Whelan the Dreamer : Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:09 am  

Just going through some very old pages on the website and found this gem of an article from back in the day when I used to bother putting news items on the website......

The article was posted 10 days before Wigan's kids beat Saints in an infamous Good Friday derby.

CherryandWhite.co.uk News: Whelan planning to sign "absolute top draw" Australians!
Posted on Tuesday April 08 2003 @ 18:14:08 BST by Bilko

Wigan owner Dave Whelan has called for Warriors fans to be patient on the back of our poorest start ever to a Super League campaign.

He states that he is planning to bring two or three "absolute top draw" Australians to the club.

Whelan is urging fans to get behind the youngsters because he believe's we will become great again.

He revealed to local radio station 102.4 Wish FM:

"We've got the youngsters and what I would ask is for fans to come down and support those kids."

"Don't get on their backs! Give them some time, give them some space"

"Next year it is our intention to bring in two or three absolute top draw Australian players to mix with our youngsters.

"Not has beens like what's been going on in the past.

"Next year, or the year after, I think we'll be back to Wigan being the greatest again."

Wigan signed zero Aussies for 2004 - never mind "top drawer". Whilst 2005 saw us sign Luke Davico, Jerry Seuseu, David Vaealiki, Dennis Moran.

As for the youngsters they'd most had gone within 2 years.

But to be fair his prediction of "Wigan being the greatest again" - was nearly correct. He just meant greatest of National League 1!

God we are so lucky to be rid of the Maurice and Dave double act!

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:24 am  

p.s this still amuses me.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:51 am  

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:44 am  

At the moment he's suggesting that football shouldn't have a transfer window.

Shut up and keep your thoughts to yourself you owd fart.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:46 am  

Alex BP' wrote:

At the moment he's suggesting that football shouldn't have a transfer window.

Shut up and keep your thoughts to yourself you owd fart.

We'd have lost Palacios and Heskey a long time ago then otherwise.

Sometimes he does engage mouth before brain.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:37 am  

If the salary cap hadn't come along, I'm pretty sure Whelan would have bought us a top side. Whether that would have been good for us in the long run or good for the game is a moot point.

But the salary cap did come along, and neither Whelan nor Maurice ever really adjusted to it.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:46 am  

Cruncher wrote:

But the salary cap did come along, and neither Whelan nor Maurice ever really adjusted to it.

I think the fact that we repeatedly broke it and still didn't have great signings shows that

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:58 am  

Elle Coco wrote:

I think the fact that we repeatedly broke it and still didn't have great signings shows that

Even before then, they weren't able to balance the new blood and old overseas blood to any satisfactory degree.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:28 pm  

Alex BP' wrote:

At the moment he's suggesting that football shouldn't have a transfer window.

Shut up and keep your thoughts to yourself you owd fart.

thats because hes lost his best players to better teams, and replaced em with that Insomnia bloke from newcastle.

: Thu Feb 12, 2009 6:59 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

If the salary cap hadn't come along, I'm pretty sure Whelan would have bought us a top side. Whether that would have been good for us in the long run or good for the game is a moot point.

But the salary cap did come along, and neither Whelan nor Maurice ever really adjusted to it.

Wasn't it actually Mo's idea to bring in the Salary Cap?