Progress With Unity Podcast #196: Fulham and Wolves reviews, Preston and QPR previews

Evenings suck. I have no idea why anyone would record a podcast after 7PM, let alone host a football match. It's dark, cold and everyone has gone home to watch repeats of Hammydale or Botheration Street.

PWU (or at least your flavour text writer) is wholly in favour of the Wigan Post's decision to drop 'evening' from its name. Not due to the above, but because this local publication now appears to be named after the South Stand goalpost Charles N'Zogbia struck as he netted the winner against Arsenal that time.

See, I told you it was a football paper all along!

Timecodes

0:00 Raucous Valentine's intros
2:00 Fulham review: "possession-based football is dead"
9:00 Coulda Woulda Shoulda Corner: What if Jacobs was Superman?
16:00 Wolves review: 85 minutes you'll never get back
18:00 A Bogle in progress & making Man United look average
23:00 The relegation run-in: "Everyone below 14th at risk"
27:00 Preston preview: Cup Final time again & profitable ball boying
29:00 Bogle standard (hehey) predictions and Si's Oddschecker (31:00)
36:00 Phantom scouts representing Latics in Europe
38:00 QPR preview: Rob's life of crime & quick predictions
45:00 Max & Paddy Perkins' Road to Nowhere

Progress With Unity Podcast #192: Burton review, Brentford preview

Two wins? Blinking heck, maybe Joycey is our king after all. Something incredible is definitely transpiring - Morsy the Sweatband Ranger and Callum 'The Mac' Connolly recently arrived in Lankisher with pixie dust on their toes and halos on their heads.

"But Mr Flavour Text Writer, Latics just faced the only two Championship teams in worse form at this point in the season."

Shurrup and write 'believe, and not just because that banner above the Grand Arcade told me to' on that blackboard precisely 88 times. Then iron my shorts.

Timecodes

0:00 Cheery intros
0:40 Matters Burtonian - Who the heck is Callum Connolly?
6:00 No public address announcement at 'Disco Burton' & #BogdansBigBrother update
10:00 'Joycey's (training) balls' & a short(s) interview review
16:00 Saucy Morsy the horsey... forcey? & A radio shoutout (literally)
20:00 "The Podcast ruined my dental work" & transfer gossip juice
22:00 Gary Caldwell is history & Zlatan Offsideovic
25:00 Brentford Beeview: Introducing Hulkington Jay Hogaaannn
29:00 Si's Oddschecker & roundtable predictions
36:00 Wigan Athletic returning to the Beeb & thanks for the cash, Bolton!
37:00 Fanzine plug, Hacker's 'owlers and Rob's wheely bin saga continued

Progress With Unity Podcast #191: Interview with Nick Taylor; Forest and Burton

Thank Jesus Seba for that! Just when everything appears to be crumbling to a film of biscuit crumbs that get stuck at the back of your throat... from a decaying BT phonebox emerges an unexpected saviour: the FA Cup 4th Round draw!

Nah, I'm not talking about the forthcoming Man U v Wigan tie, but the actual process of drawing those little spheres from Paul Daniels' velvet bag. There's nothing like grown men fumbling with a bunch of pool balls to galvanise not only your social media following, but your whole season too.

Now that's (the) magic (of the FA Cup)!

Timecodes 

0:00 The illusion of introductions
2:20 Forest review: worst side of the season?
5:40 'Leaf' it to Evergreen Warnock (hur)
10:00 Morsy the Morecambe to Gomez's Wise
15:00 Goalie gabber: Bogdan's Big Brother, & Powell out for season?
21:00 Transfer window ramble - Davies, Morsy, Bogle, Vardy's bandage
29:00 Interview with Nick Taylor, former Latics media boss - Rosler, Stam, Martinez
39:00 FA Cup (draw) golden balls & golden tickets
44:30 Delivering the Burton preview (no comment)
48:00 Mick's toothless prediction and Si's Oddschecker
53:00 More questions for Nick: your biggest mistake & Rob's bins!

Progress With Unity Podcast #189: Ipswich review, Rotherham preview

"A fair tackle." -- Officials

Diego Maradona punching past Peter Shilton in the '86 World Cup Final: legal. Thierry Henry placing the ball at his feet before scoring the goal that dumped Ireland out of the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers: legal.

Branislav Ivanovic gut busting Shaun Maloney just seconds before Chelsea broke to score a winning goal... which was offside: all above board and ratified.

Keith Stroud awarding a penalty against Dan Burn just for existing: you'd better believe that stood up in a footballing court of law (unlike that attacker stumbling into the penalty area).

Conclusion: football is utter nonsense, so for 2017 I shall be switching to competitive kerb-ball. And that, dear reader, is your Christmas present!

