You do have a point re: Shenton, Perry, Flannery and Foster

But...

Wellens - I actually though he had a decent game; got rounded by Finch, but that is down to his pace and he cannot personally help that. He was one of our better performers yesterday.

Wheeler - one of our most naturally talented youngsters and will step up as his development progresses

Clough - He has been in decent from the last couple of weeks; you can tell it's his final year of his contract! Always reliable in defence and in making the yards. I'm sure he'll improve vastly under Brown.

Magennis - Had a staggered development because of injury so is behind, but still showing great potential. Not good enough in the collision yet, but under Brown I can see him improving ten-fold

I watched the game on TV yesterday, I have no axe to grind. I thought Saints lacked penetration, and Wellens has always been slow. He was put into space yesteday and easily caught. Having said all that I thought at least two of Wigan's tries came from moves that were clear obstruction and Saints were unlucky to concede. Having said that they never looked like winning the game.

Until the final

saints were v dissapointing especially in attack but i have to say that wigan look a damn decent side and unfortunately could get better
when more of those passes land.

I just think whatever else you do in sorting out the forwards, you need to get Lomax out of the halves and put him in at fullback. I think he'd flourish there and give you that extra bit of pace coming into the line that you wouldn't get with Wellens.

What's happened to Gaskell? Is he injured or just not getting a look in?

Makinson looks a far better fullback. Lomax is a 6.


Not getting a look in.

Granted I don't see as much of them as you do, but I think Lomax could be devestating at FB, keep Makinson on the wing for the time being, what's your alternatives in those areas? More players with little pace?

I've seen Lomax at fullback and I've seen Makinson at fullback and Makinson is the better fullback, bearing in mind both are early on in their careers (especially Makinson).

its very disconcerting when you talk sense

Fair point I thought you meant current playing resources! You do have an excellent youth set-up and Rush is an excellent junior coach but I am not convinced about the standard of players you have brought through or the quality of those in the immediate pipeline. Obviously, there is time for some young players, currently in your squad, to improve but only time will tell. Your U15s look good but the U16sand U18s appear to be a fallow years, with the odd exception.

I think you will find that Wellens goes around again next season, don't forget that these guys are in it for the money, and rightly so. You could move him to loose forward. Roby is top quality but needs to play behind a better pack. Wilkin is a good utility player but would never make my starting 13 and Gardner wouldn't even make my squad.

What have those players got to do with our young guys?

Nothing, you need to read the other posts.