Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 8:12 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.

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.

You make a good point Nicky regarding the decline of the Academy. It has been said for a number of years that the introduction of young players from the Academy to the first team is seamless because every player in the club is brought up to play with the same Wigan systems.
Does that mean that the malaise that seems to be running through the first team is affecting the young players as well.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 8:26 pm  

I don't think that holds up at all.
The U19s have lost only 2 games this year, against Saints and Wire who both have great academies.
The U16s are still undefeated.

Last year the U19s only lost 2 games all season and won the GF for the 3rd year in a row.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue May 17, 2016 8:36 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

I don't think that holds up at all.
The U19s have lost only 2 games this year, against Saints and Wire who both have great academies.
The U16s are still undefeated.

Last year the U19s only lost 2 games all season and won the GF for the 3rd year in a row.

Point taken Wigg'n, it just seems as if the young uns don't seem to be playing with as much freedom and authority as in previous seasons.

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

Wigan RLFC wrote:

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.

I'm a Latics fan as well and have been to a number of games this year and I think they can provide some inspiration for everyone involved with Wigan RLFC. Things were as bleak as I've known at Latics since the early 90's only 10 months back and now the club is buzzing. It's got a young chairman who's engaging with the supporters and a young hungry team being managed by a forward thinking coach.

Things can change very quickly and one thing I would say is that as much as there are some things that really need to change quickly within Wigan RLFC we really aren't far off and there's isn't a huge rebuild needed. What frustrates me more then anything currently is we really should have dominated the sport over the past five years had Lenagaj shown more ambition. We've done well but not well enough IMO given the players we've had and the players we've produced.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 18, 2016 10:32 am  

Wigg'n wrote:

I don't think that holds up at all.
The U19s have lost only 2 games this year, against Saints and Wire who both have great academies.
The U16s are still undefeated.

Last year the U19s only lost 2 games all season and won the GF for the 3rd year in a row.

U19's have lost three this season, Wire, Bradford and Saints. They've also drawn at home to Hull. However a lot of the players from last season were in their 3rd year group so are no longer available for the academy. Gildart, Gregson, Shorrocks, Waterworth, Fell, Marshall, Bretherton, Forsyth, Sherratt and Lawrence is a big chunk of any team to lose all at once.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 18, 2016 11:04 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

U19's have lost three this season, Wire, Bradford and Saints. They've also drawn at home to Hull. However a lot of the players from last season were in their 3rd year group so are no longer available for the academy. Gildart, Gregson, Shorrocks, Waterworth, Fell, Marshall, Bretherton, Forsyth, Sherratt and Lawrence is a big chunk of any team to lose all at once.

Sorry, missed the Bradford result.
Do you think the U19s will still contest the GF and "peak" at the "business end" of the season?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 18, 2016 11:12 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

U19's have lost three this season, Wire, Bradford and Saints. They've also drawn at home to Hull. However a lot of the players from last season were in their 3rd year group so are no longer available for the academy. Gildart, Gregson, Shorrocks, Waterworth, Fell, Marshall, Bretherton, Forsyth, Sherratt and Lawrence is a big chunk of any team to lose all at once.

What do you think of Marshall Rogues?

It seem like he scores tries every game he plays. He seems to be scoring them for fun in the Championship when he plays for Swinton?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 18, 2016 1:39 pm  

I'm a big Marshall fan and would love to see him given a first team opportunity.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 21, 2016 9:09 pm  

Looking at the replacing Charnley situation and living in Wakefield I've been asking locally about the rumours surrounding Wigan looking at Solomona and Johnson. One of my mates close to Cas and who advised me of the Hampshire move well in advance said that neither were Wigan bound and Mcgilvray is a strong possibility . This wasn't the case previously but due to Hudds really slipping is at a time of his career where he needs a move.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 21, 2016 9:24 pm  

There hasn't been much talk about McGillvary but I think that's because people don't see it as a realistic possibility. If it is then I think he'd be easily the first choice of 90%+ of supporters because he's a terrific player and he suits our style of play.

It would be great to get Burgess back but I think I'd even sacrifice that for McGillvary.