* The Unofficial "Official" Boxing Day. Boro v Wigan Match-Day Thread *

r00fie1

r00fie1

Well-known member
Its that time again......
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A Merry Christmas / Winter Solstice to everyone.

It was just under two months ago, when Michael Carrick took charge of his first game at Preston. It was close to a draw, but North End took the points at the death. After the period of improvement under Leo`s tenure, we started to look like a team on a mission. Certainly, the "Carrick Factor" had an immmediate impact with 4 league wins, a draw and 2 defeats [if you count Preston]. Hard to believe, but three of those victories were away! In the goals column we`ve scored 12 and conceded 7 [ 3 - of those at Burnley]. Compare Carrick`s short period as Head Coach to the dreadful start under Wilder and that embarrassing defeat at Coventry - Wilders last stand. Almost the same squad have turned it around and produced some spectacular football: Hackney is confirmation our academy has talent enough to play in the first team. Chuba is like a man reborn: proving, with the right handling and coaching, anything is possible. Our new found cohesion and positivety is reflected in our results. We are not the finished article "by any stretch" - but the lads are playing to their strengths - round pegs in round holes. One important aspect of Carrick`s approach is that the players matter most, along with the coaching and backroom staff. Never one to take the credit or get carried away - Carrick looks to have been a shrewd investment. Football isnt an exact science, but so far, he appears to have the right formula to take us up the table and [hopefully] have us in a play-off spot come the end of this season.

Wigan may be second bottom in the table, two points from safety, but with new Manager Colo Toure` in charge, they wont be a push-over. Toure` was first-team coach at Leicester City and has been in charge of the Latics for just over three weeks. So far he`s managed an away draw at Millwall and a close-run 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield United.
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A packed house, sell out crowd and over 800+ noisy Wigan fans in the South East Corner. Its Boxing day and will hopefully be a cracker.

Up The Boro!

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Colo Toure`

Officially appointed Wigan Manager on 29th November 2022.

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[Extract]
  • Kolo Touré appointed Wigan Athletic First Team Manager
  • Former Ivory Coast international joins from Leicester City, where he was operating as First Team Coach
  • Touré arrives at the Club on a three and a half-year deal from Leicester City, where he was operating as First Team Coach as part of Brendan Rodgers' coaching staff.
  • Having played under and learnt from elite managers throughout his career from the likes of Arsène Wenger, Roberto Mancini, Jürgen Klopp and Brendan Rodgers - as well as years of top flight, European and International coaching experience – Touré will now focus on his own managerial career at First Team level.
  • Starting his career at Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas in 1999, the former central defender had an illustrious playing career with Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Celtic FC all on his footballing resume, as well as 120 caps for his native Ivory Coast. Touré made more than 500 senior appearances over a 15-year period, with an honours list that includes two Premier League titles - one as an Arsenal ‘Invincible’, two FA Cups, two Scottish Premiership titles, as well as success on the international stage with an African Cup of Nations back in 2015.
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Commenting on his appointing as Wigan Athletic Manager, Kolo Touré said:
"I would like to thank all of the fans, players and staff of Leicester City Football Club, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Susan Whelan, Jon Rudkin and of course Brendan Rodgers for making me feel so welcome for so many years.
"The experiences that I have amassed under Brendan Rodgers have been invaluable and I’m sure they will help me in this next chapter of my career.
"I am extremely proud to be named Manager of Wigan Athletic. Wigan Athletic is a big club with hugely passionate fans. Together, we can continue to make the right steps forward.
"I’m excited to work with this talented group of players and staff, and immensely look forward to my time ahead."

wiganathletic.com

Kolo Touré appointed Wigan Athletic First Team Manager

Touré appointed as new manager of the Club on a three and a half-year deal
wiganathletic.com wiganathletic.com
 
One To Watch:

Nathan Broadhead
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The 24 year old Welshman was signed on loan at the start of the season from Everton. He began his youth career with the Toffee`s at the age of 10, having previously played at Wrexham and Bangor. He has made one Premier League appearance as sub for Everton, but has been out on loan to Burton Albion and Sunderland before joining the Latics. He was one of the Sunderland side who were promoted last season - making 20 appearances and scoring 10 goals.
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So far - playing in a struggling Wigan side, he`s yet to find his top form, but Colo Toure` maybe looking for him to play a more central role as he refashions and looks to rebuild the team.
 
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Facts:
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* Following last weeks games, Boro are still the 3rd -highest scorer`s in the Championship with 32 goals!
* That puts us above top 6, Blackburn, Watford, Norwich and QPR. Only Sheffield United [38] and Burnley [46] have scored more.
* Wigan have the 2nd - worse goal difference in the Championship [-11], behind Hull City [-14] in 21st place, who have conceded a whopping 40 goals so far this season!
 
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Flashback:

Saturday 10th November 2018 .Championship.

Boro 2 Wigan 0

Attendance: 22,207
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Jordan Hugill [on loan from West Ham] hadnt scored since the previous season, on 1st January, but made up by scoring 2 first-half goals against Wigan. The first was from the penalty spot and the second, a header from a Martin Braithwaite cross [What happened to him?]. Tony Pulis described how Jordan had worked hard in training and said Jordan had a "little bit of steel about him" (?) - He probably needed that, as Pulis regularly played him up front as a lone striker - often finding three opposing defenders hanging on to him! Wigan were having a torrid time, but Wigan Manager Paul Cook was doing his best to plug the leaks in the Wigan defence.That victory took us up to 2nd in the Championship, 2 points behind Norwich and a point above both Leeds and Sheffield United in third and fourth place.
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Boro had lost Bamford to Leeds and Ben Gibson to Burnley. Two key players we never really replaced.
Boro made a reasonable start to the season, but fell appart in the run-in when Pulis side experienced a run of six consecutive defeats, including Brentford, Preston, Aston villa, Norwich, Bristol City and Swansea! Boro`s last home win before that dreadful run was against QPR [2-0] on 23rd February. The next home win was 1-0 against Hull on 13th April! All the hard work that season was scuppered and we eventually finished 7th - a point behind Derby in 6th.

That was the season, we reportedly paid £8,000,000 for George Saville, £5,000,000 for Paddy McNair and £7,000,000 for Aiden Flint.
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Before the start of the next season, Pulis was to depart and Jonathan Woodgate ["Is a red"] became our new Head Coach......I wonder what happened to him?
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I couldn't make it home for Christmas this year due to the snow storm here in the US. For those also across the pond, does the MFC stream work in the US? Sorry, it will be my first time paying and using it.
 
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