: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:16 pm  

do you think the players want to play for noble?

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:20 pm  

I also shall be shouting for Cas. As I do for any team playing Wigan.

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:22 pm  

No1_Saints _Fan wrote:

I also shall be shouting for Cas. As I do for any team playing Wigan.

It sounds like you may not be on your own

I can partly understand the short term loss, long term gain idea. But I can't see me ever going to a game and hoping we will loose.

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:27 pm  

No1_Saints _Fan wrote:

I also shall be shouting for Cas. As I do for any team playing Wigan.

Even Warrington? You'll find that in last night's game many Wiganers wanted Warrington to lose (can't bring ourselves to say the other aspect of course )

Re: Come on Cas! : Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:28 pm  

WigansForeignLegion wrote:

Seriously. I used to back Noble for the sake of continutity and stability but it's gone from stability to stagnation. Many users here have questioned the style of rugby we play, not just in the past couple of games but in the season previous; at best it's brought us inconsistancy in the regular season followed by a run in the play-offs, but always a bridge too far.

FWIW, even if we lose, I don't think Noble will quit or IL will sack him. I do not expect IL to renew Noble's contract and we'll be in the market for a new coach after another write-off year. I don't believe in change for the sake of it; however, I do think it's time to explore other avenues. All Jonh appears to be advocating is to expedite this situation; it seems distasteful but the end result would be what I expect to happen at the end of the season anyway.

What I meant was more along the lines of the choice of coach. For years now although we've had youngsters that have decent enough skill levels to seemingly excel at academy level, those same youngsters have also struggled when they take the step up. Basically they are good, have always had good potential but, don't have the strength in depth skill wise to become good at the next level, where it actually matters. There's something about their skills education that doesn't provide them with the necessary level or depth of skills required. This can't be coincidental with every coach we've had for the last umpteen years, but although we (Wigan) excel at academy level by and large academy level is of mediocre quality and diminishing every year. We are amongst the best of a mediocre bunch. For me when Bell went I was surprised the rest of the staff survived and have done as long as they have. Toughing it out and ripping it up only goes so far and is very quickly found out by better skill sets. Putting someone who, has been part of a regime that has produced mediocrity in the past, in charge of the 1st team just seems counter productive. He's a home grown lad with Cherry & White blood but maybe not the choice to achieve what's needed.

Re: Come on Cas! : Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:30 pm  

jonh wrote:

I personally hope Cas stuff us, so that we can see an and to the reign of Brian Noble, and have some hope for this season and beyond.

Bring back the Pearl.

Right off the bat = I'm a Cas fan, so, cheers - i hope we stuff you too!

However, as an objective "outsider", I'd say you have (arguably) the best coach in the country.

Forgetting the old animosity (if only for a moment!) you were seriously facing relegation when Noble was appointed. Since then you have narrowly missed out on two grand finals - ostensibly with sides not that much stronger than the one which he inherited.

Two types of Wigan fan me thinks:

1. Those whom thank their lucky stars that Noble ever arrived.

2. Those whom judge their so-called beloved team on a one week to the next basis.

Re: Come on Cas! : Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:31 pm  

Morning Glory wrote:

What I meant was more along the lines of the choice of coach. For years now although we've had youngsters that have decent enough skill levels to seemingly excel at academy level, those same youngsters have also struggled when they take the step up. Basically they are good, have always had good potential but, don't have the strength in depth skill wise to become good at the next level, where it actually matters. There's something about their skills education that doesn't provide them with the necessary level or depth of skills required. This can't be coincidental with every coach we've had for the last umpteen years, but although we (Wigan) excel at academy level by and large academy level is of mediocre quality and diminishing every year. We are amongst the best of a mediocre bunch. For me when Bell went I was surprised the rest of the staff survived and have done as long as they have. Toughing it out and ripping it up only goes so far and is very quickly found out by better skill sets. Putting someone who, has been part of a regime that has produced mediocrity in the past, in charge of the 1st team just seems counter productive. He's a home grown lad with Cherry & White blood but maybe not the choice to achieve what's needed.

Ah I see, I would have Lam as the Head Coach and Wane in a supporting role. Take your point re the kids coming through but you can't expect all of them to make the SL grade, 3 or 4 of a side perhaps but I'd suggest more is unlikely.

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:32 pm  

Can't see anything changing until after Easter myself and only then if we've been consistantly poor. IMO Noble came in when we needed someone to steady the ship, which he did very well indeed, but thats all we are "steady". We won't be bottom three or four, on current form we won't be top three or four. I want to be entertained when I go to a match. Win, lose or draw I want to see good rugby, how often have we seen that in recent years. For that reason alone I think Noble's time is long overdue.

There is also the issue of who replaces him if Ian Lenegan does eventually decide to pull the trigger. I don't think Hanley is the man at all. Finest player I've ever seen but best coach? I don't think so. My first choice would be Edwards though I fear he will never coach Wigan. So with that in mind I'd like to see either Adrian Lam who I think will be a top drawer coach in the very near future his or Ricky Stuart with three Grand Final appearances in five years with the Roosters, NSW origin coach and of course Australian national coach I think we could do a lot worse.

No doubt there will be some howls of derision but thats my opinion fwiw.

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:34 pm  

WigansForeignLegion wrote:

Even Warrington? You'll find that in last night's game many Wiganers wanted Warrington to lose (can't bring ourselves to say the other aspect of course )

Even Warrington, I can't stand it when Wigan win.

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:57 pm  

Rubber Buccaneer wrote:

My first choice would be Edwards though I fear he will never coach Wigan. So with that in mind I'd like to see either Adrian Lam who I think will be a top drawer coach in the very near future his or Ricky Stuart with three Grand Final appearances in five years with the Roosters, NSW origin coach and of course Australian national coach I think we could do a lot worse.

No doubt there will be some howls of derision but thats my opinion fwiw.

What makes you think Lenegan would pay the wages of such people. Sean Edwards if he ever came back would demand huge wages as would Ricky Stuart. Ian Lenegan has shown with his signings and his disgust at certain players wages that he is a man who likes bargains. Unfortunately, as with everything in life,you normally get what you pay for.

If Noble did go then id expect Lenegan to bring in somebody on less money. There can be no doubt that Noble will be on very good money as he was brought in by Maurice and Whelan who were not afraid to pay big money to get there man.