Vital Reading season preview
Club: Wigan Athletic F.C.
Founded: 1932
Nickname: The Latics
Ground: DW Stadium (Capacity: 25,138)
When we face off: Sat 21st December (H), Sat 19th April (A)
Last season finish: 18th – Premier League (relegated)
Manager: Owen Coyle – The former Burnley boss returned to management in the Championship, after failing to recuperate a relegated Bolton side two seasons ago. Coyle will be desperate to set the record straight and prove his doubters wrong, but getting any team out of this division is a challenge, but a challenge I’m sure he is up for.
Key player: James McCarthy – The Republic of Ireland international may not be at Wigan come the end of the transfer window, but if he does stay with the Latics, it will be a massive boost to their promotion push. Great passing range and tenacity in midfield, which the likes of Grant Holt and McManaman will thrive off.
Season Preview – As Reading and QPR will also know, bouncing straight back up has always been a tough task for most teams. Similarly to ourselves, Wigan haven’t really lost too many key players, especially in McManaman, Gomez, McCarthy, Al-Habsi, Boyce and others. Wigan certainly have the foundations their to bounce straight back up with the squad they have, Coyle has a decent record at this level too. He will need a good start to the season, so his the team won’t lose any more confidence and the key players wanting to move on. I expect Wigan to finish somewhere in the top six.
