Greetings from the past, where we are presently discussing probable transfer targets. The suggestions are becoming just as ludicrous as those banded around the Twittersphere (“McCarthy to Man United, hahagh!“) and even those ‘done deals’ of the tabloid newspapers. It can only mean one thing – transfer deadline day!

Rest assured there will be hundreds of bleary-eyed journos falling asleep at their newsdesks in the small hours of tomorrow morning. Yet more diehard fans will book Friday off work as they grab the popcorn and cola in anticipation of a late night in front of Sky Sports News. Others are content to sit round a table and reel off tasteless jokes about Steve Bruce and Jason Puncheon.

Also covered in this hour-long edition of the PWU Podcast: cheap goals and cheating; the price of a Macclesfield pie; the Golobear; The League of Terrible Refs and yet more postman jokes; farewell to the Ten Million Dollar Man; Deadline Day Truth or Bullocks starring an old friend.

Contents: Macclesfield review (0:00); Stoke review (12:00); Southampton preview (30:00); transfer rumours (47:00)

Before you settle down for the evening’s entertainment, remember to have a quick look at the Progress With Unity Twitter, iTunes and RSS pages. If you feel so inclined, of course. Enjoy what remains of transfer deadline day, and remember to either stock up on the extra-strong coffee or go to bed at some point.

– The Spaceman

What, we have to get back to the daily grind of Premier League life so soon? Uggh, can we not play Blue Square Premier teams on a more regular basis? Wait, scratch that – I’d probably go mad if it were like that each week. Alright then, let me just take some breaths to decrease my circulation following the sheer excitement of the weekend.

Maybe Wigan were also struggling to ground themselves, as they never really got going in a frequently scrappy first half. They could be thankful that Stoke weren’t at their best either, and it was for this reason the deficit remained at just the single goal going into the break. Ryan Shawcross’s volley was the difference between the two sides, though it could probably have been prevented with a bit more composure and –yes, we’re getting this desperate already– luck.

Charlie Adam scooped an innocuous 23rd minute free kick into the Wigan area, but Jean Beausejour’s clearing header rebounded off the back of a team mate and into the path of Shawcross. The England international only had to beat a scrabbling Al Habsi, and did so with consummate ease. Ack, why do we keep giving away these soft free kicks in dangerous positions? I hate to say it, but it’s the mark of an average side embroiled in a relegation battle.

The shining light in a thick fog of first-half mediocrity for Wigan was Shaun Maloney, who teased the Stoke defence on many an occasion. He had few allies, however, and Cameron and Huth found it easy to form that now-familiar impenetrable barricade somewhere around the edge of the six-yard box. I don’t fancy running into two great piles of bricks and cement, do you?

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Oh come on, even the most optimistic of fans like to indulge in a spot of self-pity once in a while! Your stand-in host, Stuttering Bob (AKA that annoying Jesus weblog bloke), is on hand to lend a nervous uncertainty to proceedings and cite a variety of unresearched pseudo-facts. Delightful!

Don’t get me wrong, this week’s edition of the Progress With Unity Podcast is a compelling listen, even if I do say so myself. The presence of a fresh voice, belonging to Mick, adds plenty of spice to an already steaming Lancashire hotpot of debate. Excitingly, there is also first-hand reaction to new plans for Wigan Athletic’s planned Christopher Park academy (27:18) courtesy our very own newspaper correspondent.

Lest we forget, there is the mouth-watering prospect of a proper, old-fashioned FA Cup tie this coming weekend – weather permitting, of course. In fact, take this as an early appeal for supporters, from Macclesfield and Wigan, to get down to Moss Rose (see, I remembered the name this time) with salt shakers, heated teapots, buckets and spades to ensure the game goes ahead!

Contents: Sunderland post-mortem (0:00); Macclesfield preview (22:00); the Wigan Athletic Academy (27:18); Stoke preview (40:00)

Before I head off to check the train timetables, there is just enough space for me to remind you of the usual Progress With Unity Twitter, iTunes and RSS pages. There is not enough space, however, for me to make an inadvisable joke involving Danny Shittu and Mauro Boselli, so I won’t.

Image adapted from photo by Newthoughtdocumentary (CC3.0)

Check out this week‘s PWU Podcast for ruminations on the Stoke game, their tactics in general and the forthcoming international break. This edition is especially interesting because I’m a guest. I’m the one either chuckling away inanely in the background or forgetting the names of first team players.

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