Friday 8 May 2015

Cameron and Caldwell: The Similarities are Endless

Today social media is over-ridden with people airing their views on the General Election and how the country will be led under the Tories for another term of office. I'm not one to air my political allegiances on these forums for a number of reasons, but one opinion that caught my eye and I agree with is this: the country has voted and we all must go ahead with holding our Government to account for the pledges that they made in their manifesto.

Now, one area that I do like to voice my opinion on is sport, and more specifically my football team. And so this leads me to draw comparison between politics and sport. Gary Caldwell has been appointed as our leader, and as Wigan fans we must now hold him to account for the promises he has made us. His appointment may not have been a democratic process, but I'd like to think Latics fans probably would have put a cross in the box for Caldwell had they been presented with the option. If only we'd had that possibility back in November (I digress...).

I have been a bit quiet on the blog front of late because of personal and work commitments. I'll also admit to being in a massive sulk about our relegation. I moved house on the day our drop to League One was confirmed and in some respects I saw this as apt that a new era started for myself and my football team.

My season review wouldn't make for pretty reading and I'm a big believer in the theory that dwelling on what has gone wrong does no good for looking to the future. As such, I won't be passing my judgement on where it all went wrong, who should be held accountable and why we're about to see an inevitable drop in the number of Wigan season ticket holders.

Instead we should look to our new leader and how his term of office can be as lengthy as Mr Cameron.

Wigan's retained list should make for interesting reading, although I don't expect it to be a long document, either. This season has been a juxtaposition of loans, short-term deals, high-profile exits and debuts for youngsters. But onwards and upwards.

I was at Brentford last weekend when Billy Mckay and Tim Chow both started and I'd like to think this will be a thing of the future. My work colleagues often ask me what has gone wrong at Wigan and also why they they haven't heard much about Mckay. "Has he not taken to the Championship? Has the step-up to England been too much for him?" No, is my answer. He hasn't had chance, but now I hope we have a manager who will give him and countless others an opportunity.

Caldwell has promised us the Wigan way of football and promotion; and I fully expect him to deliver. The Twittersphere has been full of banter about Mckay and Holt banging them in in League One, but this is completely what I expect to happen.

This is also a crucial time for the Wigan PR strategy to shine. We've had a season to forget on and off the pitch and the wheels have been set in motion to remind the public that we're a down to earth club with family values. Some of the stunts to give out season tickets and promote the club may be received as a tad cringeworthy, but they're all important tools to get us back to where we were pre-Mackaygate.

I write this with a prosecco in hand by the pool in Greece (the heart bleeds, I know) with a degree of relief that the season is over. I didn't book this holiday until my realism kicked in and it dawned on me that we wouldn't be in the play-offs, but I have optimism that I'll do the same next year: this time knowing we'll be going up automatically.

A little like the Tories today, the general public have never thought that Wigan have had enough to get over the line, but time and time again the public have backed them and they've defied the odds. Today the Queen has invited David Cameron to form a Government. This time next year David Sharpe will be inviting Gary Caldwell to form his Championship squad. Mark my words.

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Dirty Den

In every relegation battle there are nights that you know have been the ones that got away as soon as they happen. 

When our eight year stay in the Premier League came to an end in 2013 I had that feeling after losing at home to Swansea. Even now I have flashbacks to a ball whipped across the face of goal that James McArthur couldn't quite get on the end of which would have essentially wrapped up a win. And so even though I witnessed our final nail in the coffin at Arsenal, I knew our time was up before then.

Tonight at Millwall doesn't feel quite as bad; mostly because I'll always associate our failings this season with the Mackay era, but it certainly was a big opportunity missed.

With the news that Rotherham are facing a three-point deduction we had the chance to make a fight of this again. And that we did. Except when Gary Caldwell asked to see some fight from his players I don't think he could foresee them taking it quite so literally.

