Category Archives: Social Media

Amigo and Social Media Reaction to an exciting performance at Rochdale

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Match reactions, Social Media and tagged with , , ,

Rochdale 3 Wigan Athletic 3

After a scintillating first half performance, with Latics leading 2-1 and the home side down to ten men, the three points were definitely there for the taking as the second half began. However, a mix of profligate finishing and poor defending allowed Rochdale to claim a point.

The football played by Wigan in the first half was probably the best they have played this season.  Tendawi Darikwa and Callum Lang fitted in seamlessly and Latics looked like a well-oiled machine.

Adam Long suffered an injury after 59 minutes in trying to keep the ball out of the net for Rochdale’s equaliser. It was a surprise that Leam Richardson chose to bring on a left back, Luke Robinson, to take Long’s place in central defence, despite Emeka Obi being available. The back four literally consisted of four full backs.

Despite their profligacy in front of goal and defensive vulnerability in the second half it was a fine performance by a Latics team that is defying the odds, despite the restrictions placed upon them and the injuries they have had.

After the game Leam Richardson commented:

“There is different pressures for different positions within a team and one thing that was great today was how we responded and the character. The goals that we scored emulated that because we kept going.

My overriding emotion is that I really enjoyed standing there and watching them today because individually – and in some parts collectively – I thought they were excellent.”

We are all aware that every day at Wigan Athletic is a learning day at the minute. It is up to a few of us to make the best of the situation.”

Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to the match through the message boards and social media.

Our thanks go to the Vital Wigan – Latics Speyk Forum and Twitter for providing the media for the posts below to happen. Thanks go to all whose contributions are identified below:

SwindonLatic commented:

Enjoyed the game. Really good to see our movement up front with Lang and Joseph running beyond Keane. Lang was everywhere. Lots to be positive about. We are improving and if we keep up this rate of improvement we will stay up easily IMO.

Arthur_Itis remarked:

Unless there is a reason that I’m unaware of, I think Leam got the last sub wrong, Only threat from Rochdale was in the air and we left Obi on the bench. No surprise their big lad out jumped our 2 full backs in the middle in the dying minutes to break our hearts.
2 points dropped, hope these don’t prove critical come May.

Kenny Morris said:

Disappointing that we lost 2 points in the final minute of extra, extra time but I would have taken this before the game considering the enforced changes to the team and the lack of numbers in subs. They beat us 5-0 a few weeks ago so this performance today was far, far better.
Can’t be too hard on the players even against 10 men for second half, Rochdale had a vastly more experienced team who are used to playing together, unlike our team which has been cobbled together this week. With only having 15 fit players we did well.

Degsy1 opined:

Long going off was a pivotal moment for us and it went downhill from then.

We definitely missed Tilt today and for me I was so fired up I was sure we would go away with 3 points and at the end even though we drew it felt like a loss !

But this performance today gives me great encouragement and I believe we can get through this mess providing we get a sale to the right owner done soon !

Long crashing into the back wall behind the net looked bad to me – I just hope the lad didn’t do any serious damage !

True Believer summed up:

Poor second half resulting in two points dropped. Why oh why did we stop playing the way we did in the first half. We started to try and push the passes instead of keeping it simple and lost the ball too often.

Great goals from Lang, Joseph and a cracker from Keane, his close control is a joy to watch.

Pearce continues to deliver great crosses from the left, whilst Darikwa slotted in well on the right.

Our biggest problem was at CB and although James and Long did well in the first half the long high balls in the second half found them out. With no tall CB going for the first ball after Long went off their forwards started to win the ball and more crosses coming into the box caused problems. I wondered why LR didn’t put Obi on to take the first ball instead of playing Luke Robinson, a left back, as a makeshift CB.

Owen Evans showed his inexperience for their second as he stepped back from the bouncing ball allowing the forward to gain the advantage in height. He should have been moving forward to gain the momentum and height. There was no need for him to actually catch the ball as if he had just knocked it down our backs were favourite to win the knock down. After that however he did pull off a decent save to keep the lead.

