The Question Now For Next Week - Ainscough Or Richards?

[ancientnloyal]

Many people have an opinion about Ainscough's involvement in the squad and their views may oveershadow what Noble is trying to do. Today Noble, it seems, got it right tactically. Dropping ainscoughs wasnt a form issue, more a tactical one. Saints would have, if given chance (nobody knew before kick off how the game would unfold) bombarded ainscough's wing with a good % that they'd score from it. To cover this posibility Noble chose experience in Richards - he's good in the air and links well with Carmont. That clearly worked - not in our goal area - but in open play, we didnt need to defend our corner.

If the game was stopped after 1 minute and kickoff started again at 0 minutes, the game would have been different. It's random chaos. Have to give it to Noble that he has the balls to make a cut-throat deceion tactically to benefit the team, and ultimately the 2 points for the Wigan club.

Some fans, however, as we shall see when people get back tomorrow morning, will have different opinions to me.

Wakefield are still a quality side but are faultering. How opften have Wigan been on a high and then crumbled the week after? Next week is more important than tonight - regardless of any fans opinion, the Challenge Cup is Wigan's ultimate prize (save perhaps a world club challenge v Manly).

Noble has got it right this week, will he next week?

[turf]

I do like your rabbit in your picture ancientnloyal. It is so, so cute. Ah bless.

Anyway, on the subject of the thread, I would have hoped it was a tactical decision to drop Ainscough as well. If it wasn't tactical then what option are we left with?

None as far as I am concerned. He isn't injured, he isn't suspended, by the RFL, and I don't think (to my knowledge anyway) that he has had any disciplinary problems in Wigan.

[ancientnloyal]

Tactics. Ainscough would have been gutted, obviously, who wouldn't? But as he matures he'll understand that sometimes these things have to happen, probably.

[turf]

Tactics. Ainscough would have been gutted, obviously, who wouldn't? But as he matures he'll understand that sometimes these things have to happen, probably.

As I said in another thread, he wasn't/didn't look too pleased when hugging Noble at the end and he looked as if to say, "you should be hugging me when I am in a cherry and white shirt, not a bl**dy water carrying one".

[ancientnloyal]

seriously i wouldnt look anything into that turf.

[turf]

I am not doing. It was just an observation.

[GeoffN]

To be fair, Wigan played in such a way as not to let Saints us eour winger defence at our goal line, very good play.

Noble is either stupid or a genius, tonight he was tactically correct.

Ainscough should be a level headed young man and I expect Noble and other players to tell him that he will be an England international very soon and to keep his head up. Noble's decision was purely tactical and you have to say it worked in so-much that we didnt conceed tries.

Maybe Ainscough could have scored Richards' first try but Wigan played in such a way defensively that Saints didnt have to kick into our corner knowing Pat is A+ at diffusions. It maybe 'we'll never know' kind of situation.

I expect Ainscough to feature at Wakefield the problem is, and I expec t every wigan fan would agree, is that we need the same 17 or 13 week in week out. The week link now seems to be Roberts not scoring tries but to drop a 4-year Aussie? I dont know.

Richards is a definate, Ainscough is vital... That leaves Roberts

Agreed. Roberts didn't do much wrong, and set up Lockers try beautifully, but he doesn't look the threat that Ainscough does. Phelps did a good job at fullback, too - that Long try was just and unlucky deflection, he had it well covered until it bounced of Tommy.

Ainscough on the right wing, for me.

For once, I agree with Stevo that McIlorum has made it very difficult for Riddell to get back into the side.

[turf]

Agreed. Roberts didn't do much wrong, and set up Lockers try beautifully, but he doesn't look the threat that Ainscough does. Phelps did a good job at fullback, too - that Long try was just and unlucky deflection, he had it well covered until it bounced of Tommy.

Ainscough on the right wing, for me.

For once, I agree with Stevo that McIlorum has made it very difficult for Riddell to get back into the side.

Or as fast in my opinion.

Got a quote from Noble on the sportinglife website:

Noble said: "It was a huge decision, I am a big fan of Shaun Ainscough.

"He has a bright future but that is why you are paid the cabbage. You make decisions for the team."

The bit in bold. Hhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I am not so convinced.

[DaveO]

For once, I agree with Stevo that McIlorum has made it very difficult for Riddell to get back into the side.

Ah well there is the rub.

We had Roberts, Phelps and Richards fit so who lost out? The leagues top try scorer. The side was not picked on form.

When Riddell is fit again who will lose out? Have a guess.

His success v Saints makes the answer inevitable.

It wasn't tactics that led Noble to pick the side v Saints at all. It was a typical and normal Noble selection. We won but we don't know what would have happened had we played the winger on form.

Dave

[turf]

It wasn't tactics that led Noble to pick the side v Saints at all. It was a typical and normal Noble selection. We won but we don't know what would have happened had we played the winger on form.

Ainscough you mean DaveO.

I reckon he would have scored a couple of tries if not a hat trick.