: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:18 pm  

Tom Brady wrote:

We usually announce things wed/thurs?

We usually announce the squad for the following game on those dates, yes.

Amos Roberts was announced on a Wednesday as was Mark Riddell.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:18 pm  

generally, isn't it 11 tues and thurs 1 for RL media announcements.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:21 pm  

NickNJ wrote:

generally, isn't it 11 tues and thurs 1 for RL media announcements.

It used to be but they changed it.

[DaveO]

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:22 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

The Mathers situation is pretty sad. The lad clearly had talent, otherwise he'd never have got a berth in Australia. But injuries, and presumably the way he was sidelined by the Aussies, seem to have devastated his confidence.

By all accounts he's a nice chap, popular with the other players and the management. He also looks to be a good club-man - his one positive contribution during matches is the encouragement and ethusiasm he offers the rest of the lads. But his horrendous lack of rugby ability has become an insurmountable problem IMO. He hasn't improved from last season; in fact, on the few occasions we've seen him this year, he's been woeful.

It makes you wonder if the oft-mentioned assumption that sending a player to Australia "will massively improve his game and bring him home a better man for it" is actually a load of tosh. It certainly didn't work that way with Mathers.

Good post. I have a lot of sympathy for Mathers situation as I don't want to see players fail (I am sure no one does). When we lost Ashton and went for Mathers as replacement I thought that was a fair risk to take given he was on a contract that said he had to prove his injury was completely healed.

Well his injury did heal but something else went wrong. Personally, I don't think our senior players get a lot of coaching so it's sink or swim as you are and what Mathers needed was some serious defensive coaching. He needs/needed to re-learn that part of his game but I don't think he got it here.

If I am correct then the club should never have signed him if they were not prepared to invest the coaching effort into the player. He was never going to be a ready made full back given his lay off.

If he leaves he might find a new environment one that is prepared to work with him more than I think Wigan have done. He might also be in one where the defenders in front of him haven't forgotten how to defend as well!

Dave

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:23 pm  

I've heard before the end of the week, don't panic if it's not announced by Fri, it's going to happen.

Looks like Goulding is going for a signing, not loan.

2010?

Richards
Roberts Gleeson, Carmont, Ainscough
Tomkins (Tommy?)
Lynch? Riddell LuLu/Fielden
Hock Lockers
Tomkins
------------------------
Prescott, O Barrell, Micky, Hansen.

Personally I'd like to see Tommy move to 9 and interchange with Piggy bring in a new 7 (if the cap will allow it). Let's raise the standards at Wigan get rid of the players who aren't cutting it giving more opportunities to younger forwards.
Gotta be more pressure on the likes of Hock/Lockers/Tomkins/Hansen with the likes of Flanny/Farrell/Mossop pushing on. Comp for places is a good thing. People who read my posts on here know how I feel Hansen maybe pushed out for one of the three up and coming backrow forwards.

Maybe a deal will be done with Fielden moving back to Bradford if Lynch comes our way. I'll be sad to see Fielden go, not cos he's been a great player, but because when he signed we were all truly happy, and in his time, overall he's disappointed and not lived up to expectation, when it goes I feel his legacy at Wigan will be an 'unbelievable prop' who never actually arrived'- hope that makes sense.

Overall things are Looking better.

A more balanced team, I don't want another holocaust moment were we lose our world beater, a single player (Farrell/Barrett) and look like our teams dead and buried.

[DaveO]

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:32 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Gleeson would be a superb signing and when you consider the rumour is it's in a swap deal for the likes of Mathers/Phelps/Goulding it also comes with little risk as they're aren't exactly setting this club on fire.

Why is Goulding slowly but surely becoming a player no one rates? He is still young and learning the game. He has also copped a lot of unfair stick from some fans and has been made a scapegoat by Noble who regularly drops him when IMO the fault has lain elsewhere.

People are ready and willing to forgive mistakes/deficiencies in S Tomkis and Ainscoughs games (rightly so) but after another season will they be writing them off like Goulding if they have not become England internationals?

I know Gleeson is a good player but I think Goulding will be one day and this will be seen as Wigan letting young players go for older players not produced by the club. If Gleeson is only to be signed for 2010 won't he be 30?

Dave

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:35 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

I've heard before the end of the week, don't panic if it's not announced by Fri, it's going to happen.

Looks like Goulding is going for a signing, not loan.

2010?

Richards
Roberts Gleeson, Carmont, Ainscough
Tomkins (Tommy?)
Lynch? Riddell LuLu/Fielden
Hock Lockers
Tomkins
------------------------
Prescott, O Barrell, Micky, Hansen.

Personally I'd like to see Tommy move to 9 and interchange with Piggy bring in a new 7 (if the cap will allow it). Let's raise the standards at Wigan get rid of the players who aren't cutting it giving more opportunities to younger forwards.
Gotta be more pressure on the likes of Hock/Lockers/Tomkins/Hansen with the likes of Flanny/Farrell/Mossop pushing on. Comp for places is a good thing. People who read my posts on here know how I feel Hansen maybe pushed out for one of the three up and coming backrow forwards.

Maybe a deal will be done with Fielden moving back to Bradford if Lynch comes our way. I'll be sad to see Fielden go, not cos he's been a great player, but because when he signed we were all truly happy, and in his time, overall he's disappointed and not lived up to expectation, when it goes I feel his legacy at Wigan will be an 'unbelievable prop' who never actually arrived'- hope that makes sense.

Overall things are Looking better.

A more balanced team, I don't want another holocaust moment were we lose our world beater, a single player (Farrell/Barrett) and look like our teams dead and buried.

That is being considered.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:37 pm  

Any favourites to be wearing the number 7 shirt next season?

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:43 pm  

DaveO wrote:

Why is Goulding slowly but surely becoming a player no one rates? He is still young and learning the game. He has also copped a lot of unfair stick from some fans and has been made a scapegoat by Noble who regularly drops him when IMO the fault has lain elsewhere.

People are ready and willing to forgive mistakes/deficiencies in S Tomkis and Ainscoughs games (rightly so) but after another season will they be writing them off like Goulding if they have not become England internationals?

I know Gleeson is a good player but I think Goulding will be one day and this will be seen as Wigan letting young players go for older players not produced by the club. If Gleeson is only to be signed for 2010 won't he be 30?

Dave

I agree tbh in regards to Goulding. I've always been a fan and people have been quick to write him off at times but he does seem to be going down the path of so many other Wigan juniors in that he may need a move to re-ignite his career.

Nobby doesn't seem to be a fan of his so whilst Noble is in charge he won't be playing anyway and also there is the fact that Gleeson is a better player then Goulding is or imo is ever likely to be(which doesn't mean Goulding is a poor player).

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:43 pm  

I've heard Karmichael hunt is looking to play half-back...

What about a new 6 too? Will we finally have a pairing that can play together for more than a couple of seasons? I'm sick of players swapping positions.