The Latics players thank the travelling support at Arsenalplaceholder image
The Latics players thank the travelling support at Arsenal
Our panel of Latics observers look back on the FA Cup trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal, as well as the small matter of Gary Caldwell’s return to the managerial hotseat almost a decade after leaving...
Alan Rogers:
I suppose we'd better start with Sunday...and what a great day it was...two Winter Olympic gold medals! What do you mean: 'We're supposed to be talking about Wigan Athletic?' Oh well, fair enough. They gave it a go at Arsenal, didn't get humiliated, and managed to get a whopping pay-day.
If I sound even more miserable than usual, it's probably because, due to doctor's orders, I couldn't travel down to the Emirates on Sunday. My family could, though...and they did. Every one of them went and left me home alone...but that wasn't the worst part.
The absolutely soul-destroying bit was listening to the patronising drivel on TV from the likes of Martin Keown. What a biased imbecile that man is. But the rest of the TNT team weren't much better. Sam Matterface saw a picture of Tommy Gore and Nathan Ellington on his screen and, for some reason, identified the 'Duke' as Emmerson Boyce! He then proceeded to read an obviously pre-prepared list of Boycey's footballing achievements! Next up, he decided to link Gregor Rioch to the occasion by mentioning his father's association to Arsenal...while omitting to mention that Bruce also had the same connection to us!
Finally, I gave up and turned the sound down...and everything improved. Well, at least we didn't let any more goals in. But even with our exceptional FA Cup pedigree - going back to non-league days - I don't know of anyone who expected anything from that game.
Graham Barrow did his best against the current Premier League leaders, and it worked to a certain extent. But the damage had been done to our team in the weeks and months prior to the game. Whoever comes into the club will have a mountain to climb.
And then the following morning we found out who that intrepid mountaineer would be. Yes, the world's worst-kept secret was revealed, and Gary Caldwell stepped back into the limelight. All things considered, I reckon it's a decent appointment. Gary has the club association that I hoped for, and hopefully GC Mark 2 is a slightly different person to his previous tenure. In his opening remarks, Caldwell seemed to address the situation. He said he 'comes back to the club a better manager and also a better person'.
The first time around, Gary obviously wore his heart on his sleeve. But I think his managerial inexperience showed a bit at times. I remember him hooking Sam Morsy off at Blackpool, and I think Sam ended up going out on loan to Barnsley shortly after that, before coming back after Gary left.
But another reason I think Gary will be an even bigger success this time around is simply...David Perkins! And yes, I was there at Blackpool, when Perkins scored! Actually, I think we were almost in Fleetwood...we were forced back onto the last row of the stand because of Storm Brian!
But Perkins has always been a favourite of mine, even more when Tommy Gore interviewed him in the lounge one day, and it was revealed that he was the only professional player in the game at that time who didn't have an agent! He modestly shrugged his shoulders and said he always managed to sort out his own deals without any real problems.
And then on Tuesday, it got even better, when Peter Atherton was added to the coaching staff! Local lad Peter started his career at his hometown club, and has returned to sort out unfinished business. Whenever the Latics have done really well, we've always seemed to have a decent duo in charge, and now we seem to potentially have a terrific triumvirate!
So, let's hope this trend continues. Both Gary and David were passionate on the pitch, and this seems to have carried on over into their managerial partnership. They are both making the right noises from the start...even just from the first press conference, things seemed happier and more upbeat. Add Peter into the mix, and at least there should be no problem motivating the players.
Let's not fool ourselves, they have a very difficult task in simply keeping us up this season. The previous regime left us in a bad place. But we now have three people who love the club, the team and the fans. More importantly, they understand the club, the team and the fans.
Gary and David arrive back at the club with more managerial experience under their belts, and a firm understanding of operating on a modest budget. So good luck to all of them. All we need now is for Gary to put the 'Believe' poster back up in his office, and to move the dug-outs back to their original position, and everything else will just fall into place!
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Martin Lally:
Well…there is finally a feeling around our club that we have our Wigan Athletic back. It’s been a very tough three-to-six months, and hopefully in time we can all look back and make light of what we have just been through, with a brighter outcome on the other side.
It was also sad to hear of the passing of a West Stand attendee post the Reading game. It makes us appreciate that football - as important to us as it maybe - is not the be all and end all. My thoughts are with family at this sad time, and I hope there may be some further recognition from the club at some point down.
