Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Progress With Unity Podcast #166: Southend review, Blackpool preview


Got your snow boots and parka ready? Good, because Blackpool beckons and I don't like the look of that weather forecast. Forget sandcastles, you'd be better served building snowcastles! Fetch the mop bucket and shovel, I fancy making a snow-Caldwell...

Hard to believe it's almost August and Latics' latest campaign to crush the Championship is about to begin. I'm tipping Marc-Antoine Fortune and Grant Holt to be the top scorers for Uwe Rosler this season as chairman Dave Whelan aims for third successive FA Cup Semi Final.

Wait, er... what year is this again? And why is it hailstoning in May? Is this a dream, mother?

On this week's particularly smug edition of the PWU Podcast, your confident panellists explain why it was never once in doubt... and chat about ducks. But that bit was mostly cut out, so the above pic makes little sense...

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PWU Latics Podcast - Blackpool Here We Come

April 27, 2016

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A bumper edition this week as we start with a look back at the Southend game, Gareth's stats and Si's 'off the terrace' report get us on our way before we start to analyse the game.

Will Grigg's disappointment at being subbed on the verge of a hat-trick, Michael Jacobs' 10/10 performance and Chris McCann in the attacking midfield role come under scrutiny.

Refereeing decisions once again are a topic for discussion, this time the ludicrous red card given to Colchester's Joe Edwards in their game with Burton, the card has been rescinded, the game was poised at 0-0, Burton went on to beat the Col's 3-0.

We reveal THREE players for the Joseph's Goal charity game between the Latics Legends and the Dutch Masters and they are biggies.

Massive party and game this weekend at Blackpool, can we win the title at Bloomfield Road? What a party this will be.

Contents: Well mint intros, our kid (0:00); Shrimpers on the barbie: Southend review (0:40) with Si-Man's Off The Terrace report (1:20), Southend = Wigan without parachute payments? (7:30) and offensive chat (11:30); Paint Trophy coming back to Wigan (14:00) and phantom red cards (15:30); masterful Joseph's Goal legends game preview (23:00); mythical Blackpool preview (28:20) including 36-point deductions (29:00), Mick's Blackpool scouting report (33:00), Si's Seaside Oddschecker (35:00) and (abandonment) pre-duck-tions (36:00); it's all the ducks' fault! (40:00)

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Editor & Producer - Barry Worthington
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Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Progress With Unity Podcast #165: Doncaster and Burton reviews, Southend preview


Three more to go. 270 minutes plus however many minutes of injury time those blasted officials dig from the deepest recesses of their sofas' gargantuan butt creases.

Three more afternoons to bemoan the death of the traditional 3pm kickoff. Three more days spent jammed into pathetically tiny train carriages bound for Victorian platforms with crumbling architecture.

Three more times to breathe deeply and watch an inflatable sphere roll around reclaimed sand for an hour and a half. Three more football matches for the PWU team to become very nervous about.

...Unless there are also playoff matches, that is. But such words are tantamount to blasphemy... let's finish this job now!


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PWU Latics Podcast - Southend Preview

April 20, 2016

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This week it is a look back at two games in four days, Doncaster on Saturday and Burton on Tuesday, both away, neither won!

We have our usual 'off the terrace' reports brought to you by Simon and despite gaining just one point from six we are still top of the league, still on course to be champions and we are still very much upbeat.

The whole of the top six are appearing to have a crisis of confidence at the moment, just one more win should do it for us.

We reveal another two players for the Latics Legends v Dutch Master's game to be played at Ashton Town next month.

A confident crew look ahead to the Southend game at the DW Stadium on Saturday, will this be the match that sees us grab promotion?

Contents: Tense intros (0:00); Dan Costa ruminations with Si's Off The Terrace report (1:10), complacent or restraint? (5:00) And Perkins vs Vardy (7:30); Burton thoughts with Si's second Off The Terrace report (10:20) including Naylor's on fire, your defence is terrified (14:30), the Brewers may get caught (17:00) but what if they aren't? (19:40); Dutch Masters breaking team news (22:30); Southend pier-view (24:10) including Si's pier-less Oddschecker (30:00) and pier-dictions (31:30); what happens next? (35:20); Ticket price inflation and a gentle zine reminder (42:00)

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Editor & Producer - Barry Worthington
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Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Progress With Unity Podcast #164: Coventry review, Doncaster and Burton previews


Oh, did someone at the back ask for a bunch of cheesy stats stolen from BBC Sport?

It may surprise you that Wigan haven’t scored more than a single goal in any game at the DW since February. Prior to the 1-1 draw with Peterborough on 5 March, they had only failed to score three in a single game this calendar year – a scoreless draw against Oldham on that new shag pile.