Overall it was a very good display going forward but our lack of a dominant CB cost us the 2 points. Time now to reflect on this performance and hopefully improve on it next time out. I hope any of the prospective owners were watching as this game has convinced me that with a couple of decent acquisitions we can survive the drop so taking the 15 points should be something they think seriously about. There are bound to be some very experienced players without a contract after the takeover and they could be just what we need to survive.

Onwards and upwards boys.

Stats courtesy of WhoScored.com

Amigo and social media reaction to an exciting win at Burton

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Match reactions, Social Media and tagged with , , , ,

Burton Albion 3 Wigan Athletic 4

A stunning hat-trick from Kyle Joseph and an opportunist header from Will Keane gave Latics a much-needed three points at a frosty Pirelli Stadium.

So much of Wigan’s play was based on the long-ball, but when they did get the ball out to the wings they posed problems for the home team defence. Latics had started the game without Kal Naismith, their key creative player. It was a surprise to see Thelo Aasgard start in left midfield in place of Dan Gardner.

This was a game where players from the U23 squad shone. Joseph was clearly man-of-the-match, but there were fine performances from Chris Merrie and Ollie Crankshaw, with Aasgaard working hard in an unfamiliar role. Adam Long came on in the closing minutes to bolster the defence and hold on to the lead. Wigan’s younger players are clearly getting acclimated to the demands of League 1 football and there is lots of promise for the future.

Following the game Leam Richardson commented:

“Absolutely made up for the players, the effort, the determination, the character to come back not once but three times. We’re built in a certain way where we feel we can score goals. They did put us under pressure in other ways but we stood up to the task and thankfully tonight we came out on top.

The character is outstanding; I’ve said it before but the four goals we scored are probably the quality to go in at any level. I commend the players for that, they take on the information but full credit to Burton because they didn’t leave a breath on the pitch. It was a game where two teams went at it and again there wasn’t a breath left out there so whether there deserved to be a winner or not – I’m not sure – but thankfully we came out on top.”

Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to the match through the message boards and social media.

Our thanks go to the Vital Wigan – Latics Speyk Forum and Twitter for providing the media for the posts below to happen. Thanks go to all whose contributions are identified below:

Hampton commented:

Restored my faith in our club that fighting spirit tonight – well played to all of them.
Despite everything else going on with pitches, firesales and away owners treatment the EFL and the admins still haven’t managed to destroy our DNA.

That it’s mainly kids who have been developed the Wigan way literally leading from the front has proper cheered me up. Hope Mr Moreno was watching that – his investment could be recouped with interest in a short space of time. Absolutely essential now that the purchase completes before the admins sell the kids off for buttons in Jan.

You are my sunshine said:

Absolutely delighted with that superb win tonight! Great character from the lads to come from behind 3 times, then show that desire to go on and get the winner. I thought we looked a threat every time we attacked from open play and Burton looked a threat every time they had a set piece which made for an entertaining game.

Pearce, Merrie and Keane were all brilliant tonight, but a special mention to Joseph on a stunning performance. Those 2nd and 3rd goals were absolute quality.

That win was crucial to push us closer to safety! 11 points from the last 6 games is a fantastic return and huge credit goes to the squad and management team who are doing a remarkable job in the circumstances and continue to give us hope!

Oscarbon stated:

That is 6 games with only 1 defeat. 3 wins, 2 draws and a loss from 6 is not relegation form especially as we ae not playing at our best.

Agree we need to keep hold of Kyle as well as Asgaard and Keane.

Piemon commented:

Yep, playing it out the wings is creating loads. That long ball from the back just concedes possession. With a bit more confidence we will be reet.

