MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Sutekh » 16 Jan 2024 08:43



When : Saturday 20 January 2024
Where : DW Stadium, Loire Drive, Robin Park, Wigan, WN5 0UH
Capacity : 25,138

Reading's wait for the inevitable starts at Wigan. God knows what will remain of the first team squad with a mixture of some players having gone and others unsurprisingly rested for "reasons".

Wigan aren't that good either but, despite similar point deduction problems for issues similar to Reading in the summer, their owner cared enough to sell the club so their problems would now seem to be very much behind them.

The latics' form is dreadful though with only 1 win in the last 7 league games but that was at home to other strugglers Carlisle so they wouldn't appear to be to phased by the old "sinking to standards of the opponent" problem that Reading so often do in similar situations.

In their last 7 games Wigan have scored 6 goals and kept just 2 clean sheets so they're probably about as out of form as you can get but even that may be too much for Reading given the current nature of things.

Forwards Stephen Humphrys and Charlie Wyke are where the main latic' threat lies having 14 goals between them which puts both way ahead in the Wigan scoring charts.

No idea what team to expect from Reading as it depends very much on who has been sold this week or who is about to be sold next week. However given players have been sold Reading might now be able to give Charlie Savage his pay rise but I won't hold my breath to see that one.

Selles is very much a man with the safest job in the country now as I don't think anyone would sack him now with all the utter **** going on around him and the shameful actions of the club in leaving him to front the endless media questions about what the hell is going on behind the scenes.

Pointage of any description from any of Reading's remaining games could well start to be seen as unexpected bonuses now as what remains of Dai's mess comes crashing down around everyone while he seems to be untouchable and uncaring.

Referee

Tom Reeves

Previously

23 Sep 23 > Blackpool 4-1 Reading

Historically

This is the 52nd league game against Wigan and so the 26th trek to make use of their hospitality.

As you'd expect for most northern outposts the place is not a particularly happy one for Reading who have always found victories difficult to come by up there stretching all the way back to Wigan's inaugural FL season in 1978 when Reading crashed 3-0.

In the 25 previous games played, 11 have been lost and 5 won. It took until the 13th visit to record a win (there were none whatsoever managed at Wigan's old home of Springfield Park) so at least the wins are in living memory. Recent form there is actually very good with 2 wins and a draw to show for the last 3 visits but this game is going to be hardest of the lot to get any return on.

How to follow the game

  1. Get a ticket and travel
  2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
  3. Ring/text a mate for updates
  4. Use a RoyalTV subscription
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

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NathStPaul
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by NathStPaul » 16 Jan 2024 09:11

The players must be really distracted and unmotivated at the moment, Reading are certainly not an easy club to play for. You'd hope we will have too much for Wigan but I fear defeat here.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by WestYorksRoyal » 16 Jan 2024 09:20

Long trip to make without a hotel.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Royal_jimmy » 17 Jan 2024 20:48

WestYorksRoyal Long trip to make without a hotel.


Yes 4 hours on even a luxury coach that'll leave at the crack of dawn Saturday won't be the greatest of preparation. That'll catch up with the squad at some point. Peterborough and Cheltenham are relatively local so aren't too bad for the squad but treks up north will not help the legs.

Who's going on Saturday?

Royals and Racers
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Royals and Racers » 18 Jan 2024 09:53

Excellent article on ‘ the Tilehurst end’ regarding the switch from 4-2-2-2 to 4-1-4-1.A really decent read.


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Brogue
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Brogue » 18 Jan 2024 10:01

Royals and Racers Excellent article on ‘ the Tilehurst end’ regarding the switch from 4-2-2-2 to 4-1-4-1.A really decent read.


poor nobbing, at least provide a link

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by WestYorksRoyal » 18 Jan 2024 10:02

This game is a total unknown. Will Abbey still be available? How will the players have reacted to the past week's events? Will it galvanise or sap energy and distract? How will the travel arrangements impact them?

If everything was normal I would feel confident given recent form. But I think we may see that everything is just becoming too much for them.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by hughsies no.1 » 18 Jan 2024 10:26

If Georgey Puscas can bang a hattrick at the JJB which turned one of the most drab away days into a frenzy then anything can happen. Also love that it was the ground that Sir Steve refers back to - when we lost last game of season and they went up in 04/05, the catalyst for the 05/06 'bottle this feeling' moment.

