HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Monday evening's game by delving into their forums.

"Here's my Huddersfield match report: 'They kicked off. Dull. Referee blew the final whistle'", "If you're happy with that performance, you're either blindly loyal or don't understand football. It was horrendous", "That was dreadful", "It was hilarious how bad that was."

The Latics have made a faltering start to their season. Home wins over Blackpool (1-0) and Birmingham (4-0) lifted spirits after they picked up just one draw in their first four games. However, a 3-1 defeat at Blackburn on Saturday and a scoreless draw at the Terriers on Tuesday have raised anxiety levels.

"We have been served up the most negative, unimaginative, boring and defensive football I have ever seen from any Wigan team", "Boring, fearful crap is all that's on offer now", "We just look pretty damn average", "There are no risks taken, little talent and no sign of it getting better."

Uwe Rosler

"Rosler's bubble appears to have burst", "He will empty the stadium with this brand of garbage", "Dull, insipid, unimaginative, cautious", "I'm slowly losing faith in Rosler. I haven't seen any progress at all over the last six months. His tactical decisions and substitutions are bizarre to say the least."

"The FA Cup win is a memory, relegation is a reality." Most Latics are weary of the cautious brand of football and their team's lack of penetration, threat and conviction during games. "All we do is pass it square and backwards and then hoof it. Every telling forward pass goes to the opposition."

"Get a grip, people." Some fans are urging perspective. "To judge the team and the manager after seven games is beyond me. Many supporters are sounding like Newcastle fans and just need to chill out. Uwe will get it right and we will be up there come the end of the season."

Deadline Day

"What a belting transfer window", "Has this been our best transfer deadline day ever?" "What a day this has been. Four quality players in and one big loss in McArthur, but a great deadline day for us", "Have we turned into QPR overnight or something?"

"We lost James McArthur, but signed Adam Forshaw, Andy Delort, William Kvist and best of all Emyr Huws", "I don't think there's any doubt that Latics squad is far stronger now than it was at the end of last season."

The mood on deadline day was buoyant, but many of Wigan's current problems can be traced back to the fact that much of their transfer business was concluded so late in the window. Their new arrivals have not had time to fully integrate, and their midfield in particular has struggled to adapt.

"Jordi Gomez was undoubtedly our best and most creative player last season. It was always going to take time to replace him", "We need a period of readjustment after losing James McArthur and not yet integrating the new signings."

Formation and Team Selection

"The biggest problem is how rigid the team is playing. We have a set defence, midfield and attack with little linking in between", "The formation doesn't suit us. We seriously lack creativity, rarely put pressure on the opposition via numbers on the box and play with fear and not aggression."

"We are playing three holding midfielders and it's clear to see why we are not creating and scoring enough." Rosler has recently played a 3-5-2 system, but the forwards have been isolated with the wide players being primarily full-backs and the midfield trio lacking a cutting edge.

"The 3-5-2 system is a defensive, counter-attacking formation, but it's hard to play like that with almost no pace in the team. I think 4-2-3-1 would suit our team better", "Another unbalanced defensive formation. This is a manager who is scared of losing instead of trying to win."

"My worry is that Uwe cannot resist rotating for the sake of it." Some fans were vexed to see changes after their good win over Birmingham. "We looked very creative, but we have now gone back to square one. It's very puzzling", "Keep the same team that won the last two bloody games."

Fitness Issues

"Our first half goal difference through seven matches is +5, whereas our second half goal difference is -5. Is this a coincidence or the result of a lack of fitness, or our opponents making better half-time adjustments?" "Why do we stop running after 55 to 60 minutes?"

"If by our own admission we want to play high tempo pressing football, then how can we include three or four players who are nowhere near match fitness?" "High pressing game my arse, and for a manager who puts such a great store by fitness we look like the least fit team in the bloody league."

"The defence looked comfortable against Blackburn, but we seemed to drop deeper in the second half. We didn't retain possession, allowing them to apply pressure", "Blackburn were a yard quicker in pace and thought all afternoon. It was exaggerated when our fuel tanks ran low on the hour mark."

Central Defence

"We're not defending well", "We are giving away a lot of soft goals through an inability to clear our lines", "The lack of pace at the back is worrying", "We concede too easily when put under any sort of pressure", "We have been hesitant and unable to clear the ball from dangerous situations."

Scott Carson

"Scott Carson has done very little wrong this season", "I always feel confident with him on goal. He seems safer for some reason", "He commands the area well, giving the centre-backs a sense of security." The 29-year-old ex-West Brom goalkeeper has been the first choice ahead of Ali Al-Habsi.

