Progress With Unity Podcast #149: Jonathan Jackson Q&A Special

The PWU Xmas bash in full swing!

Sick of Dear Old Madge's boring Christmas Day speeches year after year? Can't relate to the pop culture icons delivering Channel 4's alternative Christmas message? Then PWU might just have the thing for you in this most festive of seasons.

No, I'm not talking about this Q&A Special with Jonathan Jackson and whichever PWU panellists just happened to show up. I'm talking about this festive ditty, to be repeated many times on the terraces this Boxing Day:

On the 12th day of Christmas Donald Love sent to me...
David Sharpe said we’ll smash it 
Gary Caldwell is Superman 
Max Power’s a-leaping 
Yanic’s on the run 
Captain Morgan likes spiced rum 
Seven days for Craig Davies 
Six Jussis Jiving 
Five Jacobs' Crackers 
Four nil at Bury 
Three points at Barnsley 
Graham Barrow with a marrow 
And Joe Parkinson in The Pear Tree

Merry Christmas, PWUers! Keep an eye out for the video version of this edition, coming soon to an internet near you.

Progress With Unity Podcast #148: Blackpool review, Barnsley preview

Oh, my... I have to warn you that this week's From The Terrace report is potentially quite controversial. Not because of its content, but the fact it was recorded during the Blackpool game at the DW Stadium illegally!

If you never hear from us again, presume we've been hunted down by Sky Sports for recording (pretty rubbish) 'live' updates from the stands as the game was happening. And no, you can't have my matchday Thermos after I'm 'gone' - I've already pledged it to the dog in my last will and testament.

Also listen out for a brief chat with Will Grigg about goalscoring, international glory and... Star Wars, perhaps. Well, probably not - I just wanted to appear topical for once.

Progress With Unity Podcast #147: Barnsley review, Blackpool preview

I *could* write some silly flavour text here, but then again you *could* be listening to PWU's exclusive interview with Tangerines defender and 'friend of the show' Emmerson Boyce. Now doesn't that sound much more appealing than a cabaret joke that only inebriated fools would find the slightest bit humorous?

By the way, don't forget to register your interest for the PWU Xmas special to be recorded on the 23rd December. We want you lot to toddle along and fire questions at our esteemed guests... which may well be confirmed in this edition of PWU, so get listenin'!

Progress With Unity Podcast #146: Southend review, Barnsley preview

No mistake, John Stones' Paint Trophy is pretty important. When you switch a game from Tuesday night to Saturday afternoon, you know it isn't just a leisurely midweek knockabout any more. You're too far invested, and nothing but ultimate victory shall suffice.

...Either that or a tub of terracotta to paint the bathroom ceiling, whichever's on offer. Wonder if they'll do buy one get one free on David Dickinson orange?

Progress With Unity Podcast #145: Shrewsbury and Burton reviews, Southend preview

Sorry, I can't do it. I can't mention Burton without thinking about Burton's Biscuits, the UK's second largest manufacturer of the confection, presumably after whoever makes those [name of TV chef removed] wafers that taste like 40-year old stamps. I'll be back to write the second paragraph once I've raided the fridge.

Right, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, Wigan Athletic's slight dip in form to coincide with the ever-so-convenient shift in atmospheric conditions. But I've already covered this subject in my toilet door column for the Daily Fail, so have a game of Ten To One instead:

Progress With Unity Podcast #144: Rochdale review, Shrewsbury and Burton previews

Look, I told you to stop me if I ever got like this! We're barely into December and already I'm refreshing the BBC Sport league table on an hourly basis just to make sure we haven't climbed a place or two in the preceding 25 minutes. It's like the Ceefax days all over again! Agh, I'm gonna unplug this Ethernet cable right no- NO CONNECTION AVAILABLE

Progress With Unity Podcast #143: Bury and Blackpool reviews, Rochdale preview

Ah, so *that's* where all those pots of Johnstone's Paint have been going!

Bumble bumble bumble Bury, mumble mumble mumble league priorities, grumble grumble grumble bad referees.

Now with that out of the way, we can talk about Wembley again! Ah yes, the DW of the South, the Ben Watson Memorial Stadium, where the sun always shines... despite gushing rain that somehow seeps through the extra thick tarpaulin covering the terraces. Well, we can forgive the cost cutting - after all, Wembley *is* one of two Wigan Athletic stadiums Mr Whelan has to maintain these days!

