MM has turned exactly the same team BN had into a top of the table team by applying the storm techniques and training methods to our team which has been fantastic to watch as a Wigan fan.

But his bench choice has been poor and probably cost us the game at home against Saints and tonights game due to his insistance not to play Feka. Tonight Deacon came of the bench with 8 mins to go (a waste of a sub) Feka 20 mins each half would have been much better and provided the team with some go forward and respite from the Wire pack onslaught that we all expected.

MM is a fantastic coach but he has made the wrong call in the last two big games we had.

it's strange that people think they have a better opinion of the wigan team from their computer screen than the man who coaches them all week

To be fair to Maguire, I don't think he's got the players available that he would liked to use as a bench in a game like this.

Here's a hint. This is a place to discuss the game, tactics, coaching and players of Wigan RL. Basically everything about the club and people are entitled to voice their opinion when they think the coach got it wrong.

FWIW I think the o/p is right. The bench choice seems to have gone a bit awry in the second half of the season. Madge picked Tuson and didn't play him v Leeds to we played them with 16 men and tonight Deacon came on for about 10 mins.

I made a similar point to the o/p in the prop thread that we didn't need such an inexperienced pack out there with Feka in the squad.

Dave

Thing is though Dave, we don't know the reasons why Feka doesn't get the game time, only Maguire, Wane and Feka do. Since none of them are talking....

Well if I said "Feka must play " I am sure there would be plenty of people on here giving me the reasons why Madge won't play him.

Dave

I just said I don't know why he's not playing, presumably there's a reason other than Maguire doesn't like his trousers



I didn't suggest it may be down to player's attitude (like some have about some players being dropped), or that he couldn't have done a job. Purely and simply, that I don't know, but you'd expect there'd be some kind of reason for it.

Feka made a bad 'First Impression' on MM with his conduct at the pre-season meal at the Boars Head. He arrived late and left early. The rest of the team stayed together for the early part and some went down the lane. I dont think he has recovered from this.

Thought his tactics were poor when you got knocked out the cup

I think the sooner the season ends and he is released, the better for both club and player. Whatever the reasons for non selection are, it's a wedge of cap to have tied up if he's not gonna come into the mix.

Agree completely..Its currently an expensive handicap on the the whole team.

Tonight you played against only 16 men.

As did you largely, Roberts and Mossop went off injured (the roberts injury before he got taken off having a reasonable contribution to 2 of your tries) Deacon played a token last few minutes.

Whatever the reason is it must be a bloody important one if the alternative is picking such an inexperienced and lightweight pack against one the size of Wires. He is clearly not carrying an injury as he gets to be 18th man every week. He is regularly in the 19 but never plays these days.

It's pure speculation but I think it is simply down to Madge's meritocracy. Mossop (for example) trains better all week, does what Madge wants all week. Feka doesn't because he physically can't (which to Madge is a black mark in itself) so Mossop is the automatic choice [iignoring the opposition[/i. If I am right I think Madge is cutting his nose off to spite his face because he must clearly see the need for more size and experience in the pack against a team like Wire and so despite not being perfect IMO he should pick Feka to do a job but simply will not consider it. I get the impression Madge wouldn't have picked Brett Kenny because he wandered around with his hands in his pockets and sometimes you just have to be a bit more flexible to pick the right side IMO.

Dave

The biggest error for me last night was the failure to bring Roberts off as soon as he was injured. The error lead to two Warrington tires, which I believe could and should have been avoided. As a side note, Roberts is obviously so much a confidence player that he becomes a pretty majoy weakness when he's not in great form; let's hope when he fully recovers from his injury he starts playing again as we get into the play offs.

I'd also have had Paleaaesina on the bench last night, might as well use him while we have him, and given the conditions, the game was always going to be won by the forwards last night.

Maybe MM saw the semi final from last year where Feka got totally exposed by Monaghan that he thought he couldn't risk it? I am not saying I agreee that Feka should or shouldn't of played but surely Maguire is aware more than ever at our need for some big props for next year.

Maybe we should be giving IL some stick for refussing to get us a prop last year even though everyone knew that was the area we were most in needs of improving and instead he plucked for Deacon.

i'm surprised (and glad) he wasn't picked last night, i know we go on about how we worked him out of the game with monas at the semi last year, but at the H&J this season, we couldn't stop him.

I hope not!

Only problem i have with the Feka situation is when Coley got his ban MM said this was Feka's chance to impress. And how can he impress if he does not play him i think we needed him last night but then again i am not the coach. We nearly lost Fielden and we lost Mossop i just feel having Feka as a backup prop would have helped last night.

If feka had played we'd have lost by a lot more than one try.

I must admit I was hugely suprised that Feka wasnt on the bench and in the end it made a difference. Allthough Wigans youngsters have been outstanding for large parts of the season you really do need an experienced Interchange bench for big matches like last night. Maguire got that one wrong imo but apart from that he has been outstanding for Wigan this year. A top class coach.

I dont think Feka would have scored the try Tuson did and I think Tuson would have missed out for Feka

It's poor management were still 2 points in front at the top of super league and he's using the same personel as last season what did nt have any heart or fight in them ,I think people want have a reallity check and look at the prediction thread at the beginning of the season were they all thought we d finish in the table , I'm a lot happier going to games this season than the last 2 or 3 season were we had nothing to us don't forget this is the same team as Last year ,

i really dont get why people are having a pop at madge for not picking feka.. whenever he's been picked he simply hasnt performed, its no surprise he's only lasted 10mins or so during these games.

i've also watched him in the reserves and he's been poor for them aswel, he only has himself to blame for not being picked

Was it poor management when

Wigan dropped the ball several times with no pressure
couldn't complete sets of 6 in the first 20 when they were dominant
when Tomkins kicked in the 2nd half instead of running or passing
when we lost 3 or 4 players to injury or knocks (and they played on but were struggling)
when the team seemed to decide to play a forward game up the middle and rarely pass out wide (HBs where???)
couldn't defend warrington kicks for toffee
let briers run the game 2nd half with no pressure on him
No.

Feka would have made no difference (Tuson was close to MOM for me anyway) on the form he has shown this season - two drives then thats it.

If there is a quibble it is why Deacon wasn't brought on sooner (at least he can field kick).