Lots of people read these boards but don't post mainly because the "Negative brigade" shout them down... It's so easy to be critical, we can all do it. But, just look at the bigger picture, RL in this country is in dire straights, the salary cap has barely moved in 10 years, mainly because most of SL can't afford to. If you want negativity, i can't see professional RL surviving going down it's current route. Enjoy it while you can, even if its not to the standard WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE..

How great to see Sutton and Gildart to have such outstanding games these 2 are cementing their places in a Wigan team for a long time to come,

Totally agree. There's no point us using the Aussies as so vital benchmark that nothing else matters. They exist in a completely different economy, almost a different universe.

It does irritate that everytime we seem to get close, they shoot off ahead again, but it was ever thus. Being cynical, you could even argue that we only used to dominate the WCC when they weren't taking it too seriously. Now that they are, they seem to win every time.

But this is really a problem for the British game as a whole, rather than just Wigan. The fact we are star-light in general terms can be put down to the RFL's inability to underwrite our game with proper sponsorship, TV deals etc. I should add that this infuriates me completely, and I have ranted about it many times - but at present we must play with the hand we are dealt, and after a slow start to season, I'm increasingly liking what I'm seeing from Wigan.

Agreed, but won't stop the haters..

If it wasn't for Widnes playing the extra fixture Wigan would be top now...and some fans think that is terrible.

WOW, sorry but you can give me terrible every week at Wire if it means winning the league.

How do you know why people don't post? Has it crossed your mind it is equally as likely they don't post because when people try and offer an objective opinion they are shouted down, insulted and labelled negative?

As to the state of RL in this country that is no reason to temper opinions of that is what you are suggesting. I think you overestimate the influence of forums if you are.

I agree. It's not new and an issue that hasn't been addressed yet. I also agree with Cruncher there are some aspects of the team that are better. The character for one. I think we'd have lost a couple of the close games so far this season with the way the team was last season. The defence is better and seems less likely to leak a try close to the line and finally, Matty Smith has improved his goal kicking (at last).

There [iare[/i issues with the attack and your other comment about it looking like a Brian Noble team in this regard is something I have thought for a while. This won't change unless Wane changes tactics which I don't think he will. I think he is waiting for Sam to return because I don't think the players we have can pull the moves off and rather than change the moves he blames poor execution.

Really...

Didn't see the game last night recorded it and just watched it now. I had however read this thread first as was expecting another poor performance.

Personally I was pleasantly surprised. I thought we dominated from start to finish in every area. Ok we didn't click in attack but was that a shock having Locky in the halves, not a pop at Locky as I thought he was brilliant all be it not playing like a half at times.

Our wingers were outstanding Gildart very good for me a very exciting prospect, Gelling love him or hate him very effective. The pack played well and Powell had his 1 in 5 good game.

We ground them down with tough relentless play for 60 minutes and took advantage of that in the last 20.

Comfortably our best performance of the year for mine and fairly entertaining too.

It made a refreshing change to feel so relaxed with ten to go!

It seems more now share in my misery (unfortunately). Everything that we are seeing now was evident when we scraped through early season. As everyone else has improved as the season has gone one, we haven't, hence we are now starting to see just how much we are struggling. I don't like to say I told you so, but, I told you so. We were/are poor and Leeds have been awful, did I really do them that injustice?

Let's hope Wane can work wonders and I'm back on here Saturday waxing lyrical about our free flowing attacking play.

Not as bad as some say not as good as others say is.my assessment.there were a few players returning from injuries last few games which will take time to get match fit, also ST will need a run if games to get some understanding in the team and fitness.

With your preferred first choice you can execute wanes plan better and Sam can chime in also, weather wanes plan will be good enough for some is a different story tho. I would like a wire wigan final but isn't inconceivable that it could also be a cats hull final!! Staying in contention is what's key now and getting to a minimal injury list for top8s and going into them in some kind of good form.

You will blow leeds away easily this time. Their best performance was against us so far this season which I think says it all!!

