Last Season:
In: Arouna Kone (£3.3m, Levante), Ryo Miyaichi (loan), Ivan Ramis (£5.2m, Mallorca), Fraser Fyvie (£500,000, Aberdeen)
Out: Hugo Rodallega (free transfer, Fulham), Chris Kirkland (free transfer, Sheffield Wednesday), Hendry Thomas (released), Mohamed Diame (free transfer, West Ham United), Steve Gohouri (released)
If they were an Olympian: Christine Ohuruogu. Very unimpressive for large portions of the season, yet consistently produces best performances when they are most required.
Just how close Roberto Martinez was to taking over at Liverpool this summer remains unclear. Some claim that he was offered the job, others argue he was merely on the shortlist. Either way, for the second summer in succession, Martinez has remained at Wigan when many fancied him to leave. The question on everybody's lips is whether Wigan can continue to overachieve and stay in a league in which they are comfortably the lowest spenders?
For the majority of last season, Wigan's results were horrific. They lost 8 games in a row and at one stage there were even whispers that owner and chairman Dave Whelan was contemplating sacking Martinez. However, as has been discussed on Game Ramble Weekly, the club suddenly began picking up form, and despite having one of the toughest run-ins of any team in the relegation battle, Wigan survived comfortably, finishing 15th and 7 points clear of the drop.
One of the key parts of that remarkable survival was Victor Moses, whose powerful running and skillful dribbles offered Wigan a spark and penetration they had so often lacked. Unfortunately Moses looks increasingly likely to move and join Chelsea's ever growing stockpile of attacking players. If Moses does depart it will be a hammer blow for Wigan but the club has grown accustomed over the years to seeing their best players depart, and if Chelsea are willing to pay £10m for the 21 year old it is pretty good business.
Martinez will hope that loan signing Ryo Miyaichi can replace Moses should he leave, and the Japanese will be a better player this season having spent last year on loan at Bolton. Aside from Moses, the majority of last seasons team look set to remain at the club. Hugo Rodallega and Mohamed Diame have both left but neither were fixtures in the side last year and will not be unduly missed. The signing of Ivan Ramis from Mallorca, gives Martinez more cover at the back, especially if he chooses to continue with the three man defence that served him so well at the back-end of last season.
By all logic Wigan should have been relegated a long time ago. They spend the least money on transfers, they have the lowest wage bill and they have the smallest attendances in the Premier League. However all these factors seem to have helped foster a siege mentality at the club and through shrewd acquisitions and a succession of good managerial appointments, the club retain their unique position of being the only club never to have been relegated from the top division.
Having said all that, I do fear for Wigan this year. The expected departure of Moses will be a major blow and you wonder whether the team can reproduce last seasons finish on a consistent basis. As always with Wigan it is hard to see where the goals are going to come from and despite the arrival of Arouna Kone from Mallorca, Wigan's strike force still looks comparatively light weight with their rivals.
Predicted Finish: 20th
Key Man: James McCarthy. Although not as flashy as Moses, McCarthy has probably been Wigan's most consistent performer in recent seasons. A very highly rated midfielder, who would have gone to the European Championships with Ireland were it not for a family bereavement, McCarthy is very much the fulcrum of Wigan's side. Diligent defensively and always looking to move forward with the ball, McCarthy could well be the next player to depart the DW stadium for a bigger club.
Underrated: James McArthur. The other half of the Premier League's most confusing midfield partnership, McArthur was every bit as effective as McCarthy in last seasons success. Although less skilful than his midfield partner, the arrival of McArthur into the starting XI made a tangible difference to Wigan as it provided them with a second midfield "passer" instead of the more destructive nature of Mohamed Diame's game.
Watch out for: Ryo Miyaichi. The Japanese youngster possesses excellent skills and is very fast across the ground. Although the club may not admit it, the arrival of the Arsenal man was partly conditioned by the expected departure of Moses to Chelsea and if it does occur, then Miyaichi has some big shoes to fill as Moses provided Wigan with a penetration they had consistently lacked. Whilst lacking Moses' strength, Miyaichi is a very intelligent footballer and should suit Martinez's philosophy of a style of play based on possession.
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