To describe Saturday’s game at the DW Stadium as our most important in the last 12 months might be stretching things a bit far.
With only six league games gone and so many points to play for, it simply can’t be measured as such.
But every so often, maybe three or four times a season, a fixture gathers so much momentum in the minds of us fans that it assumes the tag of ‘must win’ or at worst, ‘daren’t lose.’
Our game at Wigan feels like one of those occasions, where it will either end up being a cathartic experience for the good, or a miserable memory to shape a season.
There just seems to be a collective angst simmering beneath WV1 that could do with shifting before it turns to anger.
Some of the pressure goes with the territory of a poor run of form. It just feels that a larger part is the fact that this is one of those ‘must win games.’
Maybe it’s because some fans have played down our last three losses to a pair of Europa League sides and a Champions League outfit, that the expectation cranks up for this more ‘winnable’ one.
Add our 2009 victory at Wigan to the mix and the game assumes even more importance. A loss would be far more symbolic than the other ones put together.
Sprinkle in Albion’s fine run of form, starring players they bought in the summer and choose to play, and the recipe is potentially quite disastrous, should we lose.
Let’s hope not.
Whenever one of these games come up – where we worry beforehand that little bit more – Mick and his men deliver.
Just last season, we rose to the occasion in style at Upton Park, when defeat seemed unthinkable at the time, and the game assumed gargantuan proportions.
Our wins against Spurs were also massive in the context of our league position, not to mention horrid defeat to Blues so soon before.
Going back further, a few fixtures in the promotion winning season felt just like this one.
Most notably, the brilliant back to back wins at Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday when every ounce of my being dreaded the games after our sudden loss of form.
And who could forget Derby County away, when at 2-1 down, we could all be forgiven for a 2002 flashback.
For good measure, how about Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium? 1-0 down in a game we had to win to make the play-offs in 1997, against a side I’d never seen us beat in their home town ever.
Whenever a ‘must win’ arises (in our minds or otherwise), Mick finds the winning formula from somewhere, and makes you feel slightly dirty and unfaithful for every questioning him in the first place.
This is why I’m backing the boys to win on Saturday, by hook or by crook.
Prediction League
Thomas: Ben handled the preview as I’ve been away for a few days, so thought I’d tag the Prediction League update on the end.
Nobody correctly guessed a 2-1 to Villa last weekend, but Dazza in Brisbane, Ben, Yoda, Ezz and Hallam all correctly predicted we’d lose so well done to them for picking up a point each.
You’ll all be glad to know that I remain on top of the overall table.
As always, if you want to join in with the Prediction League, simply leave your prediction for each game in the comment section of the official preview (such as this one).
This weekend, I’m going for a 3-1 Wolves win. Call it blind faith if you will.
If you’re heading up to the DW, have a great time and roar the lads on.
Up The Wolves.
Wigan have scored just two goals this season – one each at home and away, therefore I predict Wigan 4 – 0 Wolves – we always bring the best out of really poor teams!
Portsmouth had lost all previous games at the start of last season, and who did they get their first win against?
Us!!
Wigan are crap, but let’s face it, on current form, so are we.
Putting in shifts and having unluck just don’t cut it for me.
Come the end of the season, our position will be determined by points gained, not points we should have got but didn’t, not by players who were not sent off who should have been, and all the other bollocks for excuses that come out.
The bottom line is we have only won once, lost 3 on the trot, and unless the manager gets his head out of his arse with his selections we will keep on losing.
But, if the shit can win, then anything is still possible!!!
FOWB
2-0 Wolves. Goals from Fletcher and Doyle.
I think we’ll do it this weekend, 2-0 to Wolves
I can’t see a clean sheet but there’s always a goal in us, so ill go 3-1. No, make that 3-2. They’ll get a late consolation!
I can’t see a thing that makes me want to be optomistic about Saturday. Crap midfield, Guediora out fro the season…Ward !!! strikers that don;t score and ball watching defenders… we will huff and puff.. but Wigan 1 Wolves 0 for me in a dire game… we are truly appalling to watch
Can we start a new prediction league for scores with 2 mins to go. I think i’d have 15 points now! I’ve probably lost my marbles, no rel logic, just fancy it- 3-1 Wolves. Come on you beauties!
Er, that’s me of course.
Please, please, please…. let me, let me, let me….let me… get what I want this time…..
