Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:24 am  

jonh wrote:

Lloyd White I would be happy with brings something different to the position which would offer us an alternate threat off the bench.

What annoys and frustrates me about the Beswick link is that in my opinion if he had no history with Wigan, he would not even been mentioned or thought about as a signing even on a stop gap basis. There are plenty of better option who would be available Liam Hood for example is we are dipping into the lower leagues.

I don't understand how Wakefield can did into the overseas market and pick up some obscure signings from off the radar that add quality to them yet we can't see beyond 5 minutes down the road.

I think there is a real lethargy around Wigan at the moment which is transferred onto the pitch and into the stands. Never seen this board so quiet during the season and a lack of atmosphere on game day.

We may be winning, but is that enough? I am certainly not entertained by what is happening on the field or drawn to the stadium to see Willie Isa and potentially Bob Beswick light up the JJB. It will hopefully improve when Sam is fit but being honest it is at the moment like Brian Noble is back in charge.

I agree with some of this post, but I don't care what the name of the player is or the reputation of the player is. Isa in his 2 games he played for us before his injury looked to be a decent signing, and I looking forward to him coming back from the injury as I like the look of him.
I just care about how they play when they're on the pitch.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:42 am  

jonh wrote:

Lloyd White I would be happy with brings something different to the position which would offer us an alternate threat off the bench.

What annoys and frustrates me about the Beswick link is that in my opinion if he had no history with Wigan, he would not even been mentioned or thought about as a signing even on a stop gap basis. There are plenty of better option who would be available Liam Hood for example is we are dipping into the lower leagues.

I don't understand how Wakefield can did into the overseas market and pick up some obscure signings from off the radar that add quality to them yet we can't see beyond 5 minutes down the road.

I think there is a real lethargy around Wigan at the moment which is transferred onto the pitch and into the stands. Never seen this board so quiet during the season and a lack of atmosphere on game day.

We may be winning, but is that enough? I am certainly not entertained by what is happening on the field or drawn to the stadium to see Willie Isa and potentially Bob Beswick light up the JJB. It will hopefully improve when Sam is fit but being honest it is at the moment like Brian Noble is back in charge.

It feels like we are doing things on the cheap (and have done for a few seasons). I believe this has affected the attendances, two thirds of an academy side from 3-4 years ago, a splash of decent UK players brought in from lower SL clubs and a few average imports.

Not gonna get bums on seats is it?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:43 am  

jonh wrote:

Lloyd White I would be happy with brings something different to the position which would offer us an alternate threat off the bench.

What annoys and frustrates me about the Beswick link is that in my opinion if he had no history with Wigan, he would not even been mentioned or thought about as a signing even on a stop gap basis. There are plenty of better option who would be available Liam Hood for example is we are dipping into the lower leagues.

I don't understand how Wakefield can did into the overseas market and pick up some obscure signings from off the radar that add quality to them yet we can't see beyond 5 minutes down the road.

I think there is a real lethargy around Wigan at the moment which is transferred onto the pitch and into the stands. Never seen this board so quiet during the season and a lack of atmosphere on game day.

We may be winning, but is that enough? I am certainly not entertained by what is happening on the field or drawn to the stadium to see Willie Isa and potentially Bob Beswick light up the JJB. It will hopefully improve when Sam is fit but being honest it is at the moment like Brian Noble is back in charge.

You've got it in one by fingering the unexciting recruitment policy. It can never just be about which position needs filling most and who is or isn’t asking silly money. Transfers and signings are the lifeblood of fan gossip. It’s worth splashing the cash now and then just to put bums on seats, because that is often the net-result of major captures.

Even if Willie Isa turns out to be the best thing since sliced bread, he was a boring signing – a virtual unknown with a reputation for being a journeyman. Well we’ve got several of those already. Likewise, project signings only pay off when they pay off, if that makes sense. The closest we have to one of those is Gelling, and he’s got a lot of improving to do before he’s bringing legions of new fans in.

