Scapegoats through the years

[craigo]

Orr, Moran and Haughton weren't the most popular of players.

[buttmonkey2]

Orr, Moran and Haughton weren't the most popular of players.

Orr and Moran were not players that suited the team. A real haphazard approach to recruitment at that time.

Haughton was brilliant in patches and I remember him destroying the Aussies at Old Trafford. Trouble was he was Wigan's equivalent to Jamie Foster.

I remember him getting crunched in a tackle at the Don Valley and he spent longer preening his hair into position than he did actually playing the ball

As for Matty Johns, he WAS rubbish. Everyone knows we signed the wrong Johns brother. Even Greg Florimo was too old when we signed him and in the odd game he played back row for us looked far more comfortable there

[Caboosegg]

Apperently those who have played the game can't be wrong

[josie andrews]

Can't think of any

OMG!! You’ve a list that can stretch all the way from Robin Park to Millom

[Wigan1]

What a load of utter tripe - complete and utter b***cks post and Nathans comment re people not understanding Smiths value again utter tripe and insulting to members of the forum most of whom have played the game and been around it long enough to call a spade a spade.

Firstly this ludicrous point

but scapegoating seems to involve constantly repeated criticism of the same things often with a personal edge. Often there does not seem to be a lot of logic involved.

I will give you £100 for every comment you can find that criticizes Powell as a person - because im almost certain you will not find a single 1, you may be trying to include in that the idea of him being the blue eye'd boy but remember thats a shot at the Wigan upper management for having favorites not a shot at Powell.

I see this comment over and over again and it is fictional, its put there because people cant argue back that Powell is a very good player, so instead people change the argument to look like others are just being mean, instead of what they are actually doing and pointing out the obvious

then there is this

Of course, illogical criticism

Except it isnt is it, its very logical - in fact people would do provide criticism do it with examples and opinions, whats illogical is to make up stuff (its personal) or to refute a criticism of someones's playing ability by saying things like "well coaches pick him" but not backing it up with any insight into why.

oh and the comedy continues from Nathan, ah yes Matty Smith - the slowest halfback in history who while being a decent all round player was never a stand out player and always a position that could of been improved. I mean whn he left Wigan clubs were queuing up for the mercurial talent werent they, nope just his mate at st helens who he was a large part of getting the sack in the whole "jobs for the boys" - but surely he went onto bigger and better things then being such a talent, no he bounced around after failing to hold down a position at Catalan then onto widnes - and before people come at me with age arguements he was 29 when he left for saints, George williams is 28. in fact in the 6 years he played after leaving he scored a grand total of 3 tries.

Im sick of posters claiming that if a player gets criticism its because they know nothing or that its a personal vendetta. There is good reason why many people hold a particular view on players, its not because they hate them or hate wigan - its because its more often than not true. Very rarely does a player get overwhelmingly negative comments on their playing ability (both powell and smith was never a bad personal comment) and it not have truth in it.

I mean it even says in the opening to this frankly absurd thread "constantly repeated criticism" well guess what sunshine there is a reason for that

If its 35 degrees outside - most people will tell you its hot all day - they wont half way through the day say its cold, and it a player is slower than post office queue this year, guess what chances are he will be slow next yea and the year after - so if the same things are true expect the same things to be said

Ill end with this since Powell is simply a scapegoat and we are all so mean to such a valuable player who is carrying Wigan (yes im being aloof because its the counter to your claims of personal attacks)

What other team in Superleauge does Powell make the starting 13??

Think someone touched a nerve, toys well and truly out the pram!

[medlocke]

Can't think of any

OMG!! You’ve a list that can stretch all the way from Robin Park to Millom

Dunno about Millom, Maybe Duddon bridge

[Exiled Wiganer]

Duddon Bridge? Am off to the Lakes in a few weeks - I hope to pass through there on my bike having headed up Wrynose. The Duddon Valley is heaven after that nasty piece of road.

[Exiled Wiganer]

I think to qualify there has to be something special about them that goes beyond not being the right sort of player. So I would exclude Moran and Powell because their “problem” is that they are not the type of player some would like them to be. Also, in the old days you were limited by who you knew or where you stood but here are a few that stuck with me: Jimmy Birts… Mike Ford… Mathers… Clinch… Danny Moore…

[medlocke]

Duddon Bridge? Am off to the Lakes in a few weeks - I hope to pass through there on my bike having headed up Wrynose. The Duddon Valley is heaven after that nasty piece of road.

Not wrong there EW, the finest valley in the Lakes imo and unspoilt by mass tourism, spent many a summer day swimming at the bridge and many places upstream as far up as Seathwaite since the mid 70's.

[fozzieskem]

Matty Smith used to get a lot and I think it was mostly from people who didn’t really understand rugby and couldn’t see the value he added and the job he did for us.

Never been replaced in my opinion and the Smith who we had would be an incredible player to have right now when you look at the lack of leadership and experience in general & the pivot positions.

Good points very well made.