Goalkeepers

Gary Walsh 4

He’s signed on for another year, which must surely be his last. The veteran goalkeeper had a very quiet season only making a handful of appearances. He must have been pleased to play at Bradford City in front of his former clubs fans. To be honest though, he looked past it and struggled to fill John Filan’s gloves.

John Filan 9

Many Latics fans player of the season. The Aussie is coming upto his mid thirties and doesn’t seem to be showing signs of slowing down. The agility, reflexes and cool head are all still there. However this could be his final season in a Wigan shirt as he wants to return to Oz when he retires.

James Salisbury 4

Signed on for another year. Didn’t get a chance in the first team but he could well replace Walsh as the number two this year after an impressive loan spell at Leigh RMI.

Defenders

Nicky Eaden 5

He seems to suffer from a lack of pace in Division One that wasn’t exposed in the Second Division. Far too many winger eased passed him as if he wasn’t there. His final ball into the box also left something to be desired, even when the pitch was fine towards the end of the season. Maybe his average season is the reason why Jewell is targeting Crewe’s David Wright.

Steve McMillan 1

He couldn’t have had a poorer season. Riddled with “injury” the former Motherwell full-back didn’t make it close to double figures for appearances this season. Could well be released soon.

Leighton Baines 10

Wayne who? Forget the England prodigy, Leighton is the one to keep your eye on. The left back kicked out both Northern Ireland international Peter Kennedy and Steve McMillan to make the left back spot his own. He has since been rewarded with an improved contract and is seemingly heading for big things if he produces another season similar to the one just gone. A flawless campaign.

Peter Kennedy 4

Started the season in typical Peter Kennedy form, putting in some good performances and some terrible ones, but then he lost the plot and fell out with seemingly everyone at the club. Loaned out to Derby who didn’t want to keep him. He was relegated to reserve football and told that he had no future at the club. Not a bad season up until he threw his bricks out.

Jason de Vos 4

Thank god he has left. Now is the time to bring in a quicker replacement and get Jackson promoted to captain. This ego powered centre-back lacked two yards of pace and seemed to have the judgement of a tomato. Breckin and Jackson were a much better combination, he even had the cheek to ask for a new contract!

Matt Jackson 6

Was played in de Vos’ shadow for some reason despite some superb, composed performance at the heart of our defence. He had the pace which de Vos lacked and seemed to inspire confidence in both his team mates and the fans. Didn’t make as many appearances as he should have but it seems likely that he will become captain for the forthcoming season.

Ian Breckin 6

Again, as with de Vos he seems to be a little bit slow, but made up for this with important last gasp tackles, a skill honed at Satergate! Unless another centre back arrives during the close season he will partner Jackson at the back next year. Could improve his ability when in possession.

Midfielders

Jimmy Bullard 7

Not a bad season from the West Ham reject. People criticise him for giving the ball away too much, but when you are involved with the play as much as Bullard is, then you are guaranteed to produce a few stray balls. He must work on his set-pieces and his shooting but otherwise this wasn’t a bad season from Bullard.

Jason Jarrett 7

Another bargain to add to the Paul Jewell book of bargains. Fair enough, Jarrett may lack the skill and passing precision that Bullard may hold but he certainly does a lot of work in the midfield. I disagree with his new attitude in wanting to be like Roy Keane, Jarrett picked up far too many stupid bookings this season as a result of it.

Gary Teale 9

Teale proved to be the real surprise package of the season. He was never much to be honest. Yes, he possessed an awful lot of pace but his final product was poor. Jewell seems to have worked on his final ball and this resulted in an outstanding right winger and even a Scotland call-up. It was a shame about the shoulder injury sustained at Stoke, but next season is a big one for Gary as he proves the one just gone was no fluke.

Paul Mitchell 4

Another squad member who didn’t really have an impact on the team. Mitch has been linked with a move to Rochdale ahead of next season. He is yet to sign a new contract. Doesn’t look like he will get his chance at the JJB in Division One.

Mike Flynn 4

Squad player who only made a handful of appearances. Away to Bradford he looked impressive with his direct running, but he didn’t seem to have the fitness levels enjoyed by many of the other players, Many of the reserve team followers believed he deserved a chance in the first team.

Alan Mahon 6

Signed in the January transfer window from neighbours Blackburn. Mahon had previously been on loan at Ipswich and Cardiff, and both of those sides would have liked him to sign for them, He has taken McCulloch’s spot on the left flank and it’s nice to finally have a left sided player on that wing. From what we saw in the tail end of last season the Irish man has excellent vision and a touch and shot to match. Surely Mahon will be an influential figure on our performance this coming season.

Tony Dinning 1

I didn’t expect to see much from Dinning this season. He’s gone off the rails and it’s only a matter of time before he is offloaded. Spent most of the season at Blackpool.

Forwards

Nathan Ellington 7

The Duke will have wanted a great season after finally getting his shoulder sorted out. He didn’t disappoint. The goals came fairly freely and the assists like-wise. A partnership with Roberts seems likely to develop but they will have to watch because this is a team game and two men do not make a team. There are many players in this side capable of scoring goals. If anything I would complain that he doesn’t put his body on the line enough and sometimes doesn’t look too interested.

Jason Roberts 6

A great signing for the club, if possibly a bit expensive. Will compliment his buddy Ellington up front and the pair are likely to score plenty of goals. There is a question mark over his temperament after a number of silly sendings off. If he can curb that edge of his game he will have a great forthcoming season. The sending off at Stoke cost us points at West Brom away for sure.

Lee McCulloch 7

Started the season well out of position on the left flank. He will now have to compete with a number of players for a spot up front after the signing of David Graham. His height was an asset against a number of small full-backs but doesn’t seem good enough to hold down a regular spot up front, despite 110% effort every week.

Neil Roberts 5

If the season happened in a game he would get 10 purely for his goal against West Ham which many of us thought had clinched us a place in the play-offs. It wasn’t too be. Otherwise he played second fiddle to Roberts, Ellington, Horsfield and McCulloch, getting only a few games throughout the campaign. Plays well up front and links the play well but he doesn’t ever look like being prolific.

Geoff Horsfield 7

Now without being rude… The Horse made a good start to his Latics career scoring plenty of goals before deciding he wanted to move to West Brom and become a bit-part player. He will be in the Premiership next season though, unlike the Latics…