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2012/13 Report Cards: The Goalkeepers

We start of team break down of the season with the goalkeepers. There have been three keepers who have featured for Latics this season. None of them could really be blamed for our relegation this season, while they could all be praised for helping us gain an FA Cup win.

Laurence Griffiths

Ali Al Habsi

The Latics favorite had a very indifferent sort of season this year. It started off well with a string of fine performances, and he showed the great form we all love. Towards Christmas though Ali was starting to show signs of losing his touch a bit, and following an injury in a warm up to one of our home games (which for the life of me I can't remember who it was) eventually lost his place in the starting line up.

It wasn't through trying though, and the keeper did get the chance to appear at Wembley, taking to the field in the Semi-Final game against Millwall where he kept a cool head and a clean sheet.

Since the end of the season Ali has gone under the knife to correct his problem (an aggravation in the shoulder); which should see him return fighting fit for next season.

Verdict: Not his best season in a Wigan shirt, yet he kept us in some games when it really mattered, and helped guide us to an FA Cup win; B for the Omani international this season.

Mike Pollitt

At 40 years old this man is still going and still trying to get a spot in goal for Latics. Loved by us all for his heroics through countless years at the club, Polly is starting to show signs of his age. A few injuries picked up throughout the season limited his pitch time to only two games.

Much loved by fans and players, where Pollitt really comes into things is off the pitch. As the senior head of the side a lot of the younger lads seem to gravitate round him, and James McArthur and him have struck up a close friendship.

Verdict: A lack of pitch time for the veteran keeper, yet an experience head in the dressing room is much needed especially in the tight campaign, so it has to be a C for Polly.

Joel Robles

The young Spaniard impressed the staff following his trail with Latics in January and he managed to back himself a loan move to the club. Not expecting to play much, Joel was sent to Wigan to gain experience of another league and to get use to being away from home.

Yet with injuries to our other two goalkeeper Joel came in handy and managed to produce some fine performances has he helped Latics pick up points and march on to Wembley. The most notable action though of Joel's time at the club has to be the goal he gave Gareth Bale in the opening minutes of the game at the DW Stadium.

Yet only 20 minutes later he pulled off a triple save to keep the score at 1-1 and show just how talented he is. Again shown on the biggest stage at the Cup Final where he pulled of a string of quality saves to keep Manchester City's strikers at bay, his toe denying Carlos Tevez a beautiful highlight.

Verdict: Quality performer and having only been at the club a few months he got caught up in it all. Jubilant as we won the club and mournful as we were relegated, I would have loved to have seen this lad come on full time; as it is his future lies elsewhere. A for the Spanish under-21 intentional making him the best keeper of the season for Latics.