Bigredwarrior wrote:
Good to see some positivity from FT and Jonh, bring it on!!
I've done my best not to respond over the last 2/3 months to a lot of the negativity especially a lot of the Unnecessary & IMO Agenda driven/Twisting the clubs words etc. stuff.
I've seen a little bit more positivity this last week or so and even some of the criticism has in some instances at least had a more rational critique about it which has been good.
I can't wait for Sunday & The season to start!
Excited about :-
Seeing how Sam goes after a full pre-season,
Budgie being Injury free
Gildart - Looking like a Great player already - If the club had announced him as a signing it would be what everyone wants - More on that later***
Sarginson - I'm not convinced he's a right centre, but I'm convinced he'll give it everything (I was a Big Gelling Fan so really disappointed with his Loss but it is what it is and I'm ok with this replacement - Set sights on a Righty for 2019 if things don't go Great and use Sarge's versatility which I think we've missed).
Tom Davies - Ditto Gildart - What a Player this lad is and will hopefully go on to be!
Williams - Still overall the Best 6 in the country given I feel there's a lot more to come from him - Agree he looked lost at times last year and how we deal with this is key - A Steady 7, a better Pack situation with less injuries will be key).
Powell - I personally think in time 9 will be his position - Happy for him to alternate and no-one at Leeds worried about Burrows having 7 on his shirt for last 5/6 years at Leeds when he played the vast majority of his rugby at interchange 9 - As an aside anyone who thinks Wane just picks this lad out of favouritism are way off the mark (Trust me he's had his run ins over the years with him) any selection is based on merit.
PropsClubb - Lets hope we can get 25/30 games out of him because he's terrific to watch (with enough rotation rest as needed not flogged due to injuries as has happened last 2 years)
Flower - Great to have him back - Possibly the biggest loss for me last year after his injury
FPN - Didn't set the world alight - But I think him & Sutton carried the front row through 4 months of injury hell last year - Lets hope fewer injuries lead to more "Impact" from Frank
Sutton - Don't get some of the criticism of him about last year - I and a few others had him in Top 3 players last year all things considered - Played a big amount of games, lets hope more bodies, more impact.
Tataui - Need a return to late 2016 form - More completion so hopefully we get a response.
Tommy L - Really looking forward to seeing how he goes at 9 over a full season - How he and Powell/Ganson work will be a big key to what we achieve
Back Row
Faz - Full pre-season under his belt will do him good after a few injuries last 2 years - Still one of our 3 Main players for me
Bateman - Need I say more - You know wwat you get with this fellow & yet he still surprises us
Joel T - Adds some Size which I think we need - Needs to be consistently fit though, career defining season for me.
Lockers - Lets enjoy him while we can - What a player he's been and still is
Add to the above we should have the following pushing :-
Escare - Glad to see some perspective recently - Performed well last year, lets give him time to get back up to speed and form will dictate if He plays, Sam moves to halves, Powell is used at 9 more
Marshall - Great Squad player to have in reserve - How many clubs would have someone as good as 4th choice Winger
Manfredi - Lets all wish him the Best & I just want to see him play again
Shorrocks/Higginson - Same as above really - Let's hope they gets back up to speed soon
Ganson - Lets hope he progresses like a lot think he can, he's not caught my eye personally but quite prepared to let him develop.
Bretherton/Navarette - Lets hope injuries & other issues are behind them and they put real pressure on out Props - Both Need Big Years
ISA - Not a Superstar - But 100% every time he plays, He'll do for me in and around the squad.
Hamlin - Let's wait and see - Excited to see what this lad has, My hope is we see him at 13 more than prop but we'll see.
Wells - Needs to push on now - Should be pushing for 15+ games this year - preferably for me from Bench
Liam Forsyth - needs to push on this year although I thought he did ok in patches last year when needed
Sorry to have gone on far too long
One Final thing though
I mentioned If Gildart had been a new signing the fans would be happier etc.
Wigan have took some stick in off season but we have to remember the "Youth" players brought through by the club and fully value their worth.
If We had to go out and Buy a Gildart, Burgess, Sutton, Shorrocks. Tom Davies, Wells, Marshall etc. it would cost us either in big transfers or inflated wages. yet I suspect the "Fans" would be happy as it would appear that the club was splashing the cash.
Well IMO they are splashing the cash, but they're doing it at the front end, investing in youth, investing in the future.
When these lads develop they renegotiate their contracts and when we then Improve their Pay due to advanced progression such as Williams/Gildart/Burgess/Sutton etc. in recent years we almost forget the clubs investment previously in them and I think some take these players for granted.
I've seen how Wire are being given credit for going out and signing new players and the fans are lapping it up, fair play to them, but I'm not sure going out every 2/3 years and paying big money/wages for players is the way to go as a Plan for the future? If these signings don't work out or get injured etc where is the infrastructure behind this plan?
Wigan are investing in these youngsters, they're rewarding these youngsters with Good 1st team money when necessary and for me these should be seen as signings, not taken for granted.
Anyway, onwards & upwards
WE ARE WIGAN - Come on!
