Let's Hang On

12th Man – Broadcast interference

Posted on September 20, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Pexels.com

It was brilliant to see Latics win under the floodlights on Tuesday night against Hull City and move up to fourth in the Championship table. It was an entertaining game with both teams going all out for the three points. The only disappointment was the attendance of 8,848 with 418 away supporters.

It was perhaps not surprising that the attendance was so low given that Championship games are now available to view on the clubs ifollow platform and the Sky red button and mobile app.

Midweek attendances in the Championship will inevitably be affected as fans can pay a one-off fee of £10 per game to watch their team rather than attend the game.

The number of Latics’ fans attending was certainly down on Tuesday night and those attending from Hull was fewer than would previously have been expected.

Last season the English Football League (EFL) launched its subscription package, ifollow. For £110 a season it allowed non-domestic residents to watch English Football League matches live.

This season the service was extended to domestic residents, offering the chance to stream live matches that fell outside the 3pm blackout times following a new broadcast agreement with Sky.

These services are good for fans who can’t make the game due to work, or other commitments or who live abroad but it has surely deterred many fans from attending the live game as they can now watch the game cheaply from the comfort of their own homes.

Sky and the EFL are financially compensating the football league clubs, but in the long run it will surely be creating a group of supporters who stop attending live games and become armchair supporters.

Latics’ home game tonight against Bristol City will be broadcast live on Sky and this will no doubt have a detrimental effect on the attendance and the atmosphere in the stadium.

It is probably only a matter of time before the Saturday 3pm blackout time disappears for all English clubs. During the recent international weekend the EFL streamed 3pm kick offs on their ifollow platform for L1 and L2 teams to domestic customers for the first time.

There is much talk of “growing the game” “increasing participation” and ensuring future generations engage with live football, but when the cheapest option is to watch from home then many will choose not to attend the live games.

Supporting your local team is increasingly the harder option and it should be crucial for the clubs to try to maintain a close connection with the local community.

Latics make great efforts to engage with the community but if supporters can no longer be bothered to go to the games, it will be much easier for them to switch allegiances to one of the bigger more successful clubs.

We are in danger of creating a generation of fans who choose convenience over feeling the exhilaration of celebrating in the stands or on the terraces when their team scores.

The live football experience is something unique: the proximity to the action, the crowd noise, the highs and the lows. The special camaraderie with your friends is impossible to replicate in your own home.

For a fan like myself nothing can beat the live experience nor would it stop me from attending the games but there may be future generations who will face the prospect of watching matches from their homes with empty stadiums.

Posted in Championship, ifollow, TV, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Championship, ifollow, TV, Wigan Athletic | 2 Comments

Latics in seventh heaven – Wigan Athletic 2 Hull City 1

Posted on September 18, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Latics captain Sam Morsy

Wigan Athletic moved up to seventh place in the Championship table after a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Hull City at the DW Stadium.

Latics received good news before kick off when captain Sam Morsy’s red card at Brentford was rescinded after an appeal and it was Morsy who gave Latics the lead on 21 minutes with a superb low drive from 25 yards into the bottom corner of the net.

Josh Windass increased the lead on 38 minutes with a diving header from Lee Evans cross but the Tigers pulled one back on 43 minutes through Jarrod Bowen after some sloppy Latics defending.

The second half was keenly contested with both teams creating good goalscoring opportunities but neither side was able to add to their tally and Latics were able to secure the three points.

Paul Cook made two changes from Saturday’s defeat to Brentford, with Will Grigg and Michael Jacobs returning to the starting 11 in place of James Vaughan and Callum Connolly.

The Tigers opened strongly and were the better team in the opening exchanges with former Latics striker Nouha Dicko creating an opportunity after dispossessing Cedric Kipre but Chey Dunkley was able to make a vital interception.

Soon afterwards Dicko threatened again when Evans was caught in possession by Kevin Stewart but he fired high over the crossbar.

Latics gradually gained a foothold in the game with Antonee Robinson and Reece James getting forward to good effect.

Will Grigg nearly got on the end of a fine cross by James and soon afterwards Morsy produced a piece of magic firing magnificently home from 25 yards to give Latics the advantage.

Michael Jacobs nearly added to the lead a few minutes later when he forced David Marshall into a full length save from the edge of the area.

However it was not long before Latics increased their lead when Evans crossed to the back post and Windass dived to head his first goal for the club.

It looked as though Latics would cruise to half time well in control but just before the interval Bowen was allowed free rein to walk through the statuesque Latics’ defence and slide the ball past Christian Walton for the visitors.