A friend text me at half-time asking how the game was going. My reply was this: "it's got 0-0 and two red cards written all over it." Turns out I gave too much credit to the Wigan defence and underestimated how much a scrappy game can make players' blood boil.

As a rugby fan as well as a football fan, I was a little embarrassed to witness some of the handbags on show at the Den. Ben Flower returns for Wigan Warriors on Thursday after his ban for his Grand Final red card, and he would be ashamed of some of the pushes that warranted jeers from the stands. Martyn Waghorn and Jason Pearce may have paid the price for their aggression tonight with red cards, but I don't think Shaun Wane will be tapping them up for a run out in Super League once the football season is done.

We were outdone by Millwall at the basics. Someone got on the end of a decent cross; Marc Antoine Fortune couldn't do the same for us. They hit us on the break and sealed the game; we tried to break away but had nobody there to finish any chances off.

And so is the story of this mad season. If only we'd had a striker. If only we could win at home. If only we'd had a bit of luck. Well, the potential Rotherham saga was a bit of luck, but we couldn't capitalise.

Don't let this be seen as a reverse of faith in Gary Caldwell - I still think he's the right man for the job. But we all must now accept he's the right man to bring us back up again.


Friday 10 April 2015

Caldwell is Superman (maybe)

"Caldwell is Superman, Caldwell is Superman, Caldwell is Superman, Caldwell is Superman."

Us Wigan fans have always been a little flattering towards players with chants, and even though this can be added to a long list of ambitious songs, the sentiment was there tonight - in Caldwell we trust.

It was new era, same near-miss but heads were held high leaving Craven Cottage. Well, relatively speaking anyway. We haven't had much to be proud of recently.

Fans never stopped singing and although there were the ever-familiar groans at the missed passes, wayward shots and failure to spot whoever in space, the apathy was absent tonight. And it certainly wasn't missed.

At one point during the first half I overheard someone say "we're playing with width, I can't f**king believe it!" It's a sad indictment of what's being going on at our club this season; that classy football we once loved seems like a distant memory to tell the grandkids about.

It was the passion that I loved witnessing most. Jermaine Pennant and Gaetan Bong ran to the other end of the pitch to celebrate Pennant's equaliser, just to share it with the Wigan fans. There is a real sense that this group want to play for Caldwell; a stark contrast to the Mackay era.

Caldwell didn't get everything right of course. Not only did we fail to win, his selection of Marc Antoine Fortune wasn't overly popular. So much so that the ironic cheers for his substitution and replacement by Martyn Waghorn were almost as loud as those for the two Wigan goals.

Whilst I don't feel like the believer I have been in previous relegation battles, if this does end (inevitably) in League One football we can all be optimistic that Caldwell could well be Superman. Bring on the League One and JPT Trophy double.



Wednesday 8 April 2015

He's One of Our Own

Anyone familiar with that scene in the Wizard of Oz with the song 'Ding Dong the Wicked Witch is Dead?' That's kind of how I imagine King Street in Wigan looked on Monday night after Malky Mackay was sacked.

Fast forward a couple of days and it might look a bit more like Dorothy and co skipping down the yellow brick road, full of optimism and excitement as Wigan fans start to look forward to what Oz will be like with Gary Caldwell in charge.

The Mackay era was a write-off to say the least. His appointment was the catalyst for a series of disastrous events at Wigan Athletic which ultimately resulted in Chairman Dave Whelan standing down. His sacking by new Chairman David Sharpe may have come on the same day that we effectively came to terms with relegation, but it was also celebrated as the time that the people running the club listened to the fans; enough was enough.

And that's enough about Mackay. He came, we lost, we suffered. But now the fans must back a new manager in a way that we haven't been able to do since Roberto Martinez took over in 2009. For Caldwell is one of our own.

In the news conference for Caldwell's appointment Sharpe described the former Club Captain as "one of us" and whilst I don't think Latics fans will be replicating the Spurs chant for Harry Kane (or perhaps I have just inspired Caldwell's first song as manager...), fans must surely be pleased that Sharpe has turned to someone from within to take the club forward.

