Ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s match versus Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium in League One, which will be refereed by Charles Breakspear, we have done a Q&A with one of their supporters. Thank you to Charlie from the Progress With Unity Podcast for answering the questions!
NEW QUIZ: How much can you remember from the last time Wigan Athletic hosted Lincoln City? Have a go at the quiz at the bottom of the page or simply CLICK HERE (opens in a new window)!
You can discuss what has been said in this article here, and get involved with our pre-match discussion!
How long have you supported Wigan Athletic?
All my life! I lived in Up Holland, a little village outside of Wigan, until I was 8 and after moving away I have continued to support them.
What were and now are your hopes and expectations for the 2023/24 season?
My hopes going into the season were that we could build up to a mid-table finish, as the -8 points and building of a squad under a transfer embargo really put us on the back foot. After such an incredible start to the season, I hope we can push a little higher than mid-table, but I feel the Play-Offs are too much of an ask and not something our club is ready for this season. Maybe next season!
What are your views on your manager?
I have a massive appreciation for Shaun Maloney, due to everything he has done to ensure our club’s survival, right down to the way he has this team playing. Whilst he is still relatively inexperienced within Management, the way he applies himself is admirable and Latics are playing some exciting stuff!
Style of play and tactics – direct/passing/hybrid?
This question would be much easier to answer if we didn’t have a bit of an injury issue going on, but I think our formation will remain a 3-4-3, in attack, which drops then to a 5-4-1 in defensive phases. We love to make use of the wide players, but our front line often rotates around to keep the opposition defenders on their toes. Callum Lang, Stephen Humphrys, Jordan Jones, and Martial Godo have been excellent in our attacking phases, but Godo is out for a couple of months now so I am not sure who will come in and take his place. Latics will aim to play the ball from side to side, building from the back, and we can be quick with direct play when the space opens up.
One(s) to watch now and in the future?
The ones to watch now are Charlie Hughes and Stephen Humphrys. Hughes has just turned 20, is a very impressive CB, and has captained our side on a number of occasions this season whilst also being called up to England U20s. Humphrys is a brilliant forward, who enjoyed a decent loan spell with Hearts last season, who also competed in the Europa Conference League with Humphrys playing a big part in those games. For the future, Scott Smith is our midfielder who is really showing his ability as a top first-team player this season, with Sam Tickle taking the Number 1 role in his first professional season. We have a wealth of Academy Graduates in our side, so a large majority are ones to watch for the future in truth!
Random fact about your Club?
Since our relegation from the Premier League in the 2012/13 season, we have only stayed safe in a league on 2 occasions. We have been champions of League One 3 times and relegated 4 times. The highest position we have been safe in either league is 18th in the Championship, and 20th in League One. Never a dull season…
Which were your favourite and least favourite matches involving Wigan Athletic?
My favourite has got to be the FA Cup Final vs Manchester City in 2013, but also any of the two games we have played Manchester City since and beat them both times!
My least favourite matches include our 4-0 loss to Bury in the FA Cup First Round, and any of the 4-1s under Kolo Toure. What a bad appointment that was!
Which sides do you think will finish in the top six and bottom four?
I think Portsmouth, Stevenage, Peterborough, Charlton, Oxford, and Barnsley will take the top 6. The bottom four I think could include Exeter, Carlisle, Cheltenham, and Reading…
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
I think Lincoln are a side who have the foundation now to push for a place in the Championship, and the appointment of Michael Skubala only reinforces that. Unfortunate to not have got over the line in the 2020/21 season, but Lincoln have steadily been building back towards making the Championship dream a reality. There is a top 6 place for you this season, and there is a good quality to the side, but it’s just about playing the long game now and putting together a strong run of results.
If you could steal one Lincoln player for your team, who would it be and why?
Lasse Sorensen. I am always impressed with him on the right and as Latics love to use the wings and get forward, Sorensen is a player who could thrive in our system.
What is your prediction for this match?
I think this is going to be a big battle and one that both midfields will need to be ready for the challenge of. The first goal will be a case of who blinks first, I think, but then I expect the intensity to rise and I think we could have an exciting high scorer. I am going to go with a 3-2 Latics win!
"The way he applies himself is admirable and Latics are playing some exciting stuff!" (Q&A):https://t.co/9ZZ5s7bFfd
Thank you to @CharlieKeegan from @PWUPodcast for answering the questions!#WAFC #WeAreImps
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) December 8, 2023
