Wigan has a potential championship-deciding match with Chelsea this weekend.  If Wigan can pull something out against Chelsea then they spoil Chelsea’s whole season in one feel swoop–and United would be ripe to step in and take the Premier League title from the Blues.  However, this seems like a pipedream when a team that isn’t very good suddenly decides it wants to do something great.  Roberto Martinez said so:

“Everyone expects Chelsea to turn up and win the match. It is more than a football game for us because we know the whole football world is watching and for the youngsters they could learn more in 90 minutes than they could for two or three years. There are no expectations on us. Everyone expects Chelsea to win and so for us we are going to be together, we need to be really close and help each other and perform. We are capable of going to Stamford Bridge and making things difficult.”

While it’s true that Wigan can make things difficult I hate it when bad teams suddenly decide they want to play well at the end of the season.  If they focused that much energy on winning earlier in the season they might be playing for something real at the end of the season.  So, spoiling someone’s season might sound like a noble pursuit but really it’s just a job for bottomfeeders.

You could say that Wigan might be doing something great if they beat Chelsea, but the only thing they’ll really be doing is cashing in on their badness and taking a chance for a soundbite because they haven’t been relevant all season.

I think we’re to take the credit away here.  If Wigan wins it’s because Chelsea lost–Wigan has no part in this match other than to show up.  In the end all the action is Chelsea’s to make.

Being bad and showing up the last weekend of the season is fairly meaningless.

photo credit: wonker

photo credit: gordonflood.com

A hat-trick in 19 minutes–geez!

Carlos Tevez put in hat-trick against Wigan and in the process became the most lauded man in the building and the shadiest man in the building.

He scored 3 goals in the final 19 minutes of the match to give Man City the 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic.  That’s a pretty amazing feat considering how difficult it is to score just one goal in a match.

However, Tevez was also involved and compared to harsh challenges in the match.  Tevez leapt in the air over a challenge and Wigan’s Gary Caldwell led with one leg.  Somehow this challenge resulted in a red card for Caldwell.

Wigan’s Manager–Roberto Martinez–called the red card a turning point in the match and basically implied that that was the reason his team lost.

Sir, with all due respect–I think–if your team is giving up 3 goals to one guy in 19 minutes then you have no business winning the match.  There’s just no way.

I know the officiating in sports is generally pretty bad, but a call like that decides little to nothing.  The Soccer field is SO BIG and the players are SO SMALL in comparison.  Plus, you have other guys who can fill in for Caldwell and in order for Tevez to score even one goal he has to get by a bunch of guys–usually all 10–that one red card is meaningless.

Now, giving a red card for a relatively tame challenge is beyond me.  Guys play hard and everything isn’t always neat and clean.  I know that officials do want to protect the players, but I see more cleats to the face in a match than I see sliding challenges and I see VERY FEW red cards for cleats to the face.

Why?  I don’t know, but it still wouldn’t decide a match.  You’ve got to play AND stop the other team from scoring.

Especially one guy who scores 3 times in 19 minutes–that’s just disgraceful.

James Milner delivered an inspirational performance as Aston Villa closed in behind the Champions League chasing pack with a 2-1 win at Wigan.

The midfielder further enhanced his claims for an England World Cup place by scoring a second-half winner as Villa edged an absorbing Barclays Premier League encounter against the Latics.

Both sides created numerous chances as they chased points for contrasting reasons but the quality of 24-year-old Milner, who claimed his 10th goal of the season, proved the difference.

The decisive strike at the DW Stadium came just after the hour, Milner firing home through a crowded penalty area after the Wigan defence had struggled to clear a corner. Villa had led in the 25th minute after a bizarre own goal by James McCarthy, the Republic of Ireland international somehow sliced a clearance into his own net, but Wigan equalised immediately with a Gary Caldwell header.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill was in no doubt where most of the credit for victory was due, hailing the efforts of Milner.

“It was an extraordinary performance by a really good player. Since he has stepped into central midfield his game his improved tenfold and he continues to go from strength to strength.
“When you play wide you depend on other people giving you the ball to get into the game but when you have got that determination and energy, you might as well use it in the centre of the field. It is something we have been crying out for, a midfielder scoring double figures, and he has been sensational.”

This was not a game that will ever be shown on a Premier League highlight DVD as Wigan and Bolton fought out a 0-0 draw that left both sides deep in trouble at the foot of the Premier League table Wednesday.

