PART TWO: Wigan Athletic: The 12th Man - 'We failed to understand how toxic that system turned out to be - on and off the pitch'

George Arkwright:

Six from nine. And frankly, that doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story in terms of Gary Caldwell’s return to Wigan. We have spent the largest parts of our season thus far lamenting the emotional and psychological approach that our team has taken to games. Our previous system seemed to prioritise absolute defensive solidarity over any kind of attacking nuance at all.

‘If you don’t score, you don’t win’ is the old adage, and this highlights the tactical ineptitude of the plan in place at the time. How’re we meant to score when we’re playing in a solid low block with not attacking passages of play, isolated strikers and no forward momentum?

This was all evident at the time. It felt as though the management had put in place a system that didn’t work for the players, and his pig-headedness and lack of tactical flexibility meant we were playing poorly, which in turn was negatively affecting the players mentality.

What I think we seemingly failed to understand is just how toxic that system turned out to be - on and off the pitch. In hindsight, the aura of the team, and the club, was one of disillusionment and disjointedness. The fans were disconnected from the club; the manager was disconnected from the community; there was little, if any, communication in regard to direction and long-term vision and many of us felt as though we were being fed empty promises by a leadership group without the experience or the autonomy to make meaningful changes.

In the two weeks since Caldwell has arrived, the club feels renewed in a way it hasn’t in a number of years. He has immediately succeeded in injecting passion and ownership back into the day-to-day running of the club in a very meaningful way. You can see the passion in his interviews; his ability to step into the Supporters Club with rapturous applause; his immediate community engagement and willingness to go above and beyond his stature as simply our head coach to act as the figurehead around which our supporters and wider community can rally.

You can see it in his team and in our performances; players that were previously at best inconsistent and at worst barely playable are now putting in consistent, stalwart performances and quickly writing themselves into the team sheet with aplomb.

Our defence are putting their lives on the line for one another. Our midfield and attack are pushing forward, taking risks and making chances in a way we haven’t seen at all prior to Caldwell’s appointment. The frenetic movement from the bench during games and the jubilant scenes after the two home wins are testament to the connection being formed once again between the Latics faithful and some of our most favoured sons, whom have transitioned from the pillars of our matchday squad and our finest hours, to the statesmen on which we can hang our collective hats.

You can even see it in the work ethic of both him and his backroom staff. I’m not saying the former manager was lazy; I understand the trials and tribulations of football management are far deeper and more strenuous than we could see from an outside perspective; but I remember him putting onus on the nights off that he and his team deserved; claiming that there was a line drawn between his work life and his home and suggesting that, while this was his job and he had investment in the team, it was only his job and nothing more.

Caldwell is the antithesis of this. The man seems relentless in his pursuit of the edge he needs to win games. Even in the two weeks he has been here, his willingness to go above and beyond to find the togetherness mentioned previously has gone a long way to knitting a fractured fanbase together.

He mentioned in his welcome interview how excited he was to be back in the north west; not only due to the proximity to his family, but also as a coach it allowed him to be in the beating heart of football in this country; he has spent his evenings off at other league games, studying our opposition in preparation. This translates through to his staff; he understands the intricacies of the teams needs and has brought people in that share the same passion and enthusiasm for the job at hand.

Special mention at this point goes to David Perkins. We’ve seen him enforce a title-winning midfield and that furore has seemingly carried over to his role as our assistant manager. Bellowing from the touchline, his tenacity has seen him become slightly over-zealous on occasions, but that passion is what is needed to drive a team, and is in stark contrast to the apathy and reservedness with which our previous backroom team conducted themselves with.

In essence, Caldwell gets us. He believes. He seems a man who can never be too prepared or ask too many questions of the situation he is in and this will seemingly prove invaluable in the run in. The endeavour on the pitch has grown tenfold in the last few weeks; we’re asking questions of every opposition; we’re playing with tempo and aggression and we’re winning games by putting ourselves in the right positions, at the right times.

