Interview time! We sat down with Vital Wigan’s Worbo prior to tomorrow’s game and asked him some testers, here’s what we came up with
Tomorrow is a big game for all concerned with Rovers, with the club currently sitting in 18th the need points and to get back on track is strong.
A home game is what we need and what we have and with Wigan as tomorrows visitors the chance to sit down and have a chat with Vital Wigan editor Worbo was too tempting to pass up.
I asked the questions, Worbo provided the goods, lets get stuck straight in –
1) So after something of a disaster start, Wigan seemed to have turned a corner, how have you viewed your start?
The first two games we were awful, we didn`t look ready for the start of the season and the Blackpool game (we lost 4-0 at home) was an embarrassment, then we went to Hartlepool in the Carling Cup, won comfortably and that seemed to give us some confidence, we beat Spurs at White Hart Lane and went on a run of just one defeat in ten games.
We have been very unlucky not to have won against both Bolton and Newcastle, ended up drawing both those games otherwise we`d have been 7th in the table, what we need to do now is turn a little more ruthless and turn some draws into wins.
2) Who has been the Wigan ‘main man’ this season?
Ali Al-Habsi has made a massive difference since he came into the side replacing Chris Kirkland, Kirkie was obviously suffering from a dip in form and Al-Habsi has steadied the ship bringing an air of confidence that has helped the defenders as well.
James McCarthy had made a fantastic start to the season, for such a young lad (19) he is a fantastic talent and he ran our midfield, unfortunately he`s suffered a serious ankle injury and will be out for a few months, but for me our ‘main man` is undoubtedly Charles N`Zogbia, he is head and shoulders above the rest of the squad, a real class player and he has carried on where he left off last season.
3) Franco Di Santo was on loan at Rovers last season but is now at Wigan after a permanent transfer in the summer, do you rate him?
When we signed Franco I must admit that I wasn`t overly excited, but I hadn`t seen too much of him, all I knew was that he`d been on loan at Ewood and been in and out of the team scoring just once, so what a pleasant surprise I have had.
He is superb, he plays with his heart on his sleeve, 110% every game, not prolific but I`m sure if he gets one goal he`ll get a few, apparently cost just £500,000 which if true is an absolute bargain, so yes I do rate him.
4) Attendances at clubs like Wigan. Bolton and Blackburn are constantly under scrutiny due to the proximity of the big boys, could the crowds be larger at these clubs? If so, how do we go about doing it?
The crowds could be bigger, how to increase, that is the big question? I think we need to keep the prices low, initiatives like the £10 ticket for this game are great.
The fans who do attend also have a role to play, they need to stay positive and not put off any potential supporters with whinging and moaning and the clubs need to make sure the match day experience is a fun filled affair, even if we lose or play out a drab goalless draw.
For me though the kids are the future (have I heard that before?), get them on board, keep them coming back and then we will have the foundations to build the fan bases for the future. This is where the club and the players have a big role to play, going in to schools, community centres etc and becoming much more open and accessible.
5) What do you make of our very own Blackburn Rovers?
I`ve always thought of Blackburn as a family friendly club off the field, very similar to ourselves in many ways, on the field under Allardyce you are obviously a hard team to beat with a physical side to your game, in many ways similar to what Bolton were like 5 years ago.
6) Who do you see as the danger men for the Ewood boys?
The lad you have from Man United, Mame Diouf looks a real handful, Pedersen and his dead balls are always a danger and big Chris Samba is a massive threat from set pieces.
7) Can you make a team up of Wigan/Blackburn players? With a maximum of seven from one side.
Ali Al-Habsi
Emmerson Boyce
Chris Samba
Ryan Nelsen
Maynor Figueroa
Hendry Thomas
Steven N`Zonzi
Charles N`Zogbia
Mame Diouf
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Franco Di Santo
8) Finally, can we pester you for a prediction?
2-1 for me, a cracking game of football and a great atmosphere, hopefully
