: Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:15 pm  

Blobbynator wrote:

I'm not sure about that. 3rd at the very best I'd say, 4th/5th more realistic. Saints and Leeds are well ahead. I'd even say Warrington have a better set of players than you on paper (but we all know they're the most inconsistent side in the history of the game ever).

Looking at your backline, you don't have anyone who really scares teams. Richards and Carmont are decent players, but they're no World beaters. Your back row is fairly strong but your front row isn't comparable to alot of sides. Wigan should've recruited a prop who can lead you around the field e.g. Ruben Wiki. Losing Barrett was a huge blow as he was an inspiration to the rest of your players, he was a leader. Your halves are simply laughable now. Considering what Noble has to work with, he's done OK for a few years now.

But, it's getting to the stage where this team is Noble's team. In the past he's had the excuse of trying to get rid of the deadwood. Now, he's replaced deadwood with more deadwood e.g. Coley, Mathers, Pryce (barely played, unfit), Smith, Leuluai, Bailey and possibly add Fielden to that list who have simply not been good enough or aren't good enough for Wigan.

I imagine he's not got a great deal of time left. He has to pick up some wins soon otherwise he'll be gone. The games you have won't make that easy either.

.... especially tha para about it being Nobles team now

: Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:16 pm  

MUM ! Dad's farted !!! wrote:

London away, whilst a fun fanboy trip, has generally been a bit of a banana skin for us, so under the current conditions a loss wouldn't be a surprise.

It is and anyone would have thought we would have lost last season, we played bad and won. IIRC the last twenty odd minutes of the game was 31-0 to Wigan.

: Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:58 pm  

We will see on Saturday if Noble has the squad behind him or not.

when would N obles position become untenable : Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:59 pm  

I honestly cant see Lenagan sacking Noble, I dont think he would pay out almost a full seasons wages to compensate him and then have to pay someone else instead. There is no relegation so all we have to lose is face. If the fans seriously started dropping off then he may consider it. I did notice at the Cas game that for the first time ever that I can recall the hospitality boxes were not sold out ,

Re: when would N obles position become untenable : Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:19 pm  

jaxx wrote:

I honestly cant see Lenagan sacking Noble, I dont think he would pay out almost a full seasons wages to compensate him and then have to pay someone else instead. There is no relegation so all we have to lose is face. If the fans seriously started dropping off then he may consider it. I did notice at the Cas game that for the first time ever that I can recall the hospitality boxes were not sold out ,

I believe you to be correct, noble will stay to end of the year IMO

IL is not a sacking coach, he will not pay up his contract and he publicly backed him after the Cas game, although that may not mean nothing in this day of age.

The hospitality boxes were not sold out - correct (very sad indeed)

Re: when would N obles position become untenable : Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:24 pm  

wiganrlforever wrote:

I believe you to be correct, noble will stay to end of the year IMO

IL is not a sacking coach, he will not pay up his contract and he publicly backed him after the Cas game, although that may not mean nothing in this day of age.

The hospitality boxes were not sold out - correct (very sad indeed)

Neither is our pitchside advertising. Sign of the economic climate rather than Brian Noble.

: Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:26 pm  

I want him to be succesful at Wigan and make us a big force but I just cannot see it.

I feel he has brought us as far as he can.

I dont think IL will want to pay him off though, I just cannot see him being sacked.

: Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:58 pm  

Pie Eyed wrote:

I'm sorry, but having been one of Nobby's biggest fans when he joined us (hence the shirts sporting "Nobby Nuts" for 2 years), I have lost all confidence in his coaching ability.

We have a collection of individuals who, on paper, should be looking at a top 3 spot.

However, he has completely failed to make them work as a team (which is his single biggest job function IMO)

Added to that, we are playing the worst brand of rugby that I have ever seen from a Wigan side.

At least when we were losing every week under Millward, we were playing some entertaining rugby, and this was reflected by us fans having a laugh and a party on the terraces of every club at which we got spanked.

Leeds away (70-0) was both the most depressing at a result level, but also the most fun atmosphere I've ever witnessed as a fan.

We wound up having a laugh, never stopped singing, whatever.

Basically, with Nobby in charge, there is absolutely NOTHING to get excited about.

We knew from his Bradford days that he played a fairly dour, although effective, game-plan.
He stuck would-be props on the wing and let them run riot.

At Wigan, he is trying to play the same game with players of half the size, which leads to the wingers playing in the prop position half the time, just to get a sniff of the ball.

To be frank, if we lose to London this week and play as poorly as we have been for the last 3 matches, and then get fed the same feeble excuses and lines about "improvements" and how we were "out-enthused", he needs to go.

Don't ask me "who would you put in charge then?" because TBH, I have no idea. I can't lift my head for long enough to think straight about Wigan right now - I just find the whole subject of my favourite team too ****ing depressing to think about.

Attending the matches has become a chore if I'm honest, and if my 5-year-old daughter wasn't as keen as she is, I could even see myself drifting away to do other things with my Friday night or Saturday/Sunday afternoon.

That though frightens me a bit, because I have NEVER felt that way, even with Millward, Hughes or Goodway in charge.

Sad to say, it wouldn't bother me if Nobby went today and we had a caretaker coach for the entire season, until somebody became available.
Because TBF, we couldn't do any worse, and we might actually get entertained occasionally.

Great post sir .I feel the same about every point you make , i was also at the leeds game stayed to the end singing and laughing and the saints game the week after.

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:29 pm  

Chosen the Bradford at home match. I think Cullen and Clarke as his right hand man would be ideal

: Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:30 pm  

MC.FINCHY wrote:

Chosen the Bradford at home match. I think Cullen and Clarke as his right hand man would be ideal

Please don't say you mean Paul Cullen and Phil Clarke.