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Well what can I say, firstly give Hemel Hempstead a round of applause because they came here and were desperately unlucky not to come away with a win, only for Tickle and a few last ditch blocks we’d be out. But let’s concentrate on us, we looked ok till the goal then we struggled. Mullins pen was a shocker and I’ll always say it, no player should miss the goal completely, none. The sending off, wtf was he thinking ?? honestly schoolboy error but for me our midfield is a ticking time bomb Wright, Cooper Weir ?, it’s as weak as it gets. Absolute devoid of any skill factor resulting in us hitting high up n unders to Saydee and Mullin. But for me Saydee stunk the place out. The first thing I noticed the size of him. He’s at least a stone plus overweight. I’ve seen footage of him at Portsmouth and he’s no were as big. He was running like the big lad in your class would run at P.E. He’s clumsy, cannot control the ball or hold the ball up and offers little threat on goal purely due to his lack of mobility and getting in the box. He seriously gassed on 65-70 minutes so for Pompey fans to say he’ll run all day proves he’s massively overweight. He was a passenger in the latter part of the game and should have gone off but the problem was Mullins hamstring was tight hence he made way. Now I get Lowe saying he wants exciting football and goals so he opts for the 2 up front approach but Mullin with Saydee is oil & water, they simply do not go together and I’m lost to what Lowes thinking or seeing. Link up play ? non existent. The distances between the two couldn’t be any further apart, Lowe it doesn’t work m8. Brenan came on and instantly started to spray the ball and get stuck in along with McManaman and Robinson who made a couple of crucial tackles that kept us in the game. It says alot about the quality of our side when 3 centre half’s take penalty’s. On paper bar M.Smith that was our strongest side and Lowe was left with his arms tide behind his back with 10 men so what’s going wrong. Again I point to the quality of player. This current squad are not good enough and although Lowe threatens to drop and change that’s all fine to say but he doesn’t have the quality to threaten change with. When it went to pens I noticed Hemel all gee’ing each other up patting each other on the back while 5 of our players walked to the half way line heads down as though they were going to the gallows, sad to see. A paultry 4000 crowd for an FA Cup tie at home is as bad as it gets. And well done to the club for closing the supporters bar under the South treated like they don’t exist. I was thinking it was because of the poor ticket sale ? (still no excuse) Nope, The room was pre booked for a “Leyland & District Riding Club” event that night so they closed the bar so they could heavily decorate the room in the day while the North Stand bar was open for the away fans I take it? And that’s were were at, A club on the downslope, A club who not give a f*ck about fans, Owner showing little interest, A manager struggling to bond with a bunch of average players, And a club who puts making a few quid renting a room out before their home fans on an FA Cup match day. I then go under the concourse on the West Stand at half time and you would think you’d see a TV showing half times and reports from grounds. I looked down the concourse at the TVs hanging up, 2 were showing half time the other 15 20 f**kin advert for shampoo. You go any away ground underneath the stands there’s half time reports scores on every TV . I’d be interested to hear if it’s the same for the away fans under the North Stand concourse whether their going away thinking “That reminds me, I must stop off and grab some Head & Shoulders”. Infact there is a good few TVs f**ked and have been for 2 years plus and Danson wants to build ? yeah right. If the clubs that skint I’ve a spare 37″ freeview TV in the loft he can have. I’ve said it, we’ll be sold in the next 12-18 months. It’s like we’re striping back to the bare bones to show minimal loss to any potential buyers and we’ve a turnover from room hiring at the expense of fans. There’s a feeling stagnant feeling in the air and less & less fans don’t care and the worse bit of that is, they rarely come back. The next gen will be lost simply because this club offers far more as a community club (which is great) mid week than it does on the match day experience. But at the end of the day it’s, Wigan Athletic Football Club And that’s were the problem lies. We’ve spent so much time and effort getting the community off field social side and women’s football with training and pitch the men’s side and WAFC fans have been pushed aside. That FA Cup should have been £5 adults £1 kids but there’s more chance of platting a fart than that happening
Thats a disgrace about the South Stand Bar. And the thing with the TV’S as well. I think we’ve a 26 inch PYE in the loft they can have as well. Regarding the away end, Ive been in there when we had free tickets for the rugby a couple of months ago. The signs above the toilets have been smashed to bits…away fans. (I wonder which ones eh?)
