With the first game of the new season a matter of hours away, it feels like we are stood on the threshold of a journey that will not only shake off the nightmare of the past year, but also take us to new heights as the club once again stands firmly on its feet.
New beginnings always bring a sense of optimism and there is optimism in abundance around Wigan Athletic at the moment, rightfully so. The rebuild off the pitch has been going on at a frantic pace, new backroom staff, player recruitment, stadium and club staff brought in, all in preparedness for the challenge of a season in League 1 of the EFL.
Phoenix 2021, on acquiring the club stated that the priority was stability, followed by success on the pitch, with CEO Mal Brannigan working flat out on the day to day projects and club chairman Talal al Hammad providing the drive, ambition and most importantly the belief, the future is looking bright.
Player recruitment has been nothing short of top class, quality players with great pedigree, though the challenge is still to build a squad with depth before the transfer window shuts in September, we have made a great start on filling the void of only having five players on the books when 2020/21 ended. We now have a first XI to match anyone in the division and the possibilities are there for everyone to see.
The fans are excited, firstly to be back in the stadium watching our club which was so nearly taken away from us, secondly because there is genuine belief that Wigan Athletic will bounce back from the horrors of an administration controlled club to one that has every chance to compete at the top of the table and thirdly because we have to be, how can we not be excited about what is going on.
The club and supporters have engaged with each other in such a special way, we value our club, no one will be taking things for granted, there have been too many tears shed, too many sleepless nights, we have waited over a year for this, this is our time. Come 3pm Saturday when that whistle blows, the roar from the Latics faithful will be the loudest in the land, because we are back.
Captain Tendayi Darikwa
A new era, a
new club captain, Tendayi Darikwa given the honour of leading the club on the
pitch for the coming season, congratulations to Tendayi, I’m sure he will make
a great skipper and lead by example.
We have a strike force that will be the envy of League 1, any permutation of Humphrys, Keane, Lang and Wyke would put fear in most defences at this level, I’ll leave it to the gaffer Lean Richardson to formulate the best option there.
Ben Amos is one of those keepers that, as an opposition fan, you always note as having a great game whenever he plays against you, now he’s in our ranks. Jack Whatmough is quality and Championship level, Tom Naylor and Max Power, both been there and done it, with Burton and ourselves respectfully, Jordan Cousins, outstanding for QPR against us on a couple of occasions and most definitely, as with Whatmough, a Championship level player.
Add into the mix Jordan Jones, Gwion Edwards, Thelo Aasgaard and Tom Pearce, with the vastly improving Adam Long and more signings to come, is it any wonder that supporters are getting a little carried away.
I’m buzzing ahead of the new season, but whatever the next nine months bring, let’s enjoy the ride.
Up the tics.
No comments:
Post a Comment