Moving on to Superman! It was always my opinion that the next manager had to be someone who could walk in and hit the ground running. For me, there were only three men who could do that, and Gary Caldwell was one of them.
Another three-and-a-half-year deal on a manager tells you this is the man who the board (more on them later) have entrusted with the keys to the future, regardless of the outcome of this season. It also tells me that, surely, there must have been conversations with Gary about the squad, and the availability of a budget going forward that he feels he can work under.
Having left Exeter City - a very decent club, owned by fans, and punching far above their weight - does this tell us that GC sees an ambitious project here at Wigan? Or has he been brought in to work on a shoestring budget, and develop as he has previous experience of achieving? Only time will tell.
The return of David Perkins and Peter Atherton is also a great move. Good people, with good pedigree, who get the club instantaneously, and hopefully they can get straight to work in saving the season over the next two and a half months of football.
It’s hard to believe there are still almost 50 points to play for in a tight division where nobody is streaking clear. Do I personally forgive the board? No, I do not! Is it worth carrying on the pain? No, it is also not. We are at one of those critical times where we all have to pull together for the best interests of Wigan Athletic (however, I’m still interested to hear explanations of the decision making over the last six months at our brilliant football club).
Last Sunday can only be described as a great day out. I felt quite emotional at the final whistle - having been in some feral away ends this year - at the love and support shown for the lads despite the result. The truth is that, for 70 minutes they held, arguably, the best club in the world, whose supporters were booing their team at one point in the second half for their clemency, or just lack of cut-throat execution. PS: Arsenal...you need that to win the Premier League, because the team in second place has that skill in abundance.
My favourite part of the day was the chant from the proud Wiganers of ‘You’re good, but your pies are s**t’ which made the trip worthwhile. I did find it hard to believe Matt Smith didn’t start, but I also feel Graham Barrow has done a great job in the last fortnight, and continues to be forever Mr Wigan Athletic. I’m glad he’s still around, and his interview showed the pride he has to be associated with our club! Well done Mr Barrow!
I’d also like to say I think Glen Whelan is a good person. You don’t play at the level he has played at without a good understanding of the game, and I think he has been ying to yang in the managers he has worked with. I wish him well in his future endeavours.
So onwards and upwards, and a new era under an old friend with a lot of ground to gain but the excitement of the town back in neutral for now as we approach the most important 16 games we have faced in some years. Up the resurgent Tics!
Well it was down to the smoke in a carriage made for two...well, actually a nine-seater minibus for the glamour tie of the FA Cup, but I digress. As Dick Whittington said, we went down to London seeking our fame and fortune, where the streets are paved with gold...unfortunately, said streets aren't paved with gold, they're more strewn dishevelled streets of takeaway rubbish. The taverns they are a plenty, but aren't welcoming to visitors from afar (Wigan). But if you per chance come upon a tavern that's willing to serve you, they'll fleece you as quickly as you're served.
Onwards onto the paved streets near the Emirates, and there's plenty of tourists to see, all singing 'We're Arsenal', despite not even knowing who we are. Seeing the stadium in all its glory...and it's such a shame it's surrounded by so much concrete and an utter drab surround. The Emirates deserves to be given its own space so you can admire the building. Sadly, it's stuck in a concrete jungle.
Once inside the stadium, the concourse is very unremarkable but, getting to your seats, you can't help but have a smile at the inner sanctions of the stadium. It's very nice...such a shame the home supporters don't think the same, as they are so unremarkable and boring.
Fast forward to the game, and goodness knows why they need the fake crowd noise in the build-up to the game. Well actually I do, because those fans are so quiet, they don't deserve an arena like this. As the referee's whistle gets the game underway, we do NOT lay a glove, tackle, or any kind of pressure on the Arsenal players for the entire first half.
It's a free hit for goodness sake...let those southern softies know they're in a game, hit them with a crunching tackle...but oh no, not soft old Latics, we bow down and let them do as they please. Now I'm not for one minute saying we could match them, but at least let them know they're in a game where there are two teams in this game. Come on...if Mansfield, Burton and Salford can put up a fight, why can't we?
Anyway, the highlights of the game were the 'ole' chants when we strung around six or seven passes together, and also the "second again, ole, ole" towards the indignant Gooners. And as we strolled - yes, strolled - out of Dick Whittington's London due to traffic congestion, I'd like to finish by telling you we sold the cat for a fortune, who helped clean up the streets of London, we arrived safely back in Wigan in the early hours in time for some rest and recuperation before the home game against Luton, and Gary Caldwell's first match in charge for the second time.
