Tonights Game v Catalans Dragons

[morley pie eater]

I moved to Yorkshire in 1966 and everybody I've met here knows me as a Wigan fan. Had plenty banter over the years and I've always said what a miserable, moaning lot these Yorkshiremen are.

" 'Cheer up' they said, 'things could get worse'. So I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse!"

Wigan lose two games out of four at the start of the season and, totally predictably, it's disaster, calamity, pestilence and plague. The coach goes from hero to zero in 3 weeks. The players are rubbish.

After 57 years, I have to admit that I was wrong. When it comes to being miserable, whingeing doom-laden moaners, Wiganers are top of the league.

[Firestarter]

The end of the world is nigh

Are you related to that old chap who used to parade in front of Central Park?

God that brings back memories…… is it because he was stood near walleys hot dog stand? 🫤

[Firestarter]

I moved to Yorkshire in 1966 and everybody I've met here knows me as a Wigan fan. Had plenty banter over the years and I've always said what a miserable, moaning lot these Yorkshiremen are.

" 'Cheer up' they said, 'things could get worse'. So I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse!"

Wigan lose two games out of four at the start of the season and, totally predictably, it's disaster, calamity, pestilence and plague. The coach goes from hero to zero in 3 weeks. The players are rubbish.

After 57 years, I have to admit that I was wrong. When it comes to being miserable, whingeing doom-laden moaners, Wiganers are top of the league.

i think its down to a lot if us expecting better morley….. i started watching wigan before they were good…. Then saw the golden era….. as my late dad used to say to me” youve been spoilt watching the best lad”…… cant really argue with that and the present crop of players are nowhere near that level

[morley pie eater]

I moved to Yorkshire in 1966 and everybody I've met here knows me as a Wigan fan. Had plenty banter over the years and I've always said what a miserable, moaning lot these Yorkshiremen are.

" 'Cheer up' they said, 'things could get worse'. So I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse!"

Wigan lose two games out of four at the start of the season and, totally predictably, it's disaster, calamity, pestilence and plague. The coach goes from hero to zero in 3 weeks. The players are rubbish.

After 57 years, I have to admit that I was wrong. When it comes to being miserable, whingeing doom-laden moaners, Wiganers are top of the league.

i think its down to a lot if us expecting better morley….. i started watching wigan before they were good…. Then saw the golden era….. as my late dad used to say to me” youve been spoilt watching the best lad”…… cant really argue with that and the present crop of players are nowhere near that level

I fully understand that, FS. I remember our decline in the 70s. In fact we were not that good from around 67 to 83. But fans stick by their team whilst being honest enough to admit we're not the best.

I think Mike has a point: we win 2 games with a 92-0 aggregate score and the forum is quiet. Lose a game and it's deluged. Not just that, but we suddenly have major problems, Matty Peet's ability is questioned etc etc.

Add to this the extent to which a number of posters bang on about the same players. Apart from any degree of right or wrong (everyone is entitled to their opinion about any player), it becomes tedious and boring. And the negativity brings you down to their level.

When my lad told me about this forum, I thought "Great. I've lived in a foreign place for so long, now I can have contact with fellow Wigan fans again!"

To some extent that's how it's worked out. I enjoy reading opinions of posters like yourself Josie, Fozzie, Nicky Kiss, Chariots, No Straw, Caboose, kitdf, and lots of others . . . even Meds!!!

But, even apart from posters here, I've seriously come to the conclusion that the negativity of many older Wigan fans is dragging the club down. If I went to my first match at the DW and heard the moaning I hear all around, it would be my first and last visit. The club have a problem of an ageing fan base. The lack of atmosphere is not mainly down to accoustics, it's a negative atmosphere of constant carping criticism of players and coaching staff.

And I've ended up becoming one of them! Spending my time moaning about the moaners! I get more pleasure trading insults with Rhinos and Cas fans, and using my energy praising and defending my team. rather than slagging them off.

[Firestarter]

I moved to Yorkshire in 1966 and everybody I've met here knows me as a Wigan fan. Had plenty banter over the years and I've always said what a miserable, moaning lot these Yorkshiremen are.

" 'Cheer up' they said, 'things could get worse'. So I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse!"

Wigan lose two games out of four at the start of the season and, totally predictably, it's disaster, calamity, pestilence and plague. The coach goes from hero to zero in 3 weeks. The players are rubbish.

After 57 years, I have to admit that I was wrong. When it comes to being miserable, whingeing doom-laden moaners, Wiganers are top of the league.

i think its down to a lot if us expecting better morley….. i started watching wigan before they were good…. Then saw the golden era….. as my late dad used to say to me” youve been spoilt watching the best lad”…… cant really argue with that and the present crop of players are nowhere near that level

I fully understand that, FS. I remember our decline in the 70s. In fact we were not that good from around 67 to 83. But fans stick by their team whilst being honest enough to admit we're not the best.

I think Mike has a point: we win 2 games with a 92-0 aggregate score and the forum is quiet. Lose a game and it's deluged. Not just that, but we suddenly have major problems, Matty Peet's ability is questioned etc etc.

