Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 8:46 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I've had my worries for a while that Lenagans interest seems to be dying a death. When he first took the club over there was a good few years where we promoted games big time and he spoke about wanting to get our average attendances up to 20,000 by tapping in to Liverpool, Manchester etc. That was always a pipe dream but nowadays we just seen content to see who bothers turning up. Lenagan was very good at communicating with the fans via fans forums and even at the games and at times on here but again that looks to be fading. He spoke about things such as a fans supporters bar and a museum but again nothing ever materialised.

On the playing side he took opportunities to really improve the club. He took on Maguire and let him set up a great coaching staff. He took the opportunity to sign three Melbourne players when it arose and that got everyone excited. Nowadays we just make do with coaches/conditioners from within the club and don't look for fresh ideas, we just sign ex players and players who are out of contract at lower superleague clubs and unlike other clubs we don't replace guys who get long term injuries as the salary cap only really seems to apply to us and one or two other clubs.

The academy side is also a worry. The side is getting beat on a regular basis after dominating for a number of years and whilst that was always going to happen the big worry is our reliance on that academy to fill gaps in the first team when we continue to let players leave. There's talk that Crosby may follow Charnley and Sarginson out of the door at the end of the year. That's three good superleague players (when they can be bothered) and who will replace them? I'd guess probably Tierney, Higginson, Bretherton, Wells etc. All are good lads but the first one is no more then a squad player and the last three are kids and nowhere near ready.

We've had a good run since 2010 in general but in truth we shouid have won far more with the players we've had and produced but far too many have walked through the door.

We're getting towards a bit of a crossroads IMO.

While I too am a tad worried, and I agree with you that problems do seem to be mounting, I'm less worried about the departures of Sarginson, Charnley and Crosby. I suppose it ultimately will depend on who we get to replace them. If whoever it is isn't a big improvement, then I'll really be concerned, because lets face it, that shouldn't be hard.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 9:32 am  

The longer the season goes on, the more I think Burgess may return to us next year.

All you need to do is read the NRL section on reddit and after every game he plays Burgess is getting absolutely slated. He is being called rotten and nobody seems to rate him down there. I understand that it's the coaches opinion that matters, not the fans. But he doesn't seem to be making a good name for himself so far with the fans with a number of errors, including knock ons from bombs (which weirdly he never seemed to do here).

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 10:14 am  

JWarriors wrote:

The longer the season goes on, the more I think Burgess may return to us next year.

All you need to do is read the NRL section on reddit and after every game he plays Burgess is getting absolutely slated. He is being called rotten and nobody seems to rate him down there. I understand that it's the coaches opinion that matters, not the fans. But he doesn't seem to be making a good name for himself so far with the fans with a number of errors, including knock ons from bombs (which weirdly he never seemed to do here).

Difficult first season for Joe. However he is a quality player, if he sticks with it he'll prove the doubts wrong and emerge a better player from playing in the best league in the world.

He wouldn't be the first player to be called rotten in his first season to go on to be a success.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 11:23 am  

I think Burgess is showing enough for the coaches to want to retain him in the NRL. He did have a stinker under the high ball out, but he also pulled off 2 freakish try saving tackles and picked up good yards.

I have a feeling SKD will be moved on next year with the Roosters needing to free up cap space to resign SBW and the plan has always been for Joe to play reserve grade this year, covering for injuries before having a real crack at it in 2017.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 11:26 am  

Cruncher wrote:

While I too am a tad worried, and I agree with you that problems do seem to be mounting, I'm less worried about the departures of Sarginson, Charnley and Crosby. I suppose it ultimately will depend on who we get to replace them. If whoever it is isn't a big improvement, then I'll really be concerned, because lets face it, that shouldn't be hard.

I think the concern is will we replace them rather then who with. Aside from paying out to get Sam back (after making a very tidy profit) no signings we make excite people anymore. I think the chances are Hampshire will come back in for Sarginson and Tierney will take Charnleys spot and that will leave us with back up in the positions 1-5 of guys like Higginson and Fell or the option of moving Bateman out of his best position in the back row.