I thought how bad it must seem to visiting supporters. All around this stadium, there are things broken and falling to bits. This owner is tight as cramp. A billionaire for Christ’s sake.
There is absolutely no closeness between the club and the support. People have walked away…they ARE walking away. We used to be a great community club, but its all gone. We aren’t the same club we were before the Administration in 2020. We died then. We might have the same badge and stadium, but we are a completely different club.
We will end up turfed out the stadium as well in a year or two, when we are sold. I can see that happening. Probably end up in the National League North, paying rent to the Warriors to play at the Arena. Would not surprise me one bit.
Fully agree with ALL the above posts and comments.
As a club, we are in a right mess. The performance yesterday was not acceptable and I honestly believe if we had a real chairman who is ‘present’ like other clubs, the corner flag photo would be getting used tomorrow. It was not acceptable at all. If I were Lowe, I’d walk. He isn’t suited to this club, and the club isn’t suited to him. If I were him, I couldn’t be arsed with it. I’d walk, enjoy Christmas and a bit of studio work, and then get in somewhere around January time and go again. As it stands, we’re an awful club to be at. I think he realises it too. I get the feeling he was sold a utopia…like someone who buys a Spanish Villa off plan. Then when they go out to actually see what they’ve bought, its unfinished and the Pool is badly tiled and leaks. Hence his rant about us not being in the “…times of Cook, Richardson…and Martinez”. I think thats what that was about. Someone in the know with football business connections has told me that dispute our owner, Wigan Athletic FC hasn’t a pot to piss in. We are just ticking over as a club. If this is all the case, I wouldn’t blame Lowe if he walked away. There is definitely things going on that we are unaware of at this club. The body language of the players, Lowe’s increasingly blotchy looking face…he’s aged. So did Shaun Maloney as well. He always looked stressed to hell as well. Like Lowe does now. We’ve become a graveyard for managers. And its down to who is running the club and how it is being ran. Theyve also got Rioch hanging over them like the grim reaper. I don’t like that at all. Any old school manager wouldn’t put up with it. I listen to a load of ex managers on podcasts, and I can tell you, none of them are in favour of a Director Of Football working above a manager. A manager should have 100% full control on signings and anything else to do with the team and not be dictated to by someone else. Thats crap that is. I wouldn’t work like that. I think this is only going to end one way with Lowe…I think we all know. And then we will replace him with someone else who is happy to work with Rioch leaning over them. Cue a repeat of the current situation. Until these things change, we won’t change.
Yesterday, we were abysmal. Its been a while since Ive flipped out at a game and gone berserk. I did yesterday, it was so so poor. If I was Lowe, it would tell me the players have little respect for me, and it would also tell me theyre shite. If we were an Italian club our fans would be confronting the players and coach at the training ground. It was a disgrace.
Ah yes, our ‘support’. What fucking support? 4020 on with 900 and odd Hemel Hempstead? Thats atrocious. Absolutely shocking. I know for a fact quite a few so called ‘big Latics Supporters’ chose to go to Everton yesterday to watch the rugby, instead of going to Latics. Now, as we are so shite, I know nobody can blame them. But are they proper Latics supporters doing that? Its disappointing, to be honest. We have Burton at home on a Tuesday night later this month. I predict that will be an even lower crowd for that. About 3500 maybe? It’ll get that bad soon they’ll only be opening one stand.
This is how much we have fell. We are bloody dying as a club. And it’s rotten to the core.
Cup Winners…
And that is exactly how I feel and think as well.
I said after the Bolton game that they as a club, are a year further on out of their administration. You can see there’s a buzz around the place there now. But us? We are very much a club still coming out of the mess. But its the club even making a move to do so?
Turnstiles not open on matchday, supporters bar closed..there is a pall of death hanging over the place. It just feels like we are ticking along as a club, and that theyre happy to do so. My matchday neighbour in the stand even said to me about today’s game “I actually wish I was in with the Hemel Hempstead fans, as itll be bouncing and much more enjoyable”. I agree. There will be next to no atmosphere in our stands. I looked yesterday and from where I am sat, the 10 or 12 rows below me, the seat directly in line with me is empty. My god, thats piss poor. The West Stand looked better than Id expected, but thats because people who normally go in the South, which is closed, have gone in there.
