Grass not always greener

[acwrlfc]

Totally agree with FTT despite an encouraging start i do worry when we pick one or two injuries up that the squad isn't deep enough having lost the three players he mentions. i would like someone to come out and say we have money left on the SC now those players have left or we ve utilised it else were.

I think we desperately need another prop, compare Leeds depth and Warringtons to an extent in the forwards. Every time we have a game i hold my breath hoping we don't pick an injury to any of the forwards. It has nt helped with young Wells being out

[wall_of_voodoo]

Who've we played?

We'll miss mickey when the chips are down and we need a response. Only really lockers left to rally the troops.

Friday will be interesting.

MM was awful in his first stint at Wembley last year and was at fault for Hulls first try (hauled off shortly after)

We've "carried" him in the side for the last few years, just for his cameo appearances where he either limits our opponents main player or generally gets stuck in with tough defence. Looks a pale shadow of a SL player and is struggling badly in a very poor Catalans side.

Like every other player who has left, we move on and replace players.

And like every other player who's left the fans suddenly decide he wasn't that good anyway despite in this case a career long enough to qualify him for a testimonial. :doz:

You always mention Ricky Bibey when it comes to denigrating someone, usually when it comes to winning a medal or so. Same could also be said of MM. Virtually never played 80 minutes regularly in the first team, always fought other players for the hooker spot and rotated with them (such as Riddell for example), trophies were won never from an 80 minute MM "masterclass"!

Now this is not a "sh7t now he's left" argument DaveO. The tactics Wigan used and the coaches who employed them obviously got results that were satisfactory to how the team operated.

However, after the injury it is fair to say that HIS impact in short spells was non-existent. More often than not, we the fans struggled to identify who or how the team should operate it's front row best because of this and the subbing by the clock.

Now you can claim I am psychic or just talk crap - the fact remains SOMEONE at the club obviously felt the same way. That was that McIlorum was not irreplaceable or integral to the team any longer.

The fact we got rid and couldn't even be bothered to replace him with a signing tells you plenty.

Now witness how good or bad you think of him as a player as you watch him play for Catalans. Many will forget him very quickly, for me the likes of Newton, McCormack, Hall and Dermott where better 80 minute hookers

[DaveO]

MM was awful in his first stint at Wembley last year and was at fault for Hulls first try (hauled off shortly after)

We've "carried" him in the side for the last few years, just for his cameo appearances where he either limits our opponents main player or generally gets stuck in with tough defence. Looks a pale shadow of a SL player and is struggling badly in a very poor Catalans side.

Like every other player who has left, we move on and replace players.

And like every other player who's left the fans suddenly decide he wasn't that good anyway despite in this case a career long enough to qualify him for a testimonial. :doz:

You always mention Ricky Bibey when it comes to denigrating someone, usually when it comes to winning a medal or so. Same could also be said of MM.

Not it can't because Bibey didn't have a career at a club the length of MM's where every coach who was at the club during that time picked him in the first team without fail and most of them as starting hooker, not interchange.

Bibey winning a medal is an anomaly showing even a poor player in a good team can benefit. He was at Saints for ONE season and the idea MM basically conned several coaches over such a long career is not credible.

Virtually never played 80 minutes regularly in the first team, always fought other players for the hooker spot and rotated with them (such as Riddell for example), trophies were won never from an 80 minute MM "masterclass"!

This is an even dafter argument than the one above. You are basically saying despite the fact MM wasn't good enough to play 80 minutes the club kept him for over 10 years! Why do that? If he was so poor why did the club keep him for so long and offering him contracts and making him a highly paid player? Who was he blackmailing?

BTW, MM did play 80 minutes occasionally and when he did he smashed it. You also seem to have forgotten when Riddell was here it was Riddell who was the interchange e.g. he was on the bench in the 2010 GF, not MM. If MM was just a bit part interchange hooker Madge would not have picked him as the starting hooker and he'd have been gone from Wigan years ago not staying long enough for, and being granted, a testimonial. (You don't give testimonials to players just because they have been at a club for 10 years. It's not automatic).

Now this is not a "sh7t now he's left" argument DaveO. The tactics Wigan used and the coaches who employed them obviously got results that were satisfactory to how the team operated.

Oh yes it is. The idea he was some bit part squad player is complete and utter bollocks.

However, after the injury it is fair to say that HIS impact in short spells was non-existent. More often than not, we the fans struggled to identify who or how the team should operate it's front row best because of this and the subbing by the clock.

Now you can claim I am psychic or just talk crap - the fact remains SOMEONE at the club obviously felt the same way. That was that McIlorum was not irreplaceable or integral to the team any longer.

We are not on about the end of his Wigan career but the fact all of it was being denigrated. Whether it was a good move or not depends what you think of Powell and TL as hookers. Not seen anything from either this season to suggest they are any better but that was not what my post was about anyway.

The fact we got rid and couldn't even be bothered to replace him with a signing tells you plenty.

It tells me something is wrong because whatever you think of MM you can't think Powell and TL are good enough. TL is guilty of the exact same fault you lay at MM's door, he can't do 80 mins. A bit stupid to get rid of player who can't do 80 mins and give the job to another who can't either. Even dafter to try and argue a hooker is poor because he can't do 80 mins and then suggest employing one who also can't do 80 mins "tells you plenty".

We didn't replace FPN either and that doesn't mean the props we had left are good enough. Same with hooker. Not replacing MM tells you nothing.

Now witness how good or bad you think of him as a player as you watch him play for Catalans. Many will forget him very quickly, for me the likes of Newton, McCormack, Hall and Dermott where better 80 minute hookers

That is a bit like saying Offiah was a better winger than Dallas. I could list a host of players in virtually any position you care to think of who are better than any current Wigan player with the exception of Lockers. So what? They were not playing in the same era.

[TrueBlueWarrior]

DaveO 1-0!!

[moto748]

DaveO 1-0!!

I read that last night and thought, that would be too exhausting for me to argue with!

[josie andrews]

DaveO 1-0!!

I read that last night and thought, that would be too exhausting for me to argue with!

I didn’t even bother! Too many quotes. Nearly as bad as a long post without paragraphs!!! :eh:

[TrueBlueWarrior]

DaveO 1-0!!

I read that last night and thought, that would be too exhausting for me to argue with!

[moto748]

Anyway, on topic, niwe to see a little cameo from Gells (whom the announcers called 'Jelling'! ) for the Warriors, who are going really well this season. Only came on at the end of the game, but did nothing wrong, and got very close to the line with one run.

Blake Green also looking a great buy for the NZW; why Manly let him go I don't know. For both repeat sets ands 40/20s, he is one of the best in the comp. If they can win without Shaun Johnson, they *must* be going well!

[southportcdm]

Good to see Gells finally getting involved and the Warriors doing so well. I think Greenwood played for the reserves and can't seem to break into the Titans first team (good win for them today too).