Timecodes

0:00 Apologetic intros LIVE from Sweden
2:00 Ipswich review with BUMPER Xmas stats & injury report
7:00 Burn's Safety Matches & the Joyce of Christmas
11:00 Fog trotting: grounds for abandonment?
13:00 Yanic's last Xmas at Latics... perhaps
16:00 PWU Highlights & Lowlights (22:00) of 2016
26:00 The Positives Section, BECK by popular demand
27:00 Rovrum preview: 'we have to win'
30:00 Apprehensive Derby and Huddersfield mini-previews
34:00 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Beer from PWU!

Progress With Unity Podcast #188: Aston Villa review, Newcastle and Ipswich previews

  
Contrary to the first two teams in the post subject, it certainly isn't Premier League Week here at PWU. Get with the times! We're in 1996 already, geez.

Unseasonably mild evenings offer the perfect opportunity for an al fresco edition of Peedubya live from the burger van outside the South Stand. Yep, we literally stood around in a circle with a voice recorder while the wind blew through our ears.

(Well, *I* didn't because I was stuck in a traffic jam outside KFC.)

Our resident podcast editor has applied noise removal techniques, but sadly could not do anything about the rubbish spewing from our mouths. Hwahaha!

Timecodes

0:00 Outside broadcast intros
1:00 Bus parking tips for Villa Park (Aston Villa review)
3:00 Griggsy is back!
6:00 The Road to Wembley 2017: FA Youth Cup
10:00 Welcome to Wigan, Sky Television, & Ipswich thoughts
15:00 Hypothesis Corner: Three consecutive draws - points gained or lost?
19:00 Post match musings: Kellett, Caldwell tactics, bring on Ipswich

Progress With Unity Podcast #167: Blackpool review, Barnsley preview

Why, dear reader? Why would you ever feel the evil urge to buy one of those terrible third-rate excuses for bedroom pseudo-furniture? The annoying little balls get lodged in your groin area, causing stealth bum numbness that only seems to materialise when you attempt to stand.

And tell me why you would want a tangerine coloured one when you claim to be a Wigan Athletic fan. Do you plan to paint it with that blue gloss you have left over from last year’s shed redecoration? Granted, it is a simply gorgeous hue, darling...

...But oh, you meant ‘Blackpool Beamback’? Sorry, I’ll crawl slowly to my comfort beanbag in the corner again…

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...

Progress With Unity Podcast #161: Bradford review, Swindon and Rochdale previews

Why is it that Walsall don’t play at all over Easter weekend? You’d think they might have one game at least, but their next scheduled game is against Sheffield United on 2 April.

Are they entering an egg rolling competition… or maybe an egg roll competition on The Great British Egg-Off? Perhaps they’re going to see a theatrical version of The Walking Dead starring Darren Deadman as all the zombies…?

Or is it that time of year when the whole of Walsall takes time off to prune its exquisitely trimmed lawns? You know, like how Wigan has a borough-wide holiday for National Pie Week.

(I have to say Walsall’s lack of domestic action could also be due to players on international duty. But that’s boring, so let’s not.)

Whatever the reason, bottlenecking fixtures in April can only lead to heartache. The good news is that the Saddlers, like Latics, are now mathematically safe from relegation… but wouldn’t the Playoffs be just as bad?

Yes… yes, they would.

Progress With Unity Podcast #159: Peterborough review, Colchester preview

Apparently, last Friday wasn’t the 13th of March… but you could have fooled me. When Mike Pollitt steered his SUV into a poorly-placed brick wall, he set in motion a chain of events that rippled through the Latics goalkeeping staff, and eventually the whole team. Tactical switches became difficult to acclimatise to, before you knew it, two League One points had slipped through our particularly greasy gravy-stained fingers.

In a season of great luck with injuries, suspensions, signings and results, relatively minor misfortunes are magnified to such an extent they become lead paragraphs on small time internet weblogs.

But it hasn’t been a bad week overall, you know. The tenacious trio of Morsy, Jussi and Pearcey will be back fairly soon, while Stephen Warnock has also arrived to help Polyfilla the mouse hole. (Aaand now you know what household tasks I’ve been engaged in this past month…)

Progress With Unity Podcast #157: Walsall review, Bury and Millwall previews

We shouldn’t really talk about the FA Cup, seeing as Wigan are no longer part of this year’s competition. But I can’t resist – the nostalgic lure of summer 2013 looms large in my nostrils like the fragrant aroma of fresh pigeon droppings. Hey, it reminds me of Haigh Hall, okay?

