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Why we should all be rooting for Wigan to stay up - YES WIGAN!

Before 2007, West Ham had a place in most neutrals' affections.

They were the club of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Trevor Booking and Billy Bonds.

They won England the World Cup in 1966 and were everyone's favourite underdog.

They were a family club with a proper history and a tradition of playing the game the right way and producing great young players.

But most of that goodwill died with the Carlos Tevez affair four years ago and it was an injustice to many people - not just Neil Warnock - that they somehow managed to stay up on the final day of that season.

 

That feeling has lingered on and I suspect few will shed many tears if relegation finally catches up with the Hammers over the next 11 days.

Most people will feel that justice has finally be done, albeit four years late.

That's why I'll be rooting for West Ham's opponents Wigan in Sunday's relegation shoot-out.

Despite their low profile - probably the lowest in the top flight - the Latics should have that place in people's affections once reserved for West Ham.

Manager Roberto Martinez has changed them from the direct, physical side they were under Steve Bruce.

 

His emphasis is on getting the ball down and passing it. They try to play the right way, although it doesn't always come off, and are always prepared to have a go.

Martinez has proved he knows the British transfer market as well as the Latin one and is nurturing some home-grown talents at the DW, such as Victor Moses and James McCarthy.

He has also given Tom Cleverley his head this season and Sir Alex Ferguson will be grateful for the invaluable experience Manchester United's England Under-21 star has gained with Wigan.

But because Martinez likes to operate beneath the radar and isn't interested in promoting himself, unlike some of his rivals, Wigan go largely unnoticed.

 

They don't really have star players and instead Martinez's focus is on the team.

They have the smallest fan-base in the Premier League and most people still see Wigan as a rugby league town.

Despite the generosity of owner Dave Whelan, Martinez doesn't have a massive budget in Premier League terms and must wheel and deal to develop his squad.

All this makes the little Spaniard's achievements all the more commendable, and I feel the Premier League will be richer if he manages to keep Wigan up.

 

Courtesy: www.dailymirror.co.uk David Anderson 

 

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