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Arsenal would have been a decent away day bar they play on the Thursday away at Brentford so it will be Sunday or even Monday. I’d lean more to thinking it will be in the Sunday. I just hope it’s not a 12:15 job or worse, 4:30 either way forget the train
Trying to get my head around it, and supposing it is a Sunday, is a 12.15 kick off not good because of the train times GOING to the game? It looks like earliest train is after 9am. And I even thought about a stopover on the Saturday. Problem being it’s Valentines on the Saturday so prices up on what are already London prices. Probably a bit cheaper than I expected but its all prolonging the trip and upping the expense.
I doubt they will but if the Supporters club put a trip on thaf went down on the Saturday and stayed over Saturday, coming back Sunday after the game, I’d consider that if the price was reasonable. Especially if it gave people a few hours pottering about in the smoke. Otherwise its going to be S.C. coach straight there and back.
But it would be nice to get down about 12pm on the Saturday, and have the afternoon and night in London. Chance for a bit of a mooch, Buckingham Palace and some tea at Covent Garden or something like that. I am definitely interested in whatever the S.C. can put together.
The whole experience of going to a home game, is poor for me. We actually try and get there as late as we can so as to not be sat out in the cold.
Its rare we buy stuff on the concourse, but last home game I bought that chicken with rice thing they did. I quite enjoyed it, but wouldn’t pay £7.50 for it again. Food and drink is badly overpriced in the stadium and I’ve noticed you dont see people queuing up to buy like they used to.
The lack of a matchday programme has taken something away for me. I know we had a load of unsold programmes, Ive seen them in the storage room, but I think they should have still done a programme but a much smaller print. The Heritage programme isn’t bad. I dont seem to find out as much about things like the community trust anf other tings thats going on. Likewise, you dont get the opportunity to advertise birthdays and things like that. Its a big link with the club that’s been severed. I used to like scouring the away teams squad to see who they have, things like that.
The ticketing system is still a mess. Because 3 of us are one code, where my dad is the name on it, he is an over 65 and its causing problems when my 19 and 17 year olds want to buy tickets. I have mine on a separate client code. Its just a system that is full of bugs and issues.
Ultimately, Jason, the quality on the pitch HAS to improve. Wiganers won’t watch a boring, crap team playing dull as dishwater. Even season ticket holders are staying away and dropping off. Honestly, we could have Oasis on pre match and Margot Robbie walking around handing kisses out, and I don’t think it would make much different. One of the most fickle fanbases has pretty much had enough. Its going to take big changes to turn this around, I’m afraid. Winning football, would be a start. Excitement. Edge of seat stuff.
Talking about it tonight and we were saying it wouldn’t be a shock if Lowe swerved Deepdale and isn’t there, to avoid a very possible crescendo of abuse from the 4 sides of Deepdale.
And if we then get tonked by Bolton, there can’t be any question.
But I dont know, with this board and owner. And if we sell Tickle for 500k…and they’d sell him for that, you just know they would, we are in deep shite.
Support dwindling by the week.
Get him gone. announced by 12pm tomorrow…
‘Statement…’ and the corner flag.
Graham Barrow in charge at Deepdale and at home v Bolton. We will have a better chance of actually getting something out of either game.
Some won’t agree, but I want Mick McCarthy in. Calls a spade a spade and will sort out sone of these half-arsed shithouses we’ve got playing for us. He is also anti Pep Ball, and will likely resort to a straight back 4, rather than this 3 at the back wingbacks shite.
Its definitely not a job for a novice or a Newby, this. Needs an experienced, take no shit, type.
Lowe out, backroom staff out, Rioch out as well.
Cal Mac shouldn’t even be here. Waste of a wage at a club thats supposedly having to cut its cloth accordingly.
He’s past it.
Ive said since Bolton away about the huge gaps we leave in behind our wing backs and im between the back 3 as they move to cover. How Lowe and the coaches haven’t figured it out, is beyond me. Its staggering. We have staff at the club who are shite and not doing what they should be.
If the club wasn’t so arrogant enough and big headed in that they wouldn’t listen and let you speak, Id happily go to Christopher Park and talk it through. The biggest fault is having players playing as wing backs who aren’t right to play like that and who are struggling with positioning and transition for being in possession from out of possession, and vice versa. Boltojn tore us to shreds and the week later, Cardiff had obviously watched the footage anr didnt need to leave 3rd gear to beat us.
Its so bloody obvious to me. Why can’t they figure it out?
Will Lowe even be manager still when we go to Deepdale?
I am having doubts.
I think a defeat at Burton and nothing less than a win v Barnsley and he is gone.
I do feel a bit
i think sorry for him, as he is trying to put round pegs in square holes and has also inherited the poorest Latics squad I can recall. I think he is frustrated at what he has to work with. But he is not without any blame. 3 at the back and wingback system doesn’t work. And his midfield is still piss weak, too many who literally cannot tackle.
Saydee is lazier than a Mexican village. The back 3 has more holes than Steptoe’s vest.
Ive given up on Matt Smith. I thought he could become a great at Latics, but the reality is he will leave us when his contract is up and will probably end up at Steveneage or somewhere next season.
“Disagree slightly CW. All the formations he has tried still involve 3 at the back and I think there lies the problem. We are so vulnerable on the break out wide.”
Nail. On. Head.
Been like that since Bolton absolutely dismantled us and derailed our season. We were found out by Schumacher knowing exactly how Lowe would set up, from being hos assistant at Plymouth.
Those spaces what are left behind the players playing wing backs, and then the centrebacks are having to cover, leaving more spaces in the gaps. Cardiff then clearly watched the Bolton footage and took us apart with ease, never having to fully exert themselves.
We never learn from our mistakes. Lowe never learns but the system he is playing doesn’t work. You need really proper, strong wingbacks who know their game insise-out. Gary Neville and co were discussing it recently whilst discussing the wingback issues at Liverpool, post Trent A.A. Neville was saying as a full back, he wouldn’t know how to play as a wing back, as he would always be looking to play the ball forward to a man in front of him, a winger or wide midfielder. Hungbo was just standing in, in the role, and since he was injured, Raphael has been filling in. Murray is slightly better at it, on the right. But his early season star performances have gone as well.
We are in a mess.
It can’t get any worse…
..oh, it can!
My minds made up. Shite manager. Not the manager for us. If I was him, Id walk. Hes clearly not happy. Rioch needs to go as well, hes holding the club back and has too much power.
Needs a complete clean slate of a new start…and something a bit ambitious, this. Afraid to say, but the frugal outlook of the club is going to cost the owner double. A case of ‘buy shite, buy twice’. Needs a bold move, and a new outlook. Clubs dying. The non attendance today…people have had enough.
Its awful and probably the worst I can remember. Manager and club need to part…and now. No excuses, no fancy talk..its not worked. Yet if we can make a change and bring in a new outlook, we could still achieve something this season.
Ultimately the manager and team around him, and the players, are nowhere near good enough. Disgrace scraping through on pens.
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.
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