The Tigers once again started well at the beginning of the second half and Dicko was allowed plenty of room in the box but wasted a great opportunity firing straight at Walton.

Latics responded with Nick Powell forcing a good save from Marshall before Windass blazed over from the rebound.

Both Robinson and Jacobs had opportunities to increase Latics’ lead but Marshall saved well on both occasions to deny them.

Latics looked fatigued towards the end of the game but despite five minutes of added time they held out for their fourth win in eight games and moved up to seventh in the Championship table.

It is still early days but Latics have made a strong start to the campaign exceeding many peoples’ expectations and if they can continue their good form they certainly look capable of a top half finish.

Posted in Championship, Hull City, Jarrod Bowen, Josh Windass, Sam Morsy, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Championship, Hull City, Jarrod Bowen, Josh Windass, Sam Morsy, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

Latics take a stinging from the Bees – Brentford 2 Wigan Athletic 0

Posted on September 15, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Brentford defend a Latics corner

Brentford moved to second place in the Championship table with a convincing victory against Wigan Athletic at Griffin Park.

The Bees were buzzing from the kick off and Romaine Sawyers forced a very good low save from Christian Walton in the opening minute.

Latics struggled to cope with the hosts pace and power throughout the first half and it was no surprise when they went ahead through Neil Maupay on 24 minutes.

Latics responded when Nick Powell forced a finger tip save from Daniel Bentley and James Vaughan fired into the side netting but Brentford should’ve been more than one ahead at the interval as they created a hatful of chances.

The visitors’ hopes of getting something from the game were extinguished on 58 minutes when captain Sam Morsy was shown a straight red after a clash of heads with Brentford’s Yoann Barbet.

Five minutes later Maupay added his second after Latics failed to clear a corner and the three points were effectively sealed.

Despite waves of Brentford attacks Latics on the whole defended very well with Cedric Kipre and Chey Dunkley impressing and keeper Walton making some outstanding saves.

But Latics couldn’t get a foothold in midfield and the forwards were left chasing shadows for much of the game.

The Bees moved the ball quickly, passed slickly and attacked in numbers.

Latics had been outgunned by a team at the peak of their form and many teams will suffer a similar fate this season at Griffin Park.

Latics will quickly want to bounce back to winning ways with home games against Hull City and Bristol City upcoming.

Paul Cook is likely to rethink his starting line up and utilise more of his squad as they face three games in seven days. I expect Will Grigg and Michael Jacobs to return to the starting line up as the manager looks to reinvigorate his charges.

Posted in Brentford, Championship, Neil Maupay, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Brentford, Championship, Neil Maupay, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

12th Man – Big buzz around Brentford

Posted on September 14, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Griffin Park, Brentford. Photo by Andreas Praefcke

Latics travel to West London tomorrow for what should be an exciting Championship fixture against Brentford. The former Walsall manager Dean Smith has made a big impact since taking over in November 2015 with some attractive attacking football.

Latics and the Bees have had the highest number of shots in the Championship so far, and some statistics suggest that they should be the top two teams in the division, so I’m expecting plenty of goalmouth action in what could be a high scoring game.

Brentford is one of the best traditional away days in the football league. Like ourselves they are a relatively small club in Championship terms and have even been referred to as a ‘tinpot’ team, but they have finished fifth, ninth and 10th in the past three Championship campaigns and are currently fifth in the table after six games.

It’s usually a friendly experience at the compact Griffin Park where the fans mix well together beforehand. It is the only English football league ground where there is a pub on every corner.

Standing is still available and the supporters are close to the pitch, which helps to create a good atmosphere although the ground only has a capacity of 12,763.

It is going to be one of the last times Latics play at the ground before they move to the new stadium at Lionel Road in December 2019. The new all-seater stadium will have a capacity of 17,250, which should help to improve the Bees finances as they make a push towards the Premier League.

Latics will definitely be without winger Gavin Massey who had an operation on a leg injury this week and Michael Jacobs is also doubtful but Darron Gibson and Dan Burn could be available for selection after long injury lay-offs.

If Brighton bound Burn is available it will be interesting to see if he is selected, particularly after Cedric Cipre produced a Man of the match performance in the last home game against Rotherham.

Burn will complete his move to the Premier League club in January, so I expect Cipre to retain his place in the starting 11.

It was great to catch up with the in-demand Nick Powell before the international break and following Latics’ win against Rotherham he expressed his desire to stay with the club.

The 24-year-old former Manchester United player is out of contract at the end of the Championship season but the very good news is that he wants to stay at Latics and is awaiting a contract offer from the new owners.

