Season shape-up - Wigan

We look at how sides are gearing up for the new campaign

Last updated: 13th July 2008  

Season shape-up - Wigan

Bruce: Slow summer

WIGAN TRANSFER ACTIVITY

INS: Daniel de Ridder (Birmingham - free)

OUTS: Andy Webster (Rangers), Marcus Bent (Charlton - loan ended), Julius Aghahowa (Kayserispor), Josip Skoko (released), Salomon Olembe (released), Peter Moore (released), Russell Saunders (released)

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It's fair to say that Wigan experienced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the 2007/08 season, and will be looking for a season of stability this time around. With Steve Bruce having the luxury of a full pre-season in which to prep his troops ahead of the forthcoming campaign Chris Burton looks at what the Latics have been up to over the summer.

What's happened so far

Somewhat surprisingly for a side who flirted with relegation for much of last season there has been a distinct lack of activity at JJB Stadium during the close season.

Dutch winger Daniel de Ridder is the only new face to have joined the ranks, while the daily rounds of transfer gossip are rarely filled with tales of imminent arrivals.

Having agreed to take the reins at Wigan for a second time in November 2007, Bruce has spent much of his time since then assessing the merits of the squad he inherited and fine tuning those at his disposal, as opposed to implementing wholesale changes.

The former Birmingham boss utilised the January transfer to impressive effect last season and that may be the reason behind his refusal to splash the cash this summer.

He appears happy with what he has got and has been prepared to release more players than he has brought in.

Salomon Olembe and Josip Skoko were deemed surplus to requirements, while Andy Webster was granted permission to turn his loan move to Rangers into a permanent deal.

Elsewhere, Bruce passed up the opportunity to take Marcus Bent from Charlton on a full-time basis, while the ineffective Julius Aghahowa has joined Turkish outfit Kayserispor.

It is difficult to imagine that Bruce will resist the temptation to make further forays into the transfer market before the new season gets underway, although the Latics did display some encouraging signs towards the end of the last campaign.

Just one defeat in their last six outings, to champions Manchester United on the final day, saw them finish in the dizzy heights of 14th place, a run of results which will have helped raise expectations for the forthcoming campaign.

However, the JJB faithful should avoid getting too carried away as a promising start last time out was followed by a run of 14 games without a win, the only saving grace being that the outgoing Chris Hutchings allowed Bruce plenty of time in which to rejuvenate a side which looked doomed at Christmas.

What they need

Goals - and plenty of them. Just 34 in 38 games last season tells its own story and goes to show why the club found themselves languishing towards the foot of the table before a late revival pulled them clear of danger.

Having shipped out Aghahowa and passed on Bent, Bruce is desperately short of options in the final third and needs to bolster his attacking unit if Wigan are to avoid being dragged into the basement battle for a third consecutive season.

A fully fit Emile Heskey will obviously help the cause, although the England international is never going to be prolific and needs an able partner alongside him to share the burden.

Marlon King could prove to be the answer, but the former Watford man has struggled to reproduce the form he displayed during a goal-laden spell at Vicarage Road.

The annoying aspect for Bruce will be that should he find an elusive 20-goal a season striker then the potential is there to launch a top-half challenge.

De Ridder displayed glimpses of creative talent during his time at Birmingham, while Antonio Valencia drew admiring glances from Old Trafford last term.

With Jason Koumas also more than capable on his day of unlocking the tightest of defences the Latics support will be hoping that rumoured interest in Everton's Andy Johnson bears fruit.

Despite the continued failings in front of goal the spine of the side remains solid with Chris Kirkland a formidable presence between the sticks and Paul Scharner and Wilson Palacios adding steel to the centre of defence and midfield respectively.

A goals against tally last year of just 51, the same as sixth-placed Aston Villa, proves that the Latics know how to keep things tight at the back, so it is now up to Bruce to find that elusive final piece of the jigsaw in attack if the club are to replicate the heroics of their first taste of top flight football back in 2006 - when they finished tenth.

