One step forward

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One step forward, three steps back. It’s been Latics season in a nutshell and how frustrating it’s becoming.

Earlier this week a league table of the most miserable fans in the EFL was produced, with Latics only appearing in third place. After this week there’s no doubt that Latics will be at the top of the table after the events of the last twenty four hours.

There had been a slight break out of positivity after Saturday’s win over Bristol Rovers, that had completed Latics first double of the season and saw James Carragher score his first professional goal for the club (just three behind his Dad now) this had followed on from an equally disappointing Tuesday against Burton that saw Latics fail to hold on to their lead against the bottom side of in the division.

The fact that Gary Bowyer’s side have gone on to win another two matches following the win over Latics probably says more about Burton’s ability to rise from the dead than Latics ability to implode but both points are valid.

So to Tuesday, it’s not exactly been a secret that there was a buy out clause placed in Thelo Aasgaard’s contract.

The same level of buy out that interestingly enough was in Charlie Hughes contract and the same agent who insisted both clauses were included for his clients to sign new contracts with Wigan Athletic.

In the case of Hughes it wasn’t a surprise to see a bigger club come in for him this summer and neither was it a surprise for one to come in for Aasgaard, the surprise being the speed in which the deal to Luton was concluded.

There’s been the usual heat directed towards the club, manager and owner over this.

Seemingly from people who fail to understand how a buy out clause works, and who equally blame the current ownership for the results of the actions of those ridiculous members of the Phoenix 2021 group that have caused so much damage to this club.

Many people have said that we should have simply offered Aasgaard a new contract, without considering whether A) Thelo would have accepted new terms and probably more importantly whether B) his agent would have sanctioned that and as such seen the buy out clause written out and a potentially large pay day disappearing.

The club in the summer of 2023 were held over a barrel. Will Keane, Jack Whatmough and Jamie McGrath walked out of Wigan Athletic for nothing.

Charlie Hughes and Thelo Aasgaard could have followed them, thankfully the club under new ownership managed to convince them and their representatives that staying at Wigan would be beneficial.

The only way the club managed to retain those two players was by accepting their agents demands for a buy out clause.

Those buy out clauses have now been met, it’s not Danson feathering his nest, it’s not Danson accepting a low offer it’s a club meeting the level in a buy out clause and being able to sign a player.

It’s horrible, it’s soul destroying but it’s not at all surprising either – the only surprise to me is that we managed to keep hold of him until the end of January.

You only have to look at how Latics struggled at London Road on Tuesday night to see how crucial Thelo Aasgaard was to our side.

But he’s gone now and there’s no point crying over it, bigger players have left Wigan Athletic and we’ve bounced back and we will bounce back again.

If anything it’s credit to the likes of Gregor Rioch and yes the much maligned Maloney to see that the system is working.

We can bring through talent that we can then sell on, the concern is that there’s not a new Thelo Aasgaard available every couple of years.

Latics struggled badly on Tuesday, in fact they looked shell shocked.

Against the leakiest defence in the league Maloney’s side barely registered an attempt on target which is one of the most disappointing performances since the previous most disappointing performance seven days previously.

We’ve an horrific injury list with virtually a whole first choice midfield missing and our only creative outlet has left for Luton Town.

Still on the upside if our inconsistent form means anything we’ll beat Lincoln on Saturday as the cycle of one step forward and three steps back continues.

The lads really need to step up from Saturday, if we’re not to get dragged in to a relegation battle we desperately need to start stringing some results together.

How we do that and whether we have enough in the side to see us through to the end of the season is all down to the recruitment team now.

The summer transfer window can be described as disappointing, the last few days of the January window are as probably crucial to the club as you could expect.

We all understand the restrictions we’re under (or at least some do) but at the same time we need to see some outlay by the club.

Sean Livesey

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