XBrettKennyX wrote:
Right. As I am now less tired, and actually the points made by Dave O are volumous, but easy to counter.
1. RE the squad. The balance of the squad was decimated by Milldreds signings. Highham, Calderwood to name but two. These players are so removed from Nobbys style of playing it's untrue.
2. Now the point you are conveniently ignoring is that EVEN with this handicap, Nobby saved us from relegation AND got us to 3rd twice in a row. These aren't "statistics" these are FACTS. Hardly a "damming indictment" as you would put it, more a positive reflection on his coaching ability.
You need to realise what gets you to 3rd place is winning two games in the play offs. That is all. It is no achievement.
If you are happy with that we can end the discussion here.
I am not.
I pay a lot of money and drive a lot of miles to be entertained in the regular league season. 2007 and 2008 were dire in that regard.
The idea he got to third despite it was "not his team" is ridiculous given whenever he is criticised the mantra is "oh well they played crap because they were not his team". The fact they were not his team has been trotted out time and time again whenever they have been poor.
Two games in the play-offs proves nothing.
What we need to see is a good regular season and then a good run in the play-offs. If we get that then we are going in the right direction. The sides who have won the thing in recent years have done that. It is because they have been good sides well coached. You can't IMO go into the play offs with a negative points difference expecting to win the thing.
Now let's not get sucked into a "well SL is all about a cup competition at the end of the season" debate. Those are the rules and all the coaches work to that agenda. I actually don't like it (this year will be worse btw) but those are the rules set by the RFL. You play the hand you are dealt.
You always do but a blind man on a bus would be able to tell you some of the performances last season were utter sh! te. Is the regular season a write off? Do we go to games to see dross performances for 20 odd rounds and if we win two games in the play-offs declare the season a success? Despite the fact we win nothing? Where did this come from?
When the game went to a GF format it was as plain on the nose on your face that any side could get knocked out of the play offs as it IS a knock-out competition. So therefore to expect to win it is like expecting to win the cup if you get what I am saying. So given this is the case I for one was not expecting to see anything like a run we had in the cup in 80's and 90's at all. Knockout football is too unpredictable for that. So I have always thought fans had to adjust to enjoying the regular season and hoping for the best in the play-offs. Because when the play-offs start what has gone before is written off.
The trouble is what has gone nefore at Wigan in 2007 and 2008 has been rubbish.
Dave