Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Oct 22, 2014 1:56 pm
SLS wrote:
Entirely valid view, when elaborated on.
I'm not convinced on the sweeping statement that Wigan get more out of players. For every Burgess, there's a Goulding, for every Farrell, there's a J Tomkins etc. It's very subjective and I personally think Wane could have improved Wigan further by getting more out of certain players.
Re Patrick. I think he'll end up at Wigan. He's been rumoured for ages now and is clearly a target. He's quite small for a front rower and is more impact than long minutes. Wigan's game faces a challenge IMO as their emphasis on mobile forwards is in stark contrast to Saints' emphasis on massive individuals. Defend the flanks properly and Wigan's game is relatively easy to handle. With that in mind, I can't help but think Wigan would be better served with a big prop. Dudson is average, Taylor wants away, Crosby is okay and Flower is decent. A real lack of top quality in the front row at Wigan for me.
I'm not convinced on the sweeping statement that Wigan get more out of players. For every Burgess, there's a Goulding, for every Farrell, there's a J Tomkins etc. It's very subjective and I personally think Wane could have improved Wigan further by getting more out of certain players.
Re Patrick. I think he'll end up at Wigan. He's been rumoured for ages now and is clearly a target. He's quite small for a front rower and is more impact than long minutes. Wigan's game faces a challenge IMO as their emphasis on mobile forwards is in stark contrast to Saints' emphasis on massive individuals. Defend the flanks properly and Wigan's game is relatively easy to handle. With that in mind, I can't help but think Wigan would be better served with a big prop. Dudson is average, Taylor wants away, Crosby is okay and Flower is decent. A real lack of top quality in the front row at Wigan for me.
Saints' big boys may have just edged it down the middle (despite making less metres). Against 12 men, with our best prop sent off.
Lack of a top quality front row didn't stop us annihilating Warrington and Leeds through the middle with 13 on the pitch? We crucified Wire in that first half and their pack run a lot harder than Saints'.
If Wigan have lacked anything in the last two seasons (which have proven far more fruitful than the same period for any other team!) it's lack of spark in the halves.
When Green isn't fit we are predictable- and he has a tendency to go missing for long periods of the season, excluding the injury.
Matty's dependable and very solid, but he seems to wait until we're dominant before he has the confidence to attack the line and cause problems.
Both go left too much in attack, Charnley/Gelling get far fewer attempts at the line and make the hard metres when needed. (e.g. Budgie may receive the kick but in tight spots Josh is the one who comes in for a tough carry).
Williams creates a bit of havoc when he's put in but he's very raw.
That's why the Brough rumour is such a tease, there's negativity around it because you despise players who can hurt you- and he hurts us every time! Genuinely believe that a player of that calibre- especially one who can kick- would be a game-changer for us. Let's face it, he's got the brain, the pace, the passing... everything but the looks.
But again, we haven't done too badly. That predictable attack has (just about) put twice as many points on opponents as any other team in SL over the last 48 months.
