Last Season:  Finished 14th in the Premier League - 40pts.
Manager: Steve Bruce

INS:     
MF Olivier Kapo  - 5m US  
AMF Daniel de Ridder - FREE  
ST Amr Zaki - Loan   
LB Maynor Figeuroa - Loan Ext.
MF Lee Cattermole -  Undisclosed 

OUTS:
ST Julius Agahowa
CMF Josip Skoko
LMF Salomon Olembe
CB Andrew Webster
DF Andreas Granqvist

Possibles:
ST Andrew Johnson - Everton
LW Charles N`Zogbia - Newcastle
DMF Lee Cattermole - Middlesbrough
MF Dickson Ethuhu - Sunderland
ST Salvador Cabanas - Club America
ST Djibril Cisse - Marseille
MF Sebastian Larsson - Birmingham

What`s Left in the Kitty - 35m US

What Lies Ahead:
Aug 16 West Ham (A)
Aug 23 Chelsea (H)
Aug 30 Hull City (A)
Sep 13 Sunderland (H)
Sep 20 Tottenham (A)
Sep 27 Man City (H)
Oct 4 Middlesbrough (H)

Possible Starting XI:
GK Chris Kirkland
RB Mario Melchiot
CB Paul Scharner
CB Titus Bramble
LB Kevin Kilbane
RMF Daniel de Ridder
CMF Michael Brown
CMF Paul Scharner/Lee Cattermole
LMF Jason Koumas
FW Emile Heskey
FW Amr Zaki/Olivier Kapo

How They`ll Stack Up:
After seeing the holes in one sinking ship were easier to plug than the other (Birmingham), Steve Bruce came aboard and saved the Latics from the drop last season.  Now he looks to consolidate the club's place in the Premier League.  Bringing in Kapo, de Ridder & Zaki is a good start and he has been linked with a number of names that could help propel this side back into the top half of the table.  Losing ST Marcus Bent (loan returnee) is a big blow but he`s hoping Zaki can help fill the void.  One thing`s for sure, Wigan need someone to score goals.  Only Derby scored fewer goals last term.  Breaking the bank for  Johnson or Cisse could provide the finishing touch they need - but I can't see either of those players coming to the JJB.  Luckily, they have a pretty decent schedule to start the season meaning we should have a good idea of where Wigan are headed come mid-October.  I can't see them higher than 12th with what they've got right now.

Coming Up Sunday - Middlesbrough