Good point, the atmosphere at Catalans games is dire as it is god knows what it will be like at millwall and as you say how will playing in an empty stadium promote the name "Wigan Warriors"

I do think Millwall is the wrong place, somewhere a tad more central (at least north of the river) like Loftus Road would have been my first choice. Aside from the huge negative connotations the name Millwall has (at least outside their support base), I genuinely can't see this appealing to many but the most easily bought corporates out for a free prawn or three.
I understand IL's rationale in doing this, but it's just the wrong venue.

Given Les Cats are on 20 points this could well be a meaningless fixture anyway for Cats.

If they lose their first two games and Hudds win both theirs and we win one of ours (which would have to be the case for Hudds to win both) they won't be able to make the top four by the time we play them.

Les Cats are away to Hudds before they play us so I think even if Hudds lose a game they can still effectively kill off Cats given Huds far superior points difference.

I don't think it's a very attractive fixture to begin with for the neutral but there is no way Leeds, Saints or Wire would inconvenience their fans so Wigan could improve the business side of the club.

This needed to be the first game to guarantee Cats has something to play for. As it stands there is every likelihood there won't be any incentive for Cats fans to travel and low expectations as to how their team will play.

To give IL some credit: I can't imagine Millwall was their first choice. But the practicalities of fitting it around football fixtures, etc, must have meant that it was the only realistic option.

On the flip side of that, far fewer Wigan fans would travel down if it was the first week due to a lack of time to arrange transport/accommodation etc. I think that would impact the crowd more than whether or not a handful of extra Cats fans travelled over.

As far as IL's intention for this, the context of the actual game being played is pretty irrelevant IMO. You'll get the diehard Wigan fans who hardly miss a game going down, plus others who fancy a weekend in London. Other than that it'll be Business Club members and whatever locals the advertising has managed to attract, most of whom will probably be experiencing the game for the first time. Where the 2 teams are in the league table won't matter to them.

Wigan have specifically targeted this particular date for the match, since England are playing at San Marino at 5pm that afternoon. That means that there are no Premier League or Championship football fixtures that weekend.

Millwall is the most central of all londons football teams.

If that is the case maybe IL has a master plan to "Twin Wigan " with Millwall

Well it might be geographically as the crow flies but I would have thought Loftus Road, Craven Cottage (particularly with the RL history) or any ground north of the river would have been preferable.

Thinking about it, as I lived in London for 12 years and worked in Southwark for several while living in Walthamstow I am certain anything north of the river would have been better.

The Millwall fans are delighted with the news www.millwall.vitalfootball.co.uk ... 7&posts=10

The Millwall fans are delighted with the news www.millwall.vitalfootball.co.uk ... 7&posts=10

Oh you mean like Wigan Athletic fans stating that we ruined THEIR pitch and that's why they were relegated even though they didn't win a match from the rugby season finishing and starting again

For what it's worth i think this decision is idiotic. I could maybe understand it in another area of London (a better class of area) where you could possibly get 1000 Union fans in attendance and possibly another 1000 locals out of sheer curiosity but to hold it at Millwall is just a crazy decision. To hold it anywhere apart from Wigan is a crazy decision. Another cup match (effectively) against a side lower than us in the league a la Castleford and more recently Hull KR.

IL should have asked the fans first, Yes he ownes the club but it is OUR club. I can see 2000 Wiganers making the trip, Couple that with the 500 max Catalans will take and possibly another 1000 neutrals it is going to be a viewing debacle and IMO will have the reverse effect of what IL is trying to achieve. It doesn't matter how it is promoted, It just wont get the numbers. We may, just may get about 50 people from the south who start watching us on the telly. For me, that is not worth the hassle. London have had a team down there for years and the resurgence of Union aided by SKY's tv money put pay to their fans attending as they all jumped codes and started watching the sumo wrestling code of our game instead.

If he want's to expand the game he should have had a proper think about the logistical side for the fans first. Not to mention the 2 extremely important points that are on offer. I can't imagine Wane or any of the players will be happy about this (well 2 of them maybe ) but i very much doubt anything has been said about it. If we lose out on the 4 or a better league position because of this IL must be prepared to take the blame for it. If we lose to Catalans in a game we would probably be 90% sure to win at the DW it could send us on a run that could finish our season. We have worked hard to get the squad playing well, and now that we have at the most important time of the season it is all in danger of being undone with this ludicrous decision to play in a part of the country where they hate all things northern, French and ethnic. This birth is born to fail and will almost certainly never be repeated. Obviously Sky Sports will love the idea and Eddie and Stevo will big the decision up at every opportunity to drum up interest. It will be a debacle. Pessimist? maybe but i think most people can see where this one is headed.

Good news. I'll be going and taking my 9 yr old son together with a couple of others who only get to see the occasional game in London

I agree. Having lived in London myself Millwall is not a place you'd think to go. Have the game at Fulham's ground near Chelsea, well not only is that easier to get to it has got to be far more "corporate".



The purpose is supposed to be with the aim of securing sponsorship and tapping into new talent. Why we need to do the latter given the local talent I have no idea and how the former will be achieved via this fixture at that ground is beyond me.