Since that fateful afternoon, the ‘Real Latics’ have beaten Gillingham, Peterborough, Chesterfield, Swindon and Walsall… and of course, drawn with then-leaders Burton Albion. I’d suggest they’ll be safe from relegation now, even if Millwall (A) and Coventry (H) await in the last two games of the season.

But getting back to the ‘Plastic Latics’ and their recent home ‘goal drought’, such as it is… well, I’ll let those boisterous PWU panellists be the judge of that. Hmm, I wonder if Statman will be annoyed that I’m trying to emulate him?

Well, Gaz, mimicry is the saltiest form of battery… or something like that.

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PWU Latics Podcast - Almost There

April 13, 2016

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We start off with some Coventry analysis and we have a double header 'Off The Terrace' report, Paul and Si, Will Grigg was on the score sheet once again and he also missed a penalty.

Some very interesting stats from Paul as we compare our current Latics side with the all conquering team from 2003 that 'smashed' this division, quite surprising stats.

Latics Legends v Dutch Masters two more players announced for the Legends team – Michael Brown and Ian Kilford, just one month to the big night.

Talk Latics are organising a 'Meet & Greet' ahead of this Saturday's game, plus they want to turn Doncaster blue and white, I forgot to mention it on the podcast so I'll mention it here instead.

We have Doncaster and Burton previews, ref watch, predictions and Si reveals the match odds via his very own Odds Checker.

We finish off with two announcements of upcoming events.

Contents: 'First take' intros (0:00); 'efficient' Coventry review with a From The Terrace double header (1:00), 'no pro footballer must ever miss a penalty' (4:30), Agent Fortune (7:30) and already promoted? (10:00); 2003 vs 2016: which team is better? (11:30) With bonus stats (14:20) and would Caldwell have managed them differently? (19:00); Harry De Zeeuw's Dutch Masters are in town (20:30); faster Doncaster preview (23:20) with Si's Oddschecker (26:00) and 'measured' predictions (26:30); subvertin' Burton preview (31:30) with the Akins Diet and fighting predictions (33:00); Player of the Season vote (37:30) and any other shameless plugs (41:00) with zines and charity bike rides.

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Editor & Producer - Barry Worthington
©Progress With Unity Podcast

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Progress With Unity Podcast #163: Shrewsbury review, Coventry preview


They’re one Right Honourable Tub of Lard MP away from being a certain Friday evening BBC panel show. I’m of course talking about the delightful carousel of celebrity guests that is WISH FM, who have been covering for the absent Neill Rimmer with various employees of Wigan Athletic FC.

Don’t get me wrong – it must be said that dear Rimmsey has been a brilliant ‘game caller’ for both the club and our local FM radio station. But sometimes it’s good to hear a fresh voice – hey, lack of rotating panellists is the reason you stopped listening to the PWU Podcast many moons ago.

Ed Jones, Michael Jacobs and Jonathan Jackson have very capably assumed the co-commentator’s mic in the past month… but who’s gonna be next?

…Well, I can exclusively reveal that Children’s BBC presenter and Muppet wannabe Hacker T Dog is being primed to commentate on this Saturday’s game against Coventry! He last donned the sheepskin coat for a Belgium v Russia World Cup game in 2014, but has been ‘sucking many of Statman’s Uncle Joe’s’ in preparation for his big comeback.

And that’s where this blurb ends, because PWU knows all about sucking. That was too close to the… er… bone.

Woof.

Progress With Unity Podcast

PWU Latics Podcast - Will Grigg Is On Fire

April 06, 2016

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We start off with some Shrewsbury analysis and Si's 'Off The Terrace' report, cracking goals, Will Grigg on 20 in the league and the return of Michael Jacobs.

Season Ticket Prices! Wow, £179 still hard to get our heads around, fantastic stuff from the club.

Sharpey on GMR on Monday, pies, Jordi Gomez and more.

Latics Legends v Dutch Masters two more players announced for the Legends team - John Filan and Nathan 'the Duke' Ellington.

Talk Latics are organising a 'Meet & Greet' ahead of this Saturday's game, plus they want to turn Doncaster blue and white.

We have a Coventry preview, ref watch, predictions and Si reveals the match odds via his very own Odds Checker.

Contents: Frivolous intros (0:00); Shrewsbu-review (0:40) with Si's Off The Terrace report (4:30), Latics fans have a firm grasp of irony & Will Grigg's on fire (7:30), HIGNFY FM (10:00), Cracker's back & we are staying up! (14:50); £179 season tickets (17:30); Sharpy on BBC Radio Manchester(21:20) with Jordi coming back? (21:30) And pies (26:30); Joseph's Goal Dutch Masters update (27:30); Coventry preview (30:30) with Si's Oddschecker (32:00), and confident-try record breaking predictions (35:50)

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Editor & Producer - Barry Worthington
©Progress With Unity Podcast