: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:34 am  

CHURCHILL wrote:

I'm not going to extract the urine out of Wigan, proud history and plenty of success make it laughable to do so, but seriously, what has gone wrong at your club?

Coaching.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:35 am  

sally cinnamon wrote:

He was sacked after one game of the next season. So he lost his way, for one game against Bradford.



Hanley claimed that that myth (along with the one about trying to swap Cunningham for Richard Pachniuk) was one peddled by the Eric Hughes and the board to gain sympathy for their cause when the fans were supporting Hanley at the time they suspended him mid-season.

We were also taken apart in the World Club Championship. It was no myth, Hanley didn't rate Martyn. Don't you think its a bit odd for Hughes e.t.c just to drag Pachniuk up at random too?

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:35 am  

CHURCHILL wrote:

I'm not going to extract the urine out of Wigan, proud history and plenty of success make it laughable to do so, but seriously, what has gone wrong at your club?

Uncle's Dave & Maurice started it. Its been a steady decline since.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:42 am  

RescuedBlue wrote:

I think the problem with Noble was that at Bradford he had a completely different set of players at his disposal. Its probably a bit disrespectful to say they never had a plan B as they only played one way, but plan A always worked so they never needed it

At Wigan, the players he had when he got there probably weren't his "kind of players" - however many of the Wigan signings since he has been in charge don't seem to be Noble's kind of players either. Its like he is having no say in the signings.

The thing is, Bradford were very much a big side, Anderson, Vagana, Fielden (when he was good ), Jamie Peacock doing all the graft in the middle, but then Vainikolo was acting as another forward but also had pace out wide and they had Vaikona on the other side. Even Michael Withers had a bit about him.

At Wigan, you have a different make up of players, maybe the reason players like Calderwood failed there, because Noble doesn't really know how to get the best out of a winger of that style. Fielden hasn't fitted in as well as at Bradford because he's playing in a different unit around players who aren't like Joe Vagana or Paul Anderson or Jamie Peacock

Wigan have always had a tendancy to chuck the ball about and play attractive RL. Like Leeds. That sort of style, and the players you have there already, will probably suit someone like Tony Smith more.

Plus, he might be able to have a word with Mathers, because he was alright when he left Leeds!

I think that sums it up quite nicely.

[DaveO]

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:44 am  

XBrettKennyX wrote:

Not at all. I think you need to ask yourself some questions though.

1. Do you think Nobby would start the season so short of props if it was HIS choice?

It is his choice ot play Coley when we have Prescott who can't be any worse.

2. Do you think Nobby has his first choice number 6? TS is a 7 not a 6. (and a homesick one at that).

He doesn't have to play Smith at 6. Like he doesn't have to play Mathers at full back. But he does.

Surely with the release of TB, MH and MC there was enough money to give BN a free hand with regards to player purchase?

Perhaps as I kept saying at the time there players were not on as much you you thought? Barrett's first year was was subsidised form his old club and Jinkin Jimmy posted on here what he said Millward told him Higham was on. It wasn't mega bucks.

But as was also said at the time several young players got new improved contracts and we did sign Riddell on a three year deal. Do you think he came cheaper than Higham? I don't. I said at the time it was a myth that we would have a lot of money to spend based on releasing these players

Imo IL has NOT done this.

IL is the problem here, not BN.

IL may have failed to deliver the squad Noble wants but as Jonh keeps asking do you think Noble is making the best of what he has got? It is plain to everyone else he is not so what do you think?

Dave

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:45 am  

jonh wrote:

You sure about that?

The strongest players who are still at Saints now backed him to the hilt, he fell out with the board not the team due to his strong character, exactly what Wigan need right now.

Yes I am sure. I know players there at the time were unhappy with Hanley. Thinking about it now, we had also been knocked out of the challenge cup by leeds, and beaten at home by Bradford. Hanley's signings also failed in major fashion namely Trindall and Phil Adamson.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:45 am  

JLM23 wrote:

We were also taken apart in the World Club Championship. It was no myth, Hanley didn't rate Martyn. Don't you think its a bit odd for Hughes e.t.c just to drag Pachniuk up at random too?

Imagine an NRL team being better than a Sl team?!

A lot of coaches never rated Martyn hence his lack of international apperances.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:46 am  

JLM23 wrote:

Yes I am sure. I know players there at the time were unhappy with Hanley. Thinking about it now, we had also been knocked out of the challenge cup by leeds, and beaten at home by Bradford. Hanley's signings also failed in major fashion namely Trindall and Phil Adamson.

Whats your opinion of Millward?

I also know players there at the time who loved and still do love Hanley, but lets not allow that to deflect from the question about Millward.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:48 am  

Ian Lenagan was seen having a KFC in Ince with Andy Gregory last week - draw your own conclusions.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:50 am  

jonh wrote:

Imagine an NRL team being better than a Sl team?!

A lot of coaches never rated Martyn hence his lack of international apperances.

You mean like Brisbane were against us twice? Or Melbourne were against Leeds? Or Wests against Bradford? Oh wait a minute, they werent!

I think Millward was a decent coach, who did well on the whole. However, the side was made much better by Daniel Anderson.