Wigan Athletic – The Scout Report

United were back to winning ways at the weekend with the 4-0 demolition of Birmingham City. The next challenge is a trip to the DW Stadium to face off against newly promoted Wigan, where three points will be high on the agenda. 

Wigan Athletic – A Factfile

 

Founded: 1932

Nickname: The Latics

Stadium: DW Stadium

Manager: Warren Joyce

2015-16: League One, 1st

Major Honours: FA Cup (2013)

 

Notable Signings

 

Jordi Gómez – AM – Wigan icon and stalwart of the side during their stint in the Premier League, Gómez is a flair player with vast experience of English football. With tricky feet and dead-ball specialty, Gómez can be trouble particularly in the attacking third. Although not always a starter due to his advancing years, Gómez nevertheless still possesses the ability to change a game.

 

Dan Burn – CB – One of the Championship’s tallest players, standing at over two metres tall, Burn is a slender built central defender. Known for the occasional defensive error at former club Fulham before being released in the summer, Burn is a player who can certainly be exploited by fast attacking play, due to his immobility and sheer size.

 

Notable Departures

 

Emyr Huws – CM – Arguably Wigan’s top youth prospect in recent years, but featured sporadically for the Latics during his time at the club. The Welsh international spent last season on loan at Huddersfield Town while Wigan were winning League One, and impressed enough to warrant a permanent move to fellow Championship strugglers Cardiff City.

 

Jason Pearce – CB – Well-travelled throughout the English Football League during his career, Pearce is no stranger to matchdays. A vital member of Wigan’s promotion campaign last year, the 29-year old opted to take an offer at Charlton Athletic instead of remaining at the DW. Conceding goals has been a consistent issue this season for Wigan and it begs the question whether Wigan would have been better off with Pearce’s experience at the heart of their side.

 

Key Players

 

Will Grigg – ST – The Northern Irishman needs little introduction as the man behind the infamous fan chant (stolen by Wigan fans, we might add), that became the soundtrack of Euro 2016 despite Grigg not making an appearance. Grigg did in fact score very frequently last campaign in League One earning him League and Club plaudits, and has continued in a rich vein of goalscoring form so far this year. He is certainly a goal threat and will need to be kept an eye on.

 

Max Power – RM – One of Wigan’s most charismatic and outspoken players, with a peculiar name, Power is a versatile midfielder who made his name at Tranmere Rovers as a youngster and has gone on to make over 50 league appearances for Wigan since his 2015 move. Power’s stamina, natural fitness and consistency have been some of Wigan’s positives so far this year, all of which allow him to make an impact late on in the game.

 

Reece Burke – CB – Young loanee Burke began his career at parent club West Ham United and has featured for their youth teams a great number of times. Burke spent last season on loan at Bradford City and has made the step up to the Championship this year with Wigan Athletic acquiring his services in the summer transfer window. The 20-year old is tall and quick for his stature making him a rare commodity at centre-back.

 

Last Six Results

 

Cardiff City 0-1 Wigan Athletic – 29/10/16

Wigan Athletic 0-3 Reading – 5/11/16

Barnsley 0-0 Wigan Athletic – 19/11/16

Huddersfield Town 1-2 Wigan Athletic – 28/11/16

Wigan Athletic 0-1 Derby County – 3/12/16

Aston Villa 1-0 Wigan Athletic – 10/12/16

 

Manager – Warren Joyce

 

Having taken over at the beginning of November, Joyce has attempted to steady the club’s slide to the foot of the Championship table but still finds his side sitting second bottom. The 51-year old has been manager of Manchester United’s Reserves for the past six years and left his post there to become the chief at the DW Stadium. Joyce is renowned for bringing through young talent and nurturing young players. Joyce will likely use his Old Trafford contacts in January to potentially add to Wigan’s squad and halt the direction they’re currently going in which is back to League One.