They beat us 42-0 there last season and we all know what went on to happen.

Such is the competetiveness of SL (bar Wakefield), the team finishing top of the league tends to lose around 8 games (judging by the past few years). That's a fair percentage of games to lose. Gone are the days when you could pummel nearly everyone and only lose a couple of games.

My point is, I HATE that spud headed coach of yours. Married with the natural rivalry between Saints & Wigan, Wane has your team frothing at the mouth. He inspires the young lads who step up into the team to hit lads much bigger & experienced than them. He's a great coach who works really well with the resources he has. He loves Wigan and that trickles down to his players.

The few who want him out are barmy imo.

I'm undecided, however I don't think they're barmy when you consider our away form.

The Wigan coaching job is results based as all the coaching jobs are.
For the second season we are out of the C Cup.
We are thrid in the League Table based purely on our home form which is excellent.
Our away form is disastrous. Not won away since last July.
If we don't win any of the next three which are all away from the DW then we have a team who look likely they won't make the top two for a home GF draw.
If we don't turn around the away results then I reckon the results of a second season with a trophy will start IL looking around.
I can't see him risking a third season without a trophy.
If the away results do turn around and the wins start coming then things and personnel will stay as they now are.

I disagree with the SW out.

I'm consisted a young un, compared to many fans on here, doesn't mean I've not spent my life on the terraces of Central Park/DW Stadium week in week out, so I have an understanding of the passion towards Wigan winning.

SW has developed most of this squad via our youth system and as much as it pains me to say it, we are off the needed standard to win on all 3 accounts, mainly due to the fact we are in a development phase. Our squad is hugely young in alot of the main areas.

But it kills me the way SW chops and changes the squad all the time.

We of course lack in defence in areas, so I'll explain below what squad I'd pick and stand by it for as long as I could.

Bowen - Out and out World Class FB, patchy for us, but can pull the class moment out of nothing.

Charnley
Gildart - Showing potential on loan, thought he'd get a chance whilst Gelling is out)
Tomkins - Bulk that right hand side defence up and proven talent to unleash the pace of Gildart and Charnley.

Lockers - Many will think what the **** in 2nd row, but think Sarge needs that much needed guidance and help in defence at the moment, it's Burg/Sarge who make the breaks with pace on the left, imagine Lockers drawing the opposing 2nd row and centre with the ability to throw that pass at the end.
Sarge
Burgess

Williams - Think he makes a better #9 then Powell, but feel he's the future #6 for years to come.
Smith - Consisted a very young 6/7, will develop over the seaon.

Mossop
Mickey
Crosby

Bateman - Don't think he can be dropped from the starting line up whether Lockers is fit or not, currently showing passion to the club and gives his all.

Subs
Hampshire - In to #6 Williams to #9 whilst Mikey as a breather
Mr T
Sutton - Flower to replace when fully fit (used in #13 with Batemen to 2nd row during games or out and out prop)
Patrick - Clubb to replace when fully fit, Clubb to start instead of Crosby.

Just my 2 pennys worth on the current issues.

That is so confusing.

I'm glad it's not just me!




Perhaps we're missing the Excel spreadsheet and Powerpoint presentation?

It's a point I have made several times. He took a team that under Brian Noble looked pretty average and turned them into the best side in the competition by some distance. It's a great example of how a top coach can get the best out of the players he has at his disposal.

In comparison to MM, is Wane getting the best out of what he has available? The away form says definitely not but I don't think he is generally. Players like Patrick seem to be used incorrectly and we have a young half back at full back and a young scrum half at stand off and several other selection issues. Ironically given my comments regarding MM v Noble the current situation reminds me to some extent of 2006 before Noble arrived to sort things out.

It also shows how integral to success coaches are and so it is right when the team does have success they also get the plaudits. It works both ways though and when you get thumped like Wigan did at Les Cats it's not on to excuse the coach by saying his players let him down as if he has no responsibility for the result.

Looks like you will have to dig this out another time DaveO...

Blimey. Talk about over reactions!

Do you still think my head is buried in the sand? The first of my three predictions in the bag!p after yesterday's win against Leeds!

Having beaten Leeds and now Hudds away, do you still think I have my head in the sand?


They are doing even better than I predicted!

In a way mate he may be right. The 'Wane out' brigade are just waiting for the next couple of defeats before this starts up again. They will never give him credit.

If we win it's because he pinched Maguire's methods. If we lose it's because he changed Maguire's methods. In some people's eyes Shaun Wane doesn't sit comfortably. It's a bit like looking in the mirror - they don't like what they see - SW staring back at them. A Wigan man, one of our own, doing a great job.

Yeah he's doing a sterling job. Out of the cup at the first hurdle, two away wins in 10 months and two heavy losses to his be (Cas and Cata)

His season hangs on a GF win imo. Two good wins don't cancel out two bad losses nor do either make or break the season. Unless something drastic happens again (another 50 point loss perhaps) then he should be judged at the end of the year.

Also who cares where he's from? What possible difference does it make?

Oh dear, so 2 away wins this season is 4 and a bit months. Why include the off season, if you want to do stupid things like that we might as well say we were unbeaten for 3 months!!!

Do you think he's away form this year is acceptable? Do you think getting eliminated in the cup at the round and manner we did is also acceptable?

OK have it your way 2 wins this season. It's not like anyone can taken any comfort from that either.

Hardly a glowing endorsement of what you call a 'sterling job'.

I honestly wonder if Wane would get this unwavering support if he wasn't from Wigan? If Madhe would have had this kind of record would he be offered your blind loyalty?

So you think he should be sacked just because we've had a rough spell away from home and lost one game in a knock-out competition? What the F were you like when Noble was in charge?!

Hull KR deserved the win on the night. Get over it. I wouldn't be using words like 'unacceptable'. It makes you sound like a spoilt brat.

I think our form in our last two games gives us great hope for the rest of the season - beat Saints and we may very well be top on Friday night. Would that be 'acceptable'?

We have no divine right to get to the Challenge Cup Final because of our history. To be honest I'd rather lose in the 6th round than in the Semi Final. It's not ideal but I think we are slight favourites for the GF because we won't get smashed up trying to win the CC. (Would I like to win the CC - of course I would - but I'd prefer a GF win)

I don't think you'll find anyone who is justifying our away form or the cup exit. Because there isn't any defence behind why we can't replicate what we do at home when on our travels. I think people are just trying to keep faith with a coach who already has every domestic trophy under his belt in his first three years in charge.

Our home form is outstanding, so we know what they can do when they do click. We have the youngest squad in the league who are still learning, have had probably the biggest player turnover in SL since his arrival and yet we're just two points off top despite the problems. I do believe we're capable of winning at Old Trafford once again. I think Wane has done a brilliant job IMO.

Some people have VERY short memories.

I remember under Madge when we could beat every team away from home but couldn't beat the likes of Wire and Saints at home. If we get into the top 2 we won't have to win away from home to win Super League will we? I'd be more worried if we couldn't win our home games.

I know our away form has been woeful, but we're still 3rd in the table and just 2 points off the top. We've been in