work commitments (boo) mean I’m still unsure at this stage exactly what level of coverage JWAW will provide, or even what kind of direction we may take for the new season. In some ways that’s quite exciting because you never really know what’s around the corner, a bit like our team under Martinez. It’s a mini adventure.

One thing’s for sure, though. I shall attempt to keep JWAW Towers up and running for as long as the budget cuts and internet censors will allow. You see, I need this place to vent my spleen on matchdays almost as much as Pompey need a spare tenner. Well, I suppose that comment was uncalled for but I’ve typed it now so I can’t take it back.

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Just catching up on some photos from the pre-season friendly against St. Mirren, which I never got round to uploading at the time.

• Illarterate Flickr account
• St Mirren photos @ Illarterate Flickr account
  

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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