And that's what it's about now. Looking ahead and going forward. Sharpe also said it would be a "miracle" if we stayed up this season and not even those with the strongest rose-tinted spectacles could disagree with him. This is a long-term appointment and we have to start thinking about a promotion-winning season in 2015/16.

Caldwell is here to pick up the mess that Malky left and if he acts on his proposed philosophy then I for one will be happy to see him stay at Wigan for the foreseeable. He has promised to bring back stylish football to the DW, but isn't naive with it. The quote that caught my eye most this morning was this: "I'm not silly enough to think playing nice football every week and losing is a good thing." And thank God for that.

So for now let's give it a good go, Wigan Athletic-style. I'll be at Fulham and Millwall and whilst I'm not expecting that miracle Sharpe referred to, I'll be backing Caldwell and co to see what they can offer. 

Next season isn't going to be glamorous, but should things to go to plan, what a pleasure it will be to see some flowing football, players that care and maybe even some victories. Now isn't that worth following the yellow brick road for...

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Thank you, Uncle Dave

This was always going to be an emotional day. We knew it would come eventually and all Wigan fans should use it as an opportunity to say thank you to the club's single greatest legend of all: Dave Whelan.

So from today Whelan is no longer our leader. He hands over the reigns to his 23 year-old grandson David Sharpe and whilst it is a huge step for someone so young, we should be grateful the club remains in the Whelan family.

In an interview with Jim White on Sky Sports News HQ today, Whelan laid out why the time has come for him to step down. And I for one found it a little emotional.

Whelan says he's started forgetting the players' names and it's the first time he's felt like that. Hearing an admission like that made me feel like I was listening to my Grandad concede he was getting old. And for David Sharpe that is literally what it was.

Whelan also admitted he would have said things a little differently in that infamous interview with David Conn in the Guardian. The six-week ban and fine for his racist comments have clearly hit him, and his pride, hard.

It seems an unfair ending to Whelan's fairytale that he steps down with his beloved Wigan Athletic nine points from safety in the Championship, appearing to slide closer to the third-tier with every game. Whelan has never been a quitter and it saddens me that it does look like jumping ship at a time when the club is going through one of its most difficult periods. 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but how he must wonder now what it would have been like to step down after the FA Cup win and finish a hero?

Likewise if he hadn't have sacked Uwe Rosler and didn't have to defend Malky Mackay's appointment; would we be blundering along in mid-table complaining about not going for promotion? Blissfullyunaware of what it's like to be celebrating wins at Blackpool like it's the cup final? How many more years of Uncle Dave as Chairman would we have had then?

No matter what the circumstances of his departure, we cannot lose sight of the rags to riches tale that Whelan has given this club. The FA Cup win of 2013 will go down as his finest hour but we musn't forget what else Whelan has done for Wigan Athletic. 

The stadium we play in wouldn't be there without him. And who would have ever thought we would have seen Wigan in the Premier League for eight seasons? Proving the doubters wrong is what Wigan are all about.

And now it's down to Sharpe to ensure his Grandad's legacy continues. In his first interview with SSN Sharpe was obviously a little nervous, but came across well and clearly knew how to respond to the questions of 'that' incident with Whelan before Christmas. Sharpe insists he's from a different generation and knows what is right and wrong.

Right now Wigan fans need him to know what's right and wrong when it comes to managerial appointments and transfers. He'll make some mistakes, as did his Grandad. But if he makes up for the errors in the same way his Grandad did then I'll be a happy girl.

But for now it's a big thank you to Uncle Dave for the memories. Enjoy even more trips to Barbados because you've earned them.

Friday 20 February 2015

Call off the campaign

Football is bloody cruel sometimes. How can something you love so deeply, hurt so much? I think tonight I finally accepted defeat.

I excitedly blogged on Tuesday night about how those three points at Reading were the turning point. We could start the 'believe' campaigns once more and there was evidence that the classic Latics grit and determination had returned.

