Re: Your expectations of the season?

DaveO · Post by **DaveO** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 3:27 pm

I can see us being poorer than last season with the squad as it stands today on 5th Jan.

For us not to be requires a different approach to team selection and tactics from the coach, several players to make a bigger contribution than they did last season and the new players (or those who we can consider as new players) to prove to be very good additions to the squad and at least as good as or better than those they replace.

Somehow I can't see all this happening, hence my pessimism.

Dave

viva_seddo13 · Post by **viva_seddo13** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:03 pm

pieater-alex wrote: Richie Mathers
Amos Roberts
Darrell Goulding
George Carmont
Pat Richards
Tim Smith
Thomas Leuluai
Stuart Fielden
Mark Riddell
Andy Coley
Gareth Hock
Phil Bailey
Sean O'loughlin
Harrison Hansen
Joel Tomkins
Cameron Phelps
Karl Pryce
Eamon O'carroll
Paul Prescott
Mike McIlorum
Sam Tomkins
Sean Ainscough
Chris Tuson
Mark Flanagan
Ben Davies
Liam Farrell
Lee Mossop
Josh Veivers

What would be the predicted starting 17

Mine would be:

Richie Mathers
Karl Pyrce
Amos Roberts
George Carmont
Pat Richards
Tommy Leuleai
Tim Smith
Stu Fielden
Mark Riddell
Andy Coley
Harrison Hansen
Phil Bailey/Joel Tomkins
Sean O'Loughlin

Bench:
Feka Paleaasina
Gaz Hock
Michael McIlorum/Sammy Tomkins
Paul Prescott

I think Feka and Gaz Hock will provide good impact of the bench.

A concern is the back row we've got hock lockers hansen bailey tomkins. IMO thats one too many for the starting 17 I cant see bailey getting dropped so it looks like Joel will miss out. I think we need 4 props in the 17.

Any other ideas for the starting 17??

Dezzer 1952 · Post by **Dezzer 1952** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:19 pm

I am of the same opinion as morph , quietly confident . We just need to be more consistent, the talent is there and judging from what I saw at Warrington the other Sunday we have some very good young prospects coming through the ranks.

DaveO · Post by **DaveO** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:36 am

Dezzer 1952 wrote:I am of the same opinion as morph , quietly confident . We just need to be more consistent, the talent is there and judging from what I saw at Warrington the other Sunday we have some very good young prospects coming through the ranks.

We saw some of them in the friendlies last season as well but they didn't figure much if at all in the regular season unless there was no alternative.

Aincough never got a SL game despite impressing in the friendlies and despite having a slow winger like Colbon regularly in the team.

S Tomkins got the one game in the cup.

His brother only established himself due to Lockers extended injury problem and I doubt he would have been given the chance had this not happened.

This is what I meant about a new approach being required from the coach. Last season he played Colbon out of position several times rather than pick outside his established players.

If he does this again I can't see us doing that well and we run the risk of losing these players.

Dave

GeoffN · Post by **GeoffN** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:43 pm

DaveO wrote:
Dezzer 1952 wrote:I am of the same opinion as morph , quietly confident . We just need to be more consistent, the talent is there and judging from what I saw at Warrington the other Sunday we have some very good young prospects coming through the ranks.
We saw some of them in the friendlies last season as well but they didn't figure much if at all in the regular season unless there was no alternative.

Aincough never got a SL game despite impressing in the friendlies and despite having a slow winger like Colbon regularly in the team.

S Tomkins got the one game in the cup.

His brother only established himself due to Lockers extended injury problem and I doubt he would have been given the chance had this not happened.

This is what I meant about a new approach being required from the coach. Last season he played Colbon out of position several times rather than pick outside his established players.

If he does this again I can't see us doing that well and we run the risk of losing these players.

Dave

Completely agree, Dave.

Bear · Post by **Bear** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:46 pm

I can see us getting in at least one final... The players will need to show more passion and pride when it counts, eg, V saints if we are to win anything. The team will have to be consistant which is what we have lacked in the last few years.

Overall i can see a finish of 3rd - 5th. Behind leeds, and saints. I can see another strong season from catalans.

Dezzer 1952 · Post by **Dezzer 1952** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:12 pm

The youngsters are another year older, therefore hopefully more stronger ,fitter and experienced. Also, without the added pressure of relegation looming for the next couple of years I would certainly expect the coach to give the youngsters a chance to prove themselves in the big league. It may be detrimental in that we don't pick up any silverware again this season but beneficial by bringing through local talent. I for one am sick and tired of us signing second rate overseas players who come to Wigan for an easy meal ticket. Its not good for Wigan Rugby ,it's not good for the game and it's certainly not good for our National Team .

DaveO · Post by **DaveO** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:05 pm

Dezzer 1952 wrote:The youngsters are another year older, therefore hopefully more stronger ,fitter and experienced. Also, without the added pressure of relegation looming for the next couple of years I would certainly expect the coach to give the youngsters a chance to prove themselves in the big league.

He has no excuse then

I still think he could have done it last season particularly early on for example to give Ainscough a run instead of Colbon.

It may be detrimental in that we don't pick up any silverware again this season but beneficial by bringing through local talent. I for one am sick and tired of us signing second rate overseas players who come to Wigan for an easy meal ticket. Its not good for Wigan Rugby ,it's not good for the game and it's certainly not good for our National Team .

I don't think we will pick up any silverware anyway. Not SL though of course the cup is only a few knock out games so we could get lucky. If I am right then we won't do ourselves any favours by playing the established players all the time as we seemed to do last season. A few games for some of the youngsters and a few more for the slightly older ones would stand us in good stead for 2010 IMO.

I'd rather see this approach and no trophies than a repeat of last seasons approach (which also got us no trophies of course).

Dave

gpartin · Post by **gpartin** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:37 am

Dezzer 1952 wrote:The youngsters are another year older, therefore hopefully more stronger ,fitter and experienced. Also, without the added pressure of relegation looming for the next couple of years I would certainly expect the coach to give the youngsters a chance to prove themselves in the big league. It may be detrimental in that we don't pick up any silverware again this season but beneficial by bringing through local talent. I for one am sick and tired of us signing second rate overseas players who come to Wigan for an easy meal ticket. Its not good for Wigan Rugby ,it's not good for the game and it's certainly not good for our National Team .

:eusa2:

highland convert · Post by **highland convert** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:59 pm

I will remind you that we were winning games without superman when he was off injured. I suppose you also conclude that our younger players lack the ability to improve. A couple of games has been sufficient to conclude imports with reps are useless, We were living with teams that were considered way above us at the end of the season. Barrett leaves amd now the team has collapsed. Give it a rest. This year we are after the silverware./ Jim