Just a quick piece of news really, the word is that he has set his sights on playing 15 first team games next season. If that doesn't happen, then he will be looking for a new club at the end of the 2010 season.

cant blame the lad really

That all depends on form and injuries. I'd hope that one of the things McGuire will keep an eye on in the pre season friendlies is which of Ainscough and Roberts performs better, hopefully it will start as a level competition between the two with reputation not coming into it. I'm not saying Ainscough should start the first game of the year with Roberts in the reserves but he should definitely have a fair shot at doing so.

If that's his attitude then he may as well go now.

Only the coaching staff will determine who plays and when.

I agree aboslutely.

We asked the question a few days ago who would be the first player not to respond positively to the new regime, and it looks like we may have an answer already. Much sooner than I thought.

Now is definitely not the time for Ainsough to be doing 'a Nicky Stanton', and getting uppity about how many first team games he expects to play. That is definitely NOT the way it works.

Agreed.

Just play him in 14 to make a point.

I remember reading similar statements from Sam Tomkins prior to this season in an article in the Wigan Observer.

IIRC he said something along the lines of it was a make or break season for him at Wigan or words to that effect.

Can't remember exactly but you can take statements like this two ways. It can be taken as you have taken it, as a sign of bad attitude or it can be taken as a sign of ambition.

If Sam Tomkins had not got 15 or more games this season would you have been surprised if he had decided to leave?

Both players are of an age where they need to be in the first team more than they are out of it.

Don't be so quick to assume he is demanding games as opposed to being ambitious. It's getting a bit tiresome that people taking any news re Ainscough as a sign of problems.

We had the speculation over the wrist injury and how he got that, we have had recently rumours the reason Nobby was supposed not to like him was down to his attitude and now this news gets taken in a negative way. It's ridiculous IMO.

If he had as bad an attitude as this he would already no longer be a Wigan player.

Is he the new scapegoat for 2010?

Dave

Another one jumping to conclusions!

Someone posts that Ainscough has set his sights on playing 15 games and in the space of two posts he has become the first player not to respond to the new regime.

This is completely insane!

Dave

Spot on - some serious gun jumping further up the page from an unsubstantiated post on a forum. Lenegan actually mentioned the 15 games at the shareholders meeting so it's likely not come from Ainscough at all. Let's not be so hasty to point the finger at players - and young, keen and talented players at that.

I always think along of the lines of there is 'no smoke without fire'.

Ainscough has a previous history of 'attitude problems' so it’s understandable why this has been taken the way it has.

Remember as well this isn’t a press release like Sam’s was this is from word of mouth as well which makes it a lot worse.

Lets get rid now then. Honestly

Give the lad a break, we dont even know if anything has been said.

Think its some on here who have an attitude problem

It has been said by the player himself. However, i am not saying whether that's a bad or good thing, the lad is seeing youngsters like tomkins, eastmond, myler etc.... playing week in week out, and has that ambition for himself.

Why would a rumour as opposed to an article that appeared in the press be worse (than quotes on the press)?

Sam went public pre-2009 season in the Obbo that this was a make or break season for him.

I didn't see anyone say this was a bad attitude and IMO the "previous history of attitude problems" with Ainscough are also just rumours. 2 +2 = 5 is IMO the reason it has been taken as it has.

Dave

Sam said that he was hoping to break into the first team. Both Noble and IL said they expected him to play 10 - 15 games in the first team in 2009.

There's a BIG difference in what Ainscough is saying if it's true (which I doubt)

Shaun Wane will certainly not stand for it, he has dropped players before (and in big games) including Ainscough.

Let's see what happens.

So where does this word come from?

The article in the Obbo on Sam was about this season just gone being a make or break one for him at Wigan. Those were his words and if he had not broken into the team as he has then I doubt he would have signed a five year deal.

Ainscough is in the same boat as Sam was at the start of this season. If he doesn't get the games he may well conclude with Richards and Roberts on long term deals he will get better chances elsewhere and if he does that is obviously up to him but I don't think it would be indicative of a bad attitude. Realistic attitude more like.



I am sure given he has played under Wane Ainscough is well aware he can't force his way into the side by threatening to leave which is another reason why I view these statements (if he did make them) in the way I do and not as evidence of some sort of attitude problem.

Dave

Except that, from what we've read here, it isn't as simple as 'setting his sights on something'.

According to the original post, Ainscough has said that if he doesn't play at least 15 games next season, [uhe will leave[/u.

Read that as ambition, if you want.

I read it as a threat.

I also read it as foolishness.

The new heads of coaching both have established form for favouring youngsters and giving lads their chance. But attempting to lay down the law is hardly going to get Ainscough off on the right foot with them.

It's a pity he's done this. I've had the impression that the entire slate would be wiped clean once Maguire arrived, and that everyone would be judged on MM's own perception of their quality. Unless Ainscough has been badly misrepresented or misquoted here, it casts him in a bad light. If he has been misrepresented, he, or one of his associates, would do well to get on here double-quick and put the record straight.

I think the first things that need sorting out are his defence and ability under the high ball. Unless they have improved he wont be getting 15 games anyway!!

Hope he has improved this by the way, I like the headache our new coach will have choosing 2 wingers from Roberts, Pat and Shaun.

For the record I am ever hopeful Roberts is going to kick on in his second season like Pat did.

We dont know if he has said this, arnt we jumping the gun here?

Because all Sam said was the usual stuff young players say to the press. I.e Big season for me next year, really want to break into the first team, feel that I’m ready to make the next step up and I’m gonna work hard to be a success. It’s the same cr@p said by every young player to the press for the last 20+ years.

On the other hand Ainsough has said in ‘private’ that if doesn’t get x amount of game he’s off.

Now I know personally which one is worse from a coaches pov. There is a huge difference between the two scenarios and what’s being suggested.



As i said before there is no smoke without fire imo and there seems to be more and more stories popping up about his attitude. Are the all made up and if so by who?

Are you saying the OP is telling lies?

Check my final paragraph.

As I've already said, if it's not true that Ainscough has said this, then someone could do with coming on here and putting the record straight. At which point, I will gladly reconsider the view I've expressed.

Not at all i just read it as he had heard from someone that ainscough had said this.

I will re-read what he put and if he said ainscough has said this in his presence of course i will apologise if any offence has been caused.

Although he very well could be it’s another rumour that’s surfaced about Ainscough since his excellent introduction to the first team at Wigan.

I do tend to take most rumours with a pinch of salt but after a while when more and more of them start to appear about one player you have to start to take notice of them.