PS: A big thank you to our designated carriage/minibus driver Carl D for getting us to and from the 'Old Smoke' safe and sound…
Tony Moon:
I’m happy as Larry we’ve got back our Gary, and I’m well chuffed that Perks has come too. I’m hoping we’ll feel that the stuff on the field will improve as we kick off anew.
I’d hoped that Ryan Lowe would be better you know, after all that he promised and said. But maybe his skill was in virtual drill, cos we played best somewhere in his head.
Some of his play was just too bad to say, even though he very often tried t’ tell us. We had to have patience, ignore the complacence, cos this were his hand-picked young fellas.
Playing to his style (which works once in a while) well, we really just had to 'Believe' (wrong choice of word there I hear some of you say!). Keep faith in his tactics, forget about hat-tricks, and a scabby 1-0 we might thieve.
But hey ho, he’s gone, he’s just yesterday’s mon, as we all concentrate on tomorrow. So pray with good reason that the rest of the season doesn’t continue in sadness and sorrow.
But then again, why should it (although yes it could), it might turn out the board has just called well. And so it’s our choice that we raise up our voice to sing welcome back to Gary Caldwell!
Sean Livesey:
So here it is, the worst kept secret in football was revealed on Monday morning as Gary Caldwell returned to Wigan Athletic. If anyone had any doubts about Caldwell’s return they only need to listen to his first interviews since coming back.
Caldwell was as impressive as one could imagine, a man clearly shaped by his experiences, and a completely different manager from the one that was unfairly sacked just under a decade ago. Both Wigan Athletic and Gary Caldwell have been through so much in that decade, so many experiences that will shape the coming months and all being well years.
Caldwell was extremely impressive in those interviews and his commitment to the club is clear for everyone to see. In complete contrast to the last man, whose commitment to himself was all anyone could see. How can you possibly inspire your players to give their all for the club when you yourself won’t give your all for the club?
The make up of Caldwell’s backroom team has now been announced with Peter Atherton joining as Caldwell’s assistant (he’ll need to cleanse his soul after his lost job up the road in Horwich), and David Perkins returning to the club alongside Graham Barrow.
If these four legends from every modern era of the club can turn around this season, it will be a story for the ages. Caldwell has proven himself consistently in League One. In his first spell in charge in 2015 and 2016 – that glorious title win in the sun in Blackpool followed one of the most enjoyable seasons for a long while, and saw us return to the Championship.
Caldwell was unfairly sacked by Latics as the club were in a hurry to return to the Premier League. Warren Joyce, his replacement, took the club down to League One instantly in what I’m sure the club would now recognise as a mistake of epic proportions. Caldwell was building a stable side in the Championship, and was relieved of his role after only one defeat in his final five games against four sides that are now Premier League regulars.
David Sharpe at the time described it ‘as the hardest decision’ he had had to make it. Whether it was Sharpe or Dave Whelan who made that decision, it turned out to be the worst that could have been made. Since then, Caldwell hasn’t been shy of getting his hands dirty, and has had a wide variety of roles at all levels of the game...working alongside Pep Guardiola as Manchester City’s loans manager, Under-23s manager at his former club Newcastle United, an ill-fated spell at Chesterfield, keeping Partick Thistle in the Scottish Championship, before finally joining Exeter City three and a half years ago.
To say Exeter are disappointed to lose their manager would be an understatement. Caldwell has far exceeded his brief at Exeter, and performed miracles on one of the smallest budgets in the football league. Consistently finishing in mid-table in League One is no mean feat for a club of Exeter’s size. Especially when that club is fan owned.
Exeter posted an emotional video after Caldwell’s departure was announced, and it’s the measure of the man how much he ingrained himself in the city and how much the place meant to him. That’s the sort of connection we need, even more so after the last 11 months under our ‘reluctant’ head coach.
Latics have a lot of work to rebuild the connections between team, club and supporters. Winning football matches is only one part of that, but the Lowe experiment has damaged this club hugel. If Caldwell’s return (alongside Perkins, Atherton and Barrow) can help to rebuild those damaged connections between the club and supporters it’ll go down as an unexpected but hugely necessary managerial appointment.
Just over two and a half months of the season left...16 cup finals. One requirement. Stay out of that bottom four and build for next season. Come on Latics!
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