That winning feeling

Can you name many clubs that have roundly called for the manager’s head after a (checks notes) 2-0 away win?

Or another one where the manager’s well-being is called in to question in a show of concern, but was preceded by calling for the manager’s head on a stick by the very same commenter?

Nah me neither but this is the good ship Wigan Athletic and as with all things on the internet (it’s always on the internet) a healthy dose of realism is required.

Don’t look at the pearl clutching reaction to only getting past ten man Carlisle in extra time on the internet, instead look at the reaction of those actually at Brunton Park chanting Shaun Maloney’s name.

So to on the pitch, a win is a win especially in the FA Cup.

We’ve been undone enough times at this stage of the cup for us to realise that we have no divine right to get through to the next round.

Those mentioned at the top of this article may not remember such classics as Wigan Athletic 0-0 Solihull Moors or AFC Fylde 1-1 Wigan Athletic and those came when we were flying at the top of the division, compared to our shall we say lower mid table position we currently find ourselves in.

Yes the first half sounded horrific and Latics struggled once again to covert the myriad of chances they created.

But convert we did and for me having a Wiganer, not just a Wiganer but a Latics season ticket holder score one of the goals to reach the second round of the FA Cup, well that’s what the FA Cup is all about.

So our reward for that difficult afternoon in Carlisle is a trip to Cambridge. We’ve an horrific record in Cambridge in recent years, and after the display there last month I’m not sure anyone will be relishing a return trip to the Abbey.

Especially when we were one ball away from travelling to Harrogate or Gainsborough, but it represents a decent chance for Latics to reach the third round of the FA Cup for consecutive seasons and potentially a money spinning tie.

Before that we’ve one more league match before the next international break and it’s a big one. It’s fair to say Wycombe are absolutely flying at the moment.

Losing Gareth Ainsworth to Heavy Metal legends Machinehead hasn’t dampened their progress.

If anything they’re doing better than they were under Ainsworth (he’s not really joined Machinehead, he’s just unemployed).

But Latics are desperate for a league win, the run from the September international break was excellent.

We may not have won or scored as many as we should have but it felt like there was real progress and as a result things were looking up.

Unfortunately two defeats and a last minute equaliser by Blackpool have turned all that progress on it’s head in this recent run up to the next international break.

Talk about a daunting task facing Latics, the build up to Saturday’s match has again been clouded in confusion, rumour and conjecture over the future plans for the club tied in with the Stadium.

There isn’t enough column space here to discuss that, but equally I know as much as the next man and until Latics get a full time CEO to take the pressure off Lucas Danson and Ben Goodburn (who have full time jobs running companies elsewhere) these issues will continue to bubble under.

We’re now more than 18 months in to the Mike Danson era at Wigan Athletic. A lot of it I can get on board with, I’m desperate for Wigan Athletic to be alive for my children to continue to watch us.

So if cost saving and sustainability is the name of the game I’m fully on board with that as I recognise it’s a necessary evil. Equally I also understand the need to share both roles and facilities with the Rugby.

I’m on board with all of that but it’s increasingly difficult to try to defend that when there is no one from the club available, or willing to speak to the local press.

A huge part of that is the need for a full time CEO, the Rugby Club were bought from a position of power. We were a hollowed out shell with only Gregor Rich and Shaun Maloney in any sort of position of authority.

For that still to be the case nearly eighteen months later is neither fair on the supporters or Rioch and Maloney.

Despite the well documented dramatic elements of the support most of the Latics fan base will give a fair hearing if they’re given the facts.

But the silence helps no one and just let’s rumours, half truths and falsehoods get out of control. Especially after the last four years we’ve had.

Sean Livesey

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