Whoosh !!

Fil, At the risk of sounding superior, there was no egg on my face. Let me explain why …

When Roberto explained the reason he played the youngsters in the cup matches, I must admit that I was disappointed we didn’t play our strongest team but… I supported them anyway and only expressed my disappointment in private.

When Callum Macmanaman was first called up to play in the first team, I remember commenting to my son that Martinez rated him very highly but personally I couldn’t see it. A few games later I changed my opinion and commented that he may have something after all. The rest is history.

When we won our way through to the final, I thought privately that we would be beaten but I kept these thoughts to myself and publicly proclaimed that we would win at a canter. I went to London, for four days, determined to enjoy the experience whatever the outcome. You can imagine my unbridled joy when the miracle happened.

What I am trying to say Fil is that we all have the same doubts and frustrations but some of us have learned to choose our words carefully. Once something is said it can’t be unsaid and there is always the danger that you could make yourself look a proper chump.

History was made at Wembley but unfortunately our relegation is now part of our history as well. The next page is still blank so have faith – it may tell of our return to the Premier League or European glory :)

Apologies if this post is too positive for you, it’s just my old-fashioned set of values which have no place in modern society. ;)

Blind faith ????

So eight years in the Premier League and the FA Cup was just a dream ???[/quote]

You won’t get anywhere with ye Olde window-cleaner either – he knows nowt[/quote]

I merely gave my opinion on RM with a little wind up as my opening gambit, nothing wrong with that ! By blind faith I meant that I have never read anything remotely negative or critical from Ye Olde Oak ! Takes it on the chin and reverts back to the late 70’s early 80’s for perspective every time ! As for the style of play RM has instilled into the team, the foundations are certainly there but the lack of pace to shift the ball through midfield and lack of firepower have been bereft for large parts of his tenure and I just thought that it would have been remedied by now ! The defense also made the same mistakes consistently and despite RM saying that they were naive at times and would learn, they didn’t ! I am thankful for 8 seasons in the Prem and 2 cup finals, one coming to fruition but on the whole it has been a bit of a struggle and a return to the Championship will be greeted with excitement and anticipation from yours truly ! :)[/quote]

Fil, you are quite correct (for once!) when you say I revert back to the 70s and 80s for my perspective (60s as well) and therein lies the difference between us. I am an old fashioned “supporter” who loves my club and my football whilst you are of the newer breed who has bought into the Premier League/Sky franchise and all the tripe that goes with it. When MY team suffers I suffer with them; their pain is my pain. You and your ilk however are consumers who complain like hell when everything doesn’t go your way as if you were buying a second hand car.

I don’t apologise for my 60s, 70s and 80s perspective and don’t forget that I used to sit near you so I am only too aware of your perspective.

i.e leaving early and verbally abusing players when the product is not to your liking. :ohmy:

I remember being at Springfield Park in our non-league days and was stood beside a chap very like some posters on here. After hurling incessant abuse at our players, he turned to people around him and said: “What we need is a really fast winger who can beat a man, get to the by-line and deliver a pin-point cross.”

Before I moved away to preserve my sanity, I couldn’t stop myself from saying “So do Manchester United and Arsenal – why would he come to us?”

What I am trying to say is that we are Wigan, try and keep your expectations within the bounds of reality. Eight years in the Premier League and an FA Cup is bordering on the miraculous. Dave Whelan and Roberto Martinez have given us more than we have any right to expect (when Dave Whelan took over, my only concern was that we still had a football club). Pity Tom Gill wasn’t around to witness the miracle and to give lessons on loyalty and support.

What a meaningless post – perhaps with £100,000,000 to spend the stats may have been ever so slightly better eh?

Has Martinez not been here long enough for people to form their own opinions?

I can’t be bothered reading the link because my opinions of him have been forming since he came to Wigan with Seba and Diaz. I don’t need anyone to tell me about Martinez, I have witnessed his character, methods and honesty first hand. Martinez has enriched our club and given us a place in the history books and I will be eternally grateful for that.

I’ll treat this post with the contempt it deserves.