Observers of Man City’s crushing cup defeat to Chelsea may have recognised two familiar faces – those of Tosin Adarabioyo and Cameron Humphreys-Grant. That’s because they played for City 18s against Wigan at Stade DW just a few short weeks ago! My, how they grow so fast.

Meanwhile, the ‘magic of the League’ continues to excite Progress With Unity’s panellists more than it bally well should. Are you ready for the mid-table marathon that is Feb-Mar 2016?! PWU says: bring it on with a side of French fry pie.

Progress With Unity Podcast #156: Oldham review, Walsall preview

He’s the only Latics player cool enough for not one, but three heavy metal umlauts. Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen, whose name I certainly did not cut and paste from Wikipedia just now, is still bumpin’ and thumpin’ at the ripe old age of 21 plus 19. You never would have thought it ten years ago, but the long time Boltonian has bellowed his way into our big Lancastrian hearts this Valentine’s Week.

Choose not to berate and slate those who might have converted their 86th minute chances, nor those who slowly slinked down the tunnel after getting lost in the centre circle. Instead, listen to PWU’s so-called 'expert panellists' do just that…

Well, OK – we do praise Jussi as well... briefly.

Progress With Unity Podcast #155: Sheffield United review, Oldham preview

At this point in the season, there exist 23 mini-Everests. Scaling a single place in the League One table is a notable achievement indeed... if you can survive, that is. And that's not to mention the $25,000 you have to fork out just for a permit to climb.

I, er... think I'm going to stick to scaling the Rabbit Rocks in Ince from now on. The terrain is much more even than a typical DW surface in mid-February...

Progress With Unity Podcast #154: Port Vale and Man City U18 review, Sheff Utd preview

Ahh, good old Tez. We miss ya!

Gooooood afternoon guys! Iiiiiit's twelve past seven here at 193.2 Latics Efff Emmm. Gonna be ten degrees out there today so remember to take a coat and bag of Uncle Joe's with you if you're venturing beyond that front dooooor.

Todaaaay's shoutout goes to the DW Stadium surface: get well soon from all Latics fans out there in Wigan Boroughland on this fine Lancastrian afternoon. Please don't fall apart, we need you for the next four months!

And comin' up next, it's the same track you heard at the same time yesterday because we never deviate from our prescribed playlists. Guh-roooveeeeeaah!

Progress With Unity Podcast #153: Crewe review, Port Vale preview, FAB January 2016

"Good evening, Bristolers. I am reporting live from Norwich, on the border with Hulton just outside wig gone.

"Sorry, did my audio just become garbled there, Geoff? I'm pointing my phone in the erection of Winter Hill now... is matt any better?

"Wight. Let's continue with this week's ablution of the pro Gresty Road post cat. I reckon-"

Oh dear, we seem to have lost our flavour text writer. Let's hope we never get him back.

Progress With Unity Podcast #152: Chesterfield review, Crewe preview

Look, I know we just picked up seven points from nine at home. I know we just saw fifteen goals, all of them amazing in their own special way.

But I'd prefer to just forget everything that has gone and look forward to the final part of the season, OK? All these comebacks are making the hairs on my arms fall out, and I need those to look like Bruce Willis in my 80s tank top.

So Wigan Athletic, for the sake of my yak-like hairiness, keep scoring three goals a game until May 2016.

Thanks,
Guy That Writes The Flavour Text That Nobody Ever Reads

Progress With Unity Podcast #151: Gillingham and Sheff Utd reviews, Chesterfield preview

You want to see the table? Well, here it is...

Don't look at the table, it'll only make you nervous. I said don't do it! And while you're at it, forget all those other teams in this division too. And the other divisions.

Aaaah, don't you feel better now? Good, you can enjoy the football of a Saturday afternoon without worrying if you'll make the playoffs or finish 24th out of 24. Now you can relax and savour soccer for the spectacle it really is.

Sigh... I remember when the FA Cup used to do to that for us.

*Wipes tear from eye*

*Takes swig from '2013 FA Cup Winners' mug*

Progress With Unity Podcast #150: Fleetwood and Scunthorpe, Gillingham and Sheffield United

Tonight's shoutout is directed squarely at the Great British weather, which, in the spirit of neo-punk, continues to make a mockery of the Football League's fixture selection! Yaah, go raaain!

Thankfully, plenty of precipitation is prophecised for the next couple of weeks. This means I can cool down my season ticket, which will be pretty close to melting point after being swiped through the DW turnstiles thrice in the space of nine days.

I suggest you visit the toilet *before* listening to this week's edition of the PWU Podcast, because we rattle through a whole year's worth of topics in the space of 45 minutes. Hey, the last episode was aaaaall the way back in 2015, so there's much more to cover than usual!

(And I know I use that joke every year, but hopefully you forgot by now...)

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?