Interview with a Latic

Today, I'm delighted to continue the series of interviews with supporters of teams City are about to play.

Sorry there was nothing from Evertonians, they were all too busy or rude (the fans I contacted seemed very bitter over Lescott and abusive), I thought scouses were meant to have a good sense of humour.

By contrast, I'm very pleased to introduce Dan Farrimond, passionate Latic author of blog Jesus Was a Wiganer who is sharing some views ahead on Monday night's game.

Trautman's Neck: How did you come to follow Wigan?

Dan (JWAW): My Dad was always a dyed-in-the-wool Wigan Rugby supporter, so until the age of 10, I suppose I was a "forced" rugby fan. When I started getting interested in football, I had no idea Wigan even had a team - after all, I'd never seen them on telly, and you'd be lucky to find a single Latics fan where I lived.

So as soon as I found out about Wigan Athletic that was it. I had all the posters ripped from the local paper, and would buy Shoot and Match magazines just to get stats from the latest Latics games.

When I was old enough to afford tickets - which coincided with our move to the JJB - I started going to the odd game, but only got my first season ticket in 2004.

Why Wigan, well it was pure and simply where I lived. Years of hanging around proud Wigan rugby men rubbed off and I suppose there wasn't really any competition.

Except, the only other football support in my family was my grandfather. He was, and still is, a mad keen City supporter. He went to his first City game 70 years ago and still regales me with stories of Dennis Law and Stanley Matthews, but especially how Bert Trautmann would put most Premiership players to shame. (BTN: Wonder if he's going to Bert's 60th anniversary lunch on 9th April).

Trautmann's Neck: Do you have a favourite game / memory?

Dan (JWAW): There have been many; beating Preston 5-0 in 2004, the whole of the 2002-2003 season when we racked up 100 points on our way to the title; our last game at Springfield Park (against Man City). But I'm going to be boring and cite the day we were promoted to the Premier League as my favourite memory - specifically when the second goal went in on our way to that 3-1 win over Reading. That's the first time I really though in my heart of hearts Wigan could be a premiership team.

Also, our win over Chelsea earlier this season ranks close as does our first game in the Prem when we narrowly lost to Chelsea. The atmosphere that day was pretty special.

I'd also throw in a relatively insignificant midweek game against Rotherham where everyone retreated to the backs of the stands to shelter from a torrential downpour.

Trautmann's Neck: How do you feel about Wigan's current squad / Management?

Dan (JWAW): When Roberto Martinez took over, I felt it was a couple of years too early as he's still a bit raw and yet to fully develop as a manager. I'd seen a few of his games at Swansea last year on TV and was impressed with what he'd achieved, so was certainly happy to give him a chance.

Losing Steve Bruce at the end of 2009 season was a blow, especially looking back. The squad Martinez inherited doesn't really suit the kind of football he likes, so it was a case of making do. I admire the man for sticking to his task this season, and I think on a couple of occasions we deserved better results.

All in all, I back Martinez even if many impatient souls don't. He knows the club and has his eyes on the long term prize rather than going out and blowing millions on stop gap solutions just to keep us in the league.

Trautmann's Neck: What are you hopes for the rest of the season?

Dan (JWAW): In an ideal world to get somewhere near out points total from last season. I know that's unlikely and so will readily settle for safety, preferably before we travel to Stamford Bridge.

If you'd offered me safety with wins over Liverpool and Chelsea this campaign, I'd have bitten off you leg and nose as well as hand. With an inexperienced manager, we've done alright whilst paying off some debts in the meanwhile. Sure we don't have big names, but when we break even again, things hopefully will be different.

Provided we stay up, I'd settle for another quiet season in mid-table. If we show some progress than you can always hope to push for Europe, no matter how unlikely.

Trautmann's Neck: How did you get into blogging about Wigan?

Dan (JWAW): Not sure really. I never actually felt compelled to force my opinions on anyone until last year when I thought 'sod it, I don't care how many people I offend anymore' - which is a bit optimistic as nobody really reads my blog (BTN - I do) - beyond that I just like writing and messing around with all this Internet stuff.

Trautmann's Neck: What are your thoughts on the coming game with City?

Dan (JWAW): My expectation is that Wigan will get beaten, but my hopes are for a boring draw. Hull and Burnley may look terrible right now, but you never know what can happen and we need points.

Yes I think a draw is an optimistic prediction, I'd be happy losing by one or two to keep our goal difference just ahead of our rivals.

Trautmann's Neck: Any views on the World Cup / Money in the game / favourite pie?

Dan (JWAW): If you'd asked me about England's chances 6 months ago I'd be a lot more positive, but with recent, entirely avoidable scandals popping up to puncture morale. We've got some decent players - certainly good enough to win the World Cup, but everything has to fall into place for once.

The one man who can do it for us, who can turn us into winners, is Wayne Rooney. Providing Ferguson doesn't play him into the ground he could lift us to the final, but we'll probably go out on penalties somewhere. Hopefully not though.

As a Wigan fan I can't complain about the game being money orientated, as to a large extent it's got us to where we are today. If it hadn't been for Dave Whelan, we might not even exist. Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves to remind us that we're a small town club with a relatively small fan base kept alive by the financial input of Father Jack. It is a privileged position.

I'm also a firm believer in the wider football family. Football seems too much of a business these days for clubs to care about each other. If you look at Manchester City's relationship with Wigan, you could say that City had a hand in helping Latics become a football league club with a series of high profile friendlies in the seventies. As a result, many Wigan fans hold a special place in their heart for City. This doesn't happen that often these days, everyone looking after number one, it makes you die a little inside.

As for pies, I don't really like them - strange that coming from a Wiganer, but I'm more a fish and chip man.

Anyway good luck for Monday but not too much.

Trautmann's Neck: You too Dan, thanks again for taking time out of your day and all the best for the rest of the season. Do check out Dan's Blog (Jesus Was a Wiganer).