Re: Ashton leaves Wigan......
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:23 pm
When he announced he was leaving and the "shirt" incident occurred I wanted rid - especially after the shirt incident.
When I calmed down I changed my view recognising his pace and attacking flair helped us stay up in 2006. THAT try at Leeds his break set up for Calderwood was a very classy bit of play from him.
I had hoped he would be professional enough to see out his last season as all pro players should in the last season of their contract. Professionally and giving 100%.
Had he done that then fine but he didn't.
For what ever reason his season went from bad to worse.
I think he realised he had screwed up over the shirt photo and for a while tried too hard to show he was going to play out his contract properly.
It didn't work and with a few mistakes and on-field tantrums. As the season has worn on it started to seem he had already played his last game for Wigan in Nobby's eyes long before any chance of a final fling at Wembley was on the cards.
Why this is we can only speculate. Perhaps Nobby decided trying to improve Ashton's game was a waste of effort on a player who was leaving not only the club but the sport. Perhaps Nobby wanted to invest him time with players remaining at the club.
It is also possible Ashton left Nobby little choice with a poor attitude. If so then he let his fellow professionals down and let the fans down. I have mentioned several times when contract discussions come up how Calderwood behaved at Leeds in his last season there. He gave 100% even though he was leaving.
If Ashton started out with that in mind and then gave up on the idea after a few set backs then he has shown his immaturity.
I also think were he staying he would not have come in for half as much stick as he has. He would still be in the young player learning the trade category so forgiven the odd blunder.
As it is he set himself up under the spotlight by deciding to leave and it looks like he could not handle it professionally for whatever reason.
So its a case of what might have been with Ashton as far as I am concerned. A talent to be nurtured has left the sport but he has taken a seemingly poor attitude with him so I doubt he will be missed regardless of his potential.
Dave
When I calmed down I changed my view recognising his pace and attacking flair helped us stay up in 2006. THAT try at Leeds his break set up for Calderwood was a very classy bit of play from him.
I had hoped he would be professional enough to see out his last season as all pro players should in the last season of their contract. Professionally and giving 100%.
Had he done that then fine but he didn't.
For what ever reason his season went from bad to worse.
I think he realised he had screwed up over the shirt photo and for a while tried too hard to show he was going to play out his contract properly.
It didn't work and with a few mistakes and on-field tantrums. As the season has worn on it started to seem he had already played his last game for Wigan in Nobby's eyes long before any chance of a final fling at Wembley was on the cards.
Why this is we can only speculate. Perhaps Nobby decided trying to improve Ashton's game was a waste of effort on a player who was leaving not only the club but the sport. Perhaps Nobby wanted to invest him time with players remaining at the club.
It is also possible Ashton left Nobby little choice with a poor attitude. If so then he let his fellow professionals down and let the fans down. I have mentioned several times when contract discussions come up how Calderwood behaved at Leeds in his last season there. He gave 100% even though he was leaving.
If Ashton started out with that in mind and then gave up on the idea after a few set backs then he has shown his immaturity.
I also think were he staying he would not have come in for half as much stick as he has. He would still be in the young player learning the trade category so forgiven the odd blunder.
As it is he set himself up under the spotlight by deciding to leave and it looks like he could not handle it professionally for whatever reason.
So its a case of what might have been with Ashton as far as I am concerned. A talent to be nurtured has left the sport but he has taken a seemingly poor attitude with him so I doubt he will be missed regardless of his potential.
Dave