Our supporters are as behind us as they’ve ever been since the turn of the decade and, for the first time in a long time, it feels as though the heart of the club, the belief, has returned. It is early days, and we’re not yet blowing our opposition away, but I suspect that this will come with time as our team continues to meld into a force in this league, and hopefully the next. These are all things that the manager has instilled, and I given enough time, we should be looking upwards and beyond.

All I’m waiting for now is a picture of ‘Believe’ back in the gaffer’s office, as we leave that sorry period behind us. Up the Tics.

Soccerates:

As Soccerates, it’s time to hang up the tactical chalkboard for a moment. While the geometry of a formation is fascinating, the true soul of a club isn't found in the heat maps - it’s found in the heartbeat of the community.

Beyond the Chalk Lines: The Heartbeat of the Club

For a long time, I have occupied this space analysing the 'how' of our football - the high presses, the overlapping runs, and the tactical shifts. But as we approach the final stretch of the season, I want to pivot away from the X’s and O’s. After all, a club is not merely a collection of players in a kit; it is a community bound by shared history and a common purpose.

If we want to live the life Wigan Athletic deserves—both as fans and as a club—we must engage with the ventures that define who we are when the whistle isn't blowing.

1. The Long Road: Supporting Joseph’s Goal: Starting 12th March, the Joseph’s Goal team begins an arduous trek from Bradford to Wigan. This isn't just a walk; it’s a testament to endurance and the power of our collective support for NKH research. That's over 50 miles. Pretty incredible. The Goal: To turn every mile into momentum. The Ask: Whether it’s a donation, a shout-out on social media, or cheering them across the finish line, let’s show them that the "12th Man" extends far beyond the stadium walls. As a personal aside - in March 2024, I suffered a pretty debilitating injury: I ruptured both my Achilles tendons. One is bad, both left me with no leg to stand on, literally. Something which kept me motivated and kept pushing my recovery to walk from Wrexham to Wigan last year. It was something to aim for and a reminder to myself that someone close to our hearts needs us. It gave me immense pride to finish that walk (albeit with a hobble) and stand alongside everyone. Let's show our support once again for this great cause.

2. Community in a Cup: The LatiCafé: Every Thursday, the LatiCafé opens its doors. In an age of digital disconnection, there is something revolutionary about sitting down for a brew and a chat. Why go? It’s the perfect antidote to the isolation of modern life. It’s where stories are swapped and bonds are forged. If you’ve been meaning to "step out" and engage more, this is your open invitation. We all have unique stories and experiences, and this is a great place to go and share them.

3. Honouring Our Roots: The Heritage Project: We cannot know where we are going if we forget where we’ve been. The Heritage Project is doing the vital work of preserving our history. The Experience: I encourage every fan to attend their sessions and displays. Dive into the archives, see the relics of seasons past, and contribute your own memories. Our history is a living thing—help keep it breathing. I was lucky enough to step behind the scenes and see the hard work, dedication and care that goes into every article, archive, or memento. This is vital work, a link from our history to our present. It's open from 1pm on match days.

The Final Word: Analysis tells us how the game was played, but engagement tells us why it matters. Let’s get behind these ventures with the same intensity we bring to the stands.

The club is calling for more than just spectators; it’s calling for participants. Showing our support to these different causes and projects mean the world to me, and I hope that those of you reading this give them a go, too. So let's step out, show up, and give these ventures the attention and passion they deserve.

Tony Moon:

Well, not much to say, is there? I’ll leave others to discuss the finer points of Saturday’s game. Me, I’m just happy walking out of the stadium with a smile on my face...and not just cos we’ve won both home matches under Caldwell & Perkins (wouldn’t that be a great title for a new Channel 4 cop drama...or one about two dogs - a calm, sage black lab, and his little ginger mate, a terrier/shih tzu cross...and beggar me, he’s not half cross at times!)

Everything just seems more...organised. Especially on the pitch. Players who’d previously been written off as 'rubbish' are now starting to show (or show again) what they can do...and it’s heart-warming to see. Years ago, I wrote a piece for the Mudhutter (crackin’ mag) titled 'A team full o’ Garys' (some aspects of which are understandably unprintable in this esteemed publication). Well, we don’t need the team it seems...just the main mon will do for the time being. And Perks of course. Woof...snarl.