But just wait and see, if we get through today and the next round and draw say…Newcastle United at the Brick. Suddenly every fucker in town will want a ticket! And will the ‘Hardy Few’ who’ve stood by the club in these games have any reward or thanks? No.
The club is still being ran ultra cautiously…too cautiously, in my mind. Still short of people behind the scenes, penny pinching at any opportunity. We’ve a Billionaire owner who is going to have to chuck a few million at this, even to make it worth his while. Speculate to Accumulate. We are a long long way from The Championship and we need 2 bouts of investment. The first, to get us out of this league. And the second, to give us a chance and some stability once we get into the Championship. Getting up to that level will bring in more supporters on a matchday, more so larger away support from bigger clubs, but also a few more Wiganers…people who have decided to stay away may be tempted back. But thats not a given.
Is it a ‘Rugby Town? May be a bit controversial this. Ive been watching Latics since 86, so coming upto 40 years in May. Ive fought and defended Latics all that time when people have thrown the ‘Rugby Town’ label at us. But I actually now think its true. I keep saying “The old Latics died in administration. This club we have now may have the same badge and the same stadium, but its a different club entirely”. I honestly believe that. Its like we reformed as a club in all but badge and stadium.
It doesn’t feel the same any more.
The shite refs are the biggest thing thats putting me off football at the moment.
If I stopped going, that would be the reason. The way he whipped the red out really fast.. was absolutely no common sense at all. I could have understood a yellow and a stern talking to. But even so, what is a player supposed to do? If he had kicked the ball and it had flown into the top corner, everyone would have said “what a goal!”
Football being too interfered with by woke shite. Even the Liverpool game yesterday, Gakpo scored for Liverpool and there was a slight doubt if it was inside or not. The delay was very brief really, compared to many others that have happened. But the bloody crowd waited to cheer until it was confirmed as a goal. That was weird, and it shows are people are playing along with it. Load of bollocks.
To be honest, Lowe looked very very happy and the players look totally in line with the gaffer.
Whatever has happened behind the scenes, its not between Lowe and the players.
The way he mentioned Cook, Richardson and Martinez days…said we are nowhere near that. I wonder if that was because:
A. Someone from the club has said they expect us to be higher/doing better.
Or
B. He is disappointed that he hasnt been given more backing by the owner/board.
Also on Saturday, he said they will look at and assess the Wycombe game on the Monday. Previously, he’s come out and said he would have them in to look at things after a defeat, on the Sunday. I wonder if his previous comments upset some of the squad and words were had?
He mentioned being unhappy with a few things around the training ground, players not putting things away and things like that. Get a bloody fines list drawn up, and stick to it. I have Ryan Lowe down as a ‘taking no shit’ type of gaffer. I think Maloney was too soft, probably trying to be their pal and some players may have got away with murder. But they won’t with Lowe. Could there have been a clash? Yes, I think so.
I’m backing Lowe. But I don’t know how much he will put up with before he thinks “fck this!” A club where the chairman is distant and has questionable real interest in the club, a possibly toxic dressing room, having to work with Rioch looking over his shoulder, and an absolute piss-poor fanbase offering little vocal backing. There’s no atmosphere. Saturday actually convinced me that no matter what we claim, it IS a bloody rugby town. I was near the arena tonight (Monday) and a large queue was snaking round the car park. I asked what was going on? And someone said “Andy Farrell” looking at me like I was cracked. Ive no idea what he was doing there, but he was drawing a decent crowd for someone who left there years ago. If Latics had an ex player like that at an event, 2 men and a dog would turn up. Any momentum that the club had, is well gone. It might take years to get anything like that.
I listen to the ‘Stick To Football’ podcast with Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Jill Scott.
They were discussing the wing back thing and United failing with it. Neville was saying he wouldn’t have been able to play as a wing back as you have to be a specific type of player. You need that positional awareness so as WHEN to commit yourself forward, as well as the ability to guard that space behind you as well, so you don’t leave gaps. He said he would be lost because you haven’t got the player in front of you to play in, like with a midfielder or winger om front of you. I think he’s nailed it bang on.
