Wigan at home, new players and new feeling

It's been a good week hasn't it. I mean, we've got some interesting new players, we've kept a couple of players that we are, I'm assuming, all very happy that we've kept and to top it all off, it started with three points away from home.

Think about it for a moment. We have an owner that just said our players are not for sale and told Spurs to do one. The previous owner couldn't wait to get Jack out of the door quick enough.

And there are more players coming in. I'm not sure that is the best thing to do and it makes me feel like we're making the same mistakes we've made before by making so many changes. But at the same time, that competition is needed and we need the number of players. But again, when the manager finds his preferred eleven he sticks with it. So is it really about competition?

You know what, it doesn't matter right now. Right now it's about looking forward to what we see from Ørjan Nyland and John McGinn and I've got to tell you, I'm really looking forward to seeing John McGinn in the side. It's not that I've seen much of him, I might have accidentally watched a Hibs game last season, but it's what I've heard.

I've heard he's a proper footballer that wants to win and will give everything. I've heard he's also a decent player too, but as you can tell it's the first two things I like above the third. As for Ørjan Nyland, I know nothing, but how difficult can it be when you've got James Chester in front of you?

So all we need today is to end the week like we started it. Three points today and I think everyone will be happy, even that small group that can't wait for Aston Villa to lose so they can have a pop at the manager and shout that he should be sacked.

Me, I'm so confident I'm going to have a bet on us to win. I just don't know if it should be with 32Red or Unibet. Is there a difference?

Match preview

Match facts from the BBC

  • Aston Villa have won each of their last three matches against Wigan in all competitions, winning both league matches in 2016-17 and a League Cup tie last season.
  • Four of Wigan's five league wins over Aston Villa have come at Villa Park, most recently a 3-0 victory in December 2012 in the Premier League.
  • Aston Villa have won their first home league match of the season in just one of their last six campaigns (D2 L3), beating Rotherham United in 2016-17.
  • Wigan have lost their last five away Championship matches in the month of August since a 4-0 win at Barnsley in August 2013.
  • Aston Villa have not won their opening two league matches in a season since 1999-00, when they did so in the Premier League under manager John Gregory.
  • Wigan midfielder Nick Powell has been involved in eight goals in his last nine starts for the Latics (4 goals, 4 assists) - he scored and assisted on the opening day against Sheffield Wednesday.