Not only did Monday’s victory over Blackburn Rovers achieve survival for the Latics, and with a game to go I may add, but it represented a very impressive twenty points from ten games in the top flight.
Those twenty points were achieved playing a special brand of football that would be fit to grace any stadium or competition in world football and it is our humble Latics that have been sweeping all before them.
The level of performances over the past ten games has been the best ever offered by a Wigan Athletic team and is largely as a result of the togetherness and belief within the camp, stemming from the manager, through the team, and into the supporters.
There are now the obvious hauntings of mercenary agents circling around the DW Stadium ready to line their pockets with a flurry of summer activity. Chief amongst them is the agent of Victor Moses.
The young Nigerian has been inspirational over the closing months of the season and it is clear to see he has grown as a player under Roberto Martinez.
Now there are some mediocre clubs ready to through medium money at our star winger, who with just one year on his present contract remaining, may well be tempted.
In my humble opinion there need be just one sentence uttered to young Victor over the summer, as he hopeful re-opens contract talks with the Latics. Charles N’Zogbia, or Antonio Valencia?
The former jumped at his middle money move away from the DW Stadium. On the verge of establishing himself in the French national squad, and thoroughly enjoying his football with the Latics, N’Zogbia has disappeared from the football world over the past season. It is also somewhat ironic that his new club, Aston Villa, are likely to finish below the Latics in the table.
The latter remained with the Latics for a good period of time, much longer than many would have expected. He was clearly a player destined for bigger things, but Antonio was humble and hard-working. He didn’t allow his head to be turned by the so called bigger clubs who languish in mid-table.
The powerful Ecuadorian now resides at Old Trafford with many of the greatest footballers of his generation, of which he is considered one. He has everything he could want from his career,, both in terms of trophies and also financially.
He may well be slightly richer, but Charles N’Zogbia could have been so much more, he genuinely could have reached the very top, like Antonio, but he chose the path to immediate mediocrity.
Victor Moses this summer is very much at a cross-roads, as will be other Wigan Athletic players.
Do you jump for the medium money, as so many have done before, and end up on the same graveyard as names such as Heskey, Palacios, N’Zogbia etc…, or do you remain for a further one or two years with the chance of reaching the true pinnacle of the football ladder.
Antonio Valencia not only left the club as a true legend and firm fans favourite, but he is now racking in both the wages and trophies at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Wigan Athletic are unique in that we will not stand in the way of any player who wishes to leave and develop their career elsewhere, we also offer young players a superb platform on which to express their talents without the shackles of pressure or rigid 4-4-2 formations. At the age of just 21 there is no rush to jump sideways for slightly more money for so many of our young talents. Remain at the DW Stadium and grow into the true world beaters you can become before sealing that move right to the very top of the footballing tree.
However now is not the time to be worrying about the team that will take to the field next season. Now is the time to celebrate the achievements of the present season and for everyone connected with the club to have a feel good afternoon at an almost home sell out (97 tickets remaining at the time of going to press) DW Stadium.
I have run out of words to describe the level of performance we have been achieving over the past two months. Words fail me and it is with a real sense of pride, more so than ever, that I proclaim Wigan Athletic to be my team.
We’ve beaten the best our country has to offer against all the odds and we have made it eight years in the Premier League.
With our present set up, from the chairman, to the manager, to all the players, we’re on the cusp of something special once more. I hope each and every individual connected to the football club appreciates just how good we have been over the past two months, and just how good we can be.
It wasn’t so long ago that teams like Ipswich made it into Europe following on from promotion and Newcastle have bucked the trend with a particularly special year this year. Next year could well be our year if we can all recognise our part.
I sincerely hope 2012/03 is the culmination of three years of belief from Roberto Martinez and Wigan Athletic well and truly put themselves on the football map.
For the time being though, let’s enjoy our survival party against Wolves.
We are Wigan Athletic and we believe.