Powell is an unassuming character off the pitch and quite unlike his on the pitch persona. Quiet and softly spoken he is the opposite of the rabble-rouser that people expect him to be like. He may be renowned for his on the pitch antics but he is a very different person off it.

Representatives of the prospective new owners, the International Entertainment Corporation (IEC), were at the Rotherham game but their protracted takeover of the club from the Whelan family has still to be finalised.

The long-running saga continues to rumble on as completion dates come and go. Further information on the takeover is due to be released on September 21st, but don’t hold your breath on the deal being finalised.

This article was first published in the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 14th September 2018.

Posted in Brentford, Championship, Griffin Park, International Entertainment Corporation, Lionel Road, Nick Powell, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Brentford, Championship, Griffin Park, International Entertainment Corporation, Lionel Road, Nick Powell, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

Exclusive: Nick Powell wants to stay at Wigan Athletic

Posted on September 2, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Nick Powell wants to stay

Wigan’s £10m rated midfielder Nick Powell has attracted interest from several Premier League and Championship clubs during the summer transfer window but following Latics 1-0 victory against Rotherham United he expressed his desire to stay with the club.

The 24-year-old former Manchester United player is out of contract at the end of the Championship season but speaking exclusively to ‘Let’s Hang On’ Powell said,

“I want to stay at Wigan and am waiting for a contract offer from the new owners.”

Representatives of the prospective new owners the International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) were at Saturday’s game but their protracted takeover of the club from the Whelan family has still to be finalised.

Powell was substituted after 60 minutes on Saturday with a tight hamstring but he said he would be fit and available for Latics next fixture away at Brentford following the international break.

Posted in Championship, Nick Powell, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Championship, Nick Powell, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

Solid defence provides springboard for success – Wigan Athletic 1 Rotherham United 0

Posted on September 1, 2018 by ianhaspinall

James Vaughan scored his first goal of the season

Wigan Athletic moved up to 9th in the Championship table after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Rotherham United at the DW Stadium.

Latics were the better team in the first half creating several very good goal scoring opportunities but they were unable to capitalise on their dominance.

In a more even second period both teams created chances but it was Latics who came out on top despite some late Millers pressure.

Latics made the breakthrough on 73 minutes when substitute Callum McManaman cut inside and his low drive could only be parried by keeper Marek Rodak and fellow substitute James Vaughan followed up to score.

Both teams defended well throughout, but Latics central defensive pairing of Chey Dunkley and Cedric Cipre were outstanding and helped the hosts to keep a clean sheet despite the Millers late aerial bombardment.

Paul Cook made two changes to the team defeated 1-0 at QPR with Reece James and Callum Connolly starting in place of the injured Gavin Massey and the rested Nathan Byrne.

Latics started strongly with Dunkley testing Rodak with a header from a corner and a Josh Windass free-kick flashed just wide of the keeper’s right hand post.

Nick Powell appeared to be pushed in the area when attempting to reach a cross from Reece James but referee Scott Duncan waved away Powell’s appeal.

Windass then deflected Powell’s shot from distance narrowly wide of the post as Latics finished the half strongly.

Grigg nearly got on the end of a loose ball in the area but Rodak was on hand to deny him the opportunity.

The Millers looked dangerous on the counter attack and Ryan Manning tested Christian Walton with a 25-yard effort just before the interval.

The second half was a much more even affair but Latics still had the lion’s share of possession and chances.

Grigg fired narrowly wide of Rodak’s left hand post from 20-yards as Latics searched for the breakthrough.

Cook made a double change on the hour mark by introducing McManaman and Vaughan for Powell and Grigg.

McManaman was soon in the action forcing a close range save from Rodak after he had spilled Callum Connolly’s initial strike from the edge of the area.

The FA Cup winner McManaman’s next intervention gave Latics the advantage. The winger cut inside and forced a low save from Rodak but the keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Vaughan who poked the ball over the line.

The Millers had introduced the physically powerful Kyle Vassell on the hour mark and later striker Jamie Proctor as they went in search of the equaliser, but Latics back four of James, Dunkley, Cipre and Antonee Robinson held firm.

Dunkley and Cipre in particular were superb, and deserve all the plaudits as they had their best games in a Latics shirt since coming together as a partnership at the beginning of the season.

Keeper Walton was called upon late on to deny Williams from the edge of the box but Latics had just about deserved all three points.

Posted in Cedric Kipre, Championship, Chey Dunkley, James Vaughan, Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Cedric Kipre, Championship, Chey Dunkley, James Vaughan, Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

12th Man – Channeling the frustration

Posted on August 31, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Paul Cook

Latics experienced the first significant setback of the Championship campaign last Saturday when they lost 1-0 to Queens Park Rangers who I expect to be amongst this season’s relegation candidates. Latics were the better team at Loftus Road, but they were treated harshly by referee Steve Martin who made several game changing decisions in Rangers’ favour.