Wigan came closest to breaking the deadlock when Charles N’Zogbia cut in from the right, passed two defenders but saw his shot hit the inside of the far post. Bolton’s Matt Taylor had three good chances to score but failed on a wet, miserable night.

With Portsmouth stranded at the bottom with only 16 points from their 25 matches, there are seven clubs above them that are separated by only three points. Sunderland, in 13th place are at the front of the struggling pack with 26 points from their 25 matches, with Wigan 14th on 25 points and Bolton, in 18th place but still in the relegation zone on 23 points.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is certain that Roberto Martinez will be confirmed as the club’s new manager in the next 24 hours.

The Latics have been given permission to open talks with the Swansea boss following the departure of Steve Bruce to Sunderland.

Liberty Stadium chief Huw Jenkins granted Wigan’s request to approach their highly-rated manager once a settlement package, believed to be in the region of £2million was agreed.

Former Latics favourite Martinez, one of the club’s famed ‘Three Amigos’, is now set to hold talks with chief executive Brenda Spencer to finalise his switch to the Premier League side.

Whelan told Sky Sports News: “I think it will be a done deal, definitely, by this time tomorrow. It’s just a case of Roberto meeting our chief executive and getting the deal signed off.

“We’ve now been given permission by Swansea to speak to Roberto, our chief executive Brenda Spencer is talking to him this afternoon and hopefully the deal will all be concluded by tomorrow morning. I think the chairman at Swansea has realised that football is a cruel game. Sometimes you don’t want to lose a manager – I didn’t want to lose Steve Bruce but things move on. I am delighted, and I know the whole of Wigan will be excited to think we are getting one of the ‘Three Amigos’ back again.”

Whelan confirmed the Spaniard was his top choice for the post on Wednesday and is confident that he will use the extensive contacts in his homeland to bring new faces to the newly-named DW Stadium.

He said:

“I’ve watched his career and he produces players on the park who play football from back to front. I like what I’ve seen and I’m really excited we’ve got Roberto back to Wigan. He understands the Spanish league fantastically well, and I suspect he will be bringing one or two Spanish lads back in to Wigan. We have some money that is required to replace players and Roberto will be given the funds to replace the players that we need.”

Whelan’s main target for the coming season is again for Wigan to retain their Premier League status and remain part of England’s elite.

He also expects Martinez to bring in a number of his own backroom staff from Wigan after Bruce was joined at the Black Cats by Eric Black, Nigel Spink and Keith Bertschin.

He added:

“The priority at Wigan is always the same, you’ve got to stay in the Premier League. We, along with 10 or 11 other teams, our number one priority is to stay in the league and that is exactly what I will tell Roberto. Steve has taken quite a lot of our staff with him, which they always do, we understand that. I expect Roberto will be bringing two, three or four of his staff with him, but that will all be agreed by tomorrow evening.”

Michael Carrick’s late winner moved Manchester United to within a point of a third successive Premier League title with a battling victory at Wigan.

Hugo Rodallega brushed off Nemanja Vidic to give Wigan a shock lead after 28 minutes. Substitute Carlos Tevez’s outrageous flick diverted in Carrick’s shot to level for United after 61 minutes. And Carrick sealed a crucial win to put United on the brink of glory with a 20-yard finish four minutes from time.

United struggled in the face of Wigan’s resilient challenge – but Sir Alex Ferguson’s celebrations after Carrick’s winner emphasised the importance of these three points and how close his side now are to drawing level with Liverpool’s record tally of 18 titles.

Wigan counterpart Steve Bruce can be proud of his team’s efforts, and United’s closest rivals Liverpool can also have no complaints as they attempted to throw the title race open. Ferguson restored Wayne Rooney in attack with Tevez – whose Old Trafford future is the subject of fevered debate – dropping down to the bench.

Wigan were forced to make a change in goal, with Richard Kingson coming in for Chris Kirkland, who failed to recover from the back injury that forced him off at West Brom on Saturday.

Latics’ boss Bruce insisted his side would make every endeavour to stall United’s title bandwagon and they made their intentions clear as early as the second minute when Valencia burst clear of Vidic but shot wide.

United soon posed a threat of their own when Dimitar Berbatov slipped away from Titus Bramble, but Rooney directed his header wildly off target from point-blank range.

Carrick then stole in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross, only to lift a close-range effort over the top.