Stats courtesy of WhoScored.com

Amigo and Social Media reaction as Latics toil for another point

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Match reactions, Social Media and tagged with , ,

Wigan Athletic 1 Shrewsbury Town 1

A battling Latics side managed to hold off waves of second half attacks by Shrewsbury to claim a point that could prove very useful in their fight against relegation. The Shrews had come into the game following three consecutive wins, all away from home at Hull, Lincoln and Doncaster. Latics had gone ahead from a Will Keane penalty after 47 minutes when a touch of skill from Kal Naismith had created an overlap for Tom Pearce. The goal pushed Shrewsbury forward and they put constant pressure on the Wigan defence. The Shrews equaliser came when the experienced Shaun Whalley, who had been proving a headache for Latics, slotted home after 66 minutes.  

It was a dire game with Wigan’s main mode of attack being hopeful long balls, which the solid Shrews defence devoured. But it is another point gained as the transfer window looms, as does the ratification of the Moreno deal.

Despite the difficulties faced over these months Latics have stayed within touch of the teams above them in the relegation zone. It remains to be seen what kinds of signings the Moreno regime will make in January, given the difficult financial situation which includes a tight salary cap. A couple of experienced central defenders will surely be on the shopping list.

After the game Leam Richardson commented:

“When teams are set up the way Shrewsbury are, then it is important you don’t give them any goals because they’re very good at what they do. It was up to us to find creativity to take the initiative and we didn’t have that spark or energy today but if you’re not going to win, don’t lose and I felt we did that with honesty.”

Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to the match through the message boards and social media.

Our thanks go to the Vital Wigan – Latics Speyk Forum and Twitter for providing the media for the posts below to happen. Thanks go to all whose contributions are identified below:

Degsy1 commented:

A very scrappy first half !.

I just hope we come out in the second and take control – I’m sure we can do much better than this first half performance against these guys !

The first half statistics say it all !

Zakky added:

Says it all really playing at home ZERO shots on goal ZERO chances made.

Zeb2 stated:

Refs ineptitude aside …Shrewsbury are the only team to have created any chances/half chances. No good saying how poor Shrewsbury are …when on the 45 minutes so far we are worse than them, we’ve created nothing and our passing is conservative and inaccurate …though we have retained the uncanny knack when passing to a team mate in space to just pass half a yard behind him.

Cueball concluded:

Thank goodness that’s over, still at least it’s a point.

Oscarbon said:

What is the point of bringing Asgaard on with 3 minutes to go?

Had we scored at the end I think it would have been daylight robbery.

Ooohaaahdonniepage stated:

Definitely improved recently. Last 10 games over 90 minutes we have lost 3 games in total which isn’t bad. Draw seemed a fair result today take it all round and agree young Aasgaard looks like he deserves more game time. Next games winnable and takeover appears imminent. To be in touch with rest of league is a minor miracle given what we have started season with.

Stats courtesy of WhoScored.com

Amigo and Social Media Reaction to a well-earned point at Fleetwood

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Social Media and tagged with , , ,

Fleetwood Town 1 Wigan Athletic 1

A spirited performance saw Latics share the points in a scrappy game played at a windy Fleetwood. Jamie Jones conceded another goal to a long shot: this time from Fleetwood’s Danny Andrew, but redeemed himself with a brilliant save at the death when Paddy Madden ran through the Wigan defence following an error from Tom James. Moments before Ollie Crankshaw had equalised in the 91st minute after Will Keane’s effort had been parried by Fleetwood’s Swiss/Canadian keeper Jayson Leutwiler.

We had a message on the Wigan Athletic site before the game started that we would not be able to get the usual commentary of Ashley Houghton and Tommy Gore due to technical issues at the Highbury Stadium. In the event Gore did materialise but together with a Fleetwood commentator who had difficulties in recognising the Wigan players and in pronouncing some of their names.

Latics had held their own defensively until the long shot went in after 28 minutes. Fleetwood continued to press but Wigan held them back. However, Wigan’s attacking intent was largely limited to hopeful long balls that were gobbled up by the home defence. Put simply, they did not look like scoring.

But Latics came out for the second half with more attacking intent and although the long ball tactic did not disappear it was interspersed with good football. After looking so confident in the first half Fleetwood dropped back in defence as Latics took the game to them. The late equaliser was a just reward for the sheer effort Latics had made to get a share of the points.

