First Term Report- Wigan Athletic
With over 10 games gone it is possible to assess how the season is shaping up for all the Premiership sides. For Wigan it has been a mixed campaign so far.
The Latics are one of several clubs trying to work out how they are dwelling near the bottom when they have played some excellent football. While every manager tends to think his side are hard done by, Steve Bruce has more reason to feel he hasn't had the rub of the green than most.
Just like last season, Wigan are showing enough talent and grit to make them a sound bet to retain their top flight status. In Amir Zaki Bruce made the signing of 2008/09, though Dave Whelan might wish it was a permanent deal right now. Combined with the resurgent Emile Heskey, the pair are a real handful.
With goals coming, Wigan should get more than enough wins. They will feel they should have taken at least a point from Anfield, if not three, and the sending off of Emmerson Boyce at Newcastle surely cost them two more.
With Wilson Palacios and Luis Valencia Wigan have a quartet who would get into most Premiership sides. Defensively the quality is not quite so high but Bruce is just the man to work on his rearguard which tends to veer between dogged displays and occasional complete lapses. 18 goals let in over 13 matches is a decent standard though.
The key problem is home form- away from the JJB, Bruce's team have a respectable record but just 3 home League goals tells the story, especially as Wigan are actually outscoring the opposition on their travels.
It's a feature of the modern Premiershoip that so many sides are more comfortable on the counter attack - space is at a premium unless the opposing side is committed to an attack and Wigan's key men are adept at the counter-attack game.
The Latics need to find a way to apply pressue at home but the overall impression is of a squad in decent health. Dave Whelan can be expected to find money to bolster the team if necessary come January.
Like half the Premiership, a couple of wins would see a dramatic change in Wigan's position. In the Latics case, they appear well placed to achieve this and it would be a surprise if they finished in the bottom three next May.
Verdict
An unlucky C- but with potential to do better.
