Underrated/Left-Field Wigan Teams
Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 1:15 pm
Alright, so we've had 'all time' teams, but I've been watching a lot of old stuff on Yout...I mean, Wigan TV, and I got to thinking about who are some of the more underrated players to have played in my lifetime? (I've existed since 1990 and been watching since 1998, so there's a lot of recency bias, especially early 2000s as that's when I started going)
1 - Steve Hampson - Difficult as we've not had many fullbacks (until the last few years!), and they were generally either amazing or terrible (Koloi, Wes Davies - I think, Phelps, Mathers) but Hampson probably takes it for me. I think most would throw Radlinski and Tomkins ahead of him and there's a reasonable argument he was better than at least one of them.
2 - Brett Dallas - OK, a tough call as 'underrated' but amongst most all-time teams, probably wouldn't get a look in as we've had some great wingers. Strong, tough, fast and loyal. Shame how his life has turned out since. Hope he's doing OK somewhere.
3 - Gary Connolly - I didn't see him in an all-time team, which to me was nuts (but opinions are good ) - probably one of my favourite players I've ever seen play for Wigan.
4 - George Carmont - I reckon he could've played in any Wigan team but many would rank others above him. Was class from day 1.
5 - Brian Carney - Alright, annoying on Sky these days, but Wigan lacked a 'strike' scorer for a long time after he left in my view. One of those players who could have you on the edge of your seat in attack, and ripping it out and throwing it in defence.
6 - Brett Finch - Seem to remember him being much-maligned when he was here, but watching that season's games back, he was a MASSIVE part of how good our attack was.
7 - Michael Dobson - often lost in the shadow of the Barrets and Lams (inc by me) it's incredible how good he was in '06. People point to Fielden but I don't think we had a hope of staying up without Dobson.
8 - Neil Cowie - For sheer effort, heart, and toughness. What a player.
9 - Mark Riddell - I'd have picked him for his goalkicking style alone, but such a huge part of what we did in 2010. Class act, if you got him fit, which Maguire did.
10 - Andy Coley - Arguably our best prop for many years, largely never been replaced, an absolute class act.
11 - Bryan Fletcher - never someone you see mentioned in all time-teams, but I think he was immense for us.
12 - Ryan Hoffman - Another one-season guy but my god, what a player. We were spoilt for choice in the back row back then.
13 - Nick Graham - Don't know what it was about this guy, but always liked him. Always seemed to give us absolutely everything, at a time where we really needed it.
Hopefully something to do in our lockdown-that-isn't-but-might-be-a-lockdown.
1 - Steve Hampson - Difficult as we've not had many fullbacks (until the last few years!), and they were generally either amazing or terrible (Koloi, Wes Davies - I think, Phelps, Mathers) but Hampson probably takes it for me. I think most would throw Radlinski and Tomkins ahead of him and there's a reasonable argument he was better than at least one of them.
2 - Brett Dallas - OK, a tough call as 'underrated' but amongst most all-time teams, probably wouldn't get a look in as we've had some great wingers. Strong, tough, fast and loyal. Shame how his life has turned out since. Hope he's doing OK somewhere.
3 - Gary Connolly - I didn't see him in an all-time team, which to me was nuts (but opinions are good ) - probably one of my favourite players I've ever seen play for Wigan.
4 - George Carmont - I reckon he could've played in any Wigan team but many would rank others above him. Was class from day 1.
5 - Brian Carney - Alright, annoying on Sky these days, but Wigan lacked a 'strike' scorer for a long time after he left in my view. One of those players who could have you on the edge of your seat in attack, and ripping it out and throwing it in defence.
6 - Brett Finch - Seem to remember him being much-maligned when he was here, but watching that season's games back, he was a MASSIVE part of how good our attack was.
7 - Michael Dobson - often lost in the shadow of the Barrets and Lams (inc by me) it's incredible how good he was in '06. People point to Fielden but I don't think we had a hope of staying up without Dobson.
8 - Neil Cowie - For sheer effort, heart, and toughness. What a player.
9 - Mark Riddell - I'd have picked him for his goalkicking style alone, but such a huge part of what we did in 2010. Class act, if you got him fit, which Maguire did.
10 - Andy Coley - Arguably our best prop for many years, largely never been replaced, an absolute class act.
11 - Bryan Fletcher - never someone you see mentioned in all time-teams, but I think he was immense for us.
12 - Ryan Hoffman - Another one-season guy but my god, what a player. We were spoilt for choice in the back row back then.
13 - Nick Graham - Don't know what it was about this guy, but always liked him. Always seemed to give us absolutely everything, at a time where we really needed it.
Hopefully something to do in our lockdown-that-isn't-but-might-be-a-lockdown.