...surpassing the 10th place achieved in the club's first top flight campaign.
No longer tarnished with the self made small club image firmly attached to the club by Paul Jewell and his self fulfilling prophecies of smallness (he now seems to have established the exact opposite at possibly the biggest club in the world, Championship team Derby County). Steve Bruce holds the Latics in more positive light and we are looking much bigger and further to the future.
As well as the acquisitions, there are the successful, and hoped retentions of key squad members. Mike Pollitt, Paul Scharner and Wilson Palacios have all extended their deals whist Emmerson Boyce - who formed a formidable defensive partnership with Paul Scharner last term -is looking set to agree a new deal.
I for one am delighted with the signing of Pollitt for another year. Who can forget the goalkeeping performance of the year he put in at Highbury on the night we qualified for the Carling Cup Final at Arsenal's expense. Despite being from Bolton, he's certainly worthy of a place amongst the Wigan greats.
On a factual note, the Latics leaked as few goals as Aston Villa in sixth last season, the real problem was at the other end. Despite only conceding 34 goals, Bruce's men only managed to net 38. Should the Latics build on the fantastic finish to the previous campaign, holding on to Boyce and Scharner will be very important.
Super Mario is back fresh after his Euro 2008 exploits with the Dutch and there is plenty of competition at left full back. Kevin Kilbane will be joined by Maynor Figueroa and come November, Erik Edman following his return from injury.
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He built up a strong partnership with Michael Brown in the middle of the field. Add to this the signing of England under 21 international midfielder Lee Cattermole, and the Latics have a forceful looking central midfield.
There is also the proposed January acquisition of Hendry Thomas who, with a further five full international caps under his belt, would be able to battle his way through the red tape brigade and fulfil the work permit requirements and become a Wigan player.
Just a little side note, but surely Gordon Brown's government are being a little stupid here. Why block the transfer of a footballer who despite not being an EU national, would bring a salary of say at least £5,000 a week to the U.K economy, and all the taxable benefits that has to his government?
Anyway, things are seemingly looking up in terms of attacking midfielders. Daniel De Ridder and Olivier Kapo have both joined from Birmingham and should add strength to both flanks, whilst both Palacios and Valencia have remained and are focussed on the season ahead for the Latics.
After his arrival in December, Bruce quickly picked up on our goal scoring troubles and swiftly moved to bring in Marlon King. The former Watford and Nottingham Forest striker managed just one goal and now looks set to depart.
Bruce has hopefully sorted the problem though with the acquisition of Egyptian goal machine Amr Zaki. Officially rated as the world's greatest striker by FIFA, the 25 year old could well prove to be the bargain of the summer. The powerful forward could well be the perfect foil for Emile Heskey, offer the goals to Emile's team play and the penetration to fire the Latics to the top half.
It would now appear that the first eleven on offer from the Latics could push the best in the land a long way this season. I for one am certainly looking forward to the big kick off, even if it is against those loveable West Hammersmith United's.
My best eleven:
Kirkland
Melchiot
Kilbane
Boyce
Scharner
Valencia
Kapo/De Ridder
Brown/Cattermole
Palacios
Zaki/Camara
Heskey
Do you agree? Please let us know on the messageboard.
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