What they'll get

A new front-man is a must, but who that will be remains a mystery. It would take a sizeable approach to tempt Everton into parting with Johnson, while Ligue 1 side Nantes have snapped up another potential target, Ivan Klasnic.

Of the other names banded around, Egyptian forward Amr Zaki has been told in no uncertain terms by his club El Zamalek that he is going nowhere, while reported interest in Paraguay international Salvador Cabanas appears to have died out.

Rosenborg's Fredrik Stoor could be brought in to further shore up the defence, although Premier League rivals Fulham, Blackburn and Manchester City and also tracking the Swedish full-back.

With new arrivals seemingly thin on the ground, there may yet be further departures from the JJB before Wigan travel to West Ham for an opening day fixture on 16th August.

Former Latics boss Paul Jewell, now in charge at Derby, appears to have cooled his interest in much-maligned defender Titus Bramble, but question marks remain over the future of Senegalese striker Henri Camara.

Having spent periods out on loan last season, at Sheffield United and Stoke, David Cotterill and Carlo Nash may find their time at Wigan has come to an end, while Dutch winger Rachid Bouaouzan is actively seeking a move elsewhere.

However, with the squad already looking decidedly short on numbers Bruce would be advised to retain as many of his players as possible, at least until he has dusted off Dave Whelan's chequebook and acquired some fresh talent.

Fan's view - Miro Groffiths

Wigan have come a long way in stabilising themselves within the Premier League. To achieve this again next season the core players who were influential for us last season need to stay; these include the likes of Scharner, Valencia, Palacios and Heskey (who sometimes gets criticised before the whole picture is viewed).

There isn't a need for loyalty, but realistic thinking, can these players develop the same at a top six club, or will they be able to reach their potential here so they can walk into a club further up the league in the future?

It has been quiet on the Wigan front, hopefully now things will speed up. Of course there is a need for a prolific striker, but someone already proven in the Premier League may be hard to come by as the attraction of Wigan doesn't bear well.

Therefore a gamble overseas is the best bet, and the connections Steve Bruce has with highly-rated managers may well be the key to unlock a gem that needs a little polish.

Expectations will be high for Wigan next season, typically a lot of pundits will assume that a relegation battle is in the air, but for Wigan fans an ambitious club will want to try and set the record straight. Wigan Athletic will be trying to gatecrash the Premier League party for a fourth year.

What do you think of Wigan's transfer progress so far? Let us know using the form below.

Comments (4)

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Damien Redford (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

Its about time some one took wigan seriosly to write this story, Wigan are a great tea, not the most atrractive but get the job done when it counts, im fed up with so called pundits writing us of before the game then when we do the business still dont get the credit we deserve, Steve Bruce is a legend in the making and he will do great things with wigan in a full season, just need more depth in the team Thanks Chris Burton

Posted 01:09 13th July 2008

Lee Gaskell (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

i think we need to add depth to the squad but a depth which is of premiership potential. i would love to have not only confidence in the starting eleven but players whho in the event of suspension or injury are good enough to drop in and do the business. I mean any Wigan fan can surely admitt that in the event of an injury to say palacios, heskey or valencia there is nobody who can do the job and that is where we struggle. I respect Skoko but he was and never will be good enough for the prem. We need the right balance of distinct skill, class, experience and loyalty running through te squad.

Posted 14:59 12th July 2008

Tom Dauncey (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

I think the reason the signings haven't been flying in is because we're looking at more established players now. In previous seasons we have struggled to convince "bigger" players to join our club, but I feel we have more than shown we can beat anyone on our day. Seeing Wigan linked with an 11million pound deal still amazes me as it was only 5 years we would struggle to bid 1/10th of that. We've come a long way and we're looking to progress even more! Bring it on!!

Posted 14:04 12th July 2008

Stephen Balcer (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

At last, a journalist who has done a bit of research on Wigan Athletic before writing a report! Good comment on Emile Heskey, the lad works his socks off and does so much more than people give him credit for. You forgot to add the bit about Wigan being a rugby town, and that Wigan Athletic only have 3 fans!! Overall a very good read. Thanks.

Posted 13:54 12th July 2008
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