Wigan Athletic: The 12th Man - 'I still think we’re in a better place now than where we were 12 months ago'

Matt Auffrey:

Tell-tale signs emerged within the first few months of the campaign that this season wouldn’t produce a fairytale ending. The winter months then led us to believe the season would end on a frantic note. Changes were made, stability was found, and with safety achieved, our final three games played out in the most dull manner imaginable.

One year ago, we finished the League One campaign in 16th position on 56 points, and collective fan sentiment was that the club had nowhere to go but up. The reality check we’ve received over the past 12 months has been sobering, but thankfully not debilitating.

Our final opponents of the 25/26 campaign, Stevenage, finished one point and one place above us in last season’s final league table. They’ve been far from remarkable this season, finishing tied with us for the fourth-lowest scorers in the division and only a plus-3 goal differential.

Yet, they’ve consistently found ways to win, with 18 of their 21 league victories coming by a single goal’s margin. As average as they looked on their home pitch last weekend, with their season on the line, they still willed themselves to victory - even if it meant claiming a stoppage-time goal where the ball did not decisively cross the goalline.

The end result saw one team keep their promotion dreams alive for two more matches, and the other team finish their season without scoring a single goal in their final three games. While Latics had little to enjoy over the final few weeks of the season, my ultimate point is that we should believe play-off football is within our reach if a team as ordinary as Stevenage can finish in the top six places of this division.

The quality within our squad was certainly good enough to not just compete but win consistently. Taking 24 points from Gary Caldwell’s first 13 matches in charge - when we had ‘something to play for’ - shows the potential this group possessed when they were being coached the right way. If you extrapolate those results over a 46-game season then you’ll get a team that comfortably makes the play-offs.

Unfortunately, we’re unable to wave a magic wand and start the new campaign in mid-August with this exact same group. Significant squad changes are bound to happen over the next three months.

Some 27 of our 49 league goals from this past season were scored by loan players. If we’re going all in on our ‘quality over quantity’ recruitment approach, then we have to nail every signing this summer - especially in the attacking areas.

A great first step would be securing the signature of Callum Wright on a permanent deal. And I hope our plans to bring in Joe Taylor’s replacement are well under way as well.

With all the uncertainty that lies ahead, we can take solace in knowing Gary Caldwell has proven himself to be the right man to take the club forward. His combined knowledge of the game, this division, and most importantly, this club should inspire us with confidence.

As many frustrating moments and challenging periods as there were over the past nine months, I still think we’re in a better place now than where we were 12 months ago. Credit to everyone who travelled from near and far to support the lads through the thick of it all. I wish a joyful summer to all of you!

Martin Lally:

So the season finally comes to a close and, despite feeling quite dejected about the last nine months, I’m determined to find the positives.

It is difficult, however, especially considering the anxiety over the team's composition now the show has packed up for the summer holidays, and given the small number of active players remaining at the club.

I have said we must trust Gary and Perks. They have worked on a shoestring budget before, and it’s hard to determine what will be made available to them for the forthcoming campaign.

For me, the season can be split into four sections. Let’s be honest, at the end of August none of us could of foreseen anything but a really exciting season with the way we started, especially at home and discounting the debacle at Leyton Orient in the autumn sunshine.

From Bolton away to Blackpool at home was a mirage of magic. We never recovered after the heavy loss to them up the road, then seemed to go on a run of dreadful draws and performances that were swept under the carpet by the statement ‘but we are unbeaten’.

Section three started with Bradford away on Boxing Day, showing more positive signs but still poor discipline and the same old nonsense, leading to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, also known as our visit to London Road and the demolition by Peterborough, which saw the end of the previous manager and the resulting information that became apparent in the weeks after of his lack of respect to our fantastic club.

And then of course the run-in. I have to be honest, I actually believed we may have gone at times to League Two. It’s incredible, though, that the playing personal didn’t change yet the management team delivered a team that, in the end, despite the beach results at the end, could have easily competed in the top eight this season in a poor League One.

I guess our season was summed up on Saturday with the absolutely diabolical decision that was handed to Stevenage. For large parts of that match, Wigan looked and were the better team. If a neutral observed that game, your belief would be that we were the team fighting for the final play-off spot. Fair play to Stevenage, who have evidenced everything I have just written that if you keep it tight and stick to your beliefs under a decent management regime, you can be rewarded at this level.

That ball, though, was about as over the line as the one in the 1966 World Cup final, which Tofik Bakhramov, the Russian linesman, assured the referee was a goal. I am uncertain in both cases. You can’t help but feel for Luton, but fair play Stevenage, who drop on a Stockport team now with no fit defenders, so who knows...it could just be their year!

I finish this week with a rallying cry. Throughout this season, the people's republic of Wigan Athletic have called for clarity and communication from the club. Despite the videos, fans forums and bulletin monthly boards, the situation around the status of the squad is already a concern.

I think every fan understands the situation that we are in, but some real quick communication would be helpful as you see the plethora of retained lists appearing from many other EFL clubs. This will obviously be quite a concern for many, and staff need a break, but I believe the club and the fanbase deserve a settled return to pre-season.

Because as proven in the last few months, Gary and Perks can take this club higher and that certainty would be well received...but hey, all I am is a miserable middle-aged West Stand happy clapper! Up the ‘Happy to do it all again’ Tics…

Truelatic4eva

Well that's that for another season. Another underwhelming game of what has been, on reflection, another poor season, beaten by a goal that never crossed the line in added time.

Gary Caldwell hinted after the game that things are going to change, a mass clear-out is on its way, and let's face it - it's needed.

Danson junior has told us in no uncertain terms that Joe Taylor will not be staying, so Costelloe and Saydee are our big attacking hopes for the season. Having scored a grand total of three goals between them this season. Ideally they both need shipping out but, let's face it, which club wants to sign a goalscorer that doesn't score goals?

Caldwell has his work cut out, he will be working on a shoestring tight budget set by our billionaire owner.

Tight budget, shoestring, and billionaire in the same sentence doesn't sit well with a lot of our fans. A little ambition from the top would be nice, because the policy of trying to build a successful team around six or seven loanees clearly isn't working.

Lincoln proved this season what can be achieved on a 'shoestring', so there is hope that success can be achieved on the cheap...over to you, Gary. Roll on August, eh?

Tony Moon:

Well, thank goodness that season’s over. It’s not one I’d want to relive. It started off ever so brightly, but by Christmas we’d lost t’will to live.

Then in t’New Year, wi’ a magical cup win, we thought we might turn things around. But that thought was ever so fleeting, as we continued to drop further down.

First game in Feb was the killer, the one that brought things to a head. So as we waved bye-bye to t’manager, it felt like we’d been kicked in th’head.

But woah, just hold on with those horses, cos a valiant knight yonder lurks. It’s Gary Caldwell aside a white charger, and getting a backie, his little mate Perks.

They came in with no magic wand, but improvement came nevertheless, both in our results and performances, and slowly, they sorted the mess.

So now, as we calmly reflect, on a season of what might have been, we look forward in hope to the new one, and pray that the owner’s not mean.

Cos it’s not like we need to spend millions, but a ship spoils for a ha’porth o’tar. So if we’re not going to keep young Joe Taylor, then we’re short of a striker, we are.

But who knows what the team's going to look like. We’re bound to see new personnel. And there’s one thing that’s 100 per cent certain...they’ll all have their critics (Lerrum gel!).