"No one can argue with the form Carson has shown this season. He has stopped flapping at crosses and his shot stopping has greatly improved", "I have always preferred Al-Habsi, but clean sheets speak for themselves. He's growing on me."

The former England keeper "could have done better with Blackburn's first two goals, especially the second which looked like a routine save. He could have reached the first if he had moved his feet instead of just launching himself across the goal".

"I absolutely love Emmerson Boyce, but he has looked lethargic in recent games", "It's time for everyone to stick together — the players, the management, the fans, everyone" - The 34-year-old former Palace centre-back "is a legend and good on him for issuing this rallying call."

"Rob Kiernan has the potential to be a great asset in the future. He doesn't have the composure or decision making abilities of the level we require at the moment", "I cannot understand why Kiernan is first choice. We cannot afford his inexperience at this stage."

The 23-year-old former Hornet has been criticised for conceding possession too easily. "I don't know if anyone noticed that Kiernan can only head the ball a few yards in front, meaning that it comes straight back", "He seemed tired against Blackburn and gave the ball away too many times."

"Leon Barnett is tried and trusted at this level. He has been promoted twice, and knows how to deal with direct play and physical forwards", "We should play our most reliable player of last season", "As soon as he came on the field against Birmingham our defence was much stronger."

"Barnett is our best header of the ball and he is on the bench." The 28-year-old former Canary has hardly featured this season. "Blackburn had two big forwards, yet Barnett was on the bench", "I was surprised he didn't play, given their physical play and directness."

Ivan Ramis

"I like Ivan Ramis. He is one of the better footballers in the team even though he plays centre-half", "Unfortunately he's a luxury player who is better suited to the less hurly-burly Premier League", "He could be better as a holding midfielder where his qualities on the ball would be more useful."

The 29-year-old former Mallorca defender "was a classy defender in his day, but has been injury-prone for virtually all of his two-year stay with us", "In a back three he has protection and does a great job, but he can look vulnerable in a back four."

"Ramis should only play against smaller forwards. Ishmael Miller ran rings around him last season for Yeovil and he struggles against strong aerial teams", "We all know he is the best all-round defender, but there is no-one better to have than Barnett under a barrage of high balls."

Wing-Backs

"Our full-backs, Perch and Taylor, are not natural wing-backs and don't contribute as much in attack as should be the case." Latics are crying out for more adventure down their flanks. "I'd like to see Espinoza and Tavernier play. They can find a ball in the final third and are athletic enough to get up and down."

Twenty-eight-year-old ex-Newcastle United man James Perch "never has a bad game and is absolutely sound defensively, but he will never be an attacking right-back who can overlap and cross a ball", "He's not the most natural wing-back, but he has scored goals and got some assists this season."

"Andrew Taylor isn't an attacking wing-back for me." The 28-year-old ex-Cardiff City left-back "doesn't provide much of an attacking threat", "He can be slow getting forward and the midfield was outnumbered on that side for most of the Blackburn game."

"I can only guess that Roger Espinoza frustrates his manager tactically. He comes on and works his socks off and gives everyone a lift, but all three managers have found him difficult to work with because he lacks discipline. He plays like a kid in a park chasing a ball."

The 29-year-old Honduras international left wing-back has rarely featured. "I'm baffled how Espinoza, who plays with energy and pace, cannot get a start in a struggling team", "It's hard not to admire the fact that he rarely lets us down when called upon."

"James Tavernier looks good down the right." The 22-year-old former Newcastle United full-back "can put in dangerous crosses, but we need extra bodies in the box", "Unlike Perch, Tavernier can overlap and cross a ball", "He takes a sublime set-piece and offers an excellent dead-ball option."

"I don't get Uwe's team selections. Tavernier looked a class apart in pre-season, and I thought he'd be given a chance by now with our full-backs being so defensively minded", "How he hasn't had a look in, especially when we are so unfit that the gas runs out after an hour, is beyond me."

Central Midfield

"Midfield is giving us nothing and seems scared or unable to link up with our attacks", "We're playing three holding midfielders as well as five at the back", "I'm just praying that he starts to push the team further up the pitch and attacks more", "We need a spark or a player to make forward runs."

"We need to move the ball with a higher tempo. Our attackers need to come back into midfield to collect the ball and transition into attack. We also need to play in and around our opponents instead of passing the ball behind them and giving it away in order to contain them."

"I like the look of William Kvist. He takes up good positions and hit some excellent long passes." The 29-year-old Denmark international joined from VfB Stuttgart and made his full debut against the Terriers. "He battles for the ball and looks a class act", "He could be a quality replacement for McArthur."

"Can anyone explain to me why one of the most skilful and dangerous players we have isn't starting and playing 90 minutes?", "Shaun Maloney was dynamite when he came on against Birmingham. His movement sent four players the wrong way at one point and he hardly ever lost the ball."

