Fantasy Standings (Rob)

How will Wigan change next season? Read Vital Wigan member Rob’s comments to see how he thinks it will change.

Name: Robin McKay (Rob)
Manager: Steven Bruce
Management Team:

Did OK with the management last season. I don’t think, personally, a lot will change with the management.
Player Of The Year:

Amr Zaki (it will be a close thing I think. We had several stars last season.)
Top Scorer: Amr Zaki
Newcomer of the year:

Amr Zaki
Finish: 10th (Zaki and Cisse will net us some good goals next season)


FA Cup: Half-decent run this time.


Carling Cup: We’ll have a little decent run, much like the FA Cup.


Players released on a free or max 100k: Olembe’s gone and Aghahowa, too, but its a major loss on Aghahowa’s transfer payment. I can’t see a lot more happening there so I think that FEF is spot on there.


4 players to be sold:

Jason Koumas, Antoine Sibierski, Carlo Nash and Marlon King


Players I would buy:

Amr Zaki, he will get goals. Cisse, for the same reason. Mensah, a big presence in defence but we have Bramble for that. Bresciano for more of a midfield goal threat. Koumas was supposed to offer that but he’s been a major disappointment.


Signing Predictions:

Amr Zaki and Cisse will be full of goals and should steer us clear of trouble – it won’t be a case of third time down in the sticks this season.

Mensah would add more strength defensively and Bresciano adds a more dangerous threat in midfield and bag us some goals!

My Squad:

Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Koumas, Brown, Cisse, Zaki, Taylor, Heskey, Sibierski, King, Pollitt, Killer, Mensah, Bresciano, Kapo (in no particular order and I realise some of the names on this list I have said may be sold but I’d like to see them stay.)

We will be playing:

Zaki and Cisse will be our strikers – I think this may make way for Heskey and he may actually move on. Midfield will be Killer, Palacios, Bresciano and Valencia.

Defence will be Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner and Figueroa and goalie will be Chris Kirkland.

That sounds like a team with top goal, midfield, defensive and goal quality to me.


My team: 4-4-2.

We need to attack more but also defend. Bruce as we all know was a defender so he’ll like to adopt a defensive formation but I very much think he’ll favour 4-4-2.


My starting XI:

Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Kilbane, Palacios, Bresciano, Valencia, Zaki, Cisse.
Subs: Ryan Taylor, Erik Edman, Mike Pollitt, Emile Heskey, Michael Brown


Comment:

This is basically the team I would play for us next season and how I think the changes would come in at Wigan.

The team represents a strong attacking/defensive formation and we should be seeing a lot of goals from that starting XI.

Only thing I would say is that we do need to start spending money if we want to retain our EPL status but I think we’re being clever in doing loans as we get the best out of players and then decide whether or not they’re worth the price tag that comes with the players at the end of the season.