Progress With Unity Podcast #123: Derby review, Fulham preview

Oh, Superman, where are you now? (c)Helgi Halldórsson
At a time when only the intervention of internationally-renowned superheroes can save Wigan Athletic, step forward our very own Man of Steel - Captain Caldwell, Conqueror of the Kop. Is the latest in a long line of managerial candidates the right man to lead the club into a rebooted universe, or will he be the equivalent of the radioactive rats Batman can defeat with a single flick of his index finger?
*Superman theme plays*
Wait, stop that! We only have the rights to play a 5-second clip... those legal eagles will be posting half of Borsdane Wood to my solicitor. Again.

Progress With Unity Podcast #122: Middlesbrough and Derby previews

Well, you know what they say - 'out of the frying pa-' BONK! (Is smashed on head with frying pan.)

With this latest international break over, it's time to face fears and wind up the clock branded 'Wigan Time'. It is said the dial is so large, only the strongest of wrists can shift this mighty timepiece - Emile 'Mighty Forearms' Heskey once broke three nails attempting to adjust it for daylight saving time. 

In other words, we gotta beat Middlesbrough or Derby. See, you could have skipped that last, superfluous paragraph and got the general idea. I have to work on that tautology, it seems.

Progress With Unity Podcast #119: Leeds review, Rotherham preview

Original pic: Anagoria / Edit: Illarterate

Say what you like about all the drama at Latics - it doesn't half make for an exciting podcast. And we'll be happy if PWU is half as interesting as the ongoing serial aired on Wigan Athletic TV, if those Paul Scharner out-takes are anything to go by! Happy Birthday, Paul.

Wait, another 'last stand' this week? At this rate we'll have more encores than that record stuck on loop in your local supermarket. But how long until the plastic is worn to a fine wafer? And when will someone get sick of hearing the same song and smash the player to bits with a Wigan Athletic inflatable hammer?

Progress With Unity Podcast #118: Blackpool and Norwich reviews, Leeds preview

Image used with absolutely no permission from Colorsport.

(Yeah, I'm feeling adventurous this week!)

Ack, typical. All we have to talk about for weeks is yet another Wigan Athletic loss, then when two wins finally come along we have more talking points than we ever could have dreamed!

With an emotional Mr Whelan hanging up his Blankety Blank chequebook and pen, the panellists discuss life before, during and after Big Dave's reign of glory at Wigan Athletic. 

Also on the agenda is the issue of fan ownership as Latics United rep Alan Moore drops in to chat about independent supporters groups and... well, the usual off-the-wall nonsense. I knew it, we should never have recorded in a public house, with its access to alcohol!

Progress With Unity Podcast #117: Charlton and Cardiff reviews, Blackpool and Norwich previews

It's actually going upwards, but they cropped the pic incorrectly. (Courtesy NASA)

I don't like this month's pre-occupation with a certain unlucky number. We just had Friday 13th and there are 13 league games to save Wigan's Championship season. I ate thirteen Holland's pies at last night's game and have taken precisely 13 trips to the bathroom since 1300 hours.

On the other hand, thirteen is my father's lucky number, and he's also a Wigan Athletic supporter. On that basis, I reckon we can expect 13 wins between now and 13 May 2015. Hey, this Championship stuff is easy, isn't it?

Progress With Unity Podcast #116: Reading review, Charlton & Cardiff previews

Welcome back from the PWU-designated February holidays! I hope you had a Happy Friday 13th and not a single bloke in a ski mask slashed you across the chest with a large blade.

If anything, this has been a fortuitous time for lucky Latics, who finally managed to scrape three points from a one-pointer for the first time since last year. I know that's only two months ago, but eight weeks is a long time to be skulking around Kenny Loggins' relegation zone.

Where's Wally-style task for this week's show: spot the negativity and win 13 smashed mirrors delivered to your door by black cats.

Progress With Unity Podcast #115: Ipswich review, Bournemouth preview

"So, Harry, are you bothered if I borrow your car?" (c)Simon Kendrick

BONG!!! BONG!!!

Nope, that wasn't Big Ben chiming to signal the end of the transfer window, but the PWU regulars banging their heads together in frustration once more. But there is light at the end of this lengthy Lancastrian tunnel of death in the form of new signings. The next generation has finally upon us, and Wigan Time shall soon begin!