Progress With Unity Podcast #142: Swindon review, Bury and Blackpool previews

Yep, just hold on a minute while I adjust my seat here. Let's see... right, I *think* that's in the correct position now. OK, I'll just go to the kitchen for a refill of my lukewarm beverage, then make sure I haven't had any calls on my answering machine... for the third time this hour.

What, a booking? Come on, ref, how was I wasting time there?

...Wait, since when did blog description writing have yellow cards, or referees for that matter? Blasted Vigouroux Effect.

Progress With Unity Podcast #141: Bradford review, Swindon preview

Welcome back, surfers, to the PWU Better Grounds Guide. Still to come on today's show: the curious case of the missing Valley Parade toilet(s), plus a special report on what exactly goes into your hot chocolate - the results are surprisingly metallic. After that... *gurgle* ...uh oh, I knew I shouldn't have had that chicken balti pie for breakfast! Quick, Jim, take over presenting duties before the audience catches wind of this... quite literally. *BLURRRGLE*

Progress With Unity Podcast #140: Colchester and Peterborough reviews, Bradford preview

Greetings! I am a humble time traveller, and I bring you news from the future. Did you know that in 2013, Wigan Athletic will win the FA Cup? And that in 2014, they will sign the greatest striker known to (one) man, Grant Holt? And that in 2016, they will... [content censored]

(I had to do that for your own good. In fact, that piece of censored news has persuaded me to quit my job as a Wigan Athletic job description writer forever. Now bog off, you lot. -- Ed)

Well, he was rude, wasn't he? Never mind: I, Dan, will still be here.

...Wait, where are you going? Come back!

Progress With Unity Podcast #139: Bury review, Colchester preview

I think you'd better do as he says - that's a pretty big gun he has there. (c)BBC

There it is, I saw it with my own eyes! Latics have played their first 'Bear Grylls' card of the season. Let me explain...

You're probably aware that Man vs Wild is no real representation of life in the wilderness, since 'Brother' Bear does most things because the director tells him to. In the fast-paced world of television, an instant catalyst such as this is needed to keep things interesting. In football, that catalyst is a red card... in this case, at Bury.

BOOM, two goals, could've been three. Now discuss at great length until your face is as blue as your shirt. PWU139: go.

Progress With Unity Podcast #138: Walsall and Crewe reviews, Bury preview

So much for a settled squad by October! Four debuts in the space of a week, not counting that ball boy? Well, if they're all as good as Yanic Wildschut, I say keep shipping 'em in!

Warning: the preceding sentence may contain opinion that conflicts with the general consensus of Progress With Unity as a whole. Feel free to ignore it and browse the above John Stone's Paint colour chart at your leisure.

Progress With Unity Podcast #137: Oldham and Millwall reviews, Walsall preview

You gotta know when to Oldham...

Forget two card draw, how about two draws and a (red) card? Yep, screw exposition: that one sentence is my PWU Podcast description this week, because you don't get much more succinct than that.

Did ya hear me? That's it, so just download the episode and find out what's inside. Hey, it wouldn't be right for me to spoil your Christmas present, would it? ;)

Progress With Unity Podcast #136: Fleetwood review, Oldham preview

No, I said 'Manny Flores', not 'many floors'! Pic courtesy a dude called Matt.

Here's a tip for you collectors: I hear Jordan 'Wannavus' Flores is going to put his season ticket up for sale in the next edition of the All Gone Latics fanzine... apparently it is no longer of use to him due to work commitments.

I tell you what, let's ask his dad, shall we? He is, after all, Progress With Unity's guest of honour in this most amazing of weeks for the Flores family.

Progress With Unity Podcast #135: Port Vale review, Fleetwood preview

I've haddock enough of this... it isn't the time or plaice! (c)Adam Nadel

My editor has told me to bill this game the 'Fish and Chip Showdown' between Fleetwood 'Capital of Chippies' Town and David 'Chip Haute Cuisine' Sharpe. But I refuse to honour his request as it will only make you hungry, and this isn't a food blog like nicecupofteaandasitdown.com. That website, on the other hand, is... and fantastic it is, too.

So, er, scared yet? Well, you should be - Wigan Athletic have the power to be dangerous not only to your health, but the best of the League One teams. If only we could harness that power, it would be enough to tear apart the very fabric of the universe.

Meh, forget that - let's make some Fleetwood Mac jokes instead. Yahay!