The point keeps Wigan off the bottom and within reach of safety from the relegation zone.

Following the game Leam Richardson commented:

“I thought the energy and endeavour – certainly in the second-half – was fantastic to see; we were playing on the front foot a lot more. The weather played a part but at half-time I said to the lads that I wanted to see them play with more belief because on the back of Tuesday’s result I think they were a little bit reserved and on the back foot, which I don’t accept.

Second half we played with a lot more freedom to get into their final third and make things happen. We thoroughly deserved the result.”

Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to the match through the message boards and social media.

Our thanks go to the Vital Wigan – Latics Speyk Forum and Twitter for providing the media for the posts below to happen. Thanks go to all whose contributions are identified below

Jeffs right wrote:

One shot on target one goal. Could make a difference with four relegation places to avoid. Well done Latics.

Degsy stated:

I don’t understand why we have a midfield, they don’t win second ball and must have sore necks watching the ball soar over them every time the keeper or back four get hold of the ball.”

Hoofing the ball up the pitch is on instruction of manager and not the fault of the players !

I agree it’s stupid in such conditions and should be kept with the players on the ground !

When played through midfield, I thought Perry & Merry controlled it well and I don’t think you can fault Merrie in his commitment and success in tacking, winning the ball more often than losing it !

SwindonLatic added:

Barton will be fuming but his team did eff all in the second half apart from time waste. Well done to the boys for sticking at it even if we did lack quality in the final third.

True Believer commented:

Worst commentary I have ever heard on a game. You would have thought he would have learnt the players names and he couldn’t even pronounce Tommy Gores name correctly.

All that said the first half we looked completely out of it and I feared we were in for a pasting after the goal. We never got going and kept hitting the ball high into the wind without anyone of height to try and get on to it. I don’t understand why we have a midfield, they don’t win second ball and must have sore necks watching the ball soar over them every time the keeper or back four get hold of the ball.

Second half with the wind at our backs we persisted with kicking it long for most of the third quarter only to see it catch on the wind and fly through to their keeper whilst our forwards failed to press the centre backs. When we did start to get the ball down and play through the midfield we started to get on top and the possession stats started to even out and we looked more in control of the game.

Their keeper made a terrific save only to see it parried out to “Cronksoe”, or whatever name he called him, to head the ball in after following the shot in. Well done Ollie.

Not a game for the purist but in the scheme of things a valuable point, a much improved performance on midweek, and despite some of the miserable posters on here we are still only three points off safety with a new owner and transfer window to come.

Stats courtesy of WhoScored.com

Amigo and social media reaction to another narrow defeat for injury-hit Latics

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Match reactions, Social Media and tagged with , , , ,

Wigan Athletic 2 Northampton Town 3

 “I think if you watch the first half – other than Dan Gardner having a great strike – we just gifted the opposition chances to score goals and we went in again 2-0 down. It is a pattern of our performances where we have started flat again in the first-half and we go in with a mountain to climb.

We deserved to go in behind but the goals were down to us; we give the opposition so many chances to score goals. I can’t stand getting beat and it really hurts me so much that we are on our bad, bad run. You can see the team we have picked and we have a lot of injuries that have come at a bad time – the team was makeshift and very young but I have to give them credit for the second-half performance because I thought we were excellent.

I said to the lads that chasing the game you have to be brave and not worry about making mistakes and I think we did that. I look at them in the second-half and I see loads of things that weren’t there in the first-half; we were on the front foot, sharp and creating chances.

We got back in at 2-1 and Northampton were clutching at straws whilst we looked to get the equaliser but then we have the killer blow of conceding a silly, silly goal against the run of play. We didn’t stop and there were a lot of things to come from the second-half from a young team as well.”

John Sheridan once again gave an honest appraisal of the game. With seven players out injured the manager had to reshuffle his pack. His starting line-up contained three players from last season’s senior squad, three players on short-term contracts and five from previous seasons’ U23 squad. Ollie Crankshaw and Thelo Aasgard, 18, were given their first starts in a League 1 game. Current youth team forward Harry McHugh made the bench for the first time.

