When we sit and look back upon Latics’ spell in the Premiership, whether it be a period of six years or longer, there will be certain encounters that really stand out. Games you can be proud to say “I was there,” moments that will stay with you forever – Charlie’s winner against Arsenal last year,…
Latics preserved their unbeaten record at Villa Park with a deserved point that could prove so crucial in the Premier League run-in. After a first half which saw both sides enjoy decent spells of possession and pressure, the visitors passed out the second half – but not without the odd scare. After a cagey opening,…
Roberto Martinez reckons that, to stay in the Premier League this season, Wigan require 40 points. It’s a target figure that has been lowering week upon week as the bottom five continue to squabble between themselves, each struggling equally to pull themselves clear of the proverbial snake pit. This weekend’s round of matches may well…
“You are always one defeat away from a crisis. On that basis, we’re in deep doodoo*.” — Villa manager John Gregory, 1999 *Word substituted for something more sanitary. Ahh, the joys of a good old-fashioned relegation scrap. Another week, another 90 minutes of tension, except this time round there was also a tinge of expectation….
This game was, quite simply, a must win for Latics. Anything other than three points would make the task of remaining in the Premier League for at least one more season an incredible task in all likelihood beyond a side struggling to find the target, let alone score. Though it can’t be denied our performances…
The Champions League. Often touted as ‘bigger than the World Cup‘, it’s a tournament in which every footballer this side of the Atlantic aspires to compete. But it don’t half clog up your fixture list, does it? One only has to ask Chelsea, fighting hard to stay in the title race –a losing battle of…
Some big news straight from the world wide web. Representatives from [Thas] Not a Patch on Harry Lyon, Ye Olde Tree and Crown and the Mudhutter have clubbed together to form a new, all-encompassing megasite entitled ‘This Northern Soul‘, the intended successor to said sites. This does mean NAPO, YOTAC and Mudhutter will be closed,…
This game, according to John Toner of 101greatgoals, represented a “unique opportunity” for the Latics. Spurs, no doubt with half an eye on Tuesday’s Champions League bout with European heavyweights Real Madrid, travelled to Wigan with just two fit central defenders and a damage limitation mentality to ensure no more injury worries ahead of their…
Photographs from the crucial Premier League clash with Birmingham City on Saturday 19 March. It was a variously tense and exciting afternoon, especially when things picked up in the second half. The best of these pics will be available on the Illarterate Flickr channel soon, so check that out if you get the chance.
2.35pm at the DW concourse, and all eyes were on West Ham’s battling performance against Champions League contenders Tottenham at White Hart Lane. It most likely will have gone unnoticed, but it was around this time that the starting lineups for Wigan’s clash with Birmingham were announced over the stadium tannoy. Had they been paying…
They may have a gap in their competitive calendar for a couple of weeks, but Latics have been keeping busy with a training camp in La Manga and a low key friendly with Swedish champions Malmo FF back home in Wigan this weekend. Though Latics dominated the first half, the visitors ran out 3-1 victors…
Isn’t it funny how one heavy loss –which, I must reiterate, was largely expected– can change the mood at a club to such an extent? Well, I say ‘club’ when I mean ‘the fans’, because after the shenanigans of last week, Roberto remained as philosophical as ever. Should we expect anything else? The guy’s a…