But in that blog I also rolled out the old cliche 'you're only as good as your last game.' Well Wigan weren't even as good as their warm-up once the first Charlton goal had gone in.

It's been an all too familiar tale this season so see our goal scorers crumble when prevented with opportunities. It's all very well starting brightly but what good does that do if you can't convert what you're working hard for?

The optimist here has become the realist. When your defenders look like they're marking each other and your usually reliable goalkeeper has slower reactions than Simon Haworth getting back onside (remember those days?), you start to accept that relegation is inevitable.

I write this with such frustration and a very heavy heart. It's a family trait to allow sporting results to dictate the household mood, so this could be a bleak few days in this part of London. I guess it's preparation for what could turn out to be an even bleaker next 14 games.

Tuesday 17 February 2015

I'm a (re)believer

Let's roll out all of the cliches. Bring them on. All of them. I WILL get carried away because for the first time in what feels like a lifetime I sang 'I'm a Believer' at a Wigan match and I had a bit of faith in what I was singing.

So it's onwards and upwards from here. This is where our season starts. Winning momentum is with us. A new side is starting to gel. We've got the experience of a relegation battle.

But this next cliche is probably the one that Malky Mackay and the players should take most note of: you're only as good as your last game. And if we don't beat Charlton at home on Friday night, tonight's three points at Reading are pretty useless; we have to follow it up with consistency.



For now let's bloody enjoy it. The 198 of us at the Madejski endured some nerve-wracking moments; particularly in that questionable 11 minutes of added time. But that relief at the full-time whistle...oh my! Remarkably, it has taken me until February 17 to see us win a game this season and I will bask in its glory.

There were some huge positives aside from the obvious three points. Harry Maguire was the stand out performer for me. That sort of accolade isn't usually handed out to defenders, but when you're 23rd in the table a clean sheet is as good as your striker scoring a hat-trick.

Jason Pearce linked up with Maguire really well and it was his goal that has given Wigan fans a glimpse of belief that a good old-fashioned Latics comeback is on.

Leon Clarke had another good game. He chases every ball and his physical presence is surprising a few. It was an uncharacteristically poor night from James McClean but I think we can allow him an off-day given his contributions this season.

I've been wavering between writing us off and thinking we can still pull off survival. Before I left for tonight's game I said I would decide if I was an optimist or pessimist on full-time. So it's official: right now I'm a believer again. Just don't let us down now, boys.


Tuesday 3 February 2015

Window closed, new era open?

I've worked at Sky Sports for over five years so I never escape the hype of a Transfer Window and the much-anticipated Deadline Day. As a Live Producer I co-ordinate the live crosses with reporters across the country, so those two days a year are undoubtedly the busiest of the calendar for me.

But this window, and yesterday's Deadline Day held an added significance as it was probably one of the most crucial for Wigan Athletic. 

In seasons gone by transfer windows have been mostly been about 'will they stay?', 'can we keep hold of our stars?' and waiting for Jim White and the Big Ben bongs to breathe a sigh of relief as players have remained with us.

But this window was a mass exodus like we've never known. The exits of Shaun Maloney, Callum McManaman and Ben Watson struck a chord that the FA Cup win is becoming more and more of a distant memory.

Added to that, Roger Espinoza and Fraser Fyvie had their contracts terminated by mutual consent at the end of December and beginning of February respectively. That teamsheet from Wembley is increasingly unrecognisable.

And the fans, myself included, have great frustrations with Malky Mackay for coming in and ripping up the squads around him. The squads built by Roberto Martinez in part, then Owen Coyle, then largely by Uwe Rosler, are being stripped to their bare bones. But for the first time I am starting to see some logic.

Jonathan Jackson's interview in the Wigan Evening Post last week struck a chord that relegation is a realistic option for Latics and the club don't want to go into the prospect of League One looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

Dave Whelan's ban has meant his grandson David Sharpe and Jackson have been responsible for off-the-field business and they've had a tough task this last month of shifting the big wage earners in preparation for the drop in parachute payments and a possible drop down a division.

