Premier League Season Preview: Wigan Athletic

With the Premier League season now rapidly approaching, I have decided to take a look at each of the 20 sides that will be playing at the top level of English football during this upcoming season.

To start off my countdown, I have decided to actually go in reverse order with Wolverhampton starting off the list, and Arsenal concluding this list right before the start of the Premier League season.

In the second part of this preview, I will look at Wigan Athletic , who finished 16th in the Premier League last season, despite having some of the worse losses in Premier League history last season.

Review of last season:

After an 11th place finish in the 2008-2009 season, Wigan saw the departure of Steve Bruce to Sunderland and brought in former player Roberto Martinez to become their new manager.

Under Martinez, Wigan had some terrible performances (such as their 9-1 loss to Tottenham and a 8-0 loss to Chelsea), but were also able to beat Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool at the DW Stadium for the first time ever during the season.

And as a result, Wigan were able to stay afloat for a sixth straight season in the Premier League.

Transfers:

New Signings:

Mauro Boselli (Estudiantes La Plata), Ali Al Habsi (Bolton), Antolin Alcaraz (Club Brugge), James McArthur (Hamilton) and Ronnie Stam (Twente).

Departing Players:

Tomasz Cywka (Derby County) and Titus Bramble (Sunderland).

Wigan Athletic Premier League Fixture List

All Times are GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Saturday, August 14, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Blackpool (15.00)

Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Chelsea (17.15)

Saturday, August 28, 2010
Tottenham Hotspur - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, September 11, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Sunderland (15.00)

Saturday, September 18, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Manchester City (15.00)

Saturday, September 25, 2010
Birmingham City - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Monday, October 4, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Wolverhampton (20.00)

Saturday, October 16, 2010
Newcastle - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, October 23, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Bolton (15.00)

Saturday, October 30, 2010
Fulham - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, November 6, 2010
Blackburn - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Liverpool (19.45)

Saturday, November 13, 2010
Wigan Athletic - West Bromwich (15.00)

Saturday, November 20, 2010
Manchester United - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, November 27, 2010
West Ham United - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, December 4, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Stoke City (15.00)

Saturday, December 11, 2010
Everton - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, December 18, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa (15.00)

Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wolverhampton - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wigan Athletic - Arsenal (15.00)

Saturday, January 1, 2011
Wigan Athletic - Newcastle (15.00)

Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Bolton - Wigan Athletic (19.45)

Saturday, January 15, 2011
Wigan Athletic - Fulham (15.00)

Saturday, January 22, 2011
Arsenal - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011
West Bromwich - Wigan Athletic (20.00)

Saturday, February 5, 2011
Wigan Athletic - Blackburn (15.00)

Saturday, February 12, 2011
Liverpool - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wigan Athletic - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, March 5, 2011
Manchester City - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, March 19, 2011
Wigan Athletic - Birmingham City (15.00)

Saturday, April 2, 2011
Wigan Athletic - Tottenham Hotspur (15.00)

Saturday, April 9, 2011
Chelsea - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, April 16, 2011
Blackpool - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, April 23, 2011
Sunderland - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wigan Athletic - Everton (15.00)

Saturday, May 7, 2011
Aston Villa - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Saturday, May 14, 2011
Wigan Athletic - West Ham United (15.00)

Sunday, May 22, 2011
Stoke City - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Major Questions Going into the Season:

1. Will Wigan be able to show some consistency?

Wigan did beat some great sides in Arsenal and Chelsea last year, but they also lost terribly to Chelsea and Tottenham.

They truly are a Jekyll and Hyde team, and will need to show some consistency this year.

2. Can Wigan have a consistent defense?

Wigan allowed an incredible 79 goals last year, the second most in the Premier League (Burnley were first with 82 allowed).

Wigan's defense had only six clean sheets also last year, and will certainly need more in order to be a contender this year.

3. Will Wigan be able to continue to beat "better teams"?

Wigan were able to beat Aston Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool last season, all of whom are sides that are contenders and are always in the top part of the table.

Now, can Wigan keep this up and do this again? They do have the players do to it and have the belief to do it, so why can't they do it?

4. Will Wigan finish in the top part of the table?

Wigan have never finished in the top part of the table, but they finished 11th two years ago, and beat some great sides last year.

I see no reason why Wigan cannot finish at least 10th this season with their players as they look to get a bigger fan base.

In case you want to see a preview of Wolverhampton's Premier League season, please click here .