Hungbo is NOT a left wing back. He isn’t that great at taking people on, and he is prone to leaving a big space on behind him that one of our centre backs then has to come over and cover, leaving more spaces and our shape collapsed. Murray isn’t a brilliant wing back either, although Kilmarnock supporters have told me he did play the role there, at times.
I don’t like 3 at the back. I’m all in favour of a back 4. A solid back 4. Then I’d have a CDM in between the defence and the midfield, to tighten things up. (We did it years ago with David Perkins, if you recall)
Teams that control the midfield, tend to win games. We aren’t creating anything for the strikers. Mullin will put chances away, but he has to he given them. Costelloe will come good as well, I am convinced.
As Ive said previously though, the body language of the players is very alarming. Something has definitely happened behind the scenes.
<p style=”text-align: right;”></p>Cup Winners….
Mate, you’ve saved me a long post. I came on here to post practically the SAME things.
There is definitely something NOT right in the club at all. Something has gone on behind the scenes, some clash, some disagreement. Its obvious. The first I noticed was at Bolton. And whilst it was a god awful day on the pitch, I noticed a big difference in Lowe’s demeanour and body language that day as well. And the players looked the polar opposite of what they had the previous weekend against Doncaster. What the hell happened that week? There is definitely some toxicity in the club.
Yesterday, I was giving the Wycombe game a lot of thought and I’ve come to the conclusion that the same players that sold Shaun Maloney down the river, are attempting to do the same to Ryan Lowe. I could name names, but I won’t. Just compare Saturday’s line up to the last line ups Maloney fielded, and you’ll soon see what players they are. Some have said that the players are unhappy with the intensity of Lowe’s training. Well, apparently they didn’t train that intense with Maloney. So what is it? Are they just a bunch of lazy bastards? Do we have a bad bunch? Or is it 2 or 3 bad apples ruining the bunch?
These fuckers will continue ruin managers, no matter how many times we chop and change them. Ive come to the conclusion that it is NOT Ryan Lowe where the problem is. And it wasn’t Shaun Maloney either.
I also think that Lowe has had some kind of clash with the powers that be at the club. For him to come out and mention by name previous managers, Cook, Richardson, and Martinez the way he did, 3 managers who had different levels of success, but were well backed by the then owners, and for him to say we are nowhere near the play offs and won’t be for a while, well, I think that was aimed at the club, more than the supporters. I think someone has said to him they expect us to be higher up the league, going for promotion, and he has responded honestly as he feels we are where we currently are, and he would need more backing for us to achieve that. This is how I have taken it, anyway. I think Ryan Lowe is a really honest, heart on sleeve, kind of bloke. He is still having to try and put round pegs in square holes, and having to make do with the players we have. The squad still has players in it who shouldn’t be here. We’ve thrown a contract at a player who was past it 2 or 3 seasons ago. We are also still picking a player who was free to leave in the summer, just because we are THAT short in depth.
The reality is, we need to ship players out, in January, but also bring in players to keep the squad up. But getting shut of some of these players is not easy at all. I think we need to see what happens in January, and basically see this season out…just stay in this division. Then give Lowe the summer to chop and change things. Then, if we aren’t top 8 by Christmas NEXT year, we would have to think again. I think if we can do that, itll be similar to what Jewell was given when he inherited a messed up mish-mash in 2001.
I absolutely nail my flag to the mast when I say that Ryan Lowe is NOT the problem. And neither was Shaun Maloney. Add to everything Ive said the fact they’ve got a supposed ‘Director Of Football’ looking over their shoulder and its not the best place to manage, either.
It’s just disappointing that we are in a real mess. I really hope Lowe doesn’t do anything silly and walk if we lose again on Saturday. He is that type who would, as he showed at Preston. I honestly think that if he is backed by the owner and board, he can do well with us. But as I say, a few things will have to change and he needs time to do that.
If you concede goals so easy, but fail to score goals yourself, you are only going to end up going in one direction.
What has happened since we beat Doncaster 3 nil? We got totally smashed at Bolton, and myself and a lot of us just thought “ah, a really bad day at the office”. But its continued. The players just look so ‘off it’, and its worrying.