Following a corner the referee allowed a blatant push on Chey Dunkley to go unpunished and Tomer Hemed was allowed to score what proved to be the winning goal. Despite being informed by his assistants of the foul the referee ignored their advice and bizarrely awarded the goal.

Latics had several good shouts for penalties in the second half when they pressed for the equaliser but the referee just wasn’t going to give them any of the big decisions on the day. It was an especially frustrating result because if they had secured the three points they would now be third in the table.

Paul Cook was clearly upset by the referee’s performance but he will want his players to manage the disappointment and channel their anger and frustration by getting the three points against Rotherham United tomorrow.

Wise leaders, like Cook, will channel energy toward useful behaviours, like working on an improved performance rather than the destructive feelings about the referee.

As well as preparing his team, Cook may have to make changes to his preferred starting eleven tomorrow. Injuries to Michael Jacobs and Gavin Massey may rule them both out and Latics are already without Darron Gibson and Dan Burn who have longer-term injuries.

Rotherham manager and former Latics striker Paul Warne has done a very good job since taking over the hot seat at the New York Stadium gaining promotion via the play-offs in his first full season in charge.

The Millers have six points from their opening five Championship fixtures with two victories against Ipswich Town and Millwall and three defeats against Brentford, Leeds United and Hull City.

Rotherham lost 3-1 at Everton in the Carabao Cup 2^nd Round on Wednesday night and Cook will be hoping that with Latics having no midweek game that this can work to their advantage, although the Millers did rest eight players from their last Championship starting line-up.

Warne’s team are likely to pose a big threat at set-pieces and Latics fledgling centre-back partnership of Dunkley and Cipre could have a busy afternoon at the DW Stadium.

However, Latics have had more shots than any other team in the Championship so far this season and if Nick Powell can continue to dictate the play, I expect them to get back to winning ways tomorrow.

This article was first published in the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 31st August 2018.

Posted in Championship, Paul Cook, Paul Warne, QPR, Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Championship, Paul Cook, Paul Warne, QPR, Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

Latics suffer controversial defeat – QPR 1 Wigan Athletic 0

Posted on August 26, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Latics left frustrated at QPR

Latics were controversially defeated 1-0 at Loftus Road despite being the better team for most of this Championship fixture.

Queens Park Rangers gained the advantage in one controversial moment 10 minutes before half time when Chey Dunkley was clearly pushed from behind in his own box and Tomer Hemed was allowed to volley home.

Despite being informed by his assistants of the foul the referee Steve Martin ignored their advice and bizarrely awarded the goal.

The referee who might be better employed as a comedian rather than a Championship referee had an abysmal game throughout and his ineptitude was typified by this obviously incorrect decision.

Latics had several good shouts for penalties in the second half when they pressed for the equaliser but the referee failed to award a spot-kick.

Paul Cook made two changes to the team which had won so convincingly at Stoke City with Josh Windass replacing the injured Michael Jacobs and Nathan Byrne coming in for the rested Chelsea loanee Reece James.

Latics started strongly with Nick Powell at the centre of their best moves. The in-form midfielder forced a good save from Joe Lumley with a swerving 25 yard drive.

Lumley then produced a superb finger tip save to deny Windass whose curled strike from 20 yards was destined for the top corner of the net. From the resulting corner Powell headed narrowly wide of the target.

It seemed only a matter of time before Latics would take the lead as they controlled possession and were creating plenty of chances.

But ten minutes before the interval Rangers controversially went ahead through Hemed despite all Latics’ protestations.

Rangers were buoyed by the decision and went close early in the second half when Luke Freeman fired narrowly wide.

But Latics were soon back on top with a Powell header diverted behind for a corner before the always creative Midfielder forced another save from Lumley.

At the other end Christian Walton produced a fine save to deny Rangers new loan signing Nahki Wells.

It was still Latics who looked the most likely to score and their best chance fell to Dunkley who headed agonisingly wide from Evans’ quality delivery.

As the minutes ticked down Latics continued to press and forced several free kicks in dangerous positions. They had a couple of good shouts for handball and Dunkley had his shirt pulled in the area but referee Martin evidently wasn’t going to give Cook’s team any important decisions on the day.

Posted in Championship, QPR, Tomer Hemed, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Championship, QPR, Tomer Hemed, Wigan Athletic | 1 Comment

12th Man – Let the good times roll

Posted on August 24, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Paul Cook keeping Latics grounded

Latics have exceeded many people’s expectations by making an excellent start to the Championship campaign. On paper they had some very difficult fixtures against several of the promotion favourites but they have now won two and drawn one of their opening four games and are eighth in the table.

