: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:35 pm  

cadoo wrote:

Tony Smith must obviously believe that he can bring out the best in Richie Mathers and that a change of clubs might be the start of it. If Mathers was to go , that would spell the end of Reardon and suggest that the club are trying to get rid of the trouble makers sooner rather than later - including Gleeson.

Darrell Goulding has a lot of promise about him and started the season off very well when he was given the number three shirt. His form dropped off a bit and he failed to play consistently at the "top level" week in week out and since then Noble has been a bit harsh on Goulding and I don't think the lad knows where he stands. One minute he is in the next minute he is out. You're never going to see a lad develop in a situation like that. I would have liked him to have seen out his contract at Wigan - even had that been a years loan deal at a super league like Saints have done with Ste Tyrer or at least given the chance a run of games to form a sufficient and more accurate opinion about his potential. Bailey has been inconsistent at centre this season yet is still named in the team every week. Can we honestly say the same has been applied to Goulding? It could work two ways if this rumour is true. Warrington could unearth a gem in Darrell Goulding or he could become another Martin Aspinwall type player.

Martin Gleeson should we sign him will in the short term benefit the side. We certainly lack creative flair in our side and he would add this. Apart from Feka Hock and maybe Carmont we are very limited in our attack, as was evident against Huddersfield and Martin Gleeson can give us another option in attack and in theory with his creativity bring out the best in Roberts and allow Bailey to go back to his better position at second row and we can finally have a proper centre for the rest of the season. At 28 he would be at a reasonable age but soon after you expect his form to drop as he gets older. He might not do but it would be a risk to hand him a big contract. 2 years MAX would be my option.

Short term it would certainly benefit the squad but in the long term it is a risk to let Darrell Goulding and to see how Martin Gleeson turns out at Wigan.

I see what you mean about Gleesons age, but just look at Gidley at Saints, 31 now and still the best in the league. If its creativity that is the main skill (as with Gleeson) then age doesnt affect that as greatly as agility or speed. Finally we would have a purpose to our right side attack.... it would be worth signing him just for that alone.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:29 pm  

cadoo wrote:

Short term it would certainly benefit the squad but in the long term it is a risk to let Darrell Goulding and to see how Martin Gleeson turns out at Wigan.

I think the key to our long term future in the backs rests on two things getting a good long term SH and Pryce finding form.

Gleeson is still long term planning imo as you can see below taking into account he’s 28 as you said btw;

2009-Carmont &Gleeson 28(2 year deal with another year option in clubs fav)
2010-Carmont & Gleeson 29(Pryce to come in towards the end of season)
2011-Pryce & Gleeson 30(If happy with contribution offer same 3yr deal right?)
2012-Pryce & Gleeson 31
2013-Pryce & Gleeson 32(we’ve got the option in our favour for another year also)

That’s five seasons we could get out of Gleeson with an option for another if we feel he’s up to it! Two centre pairings in 6 seasons Gleeson ‘n’ Carmont and Pryce ‘n’ Gleeson is excellent stability to what has gone on previously. Add to that Roberts on a four year deal and potentially Ainscough spending the foreseeable future at the club and then we are finally getting some decent consistency in our backs aren’t we?

All we would need to do then is take this continuity idea and apply it to getting Dobbo in at SH then we are laughing!

All of it will be wasted if we sign the wrong SH tho as it’s such a key position that we need to get it right first time and stick with it meaning no more-Lam, Moran, Orr, Dobbo, Barrett & Tommy situations. We have to splash the cash, get the right person in who is not only good enough but will be around for a good few years.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:36 pm  

Gleesons reaction after being ask by my brothers mate today

"Bloody hell, i've only told my mum and everyone knows"

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:39 pm  

wigan_knight wrote:

Gleesons reaction after being ask by my brothers mate today

"Bloody hell, i've only told my mum and everyone knows"

The LOVELY WOMAN

[DaveO]

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:51 pm  

thepriestman85 wrote:

I think the key to our long term future in the backs rests on two things getting a good long term SH and Pryce finding form.

Gleeson is still long term planning imo as you can see below taking into account he’s 28 as you said btw;

2009-Carmont &Gleeson 28(2 year deal with another year option in clubs fav)
2010-Carmont & Gleeson 29(Pryce to come in towards the end of season)
2011-Pryce & Gleeson 30(If happy with contribution offer same 3yr deal right?)
2012-Pryce & Gleeson 31
2013-Pryce & Gleeson 32(we’ve got the option in our favour for another year also)

That’s five seasons we could get out of Gleeson with an option for another if we feel he’s up to it! Two centre pairings in 6 seasons Gleeson ‘n’ Carmont and Pryce ‘n’ Gleeson is excellent stability to what has gone on previously. Add to that Roberts on a four year deal and potentially Ainscough spending the foreseeable future at the club and then we are finally getting some decent consistency in our backs aren’t we?

All we would need to do then is take this continuity idea and apply it to getting Dobbo in at SH then we are laughing!

All of it will be wasted if we sign the wrong SH tho as it’s such a key position that we need to get it right first time and stick with it meaning no more-Lam, Moran, Orr, Dobbo, Barrett & Tommy situations. We have to splash the cash, get the right person in who is not only good enough but will be around for a good few years.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry after reading the above.

Trying to spin it that this is part of a long term plan because he might be able to hack it in his 30's is bizarre.

When he was on Radio Manchester IL defended the signings of players like Carmont by saying we had to do something to plug the gaps in the side so signing the overseas players we did such as Carmont was a short term fix. The intention was not to keep doing this.

Gleeson while obviously English is another short term fix at 28. Especially if we see a 22 year old with potential go the other way. Gleeson's form is only going one way from now on due to his age. Downward. Same with Carmont.

Wigan used to dump players as they approached their 30's, it was club policy. Not sign them hoping they might be good enough to play on.

Still it's a trait of Noble we first saw with Withers and Millard. He seems to think players who were good three or four years ago won't have lost some pace or form with age.

If we sign Gleeson it should be a warning to any young player at the club if your face does not fit with Noble you will be replaced by a soon to be has-been because Noble doesn't have the skill or patience to work with you.

Dave

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:54 pm  

Continually Gleeson's wingers are near to the top of the try scoring charts e.g Fa'fili (sp) and Hicks recently. He would be a fantastic signing IMO.

[DaveO]

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:55 pm  

thepriestman85 wrote:

I think the key to our long term future in the backs rests on two things getting a good long term SH and Pryce finding form.

Gleeson is still long term planning imo as you can see below taking into account he’s 28 as you said btw;

He is 29 in six weeks time

Far too old to be signing a back.

Dave

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:56 pm  

DaveO wrote:

He is 29 in six weeks time

Far too old to be signing a back.

Dave

Gidley signed for Saints when he was 28/29. Are you saying we shouldn't have signed him given the opportunity?

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:58 pm  

Well, it's made the Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... gby+League Probably going off speculation on this forum though.

Well, it's made the Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... gby+League Probably going off speculation on this forum though.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:58 pm