When play commenced the first player to quickly catch the eye was the Cobbler’s Harry Smith, a towering 6ft 5in centre forward who used to play for Macclesfield. Smith may not be among the division’s top strikers, but his height and physicality caused problems to Wigan’s central defenders, Tom James and Adam Long, both around 5ft 11 in tall. After 22 minutes and with Latics two goals down Sheridan took off right back Crankshaw and brought on Emeka Obi. The 19-year-old has a long way to go before he is going to be the finished product but, like Smith, he too is 6ft 5in and his presence helped diminish the big target man’s effectiveness.

The centre of defence has been most problematic for Sheridan. Eight players have been used there so far and the disruption has prevented the gelling of the back four. Darnell Johnson and Curtis Tilt started four games together, giving them a chance to gel a partnership, but both are out of action due to injury.

The second half saw Kyle Joseph make his debut, coming on after 73 minutes. The 19-year-old Scotland youth international striker was among the young players touted by big clubs over the summer when Latics went under administration. He gave us a glimpse of his sharpness in the penalty box as he turned and was unlucky to see his effort hit the post in the 84th minute.

Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to the match through the message boards and social media.

Our thanks go to the Vital Wigan – Latics Speyk Forum and Twitter for providing the media for the posts below to happen. Thanks go to all whose contributions are identified below:

Kenny Morris commented:

Obi got slated the last time he played because everyone said he was out of his depth, so would you have had him on from the start? Everyone said we couldn’t play two youngsters at CH

James does play Centre half, as he himself said in his interview this week. It wasn’t working so Sheridan changed it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing that seems to be here in abundance.

Arthur_Itis said:

Negatives have been covered in previous posts, a few positives for me:
Showed great fight in the second half, Gardner had his best game by a mile, although faded late on.

Perry looked assured on the ball and played some lovely through balls. Aasgaard seems to have a great first touch and great balance, reminded me a bit of Gelhardt.

Jones pulled off some good (and crucial) saves. Obi will have gained a lot of confidence from today, and a lot of experience playing against a beast like Smith. Long looks great on the ball and has the confidence to show for it.

Pearce never stopped running and his surge into the box for the penalty showed great positivity. Hopefully that will do his confidence some good as well. James also never stopped running once back at right back. We have 2 decent full backs for this level.

The second half high press was very effective and we need to employ this approach from the first minute, not the 46th.

Finally, there are teams as bad as us in this division, but we will hopefully have time and resources to improve and avoid relegation if the takeover goes through. If it doesn’t we have more things to worry about than losing a football match.

It’s still early days yet.

FrancosLoveChild stated:

There is a good team in here but we sadly don’t start games anywhere near the standard for league football which cost us because we always seem to start playing well after going 1 or 2 down. Still some time

You are my sunshine opined:

Back 4 team selection/1st 25 mins cost us that game!

At least he binned Tuesdays negative formation but Sheridan should be playing players in their best position. Crankshaw is not a RB ,he is a RW! It’s a big step up for these lads as it is, let alone in an unfamiliar role. As soon as James went to RB to deal with Adams and Obi came on to get to grips with big Harry Smith we improved,as those 2 in particular caused us all sorts of problems that 1st 25 mins.

2nd half I thought we were superb, especially considering how many young lads we had out there. We were really unfortunate not to get a point in the end when Joseph, who was lively when he came on hit the post. Although not always with great quality, we put a lot more crosses in today and showed much more attacking intent than MK.

Pearce mom for me. Gardner has been poor this season, but I thought he had a much better game today. Obi did well when he came on, using his height and physicality to deal with Smith. Perry was tidy again.

Those lads showed today they can play and have good character to keep fighting despite the setbacks. This gives me some encouragement and hope going into another big game at the bottom on Tuesday at Blackpool.

Stats courtesy of WhoScored.com