Progress With Unity Podcast #134: Chesterfield review, FAB report, Port Vale preview

Well, if you say so, Siri.

Wigan Athletic scoring three goals and Grant Holt returning in the space of a week - a total co-incidence? I think not. The Holtmaster's obviously brought along his lucky Fanta... which can be purchased from the concourse prior to kickoff next Saturday.

More importantly, what about those secret documents from the Fans Advisory Board? Don't you want to hear Barry talk about them?

...Well, tough turkeys - all that stuff was edited out due to suspicious background noises.

Progress With Unity Podcast #133: Crewe review, transfer deadline day, Chesterfield preview

 A tasty window. (c)Tom Ashton

Look, do you really want to know about transfer deadline day signings? Wouldn't you rather see a blow-by-blow account of Grant Holt's return to Development Squad action against Preston? A quick show of hands would be appreciated.

...

Oh yeah, there's nobody here in my living room to respond... except the dog, who's asleep. Never mind, let's just review the Crewe game instead.

Progress With Unity Podcast #132: Gillingham review, Crewe preview

Excuse me, sir, but I believe you spelled it wrong!

You can always rely on the Progress With Unity CREW to bring the pun dictionaries. Be sure to listen carefully tonight, for many CREWl and cringeworthy half-baked references have been corksCREWEd into the show for no other reason than to sCREW with your head.

Did you know that Crewel is a type of embroidery? See, you wouldn't have known that if you didn't check this post. Whoever said PWU isn't the least bit educational? Well, apart from me...

Progress With Unity Podcast Aussie Special: Interview with Craig Fillingham

Aussie weather forecast. 

Ever wondered what it's like to be a Latics fan in 'Straiya? No? I bet it was the spiders that put you off, wasn't it? Well, now you can have a small taste of the Aussie dream (like the American dream, only with cricket) thanks to Melbourne resident Craig Fillingham, who's been so kind as to share his experiences as an exiled Wiganer Dahnundah.

Progress With Unity Podcast #131: Doncaster review, Gillingham preview

It's been far too long since our last 'Live From the Deedub' edition of the Progress With Unity Podcast. We've missed the general background atmosphere and crazed fans chanting questionable things in our ears. (Grits teeth) Yurrrsss, we luurve theese on lucaaation editions.

Ahem. Listen to the end for a rather rude reference that you might like. If you're into that sort of thing, that is.

Progress With Unity Podcast #130: Coventry and Bury reviews, Doncaster preview

(c)Joseph Tylczak

Prepare yourself for some Ultra High Temperatures on tonight's PWU Podcast, an Undeniably Hearty Trek through mediocrity to slightly above mediocrity, hopefully on the way to the destruction of mediocrity. Underpants Have Torn over far less, an Undeniably Horrific Truth. Understand He's Tripping, the guy telling us about his half time milk. Ummm... Here's... Trash?

Progress With Unity Podcast #129: Coventry preview, season preview

(c)Gremlin

It was a time for change, a time for victory. A time for heroes, a time for cartoonish super-villainy and lottery-appointed scapegoats. A time for lazy headline writers to pull the Outdated Pun Dictionary from the back of their Penguin wrapper-laden desk drawer. A time for optimistic introspection.

It was time for the start of the new domestic season.

And that time, my friends, was... now.

-- Some famous philosopher

(Well, OK, maybe I made all of that up myself. And maybe Wigan Athletic will win the FA Cup, who knows.)

Progress With Unity Podcast Summer Special: False starts and bloopers reel

A bunch of turkeys!

Barry will have you believe we never make a single mistake and the Progress With Unity Podcast is recorded in one shot without editing every week. Today's edition is proof that he's lying through his teeth and we mess up far more than he would care to mention. Get ready for some (bleep censored) colourful language and general unbroadcast guff from the 2014/15 season with this exclusive bloopers compilation straight from Barry's cutting room floor!

Progress With Unity Podcast #128: A chat with Emmerson Boyce

In this constantly shifting modern football environment, to spend nine whole years at one club is an achievement to be celebrated. Emmerson Boyce must have watched over a hundred players arrive and leave in that time, all the while acting as a reliable anchor, the man to manage a thousand squads, Mr Wigan Athletic.

Progress With Unity is humbled to present an hour-long chat with Boycey, covering the the FA Cup, Europa League and what the future holds for Sir Emmerson. Whatever happens in the next month or so, I, for one, have been honoured to watch the great man at the DW (and the JJB) for nigh on a decade.

