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Just been thinking through our squad and the strength in depth has amazed me......We could actually put out TWO line ups which IMO could match most in SL.

How many teams could say that. This for me is why we are now streets ahead of saints or leeds, who have a first 17, with then anyone outside of that being mediocre reserves.

Look at Saints squad next season and as soon as you get past squad number 17, your into your Ashursts, Lomaxs, Maguinnes, Dixons etc. Decent youngsters but similar to squad players like colbon, cardiss, holgate etc. we've had in recent years....nothing more than fringe players to plug a gap and just capable of doing the basics.

Perhaps saints and leeds are paying the price as Wigan did a few years ago of being too top heavy and too much of the salary cap in the starting 13!!

Conversely we have a squad of about 25/6 who are fully fledged super league standard, as good as any other players in the super league at least, and all capable of being what you would class as starting player in any other team!

While i've got a couple admittedly playing slightly out of position in my teams, and in the backs we're admittedly stretched, we could actually put out two packs as good as any in super league;

For example, look at these two starting line ups we are capable of next season;

1. S. Tomkins
2. Roberts
3. Charnley
4. Carmont
5. Pryce
6. O’Loughlin
7. Mellor
8. Lima
9. Leuleui
10. Coley
11. Hansen
12. Hoffman
13. Tuson



1. Richards
2. Goulding
3. Marsh
4. Gleeson
5. King / Russell
6. Finch
7. Deacon
8. Fielden
9. McIllurum
10. Prescott
11. Farrell
12. Mossop
13. J.Tomkins

With both of those teams more than capable IMO of beating all but the top 4 of Saints, Leeds, Wire, and still having players like Davies, Walker, O’Carroll, Powell etc in reseve.

The only difficulty madge has is keeping them all happy!

1872 wrote: The only difficulty madge has is keeping them all happy!

And that is my main concern!

Walker was released

Great position to be in. I see several going on loans / lease during the season.

Our squad looks very good for next season, but i liked the way we played it last season Cautious Optimisim.

Lets not put ouselves up on a pedestal for every other Superleague club to fire bullets at us .

Regards , EW

Yes we do have strength in depth.And that is the problem!Mind you it must be a nice problem to have.The only down side is as you say keeping all of the squad happy all of the time.As stated by cpw previously.Perhaps some of the lads will be loaned to gain Super League experience.And of course not all will be happy as I'm sure they want to be involved with a winning side.And a winning side is what we will be.Our four biggest threats next season will come from Wires,Stains,Huds,and ourselves.By ourselves is because at times we allow a winning lead slip.

Saints & Leeds, top 2 teams in recent years, seem to be in decline. For all their spending, Wire don't seem to be quite doing it and I'm wondering if they have peaked?

Wigan on the other hand seem poised to take a quantum leap from what was already a great season.

Just hope that our future success is not put down to our opponents losing their bite!

Kittwazzer wrote:

1872 wrote: The only difficulty madge has is keeping them all happy!

And that is my main concern!

Simple IMO...Squad rotation.

Let the first choice team play the tougher games - Saints Leeds Wire Huds Hull Hull kr etc

Let some of the younger lads play in games against wakey / cas etc which they should be more than capable of beating.

That way we keep our main stars fresh for the business end

For me I would go with roughly the following for big games

Sam, Roberts (providing back to form), Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, Finch, Tommy, Lima, McIllurum, Fielden, Hoffman, Joel, O'Loughlin. Bench of : Deacon / Mossop / Hansen / Coley etc.

And against your less strong teams

Roberts, Goulding, Marsh, Charnley, King/Russell, Mellor, Deacon, Mossop, McIllurum, Prescott, Farrell, Hansen, Tuson Bench of O'Carroll / Tommy / Pryce / Davies

Your not telling me that second team wouldnt be more than handy enough to beat wakey / cas/ bradford / crusaders / catalans / quins etc?!

No that is not right u cannot under estimate teams like that and say lets put say a "reserve" team out against "lesser teams as u will get turned over - also if that is the case what do u do with the first team? play them in the 21's doubt that will keep them happy?

players from the 21's should be given a chance in the first team i am all for that if some of the first team players arent up to scratch or there are injuries it is then up to them to take that chance and stay there.

Kittwazzer wrote:

1872 wrote: The only difficulty madge has is keeping them all happy!

And that is my main concern!

Under Brian Noble they would have not been happy Madge seems to have struck a cord with the younger players and is not afraid to give them a chance in the first team.Competition for places will keep all the players on their feet as Madge is not afraid to drop players who dont perform no matter what reputation they have.Madge gives the players explanations why they have been dropped and its up to the player then to achieve the goals set by Madge and co.
Can see some of the ytounger players being dual reg players to give them experience.

Cook is spot on! Show a team disrespect by fielding an under par side & you are in the lap of the gods! If they're good enough they'll come through, we are though, in a lucky position in my opinion.