Vital Wigan Ed Interview Ahead Of Game

The season is upon us and so here is the first of our series of Vital editor to Vital editor chats.

As we are playing Wigan on Saturday, and being ever so clever, our first one is with Barry from Vital Wigan

1)So - new season... how do you think it will shape up for you?

Quietly optimistic, would have liked to have kept Cattermole though, Bruce was out of order in my opinion and used the press, as a lot of managers seem to do these days, to unsettle the player and then get him for what is surely an undervalue of £6 million…a part from that we have assembled a half decent squad

2)You happy you have the right manager in place to see you through?

Roberto Martinez is an all time hero of mine and to have him back as manager is fantastic, widely regarded as one of the best and brightest young managers in Europe not just England so yes I am thrilled and we have the right manager…..I hope

3)Realistically, what should Wigan's aim be ambition / position wise?

A good cup run and mid-table again are the clichés that come out for clubs like ours, but to be honest that would suit me fine, at one point last season I actually thought we were going to qualify for Europe and that would never do

4) Looking forward to the opener against Villa? Any thoughts on us as a club?

Always liked Villa and remember back to the good old days of Peter Withe, Gary Shaw, Dennis Mortimer etc but you now seem to be the perennial underachievers, potentially a massive club but you need to believe it yourselves, looking forward to grabbing an opening day point though, have you ever beat us in the league at Villa Park? No, thought not

5)What is your opinion on Martin O'Neill?

Intelligent, eccentric and a good football man, yeah I’d be happy with him as boss, if we didn’t have Roberto of course

6)Which of our players do you fear?

Emile Heskey, because we know him so well and also James Milner, he had a quality second half for England against the Dutch on Wednesday and set up Defoe’s 2nd goal superbly

7) Any smart new signings for you boys and who should we most fear?

Hendry Thomas, though he probably wont play because he’s been involved in Honduras’ World Cup Qualifier and wont get back until Friday, but he is the new Wilson Palacios, only different, oh yes and Jordi Gomez, signed from Espanyol but spent last season on loan at Swansea and scored 15 goals from midfield.

8) If you could have one of our players, who would it be and why?

James Milner, we need an Antonio Valencia replacement and Milner fits the bill, quick, talented and frightens opponents

9)Go on then, give us your prediction!?

I am going for a 1-1, early season and there is always strange results at this time but I can see a draw being the order of the day.

I'll link to my interview with Vital Wigan when it is up and Barry has also just done a podcast interview which I'll link to when ready! www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk

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