I feel u guys are being a little too critical of the team, nobody could have predicted the injuries you have picked up!! I'm sure some players have played a lot more games than was expected by this point. Which will have n effect and some of the younger guys will make mistakes, and not perform as consistently as would be liked , but their heads haven't dropped they turn up the following week and start again!! I think that also needs recognition, some of them would only really be expected to be regular first teamers in a season or two

You are as deluded as some of our fans.....we have had the skill levels coached out of us. we are incapable of throwing passes with precision or speed. that creates space to score tries. We have no support runners....ever.....WHY....cause our backs are so knackered doing our powder puff forwards job in the first place. We have no recognised kicker, we have no 6/7 that can split the defence with our kicks, we have no 5th tackle options. The strategy is all wrong, the coaching is all wrong and we will founder. Maybe not Saturday as Leeds are that bad but unless there are dramatic changes in coaching we will get no where near silverware this season.

I think Dezzie is probably correct. I've been critical as much as anyone over the last couple of seasons but some of this is just a bit too strong IMO.

I too am not a wane fan and too think that's the bigger problem, a new face is certainly needed and then look at the players and how they perform under new management.

For Williams to kick on he needs a better partner to learn from pack, a prop or two and a good replacement for those leaving are the main areas for improvement, but it's not as easy to just get rid and bring in whoever you want. Can take a season or two to bring in the players interested in.

I've not seen every game admittedly but from the games I have seen no not been vintage wigan rugby. But also not as bad as some go on about on here, which I enjoy reading and commenting on, people will always have differing opinions and enjoy different aspects if the game. It's also easier to see the positives from the outside?

I do think that if don't get any silverware this season wane should be moved on/up? Tougher desision and bigger question is would wigan fans accept the structured 'boring' rugby even if it brings success?? I think maybe less now than in previous seasons.

I think it's the fact it's more than just this season - we haven't been playing decent rugby for a couple of years now. It's a shame the injuries have caused so much disruption, because it would be interesting to see if we'd be any higher in the table than we are now...

I'm coming round to the thought that we do need a significant change in the club in the form of coaching staff and players. I don't think now is the right time to do it and we should wait until the end of the season. Unless there has been a significant change in performance, and by that I mean consistently rather than the odd game then it is probably time for Wane to go. Given his loyalty to the club is be happy for him to move upstairs into a head of youth development or similar role with some fresh ideas coming into the coaching staff. A coupe of decent signings and a goal kicker wouldn't go amiss either.

As for this season we need to start getting behind the team. The more we tell ourselves we are crap the more we will believe it. If the players start to believe it then we are in real trouble. I honestly don't believe we are that far off.

Well said.

The players are capable of much more, that is my frustration, I know we will never see the teams of the mid 90s, but the rugby we have played for the last 2 years is so boring and predictable it's laughable. That is down to the coaching, plain and simple. I was hoping the start of this season would see a new approach as we've been told the over the past two off seasons about our new style, well this new style seems to get less inventive each season and even more monotonous to watch, even defending against us must get boring. The only breaks seem to come when defenders fall off a tackle, probably because the've lost the will to live waiting for us to do something a bit different.

I've tried to stay in the Wane camp, I then tried to stay neutral, but after two years of complete boredom I'm now wanting a change come the end of the season. Yes I'll continue to support us and pay my money, and yes I hope he has a masterplan that comes together, I just can't see it happening. I don't want us to limp to a grand final win by being the best of a bad bunch, I want us to perform to our potential and I want to watch entertaining rugby. As a paying fan this isn't a crime.

I am hovvering. Yes the rugby played over the last two years has been borderline tedious despite the fact we have been getting results mostly. (Five seconds from League Leaders last year)!!

We have had the injuries which have started to clear up, match fitness aside we must start to see improvements.

Now is the time for SW to earn his coin.
Now is the time for IL to go out and buy quality replacements for Charnley & Sarginson, surely we cannot keep absorbing the outgoing personell?

The fact we are still hovering around the top 4 is detriment to SL, but that's another story. Even the better sides this year are still far from being great teams. I try to console myself by saying we can still win a trophy, and I believe we can. I just don't believe I'm going to really enjoy watching us do it, it would only be satisfaction rather than enjoyment.

Do you know Chris I too could have written that, spot on lad,