: Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:10 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

You have to question the investment being made in youth development at Wigan when the only British player in the back line including the half backs is Mathers?

Add to that Riddell, Feka and Bailey and that is nine overseas players - that is Noble all over, he deserves what coming to him.

We will never develop young talent if the likes of Goulding/Ainscough never get a game.

Wigan would be better letting them go to the likes of Celtic/Salford rather than letting them linger in the reserves

wigan would be better put them in their first team, and saying bye to the aussies. but won't happen

Re: How long for Nobby ???? : Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:18 pm  

Hollywood Harrigan wrote:

So in 2 full seasons you expect him to turn a team around that was bottom and take them past every other team in the league, including the 2 most consistent teams of the last 4 year with far superior squads?

Can I ask, if we get turned over by Wakey next week will you start a thread about how long McClennan has left? After all, we have only finished a couple of places above them for the last 2.

I happen to think Noble is a pretty good coach, but I also know the mentality of Wigan fans. The validity of this thread is confirmed by the threads baying for his blood currently being posted on the Pie -eaters forum as I type.

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:21 pm  

Home grown players?? AS IF!!

Here's a comment of Nobby's from last week's Grauniad:

But Noble, who has first-hand experience of the difficulty of preparing an international team at the end of a long club season after coaching Great Britain from 2004-06, believes the problem is not too many games but too few players. "As things stand, clubs can't afford to take a chance on a rugby union player because of the salary cap."

That darn salary cap!

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:28 pm  

It's only the first game of the season and there are teams that'll be caught cold. Credit where it's due to Wakey though. It's far too early to have a sensible conversation about Nobby or anyone leaving their respected clubs as yet. You look at the start Saints had and how many points they fell behind us before their incredible run before the GF. We could have slipped up last night with the amount of injuries and the conditions weren't perfect either.


I think Nobby has made progress but this is a results industry and Wigan will expect success particularly after dominating the game for so long. Whether the patience or will to keep Nobby will remain to be seen.

Re: How long for Nobby ???? : Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:38 pm  

Wicker Man wrote:

Hailed as the soon to be, all conquering hero.Noble has done bugger all at JJB. How long befor he gets to do the Wigan Walk ????

IIRC they finished in an excellent league position relative to previous seasons and were one game off a GF appearance ...i think thats right.

Re: How long for Nobby ???? : Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:09 pm  

Hollywood Harrigan wrote:

So in 2 full seasons you expect him to turn a team around that was bottom and take them past every other team in the league, including the 2 most consistent teams of the last 4 year with far superior squads?

For that sort of performance, you need Graham Murray ....

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:43 pm  

Don't be too smug until after your next game. Wigan were poor but all credit to Wakefield who were very solid and with that sort of organisation and commitment they are capable of more wins. Their away support was also a credit to them; good numbers and very vocal.

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:53 pm  

G1 wrote:

You're displaying the type of arrogance that Wigan fans do. Mind you, St Helens is just a small town in Wigan so what should we expect.

We should be striving for a league were these results are commonplace, not one where they're grounds to sack the coach after week 1.

Didn't Daniel Anderson and the might S lose some embarrassing games last year to teams that they "Should not have been losing to". Of course, they did lose the one to the team we all expected them to lose to. Us.

what a prat! are you not embarrassed with that tosh youve posted? my 12yr isnt so childish, mind you he actually plays rl for his beloved town and sl club, something i imagine youve never done. your 2nd paragraph is correct, but the rest.. little girl

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:56 pm  

Good crowd there. A best mark for this fixture in the SL era.

Wigan starting with 9 of the 13 having learnt their trade on the other side of the world is becoming a recurring theme for Noble.

Is it correct that he was once in charge of GB?

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:04 pm  

angus young wrote:

what a prat! are you not embarrassed with that tosh youve posted? my 12yr isnt so childish, mind you he actually plays rl for his beloved town and sl club, something i imagine youve never done. your 2nd paragraph is correct, but the rest.. little girl