Has something gone on behind the scenes? Some fall out? Some disagreement? Has Lowe lost the dressing room? Is it a toxic dressing room? Who are the leaders in the squad? Because I am not seeing leaders out there during games. We lack steel and guile.
Something clearly isn’t right at all? Lowe’s comments…rant…tonight that we are nowhere near the days of ‘Cook, Richardson and Martinez’, is really worrying. For a manager to come out and reference former managers…could you have imagined Sir Alex Ferguson, when he was struggling at first, coming out and saying “we are nowhere near the Busby, Docherty or Atkinson days”? No chance. I am amazed Ryan Lowe came out and did that. Has he been told he has some pressure on him from inside the club? And when he said about us being “nowhere near the play offs this season”…well, as its a piss poor standard League One, I think he is playing a risky card there. He’s brought in around 7 or 8 of today’s squad and all things considered, and even taking into account he is still having to work with a lot of Maloney’s signings, we really SHOULD have more ambition than that. So is he saying these players are not upto it? Not good enough? I was shocked at his comments. And if I was a player hearing that, I’d be thinking the gaffer has no faith in us.
Was it a comment more to do with self-preservation? Is he under pressure from the owner, or board? Have words been said after Bolton? Is there any truth in dressing room unrest? Apparently players unhappy at the intense training. Are there bad apples in the squad? I believe our players ARE fitter than they were under Maloney. Ive heard they train a lot harder than they did under Maloney. Are they lazy f***ers? Maybe we just have a bad bunch. Personally, I dont like the character make up of this squad. Where are the leaders? Where is the Kavanagh? The McCulloch? The De Zeeuw? The Jackson? Players who would run through a brick wall for the cause. Players who would drag each other through the mire in games. We haven’t got them. Kerr is not a skipper…not in my mind. We haven’t got any gobshites in the squad. They’re too clean, too honest, too soft. Too many teams out battle us. We are too small as a squad.
We are in big trouble here, I’m sorry to say. If it is more down to the players than the manager, I hope that if he pays with his job, he comes out and calls players out. We’ve a squad here that will keep losing managers their job. We almost had that with Paul Jewell…and but for Whelan ‘having a word’, Jewell would have been another managerial casualty. That was years ago, I know. But have we a chairman now who will step in and ‘have a word’ if need be? Or has someone already been critical of the manager? He hasnt seemed himself at all. His body language and comments after Bolton, were a big surprise. And its been like that since.
Something is amiss.
Ive been to a couple of the rugby games on free tickets. My lad plays rugby so we go so he can learn from it. He played football, but parents are absolute tossers, so he ended up going to Rugby. I dont mind. But U16s rugby is rough as hell at times. Especially when we face a St Helens team. Theyre mouthy and it usually kicks off somehow. We had a 26 lad punch up a few weeks back that resulted in 3 Reds, a sin bin, and a massive inquest.
But back to Warriors. We sat in the North Stand (our away end) at the Castleford game. They’d brought about 85-120 fans. No segregation. Late on in the game, the banter went too far and some of them and some Wiganers started scrapping at the top of the stand. People say there’s no trouble at Rugby…yes there is.
My dad used to work with a guy who drove coaches and mini buses of a weekend. He took Wigan rugby fans allover and was forever waiting for them to get out the nick after trouble had kicked off.
Oh and just to say, the away end concourse is a mess. It’s been smashed to bits by away fans. Probably that lot from over the hill.
Joe Ralls…
Was Cardiff Captain up until the summer. Central midfielder. Solid. Played around 20 games for them last season in the Championship. He’s 31/32. I find it criminal hes not been picked up by a club.
For me, he could do a good job for us for a season or two. A solid, experienced player.
I honestly think he’s worth a phone call and a conversation. But then again, maybe we should give Ollie Cooper a start?
I honestly think we decided to bow out the competition. I’m serious. Nobody would ever admit it, but I reckon we did.
I’m not really bothered myself. This squad is still very short and its not strong enough for a cup run. I’d sooner have 3 points on Saturday.
