Who's to blame this week?

[cpwigan]

I agree Geoff and if he was not being given the freedom to sign who he wanted he should speak up rather than support those signings. His lack of desire to promote young players which is compounded by the pathetic durty of care excuse damages his standing. I could have vomited at the fans forum when both IL and Noble tried to pass off Joel Tomkins as an example of how THEIR youth strategy was working. EVERY Wigan fan knows Joel got a spot by luck rather than design when Noble had no choice but to select him following injuries.

If I had 1 quick fix it would be that Noble dispenses with the ludicrous flat attack strategy that we and nobody else seems to use.

[GeoffN]

I agree Geoff and if he was not being given the freedom to sign who he wanted he should speak up rather than support those signings. His lack of desire to promote young players which is compounded by the pathetic durty of care excuse damages his standing. I could have vomited at the fans forum when both IL and Noble tried to pass off Joel Tomkins as an example of how THEIR youth strategy was working. EVERY Wigan fan knows Joel got a spot by luck rather than design when Noble had no choice but to select him following injuries.

If I had 1 quick fix it would be that Noble dispenses with the ludicrous flat attack strategy that we and nobody else seems to use.

That and the "hanging back" defensive line, yeah.

I'm not sure that IL's interference in signings and squad make-up (if any) is all that much to blame, he was doing the same under Whelan. Millard for Godwin, anyone? Coley for Logan? Withers for Melling?

[cpwigan]

The hanging back defence got exploited by Hull IMO.

[GeoffN]

The hanging back defence got exploited by Hull IMO.

Yep, and by everyone else!

[x Wigan Warrior x]

I missed last season due to a rather expensive marriage last year . Having been out for a year I have come back to find the team playing in the same manner as I last left them …. Panic when the opposition are 10m away from our line, panic 10m in front of the try line…… one up rugby with no flair, class or idea how to score a bloody try. I hurts to say it but have I wasted my money getting my season ticket back :conf: ?????

Please tell me im wrong !!!

[jackoh]

Re Cherry Pie`s comments re Higham .
Higham wanted to stay last year , he only found out that he wasn`t wanted when Wigan publicised , Riddells signing .
He was never approached about a further contract .
This came from higham himself !

[butt monkey]

Re Cherry Pie`s comments re Higham .
Higham wanted to stay last year , he only found out that he wasn`t wanted when Wigan publicised , Riddells signing .
He was never approached about a further contract .
This came from higham himself !

What on Earth difference does discussing someone who is no longer at the club make? :eusa17: Stop looking in the history book and look to what IS going right/wrong at the moment!

Higham would have made NO difference whatsoever in any of the matches played so far

[GeoffN]

Re Cherry Pie`s comments re Higham .
Higham wanted to stay last year , he only found out that he wasn`t wanted when Wigan publicised , Riddells signing .
He was never approached about a further contract .
This came from higham himself !

What on Earth difference does discussing someone who is no longer at the club make? :eusa17: Stop looking in the history book and look to what IS going right/wrong at the moment!

Higham would have made NO difference whatsoever in any of the matches played so far

How do you know that? He certainly played miles better against Saints than Riddell has in any of his matches so far.

It's worth discussing as what looks like yet another bad decision made by the club (whether BN or IL was to blame).

[FROM A TO B]

One of the unknowns IMO is who is actually signing players and on whose recommendation? Does Noble have total control or does IL play a much bigger part.

I know what was said at the fans forum but sorry I take what our club says officially with a pinch of salt.

Whichever way round, Noble still seems to be of the opinion that anyone he's signed is better than home-grown options, even when that's clearly not the case on the pitch.

He gets rid of players he didn't sign, like Higham & Calderwood, in favour of what look so far to be inferior replacements; he refuses to drop his favourites, like Mathers, Riddell & Coley, despite them being "out of form" (putting it kindly!), he's obsessed with a player's size, and ignores their ability, he tries to fit the players to his game plan (such as it is), instead of the other way round, like most successful coaches do.

considering one of these was dropped on sunday and the other has only been here for a matter of weeks, i'm not sure how they can be classed as his favourites? :conf:

[GeoffN]

One of the unknowns IMO is who is actually signing players and on whose recommendation? Does Noble have total control or does IL play a much bigger part.

I know what was said at the fans forum but sorry I take what our club says officially with a pinch of salt.

Whichever way round, Noble still seems to be of the opinion that anyone he's signed is better than home-grown options, even when that's clearly not the case on the pitch.

He gets rid of players he didn't sign, like Higham & Calderwood, in favour of what look so far to be inferior replacements; he refuses to drop his favourites, like Mathers, Riddell & Coley, despite them being "out of form" (putting it kindly!), he's obsessed with a player's size, and ignores their ability, he tries to fit the players to his game plan (such as it is), instead of the other way round, like most successful coaches do.

considering one of these was dropped on sunday and the other has only been here for a matter of weeks, i'm not sure how they can be classed as his favourites? :conf:

Fair enough on Coley, although I think it's the first time, but Riddell has played enough games to show he's not ready yet (like Pryce, who he isn't picking yet). Mathers, though? And he did the same with the likes of Colbon, Withers, Millard, while dropping people like Goulding, McIlorum & Calderwood at the slightest excuse.