Barrett Praises Noble

[GeoffN]

Bails is also toeing the Noble party line in his blog, but much of what he says just doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

The last two weeks couldn’t have been any more different. Obviously we were disappointed with the loss to Huddersfield, but at the same time, I don’t think some of the criticism was warranted.

You're in the minority there, Bails. Watch the Huddersfield game again.

We were unfortunate in that we had players out injured or suspended, and that had a big effect on us. But it hasn’t got to Nobby and he’s been really good despite what people have been saying and the players all back him. He just wants to get on with the job and who can blame him? He’s a quality coach and our last performance against Hull is a testament to him.

And most of them, plus Hock, were missing for the Hull game too, so how can that be an excuse?

As you saw though, we did cope against Hull and the thing is we didn’t do anything different.

Tactics were completely different in the Hull game to what we've been seeing all season, as anyone could see. It seems to me there are two possible reasons for that:

1. Noble decided to change tactics, in which case why has it taken him so long to realise his previous tactics weren't working?

2. The players took it on themselves to ignore his tactics and play their own game.

Either way, BN doesn't look good.

[pedro]

well said Geoff

[Big Steve]

My guess is that what barrett is saying is that if the players were to actually implement on the field what Noble tells them and practices with them in training then they would be in much better shape.

It is therefore the players not achieving on the field what they have practiced on the pitch that appears to be the problem.

IMO that is because until now they have not had the characters on pitch to impose themselves on the game when things are going wrong, they are uinder pressure and need to get back to the game plan.

Very simplistically, i'm sure Noble will tell them to earn the right to play attacking football; retain the ball, get field position, put the opposition under pressure. open the play out when it's right to do so. When in defence, keep disciplined, communicate, etc.

Compare this to Cullen for example who when commenting on a recent wire game (post the sack) was bleating on about how unfair it was that Warrington were losing because they were the more exciting team, and as long as they continued to play that way they didn't need to worry about defence and ball retention, etc!!!!!!!!!!!

It is up to key players like Fielden, Trent, Mathers, Higham to contriol the game on-field - maybe this is why we have struggled as Mathers is out of form, and Higham although he tries hard, doesn't seem to have the control and football nous a great No. 9 should have, and possibly Paaaat doesn't talk and organise as well as a good FB should (which is understandable as he isn't a FB).

Compare this to the spine of the saints team, wellens, long, Cunningham/Roby, Cayless/graham, - all of them know how and when to dictate the game plan.

What would be interesting would be too see how Nobby coaches the team to try and recreate the pressure situations and get teh players to practice this in training - maybe it's something that can't be replicated unless in game situations???

[emperorkel]

I always take this with a pinch of salt. England footballers always said how brilliant Sven was but after he was sacked two of them wrote books saying his tactics and control were crap, its a case of the King is dead long live the King You have to appear to support the man who picks the team.
I have a level 2 FA coaching badge and I coached an under 12 team, even here the kids and parents were wonderful when they were in my squad but the next year when they had moved up the rumours started about how bad you were and you did not always pick little jonnie. Its just human nature

[cpwigan]

Spot on Kel

Have any players ever criticised their coach whilst he has been in the job. Plenty have thereafter. It is the terribly English thing to do.

[Wigan Watcher]

I take on board what people are saying but the point has been lost here... Barrett said it to the players and not to the press or publicly ( Behind closed doors ) He did not need to say it.

[cpwigan]

I take on board what people are saying but the point has been lost here... Barrett said it to the players and not to the press or publicly ( Behind closed doors ) He did not need to say it.

Watcher he did need to say it. Basically, I think your information comes from the Monday when Trent spoke to the whole squad for motivational purposes. As someone who has to motivate people (shock horror) I am very economical with the hard facts and overly positive. It is simply the nature of motivation.

[bluey]

do you know what cpwigan, i have been reading your posts for some time now and have come to the conclusion that you know nothing about what REALLY goes on at wigan, i think you just make it up as you go along. All you do is bag the team and the coaching staff. Are you a wigan supporter !!

[GeoffN]

do you know what cpwigan, i have been reading your posts for some time now and have come to the conclusion that you know nothing about what REALLY goes on at wigan, i think you just make it up as you go along. All you do is bag the team and the coaching staff. Are you a wigan supporter !!

I've had my disagreements with cp in the past, but I think he's "more right than wrong" in this instance.

Nobby keeps saying that there's never been a problem, but the inconsistent results all season have shown that something's up.

That list that IL came up with is pretty much a summary of what most of us have been saying all season, yet Noble is effectively contradicting all of it.

Whether or not there's any substance to the Noble rumour, I think IL has shown that he's more in touch with reality than Noble.

[cpwigan]

do you know what cpwigan, i have been reading your posts for some time now and have come to the conclusion that you know nothing about what REALLY goes on at wigan, i think you just make it up as you go along. All you do is bag the team and the coaching staff. Are you a wigan supporter !!

Bluey I only post information from trustworthy connected sources. That does not mean it is 100% proof. I was once tipped Leon Pryce might be signing for us when he was shown around the JJB etc before he opted to sign for Saints.

You will find I am very pro the players we have. If anything I get accused of supporting them too much. My point of view is we have very good players but under achieve massively. I believe that is a reasonable assumption.

Welcome to the board as a poster.