The 31-year-old former Celtic midfielder has featured regularly from the bench. "Apart from Maloney we have no midfield creativity", "He's a class act as a creative midfielder", "He's still coming back to full fitness but is being used where available."

"I hope not to see Don Cowie for a very long time. As a box-to-box midfielder, his cardio is nowhere near the level required. He lacks mobility and shies away from the physical side of the game. His ability on the ball is very limited", "We lack a cutting edge and he poses no threat going forward."

The 31-year-old former Cardiff man has been heavily criticised, but has his supporters for his work out of possession. "He tidies things up, regularly nipping into the tackle after anticipating where the ball was heading. He's good at picking up the second ball and his distribution is simple but effective."

Emyr Huws

"Huws is the signing of the window for us. Over the last couple of games he has shown a lot of ability and passion to win the ball and create. This lad could turn out to be a gem who is worth a few more quid than we paid for him", "He's a little belter, isn't he?"

The 22-year-old Wales international has joined from Manchester City, having played on loan with Birmingham for part of last season. "Huws has the ability to shield the ball whilst on the move, making it difficult for defenders to tackle him without drawing a foul", "He's an unsung hero."

"I lost count of the number of times he has run at or across defenders, holding the ball until the pass was on", "Huws can be caught dawdling on the ball and has missed chances to play strikers in", "He seems to be doing well covering on the left of the three at the moment."

Adam Forshaw

"If Forshaw is any good, he will walk straight into that team as it is badly lacking creativity", "I wonder how long it will take him to get himself fit", "Towards the end of the Blackburn match he demonstrated some really nice passes and a nice touch. I cannot wait for him to play a full game."

The 22-year old former Brentford midfielder "isn't fully match-fit as he hasn't been training with his a team for a while", "His fitness is starting from rock bottom", "Rosler said that Forshaw was Jordi Gomez replacement", "He's more of a midfield general than the creative force Jordi provided."

Wide Midfielders

Former Leicester man Martyn Waghorn has featured regularly from the bench. The 24-year-old "is hard working, hungry and has an eye for goal", "He doesn't create enough and is wasted out wide, and is not quick or skilful enough to be a really effective wide striker or winger."

"James McClean is a good impact player. He's not the most talented on the ball, but he has pace and can occasionally deliver dangerous balls." The 25-year-old former Sunderland winger made his first appearance off the bench against Huddersfield since recovering from an ankle injury.

"McClean would be an outstanding attacking option for us if he could improve his final ball and his finishing", "He's a useful enough player purely because of his pace", "He not only runs at defences, but tracks back and tackles with great determination", "His aggression unsettles defences."

Strikers

"Our forward play reminds me of Manchester United's start to the season. We have plenty of possession football but no outlet going forward. We are too one-paced and make too many aimless, pointless passes", "It's a rare occasion that we get more than one player in the opponents' final third."

Many Latics are frustrated because they believe that the have the strikers who can deliver at this level. "We have decent strikers now. A lack of fire power can no longer be an excuse", "With this squad we can attack the life out of teams."

"Marc-Antoine Fortune can be used as a foil to a striker who has pace and who knows where the back of the net is, but he's not a natural goalscorer and never has been." The 33-year-old ex-West Brom striker has been a peripheral figure. "He's had enough chances. We need to get shot of him."

"I like the way Oriel Riera is willing to battle for the team", "His intelligent running puts him streets ahead of most defensive set-ups in this league. The trouble is that he thinks faster than our current midfielders, who don't seem to be spotting his runs or finding him with a pass."

"Riera's touch is excellent and he holds the ball up well." The 28-year-old arrived from Osasuna in June and many Latics were annoyed to see him dropped after his best performance against Birmingham." "We're all expecting great things from Delort as he has replaced Riera so quickly."

Andy Delort

"Delort must be wondering what team he has joined. There was virtually no service to him today", "He looked a bit out of his depth and his ball control and passing were poor, but he was getting next to no service, "He reminds me of Amir Zaki in his playing style. He is powerful and has a great shot."

The 22-year-old arrived from Tours, and made his debut against Blackburn. "I have my doubts. He can't outpace defenders, gets easily outmuscled, is one-footed and cannot control the ball. It seems that all he does is charge around and shoot as hard as he can when he gets a chance to."

Callum McManaman

"We get 60 minutes of creativity in each game, all of which is served up by Callum McManaman. If it wasn't for him, I'd not bother going to games", "He's priceless to us if we want to have any chance of promotion", "He's a fantastic player and is far and away our best attacking player."

