And our coaching staff in general didn't?
What does that say about those players respective qualities & attributes at this point in time???

I saw Russell on the wing at Salford, he was far worse than Gelling has been in any game this season IMO.

Ask yourself this

If Ryan King or Russell were better options at any point in that 13+ game period then why did they not use them?
Do you not think that (IMO) the over exagaration of Gellings faults (Which he has to work on moving forward) had more to do with certain fans knee jerk reactions and the way they look for scapegoats than about his actual contribution in those games?
If it wasn't then I'm guessing these fans must think that Wane & the coaching staff must be Idiots if Gellings is as bad as they make out yet they still picked him?

You know that we HAVE to have a scapegoat at Wigan, and currently it's Gelling. Thornley [ichasing[/i back on Saturday made Paul Wellens look like Usain Bolt, but got no criticism whatsoever. Had that been Gelling the this board would have been on fire.

Gelling fits the bill in terms of how Wane wants his wingers to be. Big, strong and like extra forwards when taking the ball in to contact. Luckily we also now have another player who fits the mould to generate a bit of competition.

King got an opportunity against North Wales while Gelling was given a chance the week before and Gelling's performance was better. While King was perhaps unlucky that most tries were being scored before the ball even got a chance to get to him in that game his performances for the under 20's haven't exactly been at the same level as they were last season so over the course of the last few months he hasn't exactly put much pressure on Gelling.

Russell didn't do his chances of getting a place on the wing much good because, as you said, he was awful against Salford and much worse than any performance Gelling has put in so far this year.

Now that Thornley is in the frame there's a bit of competition for places. It's certainly worth giving Thornley a go given that he's expected to have a much bigger role in the side next year.

Between Gelling and Thornley there are bound to be different strengths and weaknesses. Thornley's positional sense already seems to be a little bit better, the same goes for finishing. In terms of enthusiasm and hard work during a game he's got a difficult job to match Gelling.

When it comes to the last point though, anyone who puts forwards even the slightest criticism of a player is lumped into the 'against' category. It wouldn't matter whether the criticism was harsh or fairly light, as soon as a reasonable number of people make those opinions known then they'll be dismissed as looking for a scapegoat.
I've lost track of the number of times a thread has contained mostly a bit of minor criticism of Gelling over areas of his game that aren't as strong only for someone to come along and insinuate that everyone is against him. It's just a little bit pathetic.

However if that's the way it has to be then perhaps people should start compiling their love and hate lists of all Wigan players so that it's clear for everyone. No fence sitting allowed and even the smallest criticism means you don't rate that player at all.

WANE OUT!!!!

Bloody Mathers

I agree.

FWIW - As I've said over the years, I still think Frisk is troll.

This thread is bloody embarrassing.

Gelling is going to be a cracking player when we figure out his best position.

When we first signed Gelling SW said something about Gelling being a long term project and that we would work with him to improve his as a player - from that I understood that there would be some patience with him but that when the time came he would get a chance.

I really don' think he has been as bad as what some of his critics make out - yes he has made some mistakes but when I watch him play I see a lot of effort there and a lot of natural ability - it usually takes more than one player to take him down and he is very athletic.

I would like to see him be given another opportunity - particularly at centre. Don't forget that Pat Richards hardly set the world on fire in the centres - in fact many people would of gladly seen him leave the club at that time.

Lets not write off Gellings Wigan career just yet.

He got some off Sam.

He give him the rounds of the kitchen and then some when Gower kicked his 40/20. I said at the time if that had been Gelling some of the crowd would have been joining in for sure.

Like someone mentioned, ppl have slagged Pat off, then Piggy, then Finch, now Gelling.

Hope it sticks to form, if it follows previous suit in the next 2 to 3 seasons Gelling should be a contender for MoS.

Win.

On this occasion I don't agree with Mr Frisk, but do agree with Jon H.

And I agree with those criticising the scapegoating mentality of many Wigan fans. It is the Achilles heel of the greatest set of fans in the game. At times - like the shameful attacks on Lockers some years ago - it reaches outrageous proportions and is worse than embarrassing. The attacks on Gelling are heading in this direction, I'm afraid.

Gelling may never turn out to be a great player, he has a lot to work on, but anyone can see the huge potential he has. If he doesn't fulfil that potential then some of the blame would lie with him, but the Wigan club would also have failed.

Let's go for it then: =#800000[uWigan RL Scapegoats - 1985-2012.[/u

2012 - Anthony Gelling.
2011 - Brett Finch.
2010 - Karl Pryce.
2009 - Mark Riddell.
2008 - Richie Mathers
2007 -
2006 - Pat Richards.
2005 -
2004-
2003-
2002-
2001-
2000-
1999-
1998-
1997-
1996-
1995-
1994-
1993-
1992-
1991-
1990-
1989-
1988-
1987-
1986-
1985-


Please feel free to add.

I'm sticking with Lauaki

I can't remember the years but:

Dennis Moran
David Hodgson
Mark Smith
Kevin Brown
Sean O'Loughlin
Danny Orr
Desi Williams
Micky Higham
Michael McIlorum
David Vaealiki

Just to name a few...

2007 - Bailey and Fielden

I don't think Mathers was ever a scapegoat just a really really bad player.

So it's ok to get all happy flappy and praise the players when they play well, but if you dare mention them when they don't play well you're not loyal and making scapegoats?

There's 2 sides to every coin and people need to quit being so soft, it's sport, they get paid and peopl comment on how they play, good or bad.

Correct.

Gelling is a poor winger - plain and simple. Not necessarily his fault because he isn't a winger by trade & hasn't played to this level before. His enthusiasm in attack with his powerful carries is a step up on Pryce & his attitude coupled with his athletic, if a little raw, frame hints that he may have a long-term future at Wigan in another position.

But I think it's fair to say that his positional sense is very poor, he's too slow to support making a break and he's bombed many chances handed to him on a plate by failing to catch the ball - he can also be a little clumsy at times. All fair criticisms IMO and he'll learn from that.

I hope people don't find my criticisms of Gelling too harsh. And Anthony Gelling if you're reading this I hope I haven't destroyed your confidence the next time you play the game - you are not my scapegoat, I just think you're a poor winger, but you could come good in the future.

But what if the cover you speak of is not a Pat clone? I’ve seen comments already saying Thornley is too slow. So do we send him back to learn his trade better too, then whose next? Round and round we’ll go because no one will be just right, no one will be mistake free. They all must learn, and I’ll make you a bet whoever gets a go, and even if you think they are gold-top, there will be plenty slaggers coming out of the woodwork. I’m no better than anyone else and I slag, but I hope I never slag just for slaggings sake. “VIVA CONSTRUCTIVE SLAGGING SOLAMANTE” (note the touch of Spanish there for emphasis)

Brady Malam was sh*te. Even the name annoys me.

Surely Desi Williams is the worst winger in 'recent' years (he was a winger wasnt he?)

Gelling doesn't look like he's played RL before. Makes the most basic plays look difficult. I admire Wigan as a club in terms of giving youth a chance and having a fantastic scouting network, but Wigan have got this one wrong. Awful player.