Can Wigan Overcome Its Points Deficit?

If there’s one thing that strikes fear into the heart of any soccer fan, it’s a points deduction. Losing on Saturday is bad enough, but when off-the-pitch issues lead to penalties, titles, prestige and more get put at risk.

And that’s exactly what happened with Wigan Athletic last season, as the Latics took a three-point deduction and finished bottom of the table in the Championship. Now they’re looking at a return to League One, and they’re starting the campaign in an even worse spot.

Twice failing to pay players last season have left the Latics starting the year on minus-8 points, which makes the race for promotion a tough ask this season. Here’s a look at their situation.

The Strategic Importance of Early Season Matches

Starting the season with a points deficit doesn’t just make the climb to promotion more difficult; it also puts immense pressure on early-season matches. Given the need to make up for lost points, Wigan can’t afford to take time to settle in. Instead, they’ll need to hit the ground running. Each match, especially against teams that could be considered ‘easier opponents,’ becomes crucial in Wigan’s journey to dig themselves out of this hole.

The club’s preparation in the pre-season thus becomes a determining factor. While other teams might use early matches to experiment or fine-tune their approach, Wigan doesn’t have that luxury. They need to come out strong, tactically prepared, and psychologically ready to secure some quick points. The mental aspect cannot be overlooked either. Players will need to manage the stress and expectation that comes with knowing that every game counts in a special way this season.

Wigan Can Likely Forget Automatic Promotion

Eight points might not seem like a lot, but when you’re trying to get promoted back to the Championship, they matter greatly. Historically, a team needs about 75 points to get into the race for a playoff spot and 85 points to have a shot at automatic promotion. Doing the math, that would mean Wigan would need about 25 wins and a few draws to even get into the race for a playoff spot.

That’s not going to happen. Wigan is going to have an entirely new roster, and that means the early matches could be a bit rocky as things come together. The bigger concern for the Latics will be to steer the ship through the first month of the season and avoid sinking into a relegation battle. Survival, not success, is the theme of this season.

The Role of Fans and Home Advantage

Another factor that could play a pivotal role in Wigan’s season is the support from their fans. In a situation where the team is under immense pressure to perform, a strong backing from the supporters could be the morale boost they need. Traditionally, teams perform better at home. For Wigan, turning their home ground into a fortress could offer some relief from their points woes. Fan engagement, therefore, should be a strategic focus for the club, especially during this challenging period.

Wigan Needs to Find an Offense

There’s big questions about whether Shaun Maloney can actually lead an offensive-minded team. Maloney led Wigan for 18 matches last season, and the Latics only managed to score more than one goal once. Things weren’t any better when Maloney led Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League, as his side scored multiple goals just three times in 19 matches.

The players have to be good enough up top, but the fact that Maloney’s career now consists of 37 matches and 33 of them have seen his side score one goal or fewer is cause for genuine alarm. Either he’s going to make adjustments in a hurry, or Wigan’s going to be looking for a new voice.

Security’s On the Horizon

Mike Danson is flush with cash. He’s just short of being one of the 100 wealthiest individuals in the United Kingdom, so Wigan will have the ability to spend should it find itself in a promotion race. The Latics have focused on free transfers to this point as well as defense, which says Danson’s waiting to see what needs to be done until the season gets underway.

Eight points shouldn’t give Wigan much worry about going the wrong way. It’s probably going to keep the Latics in League One for a year, but if they get through this season, better times shouldn’t be far away.

A Cautionary Tale for the Future

Wigan’s current situation serves as a cautionary tale for clubs that may find themselves on the brink of financial or administrative issues. Points deductions not only affect a single season but can also have a cascading effect on the morale, performance, and even the financials of a club for years to come. Clubs must exercise fiscal and administrative responsibility to avoid finding themselves in a similar predicament.

By tackling the season head-on, Wigan Athletic has the chance to not only survive but potentially thrive, turning a challenging situation into a story of resilience and determination. Whether they will succeed remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: it will be a season like no other for the Latics.