The 23-year-old youth product has played as a striker, moving in from a wider role. "The ball needs to be at Callum's feet as much as possible. He tends to get double-teamed, so that should leave someone else open", "He could be an international is he improves his ball control in front of goal."

"For all his talent, he can be a little patchy and doesn't dominate for an entire game." There is one thing supporters want him to cut out. "He was yellow-carded for another questionable penalty shout. It's the second time he has gone down dramatically in the penalty area. I have my doubts."

The Holt Fiasco

"Is Grant Holt still here?" "Here's hoping someone comes in for him. Surely some team in China, Australia or India will take him?", "He has lost the number nine jersey to Riera and hasn't been allocated a number of the season", "His singular lack of effort stands out in 35 years of watching the Latics."

"I don't see the sense in completely ostracising him from the club." Some Latics feel that slating the former League Two Player of the Year is impolite, but the vast majority are withering in their view. His record of scoring two goals in 19 games (one a penalty) at the club is regularly brought up.

"He's a regular co-presenter on Radio Cumbria's Football Forum. This media work solely consists of him being alongside the main presenter and chipping in when the spirit moves him", "Sounds like his approach to games and training."

"Holt has proven he has the ability at Norwich and has yet to deliver anything here. I cannot see a blameless professional making every effort to deliver the goods. I can see him having moved to a club he doesn't care about and going through the motions to make money."

Latics' Views on ITFC and the Game

"I do pity the Ipswich fans who have an almost 600-mile round trip on a Monday evening to watch their team, only to then see them get beat 1-0 after a McManaman header", "Last season, we could have been three down before beating Ipswich by two. Let's see what happens on Monday."

There is considerable sympathy for fans making the long trip. "The switch of kick-off time is very harsh on Ipswich fans. In understand the announcement was delayed to see if a more attractive League Cup game could be chosen."

"I went to Portman Road to see us beat them 4-1 in League Cup [in 2008] with a goal from Kapo. It was a Tuesday night and we got home about 2am so I don't envy them. I suspect there won't be many. I like McCarthy, gets the best out of average players and if they're crap he will say they're crap."

There has been very little comment so far about Monday's game, and a smattering of score predictions suggest a narrow 2-1 home win or a 1-1 draw. I will update the forum on Monday afternoon if and when there is sufficient additional material and comments.

Websites

The busiest Wigan forum these days is Vital Wigan. There is additional comment to be found on the quieter This Northern Soul and Cockney Latic.

Photo: Action Images

Suffolk_n_Good added 12:06 - Sep 20 Good read as always Harry, to be honest I think we have a great chance to take our first away win, their certainly not setting the world alight, & following our 2 home wins confidence is high, if we hold strong for the first 20 mins, then start releasing Mings down the left, I can see their fans getting on their backs, we need to make sure we capitalise on it :)

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NoCanariesAllowed added 12:59 - Sep 20 Considering I think our performances under Mick have generally been better in the second half, the comments about Wigan slowing down after the break make for interesting reading. Sounds like the key will be to get through that first 45mins unscathed and then we might have a chance in the second half. My fear is that we won't, and we'll either leave ourselves with too much to do or end up with a 1-1 draw. Another good read anyway, Harry. Sometimes I wonder how much difference there would be between one scout's observation of opposition from a handful of games vs. articles such as these, based on long-term opinions of collective opposition fans...

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carsey added 14:46 - Sep 20 If the fans assessments are anywhere close to accurate we have got to fancy our chances at Wigan. Seems they are very tired and slow the longer the match goes on and can't defend very well. Get Mings and Parr at them out wide and another 3 points on the board - easy!!!
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patrickswell added 14:49 - Sep 20 Interesting read as always, Harry. I'm a little surprised at Wigan's slow start, they were one of my tips for automatic promotion ( Fulham were the other, which shows what I know). From their comments, some of their gripes seemed to match ours, especially about the midfield not offering enough support to the strikers. If they are struggling for fitness, we will dominate them in the last 20 minutes by the sound of things. I do expect Wigan to click eventually and start climbing the table, but hopefully it won't be on Monday :)

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yorksblue added 15:24 - Sep 20 No way is it impolite to slate Holt. Keep slating him into obscurity please.
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blue_steele added 19:09 - Sep 20 "All we do is pass it square and backwards and then hoof it. Every telling forward pass goes to the opposition."
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Walk_the_Wark added 11:40 - Sep 21 "Rosler's bubble appears to have burst", "He will empty the stadium with this brand of garbage", "Dull, insipid, unimaginative, cautious", "I'm slowly losing faith in Rosler. I haven't seen any progress at all over the last six months. His tactical decisions and substitutions are bizarre to say the least."--- er sound like a manager we know??
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