Wigan 1 Wolves 2
Same for me. Wigan 1-2 Wolves
It’s all doom and gloom for me at the moment (and I remember how Wigan played against us at the Mol last season!) so I go…
Wigan 2:0 Wolves
Learnt my lesson last season about expecting Wolves to gat maximum points in many of these ‘must win’ games.
Hope I’m totally wrong though – a nice one nil to wolves would be great!
Wigan 0-1 Wolves*.
Mick finally comes to his senses and reverts to a 4-5-1. Get ready for more wars of attrition …
(* For Chrissakes, I have to get a prediction right eventually.)
Wigan 0-2 Wolves
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a brazillion times,
If Ward plays we will lose.
Seems that he’s “back in training” after being “forced” off with a groin injury last week.
When I used to play a groin injury was painful, and was usually a kick in the knackers, but times have changed, and I suppose Ward is like the Cowardly LIon, has got no balls!!!
We have to change the back four permanently or we will be relegated before Christmas.
If he stirs the pot, we will piss all over Wigan.
If he keeps the same team, we will get royally stuffed.
FOWB
Wolves 2 – 1 Wigan. Fingers Crossed
Wigan- 0 Wolves- 2 (!!)
Fancy us to sneak a 2-1 win
A boring 1-1 draw!
Wigan have scored 2 goals so far this season. So theyare probably going to double that tomorrow. We may get one ourselves, although as I was suffering from jet lag last Sunday, I watched the match at home, and despite MM saying we played well, can`t recall one chance our team created from open play. So 2-1 to Wigan for me, whats martin O`neils phone number…………
Are you still jet-lagged Mark? Have to pick you up on that one.
What about Dave Edwards chance in the first five minutes? Played through superbly by Doyle and fluffed it over.
What about Fletcher’s superb snap-shot, smartly saved by Friedel?
Throw into the mix multiple crosses and long-throws and I’d say we created more than enough.
A combination of poor finishing and smart defending from Villa kept us from scoring more.
I’ve seen every game thus far and we’ve scored in every one of them and had chances to get more.
More than anything else, a failure to take chances and switching off in the final ten minutes of games has cost us.
…but that’s just my opinion of course.
He was actually tackled with that first chance imo Thomas, should ‘ve been a corner. But it was still his fault, too slow for the prem. And being pedantic, it went round the post not over. Ok, i’ll go back to sleep.
I’ll be on my way up to see the game at the JJB followed by a quick half hour journey to Old Trafford to support Wigan in the Grand Final!! 2-0 to Wolves and 24-20 to Wigan in the Final!! The perfect day I hope!!
A hard fought win I sense today. Wigan 1-2 Wolves.
Doyle ’23
Fletcher ’79
Rodallega ’91
Wolves to win 2-1. fingers crossed mancienne plays this weekend, we need a bit of speed in the backs otherwise we’ll be punished by the likes of nzogbia. and on an even more hopeful note… hope milijas plays!
UTW
3-0 Wolves, no reason except a good score would really make my weekend…..
Come on Wolves, it’s about time we had something to cheer about.
2-1 to Wolves, Fletcher double.
Enjoy it today nico…ps, your name comes up ‘mick’ on predictive text. Do you fancy picking the team boss?!
1-0 Wolves. Just in time! 🙂
It is 6 .45 in the morning here, the teams are in, and The Cowardly Lion has made just one change, Mancienne for Jones.
So, the same ponderous, panicky, useless back four, Ward it seems recovering miraculously (spelling?) from last Sunday’s groin strain.
Prediction?
Lose.
Score?
Who cares, I give up now with McCarthy, he hasn’t got a clue.
FOMM
Karl Henry is a Fu@king DISGRACE to the premier league!
Dreadful game again… looks like we will be on 5 points after 12 games , and I can;t see us getting 38 or so to stay up on that showing.Dreadful stuff, feel sorry for the away fans
Once again, told you so.
Fucking Ward “plays” and we lose.
Now, I am officially starting a “McCarthy Out” campaign, coz even after last season’s woeful beginning, he is doing it again and obviously doesn’t get it or won’t get it.
Fire his Ass, Morgan, and get in someone who is not so pigheaded and stubborn, and who knows who can and cannot play.
Let’s hear it now ……”McCarthy Out!!!!”
FOMM
OK ..I’m with you Clive…MCarthy Out !
McCarthy out!!!
I’m too pissed to be bothered at the mo. Let me sober up and get my thoughts together. I hate football at the moment.