A Sort of Homecoming
May 10, 2013 2:02 PM Subscribe
Wigan Athletic will play tomorrow in their first F.A. Cup Final. Millionaire Chairman Dave Whelan has been there before, however.
The Wigan story is remarkable, even without this twist.
The Wigan story is remarkable, even without this twist.
Which makes you about the only one I think. Every English football fan seems to have a soft spot for Wigan, for playing attractive football on a shoestring budget and for they way they've always managed the great escape at the end of the season.
Stoke on the other hand...
Anti football is the politest term I've heard used for them.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:24 PM on May 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Stoke on the other hand...
Anti football is the politest term I've heard used for them.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:24 PM on May 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh, so hope they can pull a win out of the hat! Go, Wigan!
posted by mandarin fish at 2:27 PM on May 10, 2013
posted by mandarin fish at 2:27 PM on May 10, 2013
I'd love to see Wigan take the cup and then lose on Tuesday to Arsenal. Can we make that happen, please?
posted by TonyRobots at 2:28 PM on May 10, 2013
posted by TonyRobots at 2:28 PM on May 10, 2013
To be fair, I'd rather see anyone go down but Stoke, it just seems that they are the most likely candidate.
I'd like to see Wigan beat Arsenal and get Spurs in to the Champions League. I'd even take a loss this weekend to make that happen.
posted by josher71 at 2:34 PM on May 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd like to see Wigan beat Arsenal and get Spurs in to the Champions League. I'd even take a loss this weekend to make that happen.
posted by josher71 at 2:34 PM on May 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Personally, I still have hope Self Pity United Newcastle will be relegated instead of either Wigan or Stoke. I actually like Stoke; they got into the Premierships a few years back and were supposed to be there just to make up the numbers for a season or two and then disappear again, but instead they've been punching above their weight for several seasons. It's only when they started to think they were supposed to be in Europe every season and signed 'stars' like Michael Owen that the rot set in.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:02 PM on May 10, 2013
posted by MartinWisse at 3:02 PM on May 10, 2013
I think Owen was never supposed to be a big player. I think that was a pure PR move on the part of Peter Coates. He's always on tv, etc... I think the same thing with the recent signings of USA internationals Geoff Cameron and Brek Shea. There are definite deals to be had in MLS but I believe the main idea with these transfers was to increase awareness of the club in the states.
Pulis has also historically loved to build the team around journeymen (Jon Walters, Dean Whitehead) and, when he had more money, fading stars (Peter Crouch).
We don't want to be in Europe but top ten finish would be nice!
This is a Wigan thread so a bit of a derail, I'll end with saying that earlier this year when Stoke were seriously flirting with going down, I felt so bad, and so down, that I would never wish that feeling on someone. Someone has to go down, but I can't wish it on anyone.
posted by josher71 at 3:29 PM on May 10, 2013
Pulis has also historically loved to build the team around journeymen (Jon Walters, Dean Whitehead) and, when he had more money, fading stars (Peter Crouch).
We don't want to be in Europe but top ten finish would be nice!
This is a Wigan thread so a bit of a derail, I'll end with saying that earlier this year when Stoke were seriously flirting with going down, I felt so bad, and so down, that I would never wish that feeling on someone. Someone has to go down, but I can't wish it on anyone.
posted by josher71 at 3:29 PM on May 10, 2013
Interesting comments about Whelan in the linked article. For all his ills, at least Whelan never bought the title, and you've got to root for the underdog. So come on Wigan!
Also, re: going down - it is all so tight now, it must be scary all the way up to tenth. Can diCanio pull it off? Will Newcastle manage to organise themselves rather than be a shambles? Can Wigan pull of the unbelieveable, win the cup, beat Arsenal and stay up?
posted by marienbad at 7:01 PM on May 10, 2013
Also, re: going down - it is all so tight now, it must be scary all the way up to tenth. Can diCanio pull it off? Will Newcastle manage to organise themselves rather than be a shambles? Can Wigan pull of the unbelieveable, win the cup, beat Arsenal and stay up?
posted by marienbad at 7:01 PM on May 10, 2013
I'll end with saying that earlier this year when Stoke were seriously flirting with going down, I felt so bad, and so down, that I would never wish that feeling on someone.
This as well. You think you had it bad? Try being a Villa fan this season. Or the season before that. Or the season before that. At least this time we actually have a manager who tries to play football, but yeah, relegation is a fucker.
That feeling of escape though, that euphoria that you won't you slide out of the football league, as my other team, Plymouth Argyle, threatened to do, that's the greatest feeling in the world. And then you realise they have to do it again next season...
I hope Wigan wins the cup, but even if they don't, they're still getting a spot in Europe next season, don't they, considering Man City is sure of a Champions League place already? So they might be playing in the Championship and the Europa League, just like Birmingham (ack pthui) a few years back.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:30 AM on May 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
This as well. You think you had it bad? Try being a Villa fan this season. Or the season before that. Or the season before that. At least this time we actually have a manager who tries to play football, but yeah, relegation is a fucker.
That feeling of escape though, that euphoria that you won't you slide out of the football league, as my other team, Plymouth Argyle, threatened to do, that's the greatest feeling in the world. And then you realise they have to do it again next season...
I hope Wigan wins the cup, but even if they don't, they're still getting a spot in Europe next season, don't they, considering Man City is sure of a Champions League place already? So they might be playing in the Championship and the Europa League, just like Birmingham (ack pthui) a few years back.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:30 AM on May 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
And this time next month, both Wigan and City will probably have different managers. Martinez off to Everton, Mancini replaced by Pellegrini.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:49 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:49 AM on May 11, 2013
I had a soft spot for Wigan right up until Thatcher karked it and Whelan said she has to be given a minute's silence at every football ground despite the fact she did more to harm football than any politician before of since.
Humiliation today and relegation next week would suit me fine.
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 5:18 AM on May 11, 2013
Humiliation today and relegation next week would suit me fine.
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 5:18 AM on May 11, 2013
Villa up by one, both in goals and men on the pitch.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:38 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:38 AM on May 11, 2013
All equal now, both in terms of goals and men.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:04 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:04 AM on May 11, 2013
And that was Villa snatching defeat from the jaws of victory again.
posted by MartinWisse at 8:53 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by MartinWisse at 8:53 AM on May 11, 2013
Seriously. Still, glad Lampard had a good day (so is my fantasy team).
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:16 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:16 AM on May 11, 2013
I hope Brighton get promoted so Wayne Bridge can kick John Terry in the beanbag.
posted by josher71 at 9:25 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by josher71 at 9:25 AM on May 11, 2013
Sort of expected it to be 2-0 at the half. Good on Wigan for strangling City off the ball.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:05 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:05 AM on May 11, 2013
Zab off. Cupset on?
CUPSET ON.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:04 AM on May 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
CUPSET ON.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:04 AM on May 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
City starting to get frantic. I'm starting to get gloaty with the City fan next to me.
VERY GLOATY
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:09 AM on May 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
VERY GLOATY
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:09 AM on May 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
DOING WHAT THE POTTERS COULD NOT!!! GOOD JOB LATICS!!!
posted by josher71 at 11:11 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by josher71 at 11:11 AM on May 11, 2013
Huzzah! Well done Plucky Little Wigan!
posted by Infinite Jest at 11:17 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by Infinite Jest at 11:17 AM on May 11, 2013
WELCOME TO A WIGAN TOMORROW.
IT IS ALL CAPS.
ALSO, LUCRATIVE ENDER'S GAME MOVIE TIE IN.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:18 AM on May 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
IT IS ALL CAPS.
ALSO, LUCRATIVE ENDER'S GAME MOVIE TIE IN.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:18 AM on May 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
(Also, as a Liverpool fan, this is likely the last time I will think nice thoughts about Roberto Martinez.)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:29 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:29 AM on May 11, 2013
Now, let's all pray tomorrow that Charlie Adam and Gareth Bale don't kill each other. That would be a shame.
posted by josher71 at 11:33 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by josher71 at 11:33 AM on May 11, 2013
Only if it happens in the tunnel so Bale (c) does not come on my fantasy team in favor of Lampard (vc). I'm gonna win the damn Mefi League. Or else.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:43 AM on May 11, 2013
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:43 AM on May 11, 2013
Well done Wigan. Now make sure you stay up so Newcastle can go down.
posted by MartinWisse at 1:08 AM on May 12, 2013
posted by MartinWisse at 1:08 AM on May 12, 2013
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posted by josher71 at 2:10 PM on May 10, 2013