Whelan our guardian angel is no more. Never before have we let players go so easily but Jackson's words showed us fans that perhaps the club had no choice. There has been no room for sentiment this January.

And so to Mackay's signings. What do we know about them? There isn't a name that stands out as such but Malky is no mug, despite his off-the-pitch alleged failings. 

Billy Mckay is the exact opposite of Oriel Riera and Andy Delort. Instead of the imports who come with continental flair, Malky has opted for someone who knows where the goal is and might not be so glamorous (or take as many selfies). I've seen a fair bit of criticism for Mckay's signing before he's even kicked a ball for us, but to those doubters I say this: what did we know about James McCarthy and James McArthur when they moved from Hamilton?

Jason Pearce hadn't been playing much at Leeds, but should steady a fastly-sinking ship at Wigan as he comes with a point to prove.

The move that should excite Wigan fans most is Sheyi Ojo on loan from Liverpool. We'll be doing Brendan Rodgers a favour by giving him first-team football and those that have seen him in action rave about him.

Chris Herd, Leon Clarke and Gaetan Bong have also come in, so all-in-all this Saturday's starting eleven against Bournemouth will start to look like the team that Malky built. No excuses anymore - this is the team he wants - for now.

Mackay's comments about only needing players who want to play for the club speak volumes for Mackay's management style and his intentions at Wigan. Brian Clough or Sir Alex Ferguson he is not, but he doesn't seem to be tolerate attitude problems or lack of effort.

So for now Malky needs to show his own effort and determined attitude, starting at home to Bournemouth.

It's not going to be easy, and he'll most definitely be dipping into the emergency loan window when it opens, but now is the official 'business-end' of the season. It's win or bust. 

And just remember, Uncle Dave might not be around now, but he'll be back soon and he doesn't suffer fools gladly...

Friday 23 January 2015

Bye Bye Ben

I don’t think I’m the only Wigan fan who would count the FA Cup Final 2013 as the best day of my life so far. Now, I’m not married and don’t have children, so I’d like to think one day there will be some personal events that would rival it – but for now it remains a real “tell the grandkids” moment. And I owe that largely to a certain Ben Watson.

 

So it’s with great sadness that this morning I saw the news that Watson has left the club to join Watford, six months before his Latics contract was due to expire.

 

Watson hasn’t exactly been setting the Championship alight this season, but let’s face it, who has for Wigan? And he hasn’t had chance to either after coming back from his broken leg before Christmas.

 

I know there’s no room for sentiment in sport, but I really feel like the club could have done a bit more for him. He’s largely responsible for the greatest achievement in Wigan’s history, and he’s being allowed to slip out of the back door with just a few Twitter tributes.

 

As someone who has served the club for six years I would have liked to have seen him given a greater role to try and dig us out of the mess we’re in this season. Malky has said he wants to focus on the players who have a long-term future at the club which is understandable – but in the short-term we really need to make sure we’re still in the Championship.

 

But the purpose of this blog isn’t to criticise the management and the transfer activity in this window (although Wigan fans have plenty of opinions on that) – it is to say thank you to a true Wigan legend.

 

We all have our memories of that magical day at Wembley. I’ll never forget that goal going in and turning to the rest of my family to see us all have tears of joy in our eyes. And you did that, Ben. I drink tea from a mug with your face on every day and I live in fear of pressing delete by accident on my Sky Plus planner next to where it says ‘FA Cup Final Highlights.’

 

Where this leaves Malky Mackay on the popularity scale is another issue. Ben’s departure won’t be a popular one with the fans but the club have said that part of the reason for the move is that he wanted to move back home to the south. So from a personal point of view, we could end up as neighbours in the capital. And if we do he’ll always be welcome round at mine for a brew out of his mug. Good luck my hero.