The performance at Stoke City was particularly pleasing as Latics demolished the high-spending Potters on their own patch.

Latics weathered some initial Stoke pressure and went on to dominate with some superb attacking play.

Nick Powell was probably Man of the Match but there were some top performances all round with Will Grigg, Gavin Massey, Lee Evans and Reece James all outstanding.

Paul Cook sensibly isn’t getting carried away however and is keeping his players grounded, after the Stoke game, he said, ‘It’s gone our way on the night, the key moments went our way. But we can be put on our bum at any time in this league.’

Cook is right to keep his players focused but if they can maintain this level of performance and iron out a few of the defensive rough edges they will surely prosper in the Championship this season.

Tomorrow Latics travel to Queens Park Rangers for their fourth Championship fixture of the season but they could have had a very different future if Rangers hadn’t deliberately breached Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules back in 2014.

Latics narrowly lost to QPR over two legs in the Championship play-off semi-final in 2014, but if Rangers hadn’t broken the FFP rules Latics might now be playing Premier League football.

As a Latics fan it’s hard not to be a little bitter about the QPR owner’s decision to flout the rules and profit from promotion to the Premier League.

QPR’s manager Harry Redknapp spent massively at the time recruiting top players on big wages in a desperate attempt to achieve promotion while Latics and Derby County who subsequently lost to QPR in the play-off final, stuck to the rules and remained in the Championship because of it.

It has taken four years for the English Football League (EFL) to impose a fine of £42m on QPR. They will also be under a transfer embargo for the January 2019 transfer window.

But surely this financial penalty is not commensurate with the magnitude of the offence at the time and its implications for all the other clubs in the Championship.

Independent experts such as Kieran Maguire, a lecturer in football finance at the University of Liverpool, and Dr Rob Wilson, a sport finance specialist at Sheffield Hallam University, both said the fine could have been bigger.

“QPR have earned £148m in broadcasting fees and parachute payments since committing the offence so the fine does not act as a disincentive for clubs in the future,” said Maguire.

“The owners made the decision to go ahead with ignoring the FFP rules in the first place and they are independently wealthy to absorb the true penalty, which should have been at least twice the sum charged.”

But does a financial punishment alone really fit the crime?

Many football fans believe that the EFL’s punishment does not go far enough to put clubs off overspending in pursuit of promotion.

Surely a points reduction would have been a more appropriate penalty at the time and would stop clubs from breaking the rules in the future.

This article was first published in the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 24th August 2018.

Posted in Championship, Nick Powell, Paul Cook, QPR, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic | Tagged Championship, Nick Powell, Paul Cook, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic | Leave a comment

Potters smashed by sensational Latics – Stoke City 0 Wigan Athletic 3

Posted on August 22, 2018 by ianhaspinall

Stoke’s Ashley Williams is dismissed for a second yellow card

Wigan Athletic produced an emphatic 3-0 away victory at Stoke City but it could so easily have been many more.

Paul Cook’s newly promoted Latics dominated the high-spending Potters on their home soil.

The visitors went ahead after 27 minutes through a slick move involving Nick Powell and Gavin Massey which was superbly finished by Will Grigg.

It was not long before they went 2-0 up as Massey’s persistence allowed him to break through the Stoke backline and produce a confident finish through Jack Butland’s legs.

Stoke looked shellshocked and Latics might have gone further ahead before the interval but they did increase their lead on 57 minutes when Grigg converted from the penalty spot after Powell was brought down by Joe Allen.

Latics were outstanding throughout and produced some scintillating attacking play while the Potters looked disjointed and lacked any creativity.

By the latter stages of the game Latics were toying with their opponents controlling possession and continuing to create chances.

Stoke’s Ashley Williams was fortunate to escape a straight red card after head butting Powell in the stomach after he had been barged into an advertising hoarding by the Latics midfielder.

But the on-loan Everton defender’s torrid night came to an end on 78 minutes when he was given a second yellow card for a foul on Windass.

Gary Rowett’s Stoke are amongst the promotion favourites and have spent big money over the summer on Benik Afobe £12m, Tom Ince £10m, Oghenekaro Etebo £6.5m, Sam Clucas £6m and James McClean £5m. But on this performance it is Paul Cook’s conservatively assembled squad which looks the more likely to be challenging at the top of the table.

Posted in Championship, Gavin Massey, Nick Powell, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic, Will Grigg | Tagged Championship, Gavin Massey, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic, Will Grigg | Leave a comment