Progress With Unity Podcast #113: Blackburn review, Huddersfield preview

The Big Draw. (c)Bundesarchiv

Question for you all: when were you this happy with a draw? Was it when King Edgar Davids pulled that magical ball from the velvety bag of wondrousness? When you won a tenner on the Lotto last Saturday? When you, er, drew the curtains to block out the glaring sun?

Those Progress With Unity blokes, by contrast, are never happy. Only when someone brings us free cake and biscuits do we crack smiles through mouths crammed with cream. Which is not that often, hence the return to Charlie Brooker mode of late.

But you'll be pleased to hear that this week's edition is the most positive so far this year. A juicy Championship point does tend to have that effect on you, I find!

Progress With Unity Podcast #112: Birmingham review, Blackburn preview

Time for more Latic yakkety yak. (c)Pongratz

They say February is the most depressing month of the year... but the thoroughly depressed PWU panellists beg to differ. Having stared at the Ceefax league table for far longer than is healthy, they are all too aware that Wigan have slipped from the second page to the dreaded third. You know things are bad when you have to wait at least 25 seconds for your page to load... still, it gives you time to go and make yourself a sandwich or download the latest edition of the Progress With Unity Podcast. (Hint, hint!)

Progress With Unity Podcast #110: Watford review, Rotherham, Leeds and Bolton previews

"But I only came to wish you a Merry Christmas! And eat your flesh."

First, I have some bad news for you - this the last 'proper' PWU Podcast of the year! This means we'll be taking a 3-week Christmas break during the Wars of the Roses v. Rotherham, Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday.

But here's the good news - we have a bumper pre-Xmas special complete with mince pies, greetings cards and special guests from the hostile side of the Pennines. And maybe, just maybe, something else might be coming up before we next convene... but more about that as and when it happens.

Just try to forget the bad football and have a fantastic Christmas, podcasters.

Progress With Unity Podcast #109: Norwich review, Watford preview

This pic was requested by the PWU crew. Merry Christmas!

The panellists are restless - some more so than others. My bottom, for one, spent the best part of 62 long recording minutes (including the naughty bits that were cut out) shifting around in its chair. Like Latics, it struggles to find a comfortable position, and I think it might be after Christmas before it settles on a long-term resting place.

Wait, did I really just compare Wigan Athletic to my backside? Jim Royle, eat your heart out.

Around the table this week: Barry, Gareth, Rob, Adam, Mick, Dan and Paul T

Progress With Unity Podcast #108: Sheffield Wednesday review, Norwich preview

George Formby goes sidesaddle. (c)Jorge Royan

Changing managers is like having a leg amputation: it may hurt at first, but soon you'll feel nothing. But then you realise you can't take free kicks half as well as you could, and retire to a Cornish farm to become a professional pirate. In other words, it'll all work out OK in the end, so don't worry - the Twitterati will do enough of that for you.

Around the table this week: Barry, Gareth, Adam, Mick and Paul

Progress With Unity Podcast #107: Middlesbrough review, Sheffield Wednesday preview

(c) Phil Guest

Good evening, good evening! Welcome back to Catchphrase with me, Roy Yacker. Before the break we saw Uwe lose all his prize money with a few incorrect decisions, but that's the way the game works. Grant Holt, Andy Delort, Oriol Riera and everyone else in the audience, you're all back in play for the next round - The Pre-Christmas Elimination Challenge! Who's gonna lose out? Let's find out right now...

Around the table this evening: Dan, Paul, Gareth, Adam, Rob and Mick

Progress With Unity Podcast #106: Rosler out, Mackay in & mini Middlesbrough preview

'Ullo Dave, got a new gaffer?

So I guess nobody expected that one, eh? England beating Scotland 3-1 and not a Shaun Maloney free kick in sight… shocking. And to make it worse, they’re closing the Tudor House!

Well, we don’t normally have a lot to say during these international break editions (and you know that's a bare-faced lie), but regular listener D Whelan of Poolstock has kindly given us all something to talk about. That's right, Donny Whelan from Wigan Road has sent us a ten-page document of factual errors and mistakes since PWU's inception some two-and-a-half years ago...

(Enough of this barminess, just listen to the show.)

Around the table this week: Barry, Gareth, Adam, Rob, Greg, Mick, Dan and Paul T