Geordie in Peace

Is this you Pardew?

In that case, please under estimate us. We are playing crap and you should definitely play your second string.

Given Tottenham’s demise and Chelsea in an FA cup Final and possible Champions league final, you should be ok giving us the three points and in return we have a few players you may be interested in.

Top of the list is Connor Sammon who we would let go for a lot less than £35 million and you would have first dibs.

Can’t say fairer than that.

Go on I’m bored enough to have a stab at that:

You’re 3rd in the form guide and have taken the scalps of the 2 of the top 3 and decent midtable outfits like Stoke and Liverpool. Is it simply the shadow of relegation that’s spurred on your players, or is there another factor?

I think there’s bit of the “relegation fear factor” there but truth is that it’s been coming for a while. The 1st seeds weer sewn back in December when the manager switched to this new formation. The second stage came at the end of February when Jean Beausejour was signed & it gave the team balance down the left hand side (we’d previously been playing a central midfielder at wing back) + bringing McArthur in to midfield & then the final piece in the jigsaw came when Shaun Maloney was brought in to replace Gomez & it gave the team a bit more graft without the ball & speed with it. Its not just the games since the back end of March where the improvement has come. Our points tally per game since 1st feb evened out over a 38 game season would have us on 60pts

A lot of fans appreciate the style that Wigan play and are worried about who will be able to provide the best pies in the premier league next season?

You must have some shite pies up your way coz the ones in at latics give me heartburn

Positives are hard to come by in a season that may end in relegation, but surely the performances of Moses and McCarthy have provided a little sunshine? Just how good are they?

Prior to this run since February, McCarthy hadn’t played well for over 12 months & you wouldn’t have had much argument from Latics fans if he’d been dropped. Its helped him having his ex Hamilton team mate James McArthur alongside him. He’s alright but he’s not as special as his media reputation would suggest he is
Victor Moses has the potential to be a great player but he is along way from that at present. His final decision making can be atrocious. Shoots when he should pass & then the shot is crap or his final ball is poor which ruins some of the great approach play he is capable of. Way too early for him to leave Latics coz if he continued to make the regular mistakes he makes at Latics at another club I don’t think he’d find their fans as forgiving & he’d spend alot of time on the bench or out of the squad. To improve further he needs to play every week & he’ll get that at Wigan – his improvement this season (which is the first where he’s been a regular) is evidence of that

If Wigan go down, which players do you expect to leave the club?

Mohamed Diame, Hugo Rodallega, Victor Moses & James McCarthy although I think 2 or 3 of those will be going this summer any way (the first 2 are out of contract & Rodallega has said he will be leaving this summer)

Has Martinez done a good job on the whole and do you see him being snapped up/jumping ship if you go down?

Possibly the most devisive question you could have asked. He’s not without his critics (me included). In his defence he has had to operate under a vastly reduced budget to any of his (top flight) predecessors & he is trying to restructure (with some success if you ask some) the club from top to bottom. Against him at times over the last 3 seasons the 1st team have played some awful stuff & received some absolute kickings (9-1 to Spurs, 8-0 to Chelsea), he’s tried to shoehorn players into a formation, positions & tactics to which they clearly weren’t suited. He’s seemed unable or extremely slow to learn from his mistakes & some of his team selections & substitutions have been baffling. Some of his signings have been dire but in his defence haven’t all managers
He does now however seemed to have hit on a way of playing that suits everyone at the club & if he keeps us up he has achieved his brief from the chairman
As to whether he would jump ship if we got relegated – I don’t think so. He does have a genuine love for the club & I think he’d see it as his duty to get us back up. Will he be snapped up? Eventually but to go this summer I think it would take a special club & I don’t think any of those will want him

The relationship between Roberto Martinez and your owner seems a genuine friendship, Should Whelan have been more cut-throat and brought in another man earlier on?

If you’d asked me 6 weeks ago I would have said yes. At the moment I’d say I don’t know. Ask me again at 6pm on May 13th!!!

How much of this season is down to the management team and how much is it due to the players?

I think it’s down to the management in having found a system & tactics that suit the squad. This has bred a confidence & that can be seen in the way they’re playing

What’s a realistic aim for Wigan next season? Where do Wigan need to strengthen to achieve this?

The ultimate aim is always going to be staying up. If we manage that this season then I think a realistic aim next season could be a nice safe season. To achieve that I think Bobby would need to bring in a striker who is ideally suited to playing the lone striker role coz at the moment, none of them are

Who has been your player of the season?

It’s s toss up between Al Habsi & Gary Caldwell

What has been your biggest frustration this season (can be performances, players, opposition, media, fans, anything)?

A lack of a finishing touch has cost Latics points in so many games. Off the top of my head I can think of at least 10 games where missed opportunities have cost us in games in which the team dominated

Which managers have impressed you this season?

As much as I dislike him as a person (in how he comes across in the media) & this goes back to his days at Reading it would be hard to argue that Pardew’s achievements this season (regardless of where Newcastle finish) haven’t been the most impressive

Which Premier League Players have stood out?

Van Persie

Which are your danger men that we should be looking out for?

I wouldn’t worry about a danger man as such. It’s very much a team thing at Latics at the moment. Moses & Maloney’s pace can cause havoc though

Which Newcastle players are you worried about?

Your front 2

Which have been your 2 stand out games this season? (One involving Wigan, one without)

For Latics, the 2-1 win at Arsenal. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a more complete performance & deserved result as that since Latics got promoted
For somebody else, Chelsea’s last night

Which away fans have impressed you the most/least?

Can’t say I ever go to a game & think away fans have impressed me (possibly once against Millwall) but as for the least it would have to be Blackburn – I know they have their problems but it was as if they couldn’t wait for their team to go behind for the protests to start, then they’d equalise & be happy as Larry, then go behind again & the banners were unfurled once more. Bearing in mind that it was 3-3 this up & down support was really evident

What do you predict the score to be?

2 (or 3) – 1 to Newcastle