Hoof Off

It's never fair to judge a match on the basis of what you read on Twitter, so before before publishing this blog I decided to watch Goals Express to see if my thoughts were justified. And after seeing the goals I didn't change a single word.

For weeks we've all been whinging. The football's shocking to watch; we can't see where goals are coming from; we're a shambles off the pitch; and even my Mum is questioning the tactics (sorry, Mum). But through it all whoever thought we'd be in a relegation battle? Well, it's time to hit the panic button because we bloody well are.

We're not losing with flair, we're not conducting ourselves with class and we're boring everyone to tears.

And something alien to our favourite Wigan sides of recent years has begun to creep into the play: hoof it up the field. 

I for one used to get frustrated with Roberto Martinez and his sides around February every year. We'd be languishing in the bottom three or thereabouts, always the favourites to go down, and we refused to stick the boot in and be gritty. Sometimes you just need to play long ball and battle it out when you're struggling; but Martinez always stood by his principles and proved me wrong every season (well, bar one, but he won the FA Cup so we'll forgive him).

So with this sort of attitude you'd think I'd want to see Malky's men going for the gritty approach. But that element of tactical genius slips up slightly when there's nobody to hoof it up the field to.

It seems Grant Holt is ready to come back and take his place in the team in January, and you have to say on the basis of this style under Mackay, that he'll actually fit in. I'd much prefer us to revert to playing a bit of football and having the creativity and spark that the likes of Callum McManaman and Shaun Maloney deserve, but first and foremost we're in a hole - and we need to climb out of it fast.

So if Holt is ready to come and score the goals then be our guest. He's seen off two managers so far in his Wigan career and his contribution could go some way to either making it a hat-trick, or shock us all and save Mackay's embarrassment.

My Christmas list a few weeks ago looked a little lavish but right now it seems a bit more modest. If I'm willing to give up the handbags and clothes, can I please have three points at Leeds and a striker in the January sales please Santa?