Re: 3 new signings for next season

[GeoffN]

I think that the World Cup is likely to demonstrate that there are some very talented outside backs and big forwards in the likes of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. this year of all years we ought to be able to snare a relatively unknown South Sea talent.
As for English players, Quins (IL's other club) have done very well in improving National League players into the real deal (look at Ricky Sheriife, who went from Halifax to Quins, and has been signed by Bradford - he was in the top 10 for clean braks made).
Then there are Wiganers - do we really not back ourselves to develop the likes of Ainscough and Goulding into first team players the equal of Gardner and Lee Smith? They are every bit as talented.

We do. Noble does not.

Spot on.

[El Bobbers]

CP, is Ainscough good enough to be considered a replacement for Calderwood? You raised issues with his reading of the game or has this got better, I only saw him in the pre-season game v Bradford and thought he looked good and was confident against their (very large) winger. Surely he will be eased into the side with the number of foreign players being reduced year on year we have to look to bring these players through.

I thought Goulding looked good in his second spell in the side (before being dropped for Phelps), he even started to pass and above all he has a decent try scoring record, I can't understand why Phelps isn't tried at fullback.

Saying that if we have enough money to bring quality players in we can't do any harm strengthening the squad. Leeds are now reaping the rewards of blooding youngsters whilst bringing in real quality, there is no reason why we can't.

[cpwigan]

Right or wrong, IL is not prepared to pay over the odds. He has stated that he withdrew from signing Carney or Carvell when the money wanted got too high. He wants a winger, centre, stand off and prop. So 4 players = bargain basement. We have been linked in one of the weekly Rl newspapers with Gareth Haggerty

[GeoffN]

CP, is Ainscough good enough to be considered a replacement for Calderwood? You raised issues with his reading of the game or has this got better, I only saw him in the pre-season game v Bradford and thought he looked good and was confident against their (very large) winger. Surely he will be eased into the side with the number of foreign players being reduced year on year we have to look to bring these players through.

I thought Goulding looked good in his second spell in the side (before being dropped for Phelps), he even started to pass and above all he has a decent try scoring record, I can't understand why Phelps isn't tried at fullback.

Saying that if we have enough money to bring quality players in we can't do any harm strengthening the squad. Leeds are now reaping the rewards of blooding youngsters whilst bringing in real quality, there is no reason why we can't.

I don't see any of the youngsters breaking through under Noble, unless there are injuries. If Il comes back with a half-back signing, Nobby will use Smith/Leuluai at hooker, which means Sam Tomkins & McIlorum are both out of the reckoning. He'll play Phelps at center, so Goulding's out. Joel Tomkins will drop back out once Lockers is back. If we get a prop signing as well, both Prescott & O'Carroll will drop out.

[cpwigan]

CP, is Ainscough good enough to be considered a replacement for Calderwood? You raised issues with his reading of the game or has this got better, I only saw him in the pre-season game v Bradford and thought he looked good and was confident against their (very large) winger. Surely he will be eased into the side with the number of foreign players being reduced year on year we have to look to bring these players through.

I thought Goulding looked good in his second spell in the side (before being dropped for Phelps), he even started to pass and above all he has a decent try scoring record, I can't understand why Phelps isn't tried at fullback.

Saying that if we have enough money to bring quality players in we can't do any harm strengthening the squad. Leeds are now reaping the rewards of blooding youngsters whilst bringing in real quality, there is no reason why we can't.

Ainscough has a lot of fine qualities. Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, he has wasted 2008. He was regularly left to play in the Academy Team which was no use whatsoever to him.

He is a great scooter using similar tatics to Henderson Gill and Brian Carney. A real bundle of muscle. He is a superb short range finisher. I am not convinced he is that fast over distances of 60 yards etc but in truth short distance speed is probably more important and being short and muscular his pace off the mark is great.

His weaknesses are over reading in defence and thus getting himself out of position. He played opposite Riley in one match this season and kept chasing kicks far too hard and presuming he would turn and run the ball back open field which meant he missed Riley repeatedly who simply feinted to go open but then turned to go blind. Saints have also exploited his lack of height in matches with cross field high balls etc.

IMO Wigan RLFC let him down in 2008. Had it not been for his outstanding effort in Australia they would not have given him much thought for 2009 IMO.

[DaveO]

I don't see any of the youngsters breaking through under Noble, unless there are injuries. If Il comes back with a half-back signing, Nobby will use Smith/Leuluai at hooker, which means Sam Tomkins & McIlorum are both out of the reckoning. He'll play Phelps at center, so Goulding's out. Joel Tomkins will drop back out once Lockers is back. If we get a prop signing as well, both Prescott & O'Carroll will drop out.

Unfortunately though I think overall there is a good chance you will be proved right.

Next season we need to see more than S Tomkins than in one game v Whitehaven. If assuming he does get a SL debut and it all doesn't go quite right that should not be the que to write him off in the way Goulding seemingly has been.

As to J Tomkins I am convinced he'd not have got a game had Lockers not been injured so this is going to be a real test for Noble next year. In Hock and Hansen he has two back row forwards who don't deserve not be dropped and neither does Tomkins at 13.

Any other team would see this as a nice selection dilemma to have but I just don't have the confidence in the coach to make the right decisions when faced with this sort of selection choice.

Dave

[El Bobbers]

[quote="GeoffN]
I don't see any of the youngsters breaking through under Noble, unless there are injuries. If Il comes back with a half-back signing, Nobby will use Smith/Leuluai at hooker, which means Sam Tomkins & McIlorum are both out of the reckoning. He'll play Phelps at center, so Goulding's out. Joel Tomkins will drop back out once Lockers is back. If we get a prop signing as well, both Prescott & O'Carroll will drop out.


[/quote]

This is my worry, it's very frustrating. If youth players do no get the chance to learn their trade in the 1st team, even if it's gradual, then where will we be when it comes to having to field only a few (can't remember how many it is to be reduced to) overseas players? It is so important he gets this right.

[DaveO]

In fairness to Nobby he did say after the Leeds game on sky that all them players you've quoted are a big part of his plans for next season.

I know it means nothing at the moment but we'll see next year wont we.

I hope they are. I'd be happy to be have my scepticism proved wrong.

Dave

[cpwigan]

CP, is Ainscough good enough to be considered a replacement for Calderwood? You raised issues with his reading of the game or has this got better, I only saw him in the pre-season game v Bradford and thought he looked good and was confident against their (very large) winger. Surely he will be eased into the side with the number of foreign players being reduced year on year we have to look to bring these players through.

I thought Goulding looked good in his second spell in the side (before being dropped for Phelps), he even started to pass and above all he has a decent try scoring record, I can't understand why Phelps isn't tried at fullback.

Saying that if we have enough money to bring quality players in we can't do any harm strengthening the squad. Leeds are now reaping the rewards of blooding youngsters whilst bringing in real quality, there is no reason why we can't.

I don't see any of the youngsters breaking through under Noble, unless there are injuries. If Il comes back with a half-back signing, Nobby will use Smith/Leuluai at hooker, which means Sam Tomkins & McIlorum are both out of the reckoning. He'll play Phelps at center, so Goulding's out. Joel Tomkins will drop back out once Lockers is back. If we get a prop signing as well, both Prescott & O'Carroll will drop out.

Those are my thoughts too Geoff. You need to play at the highest level possible to develop as a player otherwise you stagnate.

IL gives a lengthy interview in one of the Monday RL papers. Whilst praising Tomkins I noted he said that he would play a few games next season. It was once, he will play at least 10 games.

Wests Academy are touring at the moment. They have played Saints Academy but why no game v Wigan Academy?