Wigan's selling policy is Breaking up the Family
Posted by liam_wafc in Wigan | 24 January 2007
When Paul Jewell was installed as Wigan manager all those years ago, he knew he had a major battle on his hands. He had a squad of nearly 30, of which the majority were only there to pick up their large pay days.
Jewell's first season was difficult, but you could see he was building up a team who would fight for the Wigan shirt. Out went the money grabbers, and in came palyers such as Matt Jackson, John Filan, Nathan Ellington and Leighton Baines through from the youth.
Jewell was building a family of players, who fought for each other and wore the Wigan shirt with passion and pride.
As more family members joined, Ian Breckin, Lee McCulloch, Jimmy Bullard and Steve Mcmillian to name just four, the small band of 5000 fans began to feel part of the family again. Players were easier to approach and the atmosphere aroudn the club was sky high.
By the time Wigan got promoted to the Premier League, it was the same band of players, with just a few additions, that had dragged us from division two relegation fodder, to part of the elite. Alan Mahon joined midway through the first Championship season, who along with Jimmy Bullard and Leighton Baines were the jokers of the pact, and Jason Roberts joined and acted as the big brother to Nathan Ellington.
But then the family began to break up.
Paul Jewell sold Ian Breckin to Nottingham Forest (surprising as many expected him to play in the Premiership) and star striker Nathan Ellington moved on also.
A memorable first season in the Premiership couldn't stop players leaving, with Jimmy Bullard moving on and Jason Roberts following him onto pastures new.
And now, midway through our second season, with Gary Teale departed, just Leighton Baines, Steve McCmillan, John Filan and Lee McCulloch are left of the original family. And with McCulloch wanting to leave, the great spirit and fighting style (once a trade of all Paul Jewell sides) is rapidly diminishing.
Jewell is now in a position like he was in when he first joined the club back in those dark days. He has a squad who seem happy enough to just pick up their wages rather than put 110% into every game.
The biggest difference is that unlike having a year to rebuild a broken side, Jewell has just four months. And he is dealing with Premiership players this time. Good luck.
Comments
THE GRAVEYARDS OF WIGAN ARE FULL OF FAMILY MEMBERS, GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN, BUT LIFE GOES ON, THE FAMILY NAME CONTINUES AND IN TIMES OF HARDSHIP THE UNIT STICKS TOGETHER,STRONGER TIGHTER,FIGHTING FOR EACH OTHER UNDER THE FAMILY MOTTO "PROGRESS WITH UNITY"!!!PERHAPS YOUR A CUCKOO IN OUR FAMILY NEST!!!!
Are you suggesting we should have kept players who weren't good enough just to try and maintain familial bonds? Many of those we did keep kept us up, but sheer gratitude for being in the Prem and excitement can't continue to fuel a team for long, see how we nosedived in the second half of last season when the adrenalin and novelty had subsided. Plus regarding Bullard, Roberts and Ellington, they WANTED to go! You know that full well. There is no selling policy in the way you suggest, it was just a bunch of practical issues that needed resolving in order for us to move on to the next level. The fact that this is proving difficult is irrelevant.
100% Correct Liam, top article
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