O'Gloughlin Mossop Farrell McIlorum Goulding

imagine....

???????
Ainscough
Goulding
Pryce
Richards
Tomkins
????????
Prescott
McIlorum
O'Carroll
Hansen
Lockers
Tomkins

Hock
Feka
Tomkins
Mossop

in a few years

Indeed, just checked on him.

Mossop / Farrell / Vievers all names i've been told to keep my eye on, but anyone else have a view? It's imperative that 2 youth players make it into the squad each season, to allow us to eek out these imports!

3/4 Top Quality Imports plus a dozen Top Quality local lads = potential success.

Cracking bottom 4 team that!

I went to school with him. He is a cracking player and play hooker and can play scrum half too.

what no feka??? the only player that took us forward and looked like making a bust. As my mate said it was like an under 9's game, just keep giving it to the big lad and let him take it forward.

Leuluai would still be at Wigan, he isn't that old ?

thornley has not signed and from a comment he made .. makes me wonder if he ever will

Same as now - there'll be no backbone and all be spineless.

No danger of Sam Tomkin's getting game time this season unless we have a Good Friday-esque injury crisis.

Least he's starting to use the youngsters more - past couple of years we've had a 26 man or so squad yet Nobby only wants to use about 20 of them.

We're stuck with some of the imports for a long time though. Ok so Bailey's contract is up at the end of the year, but haven't we just signed Riddell on a 3 year deal, Roberts on a 4 year deal, Pat's on a 3 year contract too.

Indeed.

I'd base the team around Roberts and Richards.

Bailey to go for me at the end of the season.
Smith will no doubt go as well.
As will Phelps and Leuluai.
Feka (not sure when his contract is up) - keep for few years for his impact play off the bench.
Riddle? Well he needs to shape himself quickly, lay off the pies and ale and get down to the gym.


UK Players

Coley - Must go season end.
Mathers - To go at the end of the season, better lads in Reserves.
Fielden - Massively Reduced contract required to stay as back up prop.

Not a Wigan fan, but have developed a soft spot these last 2/3 years (I will never admit that in public though

).
What I cant understand is that with no relegation and the talent your junior system snaps up, why you invest in overseas short term mediocrity that blocks the development of local kids.
Noble has never given kids a chance, he always goes for safer options, he is a dinosaur.
I was very concerned about our recruitment at Leigh this year but what I saw on the park at Featherstone midweek was 16 lads who would die for each other, I recall the late 80's Wigan sides with Wane, Edwards, Betts, Kiss, McDermott etc there was a spirit and togetherness. What happened to it?

Feka was the only player with a decent go forward and sense of urgency. Also thought McIlorum played well. We looked to have more zip when he was distributing.

Agree with everything you said there.

He put in some massive hits in defence too.

Out of our current imports, i'd only keep Carmont, Richards, Leuluai and Paleaaesina.

You have left out Ainscough there. He was superb. Thoroughly deserved MOM. Just hope Nobby doesn't drop him next week when Mathers is back.

Why?

I went to school with him too. Was in the year below me and us a big prospect for the future

Indeed. Carmont is a shadow of his former self from last season so far in these 3 games. Need much improvement from him.

He was good last year, but how much of that was due to the garbage that had gone before him in the centres.

This year he has been non existant.

He was 2 years above me.

J Tomkins
S Tomkins
Prekky
O'Carroll
Ben Davies
Ainscough
Goulding
Hock
Hansen


Thats the core of the team that needs a few more years together playing regulary. When we have them either fully experienced at SL level and on form, we shall see better results.

That would be a blessing in disguise! Only way our youngsters will debut!

Wigan had eight players in the team last night who came through the Wigan academy.

Apart from maybe Leeds, who else has that many?

Over the years the only constant at our club has been change. Now, given that the incoming players (overseas or not) haven't changed the situation and the changes that have been made at the top haven't changed the situation then maybe the core of what we are 'adding' to (our home grown players) aren't actually up to the mark and never have been and maybe never will be. Maybe they're as much of the problem as the useless imports we seem to have a knack of signing. We can put as many local lads who would die for the club in the team but if they haven't got the necessary skill sets and aptitude in the 1st place then the only thing we can guarantee is year on year mediocricty. The longer this goes on, year on year the more I'm of the opinion our youth system is producing less and less in terms of real on field quality.