With a fit squad, defenders and Saydee and 4 at the back that game would have been a it tighter. 2 have 3 of your main players out then go 3 at back made no sense what so ever But Adeeko? He got in before Wright who’d played well the week before and Cooper who when all said and done is an international player that for me was a bonkers moment. We should have started 1 up top and for me 5 in the middle 4 at the back and doubled up on their wingers and without compromising the middle of the park. Wright in the middle L.Robinson at the back belt & braces football against, let’s face it a better side. Adeeko should be no more than a bit time player for me he’s a liability .If we’re to progress then we need better midfielders on from the start and right now either Wright or Cooper should start. Rodrigues has to 1 million percent start. I saw enough in that 45 minutes to think with minutes he’d improve massively. Also Asamoah Jr his pace alone can scare the shit out of any opposition so hopefully we see the pair tonight along with Cooper
I honestly don’t get what anyone sees in Adeeko. Ive had it put to me that there is some ‘loyalty’ shown to him as he is an academy product and ‘we need to keep showing that’.
Bollocks. We dont if he is shite. And to me, he is no better than Scot Smith who was shown the door, or Jensen Weir who has cone in for some criticism recently. Someone at the club loves Adeeko…but Ive no idea why exactly? He stealing a wage as far as I’m concerned. McManaman was another wasted wage as well. It was a Cronyistic decision to give him another year.
We do get stuck on certain players and certain players names at Wigan. We did years ago with Kevin Langley. People talked like he was a world beater when he came back to us. No, he wasn’t. And neither is McManaman. He was a cheap filler of a squad space.
We better play well on Saturday….
I want us to go 442 on Saturday, like we finished the game on Saturday.
We need to strip it back to basics. Solid back 4, Sess or Carra right back, Aimson/Fox and Kerr/Fox centre backs, Robinson/Fox at left back. A solid midfield. I’d put Smith and Wright in the midfield centre, Murray right, Hungbo left.
Mullin and Saydee up front.
Subs. The keeper, Trevitt, Costelloe, either of the defenders who aren’t playing, Weir, McManaman.
Adeeko wouldn’t even be on the bench. Aimson and Hungbo only really get in because we haven’t got that many other options. We are still too light and short. Still crying out for an experienced figure..a leader. We all saw it on Saturday.
Let’s have it in the open, they played like they’d been out on the piss on Friday night.
I will say it and say it again…Joe Ralls would’ve been worth a call and a conversation. 15 years at Cardiff, played about 20 games for them last season before being released in the summer. Still only 31/32. Still without a club. Always been solid when hes played us in the past. I was disappointed we didn’t bring Power back, and then thought we might get Ryan Ledson. We didn’t. We just need some solid experience in the centre. That’s my opinion. Someone to get their foot on the ball and be calm. Smith was looking for that player when he was robbed for their third goal.
We are still so limited with our scouting and player acquisition. The realisation on Saturday that how much Bolton have come out of Admin and are thriving again. We aren’t. We still seem….limited? Having been to the rugby as well as Latics, there’s a buzz around Warriors that we haven’t got at Latics. We feel like a sideshow in comparison. Many have felt like this previously, but after Saturday, it really made me think. It opened my eyes. We get players on loan from same level clubs….Bolton had players from Premier league, top of Championship and France. The realisation that in many ways we are still treading water…it alarms me. We cant carry on with the ‘lucky to have a club’ mindset. I refuse to. Its a piss poor excuse now. Its time we shaped ourself as a club again.
Ive still high hopes of what Lowe can achieve with us, but Saturday was a massive kick in the bollocks. He still needs to be busy in January (3 or 4 still needed) and as things stand, unless we have a really strong finish in the second hald of the season, we will finish about 12th at most. We are a 2 steps forward, 3 steps back type of team at the moment. A Bet Killer. Can win 3 nil one week, lose 3 nil the next. And that gets you nowhere.
Just had a fantastic flashback to about 1987. In the club shop after a game where we lost. Everybody could hear Ray Mathias going absolutely nuts at the players and Bobby Campbell having a go back. Honestly, I remember it so clearly. Ray came across as calm and collected…quite similar to Lowe. But obviously could also combust when needed.
I hope Ryan Lowe has combusted at them on Sunday and Momday and then moved us on with prep for Saturday.