Premier League - Countdown: Wigan Athletic

Eurosport - Tue, 04 Aug 18:01:00 2009

Eurosport-Yahoo! continues its countdown to the Premiership season with a look at Wigan Athletic.

Hugo Rodallega, FOOTBALL - 0

Manager: Roberto Martinez

Last 10 Seasons

(1999/2000 to 2008/2009): -/-/-/-/-/-/10/17/14/11

POSSIBLE STARTING XI:

Chris Kirkland

Mario Melchiot - Paul Scharner - Titus Bramble - Maynor Figueroa

Lee Cattermole - Jordi Gomez - Jason Koumas - Charles N'Zogbia

Jason Scotland - Hugo Rodallega (pictured)

BACK-UPS FROM: Mike Pollitt - Richard Kingson - Erik Edman - Emmerson Boyce -Won-Hee Cho - Hendry Thomas - Ben Watson - Michael Brown - Daniel De Ridder Tomasz Cywka - Olivier Kapo - James McCarthy - Tomasz Kupisz - Jonathon Routledge - Joe Holt - Callum McManaman - Marlon King

TRANSFERS:

In - James McCarthy (Hamilton Academical, undisclosed) - Jason Scotland (Swansea, £2m) - Hendry Thomas (Olimpia, undisclosed) - Jordi Gomez (Espanyol, undisclosed)

Out - Antonio Valencia (Manchester United, undisclosed) - Antoine Sibierski, Henri Camara (both released)

POSITIVES: The departure of Antonio Valencia has left new boss Roberto Martinez with a hefty transfer kitty and he will look to bring more quality into his squad before the new season starts. Chairman Dave Whelan is a manager's dream, remaining patient and refusing to react on impulse to bad results - good news for Martinez.

NEGATIVES: The departures of manager Steve Bruce and explosive winger Valencia are major losses for the club and both will be difficult to replace. While he is highly-rated, Martinez is untested at this level and it remains to be seen how he will cope.

VERDICT: A tough season lies ahead for the Latics. For all the stability of recent seasons, from which the club has undoubtedly benefitted, the departures of Bruce and Valencia is likely to herald a period of transition.

PREDICTED POSITION: 16th

Mario Hajiloizis / Eurosport

Comment 5 - 24 of 24

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  1. He has had alot more players come to wigan of which­ look like real gems than Bruce ever did.

    From anthony m, on Thu 6 Aug 7:28PM
  2. for ANTHONY M i changed e-mail provider to yahoo they­ suggested different name so now gaudrey 39 is born,­ still the same person.i also enjoy your comments and­ also a lot of the other true supporters on here.the 39­ is nothing to do with my age ,passed that a while ago.

    From Audrey, on Thu 6 Aug 7:19AM
  3. I have always enjoyed your comments on this website

    From anthony m, on Wed 5 Aug 6:32PM
  4. is 39 how old you are sorry to be personal but I am­ inquisitive

    From anthony m, on Wed 5 Aug 6:31PM
  5. Audreyg how come you have changed your name?
    As your­ comments have as I seen as good ones
    Or are you some­ one different

    From anthony m, on Wed 5 Aug 6:29PM
  6. i`ll go for 12th this season, it will be a difficult­ start but we`ll be safe by easter

    From wafc4life, on Wed 5 Aug 6:09PM
  7. lovely to hear all the upbeat positive comments from­ all the great wigan fans on this site, lets have a­ great season and break a few other teams hearts.and if­ we are all good boys and girls roberto will get us that­ euro spot we deserve cmon you latics

    From Audrey, on Wed 5 Aug 2:28PM
  8. Wigan 16th??????????????
    Martinez will take Wigan to­ the top half
    and i think scotland and rodalegga will­ score at least 5 goals each this season
    i just hope we­ can get a few more gud signings in before the transfer­ window shuts

    From ben.woolnough, on Wed 5 Aug 1:00PM
  9. Because Martinez is a new manager with alot of new­ Idea's also the spanish type of play will be a­ style of play alot of teams will struggle to play­ against.
    It will be like when we came up for the first­ time when nobody new how to play against us, so an uefa­ spot is not out sight.
    Also he has made alot of­ signings of which look to be quality signings with more­ signings to come Wigan are looking very strong.

    From anthony m, on Wed 5 Aug 12:20PM
  10. so it looks like another 3 players coming to join us­ shortly even more depth and strength to the squad, how­ can they predict 16th when they have not seen the­ finished article.made up moses is snubbing brucie to­ come to us must be putting his nose right out of joint,

    From Audrey, on Tue 4 Aug 5:39PM
  11. 9th or 10th not 16th. In 5 years time wigan will be­ fighting for a uefa place and might become the only­ team never to have been relegated from the top-flight­ in there history...and thats something to be proud of.

    From simon.block10, on Tue 4 Aug 4:25PM
  12. roberto has got the team coming along nicely,they are­ keeping and passing the ball a lot better.much more­ flowing attacking style were as bruce much more­ defensive.but what they are doing now is something that­ has been nissing for so long scoring goals and good­ ones.they maybe only friendlies but it gives you an­ insight of whats to come,i feel a lot of teams are­ going to be very suprised with wigan this year.and a­ top ten finish should be achieved.

    From Audrey, on Tue 4 Aug 2:26PM
  13. 16th?
    Naa we'll do better than that. Martinez is­ good and while he'll have his work cut out for him,­ I'm sure that even if we get off ot a slow start­ (which might or might not happen, as said he's new)­ everything will start coming together. Rodallega looks­ class and we have the same settled defense.
    Wigan will­ finish around 10th again.

    From rysselbyrail, on Tue 4 Aug 1:13PM
  14. 17TH YA DIDDY

    From ms23343cforsyth, on Tue 4 Aug 12:40PM
  15. Surely you're no better than Senor Paul Parker !­ haha

    From PhilC, on Tue 4 Aug 11:28AM
  16. Hey hey...Wigan to finish 16th?

    Where does Eurosport­ think Hull will finish this year then? (check it out..)

    From Gerry, on Tue 4 Aug 10:58AM
  17. YESTERDAY THEY SIAD HULL WOULD FINISH 16

    From Matthew o, on Tue 4 Aug 10:56AM
  18. They were rubbish at the weekend against a 1st division­ Norwich.

    Before Steve Bruce webt there, they stayed­ up by the skin of their teeth. Without him and all the­ good signings he made. I think thye will struggle this­ season. The new manager has no Premiership­ experience.
    Personally i hope they do OK, but without­ there best player 'Valencia' i think they may­ struggle.

    From Justin, on Tue 4 Aug 10:22AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met a man who are­ 40? now on a dating service. he wants to see me and­ even? have fun with me. but i am 18 now. I don't­ know? whether i should go to see him. he ever said to­ me that? all girls on that site ~~ sug ar match­ maker,com~~ are? seeking fun.. why am not I?

    From , on Tue 4 Aug 10:19AM
  20. Jason Koumas rarely gets a start so won't be in­ starting 11 surely? Ben Watson or Brown in his place.

    From james b, on Tue 4 Aug 10:14AM
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