Colinjb

Merson: Saints are comfortable on the ball, wearing the Brazil kit and playing like them.

There may well have been overspend, but the real damage was done down the road when Gaydamak came to town. I would not have expected the implosion down to League 2 on the back of a spell of Mandaric ownership. He does have a reasonable record of taking on Football Clubs and taking them forward. (Leicester to King Power's millions/Sheffield Wednesday work in progress)

If it was debt their owners couldn't afford to pay, then yes. The Skates didn't cheat to get into the Premier League. Neither did we, or Fulham or Wigan, or even Blackburn back in the early 90's. Mandaric, Leibherr, Al-Fayed, Whelan and Sir Jack Haywood took on the clubs and paid the way. The cheating for the Skates came when their wages/transfer fees went stratospheric under the leadership of Gaydamak/Storrie/Redknapp. A spend money we don't have sod all the consequences approach, that was cheating. Their two cup finals were a byproduct of that approach.

Didn't they have something similar to this last year? Would be a great event to go to mind.

For Saints fans to criticise Wigan as they have had a benefactor would be something of a hypocrisy. Their model is seemingly similar to ours, spend on squad/infrastructure to get to the Premier League and then aim to be self sustaining. Of course, the self sustaining bit is the hard part...

A good question. If they have debts on the same or even half scale, then yes. Looking at the money used to assemble the team, only 11 million in transfer fees and a wage budget which is widely regarded as on the lower end of the Premier League scale, I would consider it highly unlikely. Dave Whelan is a true benefactor, just like our own Markus Leibherr. The Skates were simply a front for shady process, but of course their fans were so deluded as the 'bestest' in world football that they could see nothing wrong with it.

Quite, and considering the way that we managed to get back into the Premier League it would be a little bit hypocritical on our part to have a go at Wigan. Wigan is a well run entity now it is in the Premier League and have actually invested in infrastructure and sensible squad management (advertise themselves as a stepping stone for up and coming talent rather then a final pay day), the Skates on the other hand.....

Relax, he's just being a consistent Dalek.

Dalek's consistency, 100%

Your track record is hopeless. We are safe.

#applause

Dave Whelan: "We are looking for 4 points, 4 or 6 points" Short of an amazing goal swing, 4 will see them below us on goal difference. We are safe.

Paul Scharner. He is utterly overcome. It obviously can mean something to overseas players.

Amazing that this is the same team who were a defensive clusterf**k against Swansea.

Puts our game tomorrow into context....

Mancini looks broken. Almost Redknapp-esque.

Delighted for Wigan. I bet their fans would take a day like this over Premier League nothing anyday. We are safe.

So pleased for them. Our own league campaign is paling at the moment. Superb for Wigan.... superb for football! So pleased for them.

My word. Wigan Athletic, I applaud you.

Zabaletta off....... Red Card Now it gets VERY interesting.

It's not a rip-roaring classic, but nice football being played.

Never mind my bet, Wigan deserve to win this..... Come on you Latics!!!!

McManaman should have made it 1-0 Wigan there. Wigan are playing nicely so far.

Man City v Wigan I have £2 on 3-1 to City.

Hope we get a chance to witness it in person soon.