Add to this the extent to which a number of posters bang on about the same players. Apart from any degree of right or wrong (everyone is entitled to their opinion about any player), it becomes tedious and boring. And the negativity brings you down to their level.

When my lad told me about this forum, I thought "Great. I've lived in a foreign place for so long, now I can have contact with fellow Wigan fans again!"

To some extent that's how it's worked out. I enjoy reading opinions of posters like yourself Josie, Fozzie, Nicky Kiss, Chariots, No Straw, Caboose, kitdf, and lots of others . . . even Meds!!!

But, even apart from posters here, I've seriously come to the conclusion that the negativity of many older Wigan fans is dragging the club down. If I went to my first match at the DW and heard the moaning I hear all around, it would be my first and last visit. The club have a problem of an ageing fan base. The lack of atmosphere is not mainly down to accoustics, it's a negative atmosphere of constant carping criticism of players and coaching staff.

And I've ended up becoming one of them! Spending my time moaning about the moaners! I get more pleasure trading insults with Rhinos and Cas fans, and using my energy praising and defending my team. rather than slagging them off.

Yes i agree the constant barracking of players is tedious but in some cases justified…… i do, however agree that the jobs for the boys culture has got to go….. i find it hard to believe that tommy and lockers add anything to our performances…… granted briers was a breath of fresh air and we could clearly see the difference ( the aussies were quick to snap him up)……. I fear this will be a defining season for peat

[Charriots Offiah]

I'd agree. After last weeks win at Cas, representing a 96-0 scoreline in two matches, there were - wait for it - a big fat zero posts about the game. After this weeks loss, we're up to 12 pages and counting, and I think I've heard that pretty much every player except Field, French and Marshall need to be shipped out right now (and those players won't be long for the chop either)!

Wiganers are slow to praise (or at least to express moderate satisfaction given the ease of the task) and very quick to moan.

The above opinion is based on these observations and doesn't mean I disagree with all the criticism of the side, however I await the posts saying its not allowed to criticize and I'm a happy clapper etc.

I personally am more interested in our form going into the last 10 games of the season, and I think there is a lot of potential for improvement between now and then. I think our squad has a good balance between attacking threat and defensive solidity, with scope for the coaching staff to tweak that because we have the options now. We do perhaps have a lack of impact in the forwards, but Wane managed multiple GFs without a dominant prop, so that should be manageable. I'm still in wait and see mode.

What options? We will not win the GF unless there is a change in personnel. The CC is a possibility though.

Well. Cust is "better at 9" so we could play him there, or a younger less experienced junior to change the dynamic at the ruck if we wanted to. We have options to replace Cust at stand off in French, field or Hampshire without reaching too far out of player positions.

We can change our second row dynamic between attacking threat with KPP and more solid experience with Isa which we've already done, having strated with KPP this year but had to balance the side with Isa from then on. We also have some youngsters in the wings.

If rotating the middles doesn't lead to improved form, We can use mid season moves to tweak our forward personnel. Miski is out on loan and a negotiated release is definitely possible there, which give us potential scope to upgrade one of the middles overseas.

Overall I'd say our back line has the potential to be one of the best we've seen in a long while and the forwards aren't bad. We've definitely strengthened the.middles in recent years perhaps at the cost of the second row, but I'm not a big believer in Bateman being a big loss this time round. We had a ridiculous number of second/back towers that were being played as middles in past years and I think the balance is better now. Do we have that dominant prop? No. But how many teams do? Saints certainly, but is that a requirement to win. I'd say our squad stands up pretty well to theirs and it's up to the coaching team to get the best out of them this year, that's where my concerns lie right now. Can they do it?

BTW. I remember the fans around me on the kop in the golden years when I was a kid. We were rubbish then. Edwards should be got rid. They're not trying. Not much praise, lots of moaning. I imagine if social media had existed then it would look much like it does now when we lost that odd time.

[josie andrews]

That was another good move loaning shorrocks to Leigh and keeping kpp

I was very surprised about Joe going on loan. He is a great utility player for us & strangely enough Leigh have won their last two games since he went there! Coincidence??

[fozzieskem]

That was another good move loaning shorrocks to Leigh and keeping kpp

I was very surprised about Joe going on loan. He is a great utility player for us & strangely enough Leigh have won their last two games since he went there! Coincidence??

I don't think so Josie,he's a player that should be in or around the team,when you posted the other week he was off my first thought was why?

Seems an odd one.to me.

[Graham1]

Joe Shorrocks has had the same problem as Olly Partington they’ve both been played out of position. Olly was never big enough to play prop and Joe is not a 9. Play them in the their rightful positions and you will get the best out of them. Given the right opportunity Joe can turn into a very good LF. Wish him all the best at Leigh.

[Barney841]

Joe Shorrocks has had the same problem as Olly Partington they’ve both been played out of position. Olly was never big enough to play prop and Joe is not a 9. Play them in the their rightful positions and you will get the best out of them. Given the right opportunity Joe can turn into a very good LF. Wish him all the best at Leigh.

I think Shorrocks would make a better LF than Smithies