Less busy week for TNS, the only controversy we’ve had is Big Dave admitting he’s ‘Guilty!’
Though Wigan Athletic wisely told Dave not to attend the hearing, in the fear his first words in Court when realising it was a female presiding judge was “Milk, 2 Sugars, Love”.
So it’s meant we’ve been able to concentrate on some more rebellious articles. In Alan’s ‘Che Guevara’ Cross Hairs’ this week; are the Wigan Athletic Supporters Club, hell yeah, we are mixing up the establishment.
On from this WASC have squirmed & Steve’s (Bar Staff) initial rejection in being part of the ‘WASC Working Fans Group’, was surprisingly re-reviewed this week due what was described as a ‘previous technical issue’, the review meant Steve’s now part of the ‘Working Fans Group’, which is a positive.
As for the rest of the TNS office, we’ve had our Xmas party this week, we did think if having it on Boxing Day due to the amount of free time, but apparently Tony’s been told to put ‘Those’ shelves up at home, so that buggered those plans.
So Tuesday night we all met up for the Xmas do starting off at the TNS office, were over Eggnog, Martin took us through the tactics he’d use once he replaces Malky Mackay as Manager.
We then moved on to the Brewers Fayre on Warrington Road, and what an interesting site that was. Of course it was my idea, let’s just say the food and drink was fine, £1.75 for Fosters can’t be ridiculed. But Dear God, you’d never see ‘Slimming World’ have a Christmas Party there; let’s just say we saw a variety of different Rucksacks & Tupperware.
Anyway we had a great time, talked mainly Wigan Athletic, Form, 442, The Darkside & Malky.
So to the game this weekend, it’s the 22nd game in the Sky Bet Championship. Wigan Athletic will be playing Rotherham United at the DW Stadium; match will be played on Saturday the 20th December with a 3pm kickoff.
Now this match is probably going to labelled a ‘6 pointer’ or a ‘Basement battle’, this is because Rotherham are 21st in the League with 21 points, Wigan in the Relegation Zone in 23rd place, with just 17 points. Top of the table is Bournemouth with 39 points.
Last games out for both teams, saw Wigan grind out another terrible away defeat to Watford. Peter’s cracking match review pulling no punches at how poor Wigan were in losing 2-1! Wigan starting with a surprising 4-6-0 formation; with no recognised Forwards, believe Malky was going for ‘Build the defence’ first approach and hit the opposition on the Counter. But alas the players were shit at trying this new formation out, so to Plan W.
As for Rotherham, they themselves ground out a 0-0 draw, to gain 1 WHOLE point (Remember those) at home to Nottingham Forest, it meant with other results, they stayed just above the Relegation Trap Door.
Also it meant that Rotherham have now gone 9 games without a win, Wigan too have gone 7 games without a win, what is absolutely shocking for Wigan, is that Wigan have won 1 League game (Derby in Oct) in 16 matches, that kind of form will get you relegated……Oh Hang On……
Looking at last 6 game form coming into this, it’s not good reading for either team, the last 6 games, Wigan are DEAD LAST in 24th & Rotherham 21st in the form table:
- Wigan P 6 W 0 D 1 L 5 (Solitary draw against Boro, I’ll not list the defeats it’s too Depressing)
- Rotherham P 6 W 0 D 4 L 2 (Draws with Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Cardiff & Forest)
Previous Games between the 2 have seen games since November 1935; when Wigan lost to Rotherham 2-1 in the FA Cup 1st Round. Games since then have seen multiple Friendlies, League & Cup games, in all there have been 33 matches, with almost half the games played in the Old 3rd Division. Overall Wigan has won 17, Rotherham 8 with 8 Draws. Thanks to Cockney Latic for the Head to Head.
Oh, did you know in the League Season of 1935/36, this was the last time the Top League in English Football was won by a team with a Striped Jersey!
The Referee from the Game will be Keith Stroud, his scampering friends will be Tony Peart & David Plowright, with the 4th Official being Matthew Bristow.
Keith has taken charge of a Rotherham game this season, a 2-1 win over Leeds United in October, with Clarke-Harris getting the decisive goal. Keith dished out 7 yellows that day too.
For Wigan, Keith last took charge against Burnley at the end of last season in April; Burnley won 2-0 with Kightly getting the 2nd just before half time. There were 6 Yellows dished out this time.
Team News, well this will be difficult as would you actually call Wigan a team at the moment? Or just individuals running round the DW? Looking at last weekend matches, neither manager had to sub early, so nothing to report, but no doubt we’ll get more team news as we get closer to the game!
How the Bookies see the game, well they obviously have been on the Sherry, as 46% believe Wigan will get 3 points; with 27% believe it’ll be Rotherham returning over the Pennines with 3 points and also 27% seeing this as a draw. William Hill current market has Wigan at 10/11, Rotherham at 10/3 and 9/4 for the draw.
My thoughts on the game, well as you can imagine my time sitting on the Fence and always trying to see the positive for Wigan are starting to wane! It is becoming more and more difficult to find any positives, with a Club through Dave in Turmoil, a Manager with a Black Cloud over his head and a team that either doesn’t give a Fuck, just not up to it or is just confused on what Malky wants?
Ironically you can see this game include Murphy’s Law for Wigan, were another team with poor form turn up & win, but then again clutching at straws; we may win this in 91st minute with the only goal of the game coming off Boyce’s backside!
Andy
Please also remember The Brick Project as we approach Christmas.
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