And we’re back for another season of horrible photos! Except this time they’ll be even worse and perhaps even non-existent. Here’s a selection from the warmup for Wednesday night’s encounter with our La Liga opponents, who brought with them an enthusiasm and laid-back Spanish style that even seemed to have an effect on the weather. By this I mean it didn’t rain. Much.

The best of these pics will be available on the Illarterate Flickr channel soon, so check that out if you get the chance.

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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