I do get what you’re saying in a way coz Bobby wasn’t just a first team manager but was the first in the Whelan era to take a whole club approach & (along with Whelan) try to make sure that the foundations were in place for the club to be able to compete without Whelan’s money. There is no doubt that he’s been successful there.
Nor is there any doubt that winning a major cup is a success too especially when you bear in mind that Latics defeated 2 of the top 6 teams in the country along the way.

However I’m sorry but there is no way that you can look at relegation as anything other than a massive step backwards not just in terms of the quality of league Latics will be playing in but in their ability to retain & attract players. Not to mention the huge £40mill black hole that it leaves in latics accounts. The club made a profit last financial year (before tax) which is to be applauded but that included the premier league Sky TV money – take that away & it turns into a substantial loss. Yes some of the big earners will be going as their contracts have expired but what will Latics be able to offer any new recruits in terms of salary.
Bobby himself said the other season that it was absolutely vital to the long term future of Wigan Athletic for the club to remain in the top flight – well that’s gone & getting £2.5mill from the Europa League group stages & £1.8mill for winning the FA Cup is buttons compared to the £60mill for playing in the top flight next season.

I know that thanks to the efforts of Whelan & Bobby that the club will still be here as will most of us but relegation is a massive backwards step & to say it isn’t is akin to burying your head in the sand[/quote]
Relegation was always inevitable, and dare I say it, expected.

It very nearly happened to Jewell, and could easily have happened to Bruce, and had we gone down at the time when those two managers were in charge, we’d have been in much worse state than we are today.

So on the face of it, yes of course being relegated is disappointing, but Martinez ‘has taken this club a massive step backwards’?

Don’t agree.

We’ve been relegated – as has been expected and flirted with for most of our time in the Premier League, but the way the club goes about things, and our perception has vastly improved during his time as manager.[/quote]

some – it seems – drunk too much bubbly after the momentous cup victory … and still hung over after the disappointment of arsenal

I couldn’t log in for days after the final. Said my password didn’t match my username or I didn’t have an account.[/quote]

ditto

6k wouldn’t change your life – hopefully. should know by now – bet against the latics at your peril

Same sentiment (in my case 48, grandfather – ex-chairman WAFC (late 50s, 60s) and subsequently vice chairman Lancashire FA – used to take me to the cup final as a kid every year)

little did i think i’d be watching wigan there one day :pinch: :ohmy:

Saturday will be some day

Sure he’ll be looking on in with immense pride (and no doubt telling the lads they need to do a lot better ….. some folk never happy :dry: )[/quote]

– WINNING THE CUP
– Abide with me (memories of many cup finals down the years .. now WAFC)
– outplaying city’s expensively assembly-squad
– taking my family and grandfather’s 91 year old brother to watch
– being interviewed by BBC world service (symbolism of game etc.)
– being asked by mother, father and sister of J GOMEZ after the game for a ‘team photo’
(sporting J GOMEZ No. 14 Latics shirt). Who me ???? :silly: :silly:
– watching live cup replay / commentary on A-jazeera, qatar (wigan feckin athletc :cheer:

Unbelievable, UNFORGETTABLE

Thank You Dave, Roberto et al goodpost

Fingers crossed for next season