We should be going out and signing ready made replacements IMO. We've not always had to do that in years gone by as we did have ready made replacements like Burgess and Manfredi (who were miles ahead of guys like Tierney in terms of quality).

Hopefully I'm wrong and we're not just going to try and muddle through on the cheap.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 11:38 am  

jonh wrote:

I think Burgess is showing enough for the coaches to want to retain him in the NRL. He did have a stinker under the high ball out, but he also pulled off 2 freakish try saving tackles and picked up good yards.

I have a feeling SKD will be moved on next year with the Roosters needing to free up cap space to resign SBW and the plan has always been for Joe to play reserve grade this year, covering for injuries before having a real crack at it in 2017.

Supposedly SBW's management was seen with Manly representatives the other week...

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 12:42 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I think the concern is will we replace them rather then who with. Aside from paying out to get Sam back (after making a very tidy profit) no signings we make excite people anymore. I think the chances are Hampshire will come back in for Sarginson and Tierney will take Charnleys spot and that will leave us with back up in the positions 1-5 of guys like Higginson and Fell or the option of moving Bateman out of his best position in the back row.

We should be going out and signing ready made replacements IMO. We've not always had to do that in years gone by as we did have ready made replacements like Burgess and Manfredi (who were miles ahead of guys like Tierney in terms of quality).

Hopefully I'm wrong and we're not just going to try and muddle through on the cheap.

I think we need an out and out winger to replace Charnley. IF we are looking for a utility player to replace Sarginson then I would take a chance on Lee Gaskell. Player of the year in the Championship last year and someone I've seen play at fullback, centre, halfback and loose forward in his junior days (and play well in all those positions)

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 1:15 pm  

I'm hoping the fact that we didn't make a big money offer for Carney, we have another good option lined up. If it turns out Tierney or Gildart are Charnley's replacement I will cry.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 1:49 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I think we need an out and out winger to replace Charnley. IF we are looking for a utility player to replace Sarginson then I would take a chance on Lee Gaskell. Player of the year in the Championship last year and someone I've seen play at fullback, centre, halfback and loose forward in his junior days (and play well in all those positions)

When Gaskell was at Saints he always seemed to be a player who could do the unexpected and influence matches, then for some reason coupled with an injury he fell out of favour.
I vaguely remember at the time someone saying on here Wigan could do worse than sign him, someone then made the comment that Saints would not let him go to Wigan.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 7:29 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I've had my worries for a while that Lenagans interest seems to be dying a death. When he first took the club over there was a good few years where we promoted games big time and he spoke about wanting to get our average attendances up to 20,000 by tapping in to Liverpool, Manchester etc. That was always a pipe dream but nowadays we just seen content to see who bothers turning up. Lenagan was very good at communicating with the fans via fans forums and even at the games and at times on here but again that looks to be fading. He spoke about things such as a fans supporters bar and a museum but again nothing ever materialised.

Agree with absolutely everything you've said but in particular this. I said it in another thread a few weeks ago.

As a fan, i've never felt as distanced to the club as i feel at the moment. There seems to be a real lack of interest, passion and enthusiasm about the whole club. Everything just seems dull, the fans included. Our crowds are down and continuing to decline which i think is alarming.
I follow both clubs and love them both with a passion so i don't want to get into the "Wigan is a so and so Town" but the way Latics celebrated winning League One was fantastic, so much passion shown from all the fans, the players and the whole of the Wigan Athletic club. It was brilliant to see.
Contrast it to the Cherry & White side of the town and there just isn't the same buzz around the place what was there a couple of years ago. I think Lenegan needs to start engaging with the fans more and more, the way he use to like you said. He needs to review the recruitment policy, too much dead wood in the side IMO. Actually start promoting games in Wigan instead of London (Don't be surprised if that doesn't happen again). Match day ticket prices need to be reviewed, i thought they were ridiculous last year yet they've increased them this year. Certainly turning more people away than encouraging them, believe me i use to work at the stadium. Wigan TV needs to be reviewed, i think its poor. Go on the Wigan Athletic youtube page, theres a massive difference in quality and quantity and thats for free. I think the whole club needs a shake up and if Wane doesn't deliver this year, i think thats the first move.