My prediction - 0-0

Also recall Wigan away last season or season before when all the kids (Yooof) were getting selfies and videos with Dai in the pub and outside the ground, not surprised to see those videos not resurfacing (cringeworthy stuff at the time - even worse now)!

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by MartinRdg » 18 Jan 2024 11:32

Brogue
Royals and Racers Excellent article on ‘ the Tilehurst end’ regarding the switch from 4-2-2-2 to 4-1-4-1.A really decent read.


poor nobbing, at least provide a link


Excellent article on ‘ the Tilehurst end’ regarding the switch from 4-2-2-2 to 4-1-4-1.A really decent read.

https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2024/1/18/24041568/how-moving-to-4-1-4-1-has-helped-reading-fc-tactical-analysis-royals


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Clyde1998 » 18 Jan 2024 18:38

Royal_jimmy
WestYorksRoyal Long trip to make without a hotel.


Yes 4 hours on even a luxury coach that'll leave at the crack of dawn Saturday won't be the greatest of preparation. That'll catch up with the squad at some point. Peterborough and Cheltenham are relatively local so aren't too bad for the squad but treks up north will not help the legs.

Who's going on Saturday?

I'm in. Would be good to get a couple hundred up there in addition to the 500 or so we've already sold.

Clyde1998
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Clyde1998 » 18 Jan 2024 18:39

Apparently money has been put together for a hotel for this one: https://twitter.com/james_e1871/status/ ... 3057245446

I'm assuming the players/staff are paying for it themselves, but that's a positive at least.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by PieEater » 18 Jan 2024 19:30

Clyde1998 Apparently money has been put together for a hotel for this one: https://twitter.com/james_e1871/status/ ... 3057245446

I'm assuming the players/staff are paying for it themselves, but that's a positive at least.


The last point is worrying if not surprising, no money for the wages or HMRC. Another points deduction incoming...

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Clyde1998 » 18 Jan 2024 19:41

PieEater
Clyde1998 Apparently money has been put together for a hotel for this one: https://twitter.com/james_e1871/status/ ... 3057245446

I'm assuming the players/staff are paying for it themselves, but that's a positive at least.


The last point is worrying if not surprising, no money for the wages or HMRC. Another points deduction incoming...

You've got to question where the Holmes money has gone if it's not covering wages or HMRC. Perhaps covering outstanding debts to HMRC?


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Millsy » 18 Jan 2024 19:47

The large one in Wigan.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by The Royal Forester » 18 Jan 2024 20:41

Clyde1998
PieEater
Clyde1998 Apparently money has been put together for a hotel for this one: https://twitter.com/james_e1871/status/ ... 3057245446

I'm assuming the players/staff are paying for it themselves, but that's a positive at least.


The last point is worrying if not surprising, no money for the wages or HMRC. Another points deduction incoming...

You've got to question where the Holmes money has gone if it's not covering wages or HMRC. Perhaps covering outstanding debts to HMRC?

Gone to pay off some of the debt to Dai. more likely.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Royal_jimmy » 18 Jan 2024 21:13

The Royal Forester
Clyde1998
PieEater
The last point is worrying if not surprising, no money for the wages or HMRC. Another points deduction incoming...

You've got to question where the Holmes money has gone if it's not covering wages or HMRC. Perhaps covering outstanding debts to HMRC?

Gone to pay off some of the debt to Dai. more likely.


Unacceptable if true

Stranded
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Stranded » 19 Jan 2024 14:53

Any chance of this game being called off? Seen a couple of postponements already announced today.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Brogue » 19 Jan 2024 14:59

Stranded Any chance of this game being called off? Seen a couple of postponements already announced today.

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=112643

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NathStPaul
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by NathStPaul » 19 Jan 2024 15:24

Stranded Any chance of this game being called off? Seen a couple of postponements already announced today.

They've got undersoil heating at Wigan haven't they? Would have thought it would have had to have been installed with them being a Premier League side.
Last edited by NathStPaul on 19 Jan 2024 15:28, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Wigan Athletic (a)

by Stranded » 19 Jan 2024 15:26

NathStPaul
Stranded Any chance of this game being called off? Seen a couple of postponements already announced today.

They've got undersoil heating at Wigan haven't they? Would have though it would have had to have been installed with them being a Premier League side.


Actually relatively mild and wet around the Wigan area tomorrow, so should be fine. Will mean Cheltenham have a game in hand on us and will become one of our games in hand over Carlisle.

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