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Welcome to the Sports Zone, the only place for everything sporting on a local,
national and international level.
Whether its news on local sporting events, profiles on top flight stars
or match reports, whatever your game, we got it right here!
 Latics
Look Strong as New Season Kicks Off
by George Gordon
There was a strange sense of déjà vu littering the air around the JJB
stadium in mid afternoon on Sunday. It’s now three times out of four
Wigan Athletic have hosted and outplayed formiddable opponents in
Chelsea but have unjustly come away with only a pat on their back for
their troubles.
Only a sublime Deco free kick that rippled the net in the fourth minute
was the difference but in truth Wigan should have got at least a point
from the game in which Honduran ace Wilson Palacios played a starring
role. Latics were full of running and guile in midfield and the
impressive Lee Cattermole outmuscled the likes of Frank Lampard on
nearly every occasion. Titus Bramble and Emmerson Boyce were both very
sound at the back and restricted Chelsea to very few sights of goal. The
only thing lacking in the hosts performance was the extra bit of quality
in the final third despite the workmanlike performance of new fans
favourite Amr Zaki.
But there was enough encouragement to signify that the Latics can build
on the 14th place finish they achieved last season. They put in an
equally good performance in at West Ham United on the first day but this
time poor defensive errors cost them dear; conceding two goals in the
first 10 minutes. And on Tuesday night an under strength side made light
work of their opposition albeit league two’s Notts County to book their
place in the third round of the Carling Cup.
Overall, the squad looks stronger than it did at the end of last season.
Five new players have come in with the possibility of more come the end
of transfer deadline day. South Korean aces Lee Chun Soo and Park
Chu-young have been mentioned as part of a possible commercial deal with
a Korean business which I believe could mean a change in the name of the
stadium from next season.
The Premier league though is stronger than last season with promoted
sides Stoke City and Hull making good starts showing that they may put
up more of a fight than the embarrassingly poor Derby County. The likes
of Fulham and Sunderland seem to have improved their squads and it will
take a big effort from Steve Bruce’s players to avoid a flirt with the
relegation places.
However, there is enough evidence to suggest that there is enough
quality in the squad to avoid another nail biting season. If Wigan
continue to play in the manner that they have done, against lesser sides
the goals will come and points will be in the bag.
My hopes for the season are to improve on the finish we had last season.
This realistically should happen with Steve Bruce assembling the best
squad we have ever had by far. Also it would be nice to have a decent
run in either the FA cup or the Carling Cup. The latter is the best
chance of silverware and with a few lucky draws along the way the
Carling Cup could give us our first trip to the new Wembley.
Recommended link:
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www.wiganathletic.co.uk
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