: Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:45 pm  

Morning Glory wrote:

Yes and No. Yes I think that collectively the back room staff needs freshening up and has done for some time now. No, because individually they are good blokes and I've got a lot of time for the likes of BF in the limited contact that I've had with him, it's just I think there's too much longevity around the back room and maybe they are victims of that. Same goes for the playing staff unfortunately. I'd love to see a team full of Wigan lads brought through the system but in reality that's a pipe dream, it's never going to happen, it's far too simplistic in modern day sport.
I've been concerned about the quality of lads that have actually come through our system of late, they perform really well up to and including academy level and then seem to bomb when asked to take the step up. It just seems they aren't equipped with the necessary skill sets and aptitude, I'm not saying that other clubs do it better because in reality they don't. The standard at academy level is rapidly getting past mediocre as you yourself will have witnessed. There's only so far toughing it out and ripping in will get teams, all too soon that will be found out by superior skill sets. That in itself is part of the problem, whatever 'it' is.

I agree entirely.
Like yourself I'm disappointed that some of the kids are not taking that final step up. My friends have spent hours discussing "it" and to be honest can't come up with the answer.


That was one of the reasons why, at the fans forums I asked for Wigan to send some of their better academy players to Australia on a short term scholarship. They seem to have "it" over there.

I spent an hour or so with a former Aussie International player when we about there for the World Cup trying to find "it"

We must be doing something wrong, or not quite right, but what "it" is I'm b*gg*red if I know.

: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:17 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I agree entirely.
Like yourself I'm disappointed that some of the kids are not taking that final step up. My friends have spent hours discussing "it" and to be honest can't come up with the answer.


That was one of the reasons why, at the fans forums I asked for Wigan to send some of their better academy players to Australia on a short term scholarship. They seem to have "it" over there.

I spent an hour or so with a former Aussie International player when we about there for the World Cup trying to find "it"

We must be doing something wrong, or not quite right, but what "it" is I'm b*gg*red if I know.

I think "it" varies from club to club.

From the outside looking in and listening to others around the game i would say one of the reasons players at all levels reach a level and stagnate is that they get it a little too easy at Wigan regards treatment, they have the best facilities kit etc, and sometimes start to take this for granted and lose that edge/desire when things are put on a plate for them.

rl : Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:52 pm  

Hopefully some of the lads will be able to step up now the accelerate squad has been formed, it seems for that purpose.
IL & JL appeared to have recognised that from 16 years plus they did not progress as had been hoped for.
Maybe with coaches and conditioners in place the problem will be rectified.
We had eight players in the 17 v Cas who'd come through the academy.