Cheers, Boycey!

Progress With Unity Podcast #127: Brentford review, Emmerson Boyce tribute

You know that thing where podcasts traditionally look back upon the season, taking in the highs and lows (or, in our case, the lows and lows) of a campaign past? Well, this might be the last podcast of the 2014/15 season, but there's none of that here. Wouldn't it be much more appropriate to celebrate a Wigan Athletic legend with a... surprise party? Oh, yew betcha pardner!

Status of potential PWU summer special: uncertain. Status of Emmerson Boyce: inebriated (possibly).

Have a very Merry Summermas!

Progress With Unity Podcast #126: Wolves review, Brentford preview

Hmm, what's that great, grey beast with tusks blocking the exit? Hey, does this mean we don't have to leave, and we can stay in the Championship? Wow, this post-FA Cup dream does have a happy ending after all!

Wait, you're saying that was a dream too? Talk about a nightmare within a nightmare... and I still have to shift that blasted elephant in my room. Ah well, where's that XXXXL Pooper Scooper...?

Progress With Unity Podcast #125: Brighton review, Wolves preview

You know that phrase, 'you're only as good as your last game'? Well, the PWU Podcast likes to take that in the most literal sense, booking the morgue when we've lost as opposed to ordering funfair tickets when we've won. And this week is no exception - even when staring relegation in its ugly, pimple-infested face, a first home win in eight months can make you invincible.

You're in for the ride now, dude... there *is* no turning back.

Progress With Unity Podcast #124: Fulham and Millwall reviews, Brighton preview

Who will win the relegation... well, you know? (c)Bill Nicholls

Well, Cald might have conquered the Kop, but the New Den proved a lot harder. With two red cards from two games, one might even dub him... Cardwell. What, you say the press beat me to it? Curses!

Mercifully, we're coming to the end of this season, and there's a certain amount of relief in the Book Cycle studios. Just think - in three short weeks you'll be toasting Dave Whelan at his celebratory dinner and you can forget all about Rosler, Coyle and their co-conspirators that 'got us into this fine mess'.

So cheer up, eh? One day they'll write a book about all this and you'll read it with a glow in your heart.

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 #121: Bolton review, PWU Question Time

Puzzle: _a_c A_t___e ___t__e

Can I open my eyes now? Are we still in the race? Phew, I don't have to take this rattle and propel it from my perambulator to the duck pond. Although I kind of wish I did, because it would have made for good television.

Never mind, for this is a PWU Question Time special with comments and queries from all corners of the Laticsphere... wait, can spheres have corners? Hmm, I guess internet logic dictates so. Take that, Edward de Bono!

Progress With Unity Podcast #120: Rotherham and Watford reviews, Bolton preview

Hey look, actual football conversation! Under the microscope this week is everyone's favourite holding striker (well, maybe apart from the Hesk), the irascible Mr Marc-Antoine Fortune. Is he worth a fortune, or is he... fool's gold? See, I don't normally crowbar Barry's podcast titles into these posts but that was too good a pun to pass up.

And if you decide never to visit this site again, I do not blame you. Doubly so if Saturday's results are not favourable - it's the Last Last Last Resort. The Last Last Last Last Resort is coming up next week, so I recommend you hang around for that...

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 #114: Huddersfield review, Ipswich preview

Big Ben's final chime of the transfer window draws near... (c)Illarterate

The transfer window has less than a week to run, and those inevitable incomings and outgoings are finally starting to happen. Ahah, just when the PWU team needed more stuff to talk about! In fact, this edition was soooo loooong they had to cut it short for space saving reasons.

(Not really, the recorder's batteries ran out!)

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 #111: Leeds, Sheff Wed and Bolton reviews, Birmingham preview

So is it No. 111 or No. 53? (c)Aleposta

Ahem, please excuse the intermittent shuffling of my feet, Geoff - in a somewhat unsettling turn of events, I seem to have been possessed by the ghost of cricket umpire David Shepherd. This recent Lancashire-Yorkshire rivalry has me in the mood for a spot of cucumber-tinged, smelly flannel leather-on-willow nostalgia.

Sadly the cricket season is a few months away yet, so we must be content with oversized balls for the time being. But don't worry, for summer (and hopefully Championship survival) will soon be upon us... or so I keep telling myself.