gab0512 posted:
Fraggle there is a difference between training and playing, and it's the same in any sport at any level. I would expect that we will hit top match fitness after 3-4 games max. We did the same last year and the year before. It's about peaking at the right time and giving maximum potential to win things. Look at saints last year. Got off to a flyer with sky etc saying they look unbeatable. After cup final they rapidly disintegrated.
And look at Leeds last year, they got off to a flyer and stayed there all year. Yes, we got off to a bad start last year and the year before, but we won nothing. Coincidence, perhaps?
What I was trying to get across is that it's way too early to be this depressed about losing a game, and call for half the squad to be ditched along with ML and DB. What we need to be doing is what we are called - SUPPORTERS. That means supporting the team through thick and thin. I have the clubs badge and the words 'Wigan til I die' tattoed on my arm. That means no matter what I will support the team even if they lost every game and got relegated.
That I'm not going to disagree with, and I'm happy to say I've not been calling the players. There are always some people who will proclaim doom and gloom after one game, and sometimes it's not justified but on other occasions, where we've been guilty of rubbish handling, poor vision and mistakes when the criticism is justified. From what I hear Saturday wasn't in that category and we weren't far off what was needed, but at the same time we're not showing anything like championship-winning form after 4 games. The loss to Salford in the friendly was dreadful, and the victory in the league wasn't really very convincing. The other two games I didn't see but I doubt we're up to speed yet. But when will we be? This Friday? Good Friday? Friday 13th? The season has already started, points are there to be won, other clubs already seem to be on a roll, and if we're not playing to our potential then people have a right to be critical.
As for getting rid of Chairman Mo, you'll find that's a regular topic from some of us and not one that's related to us winning or losing games! The idea of getting rid of Betts so early is, however, pretty ridiculous, as is criticism of players who've only just arrived. Vaealiki missed one friendly and played less than half of the first league game, is obviously still getting back to fitness and surely shouldn't be condemned until he's had a fair chance. Of course, there's always the chance he won't regain his fitness, and that goes back to criticism of ML buying players, not for the first time, whose fitness is debatable.
We should be giving encouragement to the lads rather than just keep knocking them after every defeat. That won't do any good whatsover, other than to rid them of even more confidence. Not one of our players goes out there to deliberately lose, but sometimes the game plan doesn't work, we drop balls etc etc.
Game plans not working are one thing, those can be countered by the opposition or the game itself may not lend itself to following a particular plan (eg bad weather). But who drops balls? That's 100% down to the players. From my very little experience of trying to play rugby league I remember that keeping hold of the ball is the most basic thing, and you're not allowed to go on until you've mastered that. But sometimes we're guilty of such basic errors as not watching the ball and so dropping it, or throwing a pass to no-one by not looking. That's not good enough, and Wigan supporters have high standards.
As far as I know, not one team has ever gone undeated in a league season (stand to be corrected if true). Even our great team of late 80s 90s lost 2 games a year. That's life so people need to deal with it in a positive not negative way. There are too many other club's supporters willing to knock our team - Why should we!
As I agree, it's early days, but on the performances I've seen so far it's clear we need to improve. The fact that the league seems open is a positive thing, but all the other clubs are going to have to watch out that Wakefield and especially Leeds don't keep up their good form and are out-of-sight before Easter.
I'm not being as pessimistic as some on here but at the same time I'm not going to pretend it's all sweetness and light, and that things will magically improve this weekend without some hard work going on.