At the same time, the concentration on youth – a sensible policy in so many ways – can’t be the only string to your bow; to start with, wonder boys often don’t become wonder men (as we discovered with Hughes, Thornley and Hampshire), and those who do these days tend to have a habit of leaving to go to the NRL (as we discovered with Budgie).

I don’t approve of the apparent St Helens policy of routinely signing a bunch of Aussies each season, but I don’t think we can afford to look inward as much as we are doing at present. Not if we don’t want the fans to start losing interest.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 09, 2016 11:06 am  

JWarriors wrote:

I agree with some of this post, but I don't care what the name of the player is or the reputation of the player is. Isa in his 2 games he played for us before his injury looked to be a decent signing, and I looking forward to him coming back from the injury as I like the look of him.
I just care about how they play when they're on the pitch.

It wasn't a pop at Isa, I agree he has been so gar a good solid signing, but we have bags of good honest players. Ww need to add quality.

On the plus side looks like Beswick is in the bag for the rest of the season before joining this Canadian franchise next year, as Leigh have signed Hood, the player I would much prefer us to have gone for if we were dipping into the lower leagues.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 09, 2016 12:28 pm  

jonh wrote:

It wasn't a pop at Isa, I agree he has been so gar a good solid signing, but we have bags of good honest players. Ww need to add quality.

On the plus side looks like Beswick is in the bag for the rest of the season before joining this Canadian franchise next year, as Leigh have signed Hood, the player I would much prefer us to have gone for if we were dipping into the lower leagues.

Even though Isa has played well in the few games that he has played I must admit that I was worried about his fitness from when I first saw him in the friendly at Leigh.
In that match he took to the field with one of those leg strappings on that support the knee above and below, with the knee cap exposed for freedom of movement . Every time I see one of those I get the impression it is supporting a chronic problem, similar to the one Joe Mellor has worn every match in his time at Widnes, in other words a permanent knee support.
I hope I am wrong and that this can be borne out by Willie Isa's stats confirming he played on a regular basis at Widnes.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 09, 2016 7:38 pm  

Good player, Joe Mellor.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:01 pm  

stillinthepast wrote:

I wish Widnes would feed Joe Mellor our way, anyone who hasn't seen his display for Widnes against H,K,R at the weekend missed something.
It was full of class with the tries he scored and set up, it makes you think what might have been if he hadn't had that serious knee injury whilst playing for the Academy at Wigan.

I was going to post about Mellor last night as he is looking great this season and last season at times. His development at Widnes is going very well. I was going to say he is probably a better option than Smith but on reflection they are completely different halves. Matty is a matures, controlling and directional 7 whereas Mellor leaves that to Brown and he's more of a runner.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:44 pm  

Aye, we'd need to pair Mellor with Smith rather then Williams or the balance wouldn't be quite right.

Give me two from the four halves at Wigan and Widnes and I'd go Brown and Williams as things stand. I didn't really see Beown maturing in to a half who could control games but he really has.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:52 am  

Wigan were in a tricky situation with Mellor. Everyone was hoping him and Sam would be our future 6&7 for years to come when they played in the academy.

Mellor was untouchable in his age group but then he had the serious injury (think it was leg break and knee damage) and he naturally took some time to get playing anywhere near where he was before.

He was at an age there were he was ready for First team but at that time we had strong settled halves in Finch and Tommy and he had to make his mind up. Obviously, his home town club Widnes came along and he hasn't looked back.

I for one am pleased he's finally showing the class his early potential indicated. I'd take him back in a heart beat but think he is pretty happy at Widnes and is star man along with Brown

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Mar 10, 2016 2:01 pm  

[Gareth] wrote:

Sarginson linked with Melbourne and Gold Coast in the WEP this morning

Strange one with Sarge. He works so hard for the team, but defensively and in attack he just has not kicked on from his brilliant performances for England a couple of years ago.

Strange that Melbourne/Gold Coast are in for him. I would take the move if I was him.

Oliver Gildart's chance to really shine and cement his place in the first team. He has pushed Sarge to fullback this week.