United were holding sway in possession, but Wigan’s attackers were energetic and they were rewarded when Rodallega put them ahead after 28 minutes, out-muscling Vidic before recovering his composure to shoot low past Edwin van der Sar at the near post.

Rooney wasted another opportunity to level for United two minutes before the break when Ronaldo created an opening, as he side-footed over the top from eight yards. But Wigan delivered another warning to the title favourites in first-half stoppage time when Rodellega shot wide after some slick approach play from Valencia and Lee Cattermole.

United struggled to make an impact after the break, and it was no surprise when Ferguson made a change after 57 minutes, sending on Tevez for Anderson. And within four minutes the Argentine had put United level with a finish of instinctive brilliance, although there was also a sprinkling of good fortune in the creation of the goal. Carrick’s shot was flying off target, but Tevez turned it to his advantage with a stunning flick that completely wrong-footed Kingson.

United then had penalty appeals rejected when Ronaldo tumbled under challenge from Maynor Figueroa, but referee Rob Styles waved away their appeals.

Wigan, predictably, were placed under constant pressure in the closing stages and finally cracked with four minutes remaining. John O’Shea set up Carrick on the edge of the area and he flashed a rising left-foot drive high past Kingson.

United now just need a draw from the home game against Arsenal on Saturday or the trip to Hull City on the last day of the season to complete the formalities of another title triumph.

Manchester United can take a massive stride towards securing a third successive title as they visit Wigan Athletic on Wednesday.

United clinched last season’s Barclays Premier League crown with a 2-0 win at the JJB Stadium on the final day of the campaign and they can all but seal it again as they return to the happy hunting ground.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men need four points from their remaining three matches to be sure of being Premier League champions for an 11th time. Victory over the Latics would enable them to wrap it up at home to Arsenal on Saturday to equal Liverpool’s top-flight record of 18 titles.

However former United defender Steve Bruce is demanding a strong finish from his Wigan side after a poor run of form which has seen them fail to win 13 of their last 15 outings.

Wigan have lost four and drawn one of their last five since securing safety at the end of March. They have conceded 13 and scored just two in that run. With slender hopes of a European place now fading, Bruce is already looking ahead to next season. He has never got the better of Ferguson as a manager.

United have won 17 of their last 19 Barclays Premier League matches including their last six and have beaten Wigan in all eight meetings in all competitions with an aggregate score of 19-3.

Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce is set to swoop for Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton this summer, according to a report in the British tabloid The Sun.

Since moving to the Magpies from Manchester City in 2007, the 26-year-old has been limited to just 31 appearances due to a combination of injuries, suspensions and jail sentences.

However, it seems that has not deterred Latics boss Bruce who is said to be ready to stump up the £6 million it is thought the Toon Army will ask for.

In order to raise the capital to allow the deal to go ahead, it is claimed that Wigan are prepared to sell Honduras international full-back Maynor Figueroa who has apparently impressed Manchester United with his performances in the Premier League this season.

My first reaction when I read this story was why? Why would Steve Bruce want to bring Barton into a successful locker room? Is this a good move by Wigan?

Nickname(s): Latics

2008/2009 Position: 15th

2007/2008 Finish: 14th

Coach: Steve Bruce (England)

Stadium: JJB Stadium (25,138 capacity)

Key Players: Amr Zaki, Antonio Valencia, Wilson Palacios

History:

Wigan is one of the “newer” teams in English football as they were only founded in 1932. They are also one of the newer teams in the EPL as they have only been up in the top flight since 2004/2005. They are popular with the locals, but they have always had to compete with the nearby rugby team, the Wigan Warriors, for attention. As a result, they have one of the poorest attendance records in the EPL.

Wigan’s history of winning doesn’t begin until 1995 when David Whelan, a former Blackburn player, purchased the squad while it was suffering in the third tier. By 2005, Whelan had the Latics in the EPL, and they have not looked back since. It always hasn’t been pretty for Wigan, but they have managed to stay afloat for four seasons, which isn’t bad considering their history (or lack thereof).

Steve Bruce took over this club after a disastrous start to last season. Bruce is a former Man U star and was well known for his frenetic style of play, which he called “rampaging”. He is also known for being an “in demand” manager, and he could always end up leaving the Latics if a better offer came along. It would be a shame if he did, because he could make Wigan into a mid-table team.

Legends: Andy Liddell, Jimmy Bullard, Kevin Langley

American Sports Doppelganger: The Dallas Mavericks

2008/2009 Prediction: 15th