Get real - if you are not in the top 3 you have no chance of winning it - which I think the facts will back me up. Saints and Leeds will be 1 and 2 - which means we r playing for 3rd - and after the first 3 results and two home games against the so-called weaker sides - we have no chance of finishing 3rd. But like Noble says its won in October not now - so we could in effect lose r next 3-4 games and e wont b concerned cos its won in October - wot a crock of shat.

Yeah, Alex Fergusons job was on the line but that was within the first 2 years of him taking over at United - the rest they say is history.

Nobles had 3 years here now (I Think) and improvements are there to see but the lack of excitement when I go watching my team these days is unbearable much longer.

United were one game away from firing Ferguson (FA Cup game v Nottingham Forest), had they lost that it was common knowledge he was out. They won and went on to win the cup, he was given a stay of execution.....the rest is history.

That's where you're wrong, because they're sticking exactly to his gameplan until it's too late. It's been happening for years.

If anyone thinks that Wigan's current pack is a Noble pack then they are wrong.
Noble's awesome foursome was Big Joe, Anderson, McDermott & Fielden with Parker and Moore as back up. When Brian Mc retired he moved Jamie Peacock to the front row. That's a Brian Noble pack. We are nowhere near!
Until Ian Lenagan brings in at least one prop forward immediately then we are in trouble.
My worry is that Noble will walk and we'll end up with Ellery Hanley or someone equally unsuitable for Wigan.
A new coach might win the odd game but the problems will still be there.
If Ian Lenagan gets that front row sorted by having four, big, experienced props with two back ups then we will take on anyone.
Until then it's IL who should take the responsibility for this, most definately not Brian Noble.

Wigan would have won with Pat in the team and kicking but that would have papered over the cracks. It is now clear that last year we had a crap team + Barrett. This year, well.

Being positive we have some exciting young players. Last night showed that given their chance they might just take it. The most exciting point last night was in the first half when Ainscough took the winger on the outside and beat him with ease. There was a buzz in the crowd and everbody around me stood up with anticipation. I don't care who is fit next week but Ainscough had better not be dropped or else I will be one unhappy bunny. He was hungry for work. He was MOTM. What else does a player have to do to earn a starting spot?

but ted a good coach would then change his game plan if thats the case. Noble has one plan that is the problem.
if bradford of old was losing a game at half its very likely they would have lost at full time because there was never a plan B.
he knows he hasn't got an 'awesome foursome' so why does he still play that way?

Take it you have insdie access to what Nobby's game plan is?

Do you seriously think Nobby sits there in the changing room and says boys I have come up with a brilliant plan...."we're gonna do five drives and a kick" because that's the way some people paint it on here.

You're completely ignoring the fact that nobody wants to watch nobles awesome foursome, which IMO he'll never manage to get together again.

You're also forgetting that all the props at wigan were signed before lenagan came in, and I'm pretty sure all signed improved or new contracts with us during the noble era before ian lenagan arrived.

That's his pack and he should take responsibility for it.

Yes I do. Just as the rest of the rugby league world knows it



Yes I do seriously believe that, it's no coincidence that his teams have always been ultra conservative in their own half. Difference is that he hasn't put a squad together that's big enough to push their way out of their own half on five drives and a kick. They need second phase play and when they actually do that once the game is lost it appears successful.

well i won't bother with a season ticket in future. I'll just start watching in late september.

In relation to the bigger picture its true, you can lose your first 3 games and be champions. Is that likely is a totally different question.

Bradford lost their first 2 and narrowly beat you in the third by a point. Ok, it's not 3 defeats but we ended up going to Old Trafford that year.

Not all is lost yet.

Im pretty sure Noble did not intend to lose the first 3 games but what he is saying is its not the end of the world as there is an awful long way to go. He is right in that respect and he must have confidence in himself that he can turn it around. Personally i do not think he has the players to do it. Too many average players in the team with no real superstars. Last year we had Barrett,this year we have no one even near his calibre.

I would agree.

Good point well made

Fine, we should aim to peak at the play-offs but that's no reason why we should have to watch the team lose again and again, playing a boring style of rugby with lots of players who simply aren't fit enough for SL.

im more looking at this post match quote

" I thought small technical things that Castleford were a bit better than us which helped them. "

isnt it the coaches job to coach the technical things?????????
that for me is almost an admission of his own failings

Actually Ferguson wouldnt have been sacked because he had the backing of the board of directors including Bobby Charlton who could see that Ferguson was the best man for the job but needed time.

You should. The defence is naff and has been for the past two seasons. It got worse last year when we ended up with a negative points difference.

If you concede 28 points you are going to be lucky to win any match. We were chasing the game because of the points we conceded. It makes it necessary for every kick to go over and tries are not guaranteed six pointers.

John Monie - "Defence wins matches". Had we tackled half way up to scratch on Friday we would have won regardless of the goal kickers accuracy.

Ruing the loss because of missed goal kicks is IMO just covering up the more basic problems.

Dave

So very true.

I don't get our defensive strategy at all under Noble. The line trot up a couple of slow yards and wait. The attack gets plenty of time and our defenders never win the collision because they're standing still when the ball-carrier finally hits the line. Whatever the purpose of this is, it's not working. Our points against was dreadful last year and looks to be going to same way this year.

I was there too kid when we not winning owt


Noble has signed some poor players to be fair so has to shoulder some blame.

I am a Noble supporter, something which is well known on this forum. However, there comes a time when even the most loyal supporter must concede that it is not good enough, and after Friday I am considering my position on it. I am not saying I am against Noble, but my position considering Noble is becoming negative.

I'm all for stability, perhaps that's one of the main reasons behind my support of Noble, but if "for the sake of stability" Wigan RLFC are becoming a poor team and a boring side to watch, stability suddenly becomes silly.

Had a brief chat with Nobby on Friday. He is mystified why the team do not execute their set plays that have been practised all week. Expect changes in personnel.

IMO we are reverting to the Basil days where the squad simply aren't cohesive. It was apparent after the game. All the brits together, none of the imports to be seen.

It would seem to boil down to two things then, no pride from the players & not wanting to play for Noble? I hope he will shake up team selection, its needed.



But why, what is driving them to be 2 seperate groups, other than the sheer amount of imports in the squad perhaps.