Paul Cook

When Saturday Comes magazine have once again asked for my views on Latics’ prospects for the forthcoming season so I thought I’d record my responses here.

1. Realistically, how will you do?
Very hard to say, the optimist in me suggests a top half finish as we have some talented young players coming through and Paul Cook will have made some astute signings. The pessimist says it will be another relegation battle due to the departures of Reece James and Nick Powell and a lack of suitable replacements.

2. Which teams did you like and dislike most last season?
Liked Sheffield United for their adventurous style of play and disliked Millwall because it continues to be a horrible club with horrible fans.

3. What was the best moment of last season?
Ten-man Latics moving towards Championship safety with an unlikely 2-1 victory at Elland Road and in the process damaging Leeds United’s automatic promotion prospects.

4. What was the worst moment of last season?
Probably the dreadful performance in the 4-0 defeat against local rivals Preston North End at Deepdale in October.

5. What money-making opportunity has your club so far missed out on?
The club’s owners the International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) are a Hong Kong-based hotel and casino group and have already signed an agreement with the world’s largest poker group, The Stars Group, and are rumoured to be planning to build a new ‘Wigan Casino’ at one end of the stadium.

6. We’d like your prediction for next season’s League table.

1. Leeds
2. Fulham
3. Sheffield W
4. Cardiff
5. West Brom
6. Derby
7. Bristol City
8. Middlesbrough
9. N.Forest
10. Brentford
11. Wigan
12. Huddersfield
13. Preston
14. Swansea
15. Blackburn
16. Stoke
17. Birmingham
18. Luton
19. QPR
20. Hull
21. Barnsley
22. Reading
23. Millwall
24. Charlton

The full WSC pre-season guide for 2019/20 is now available at your local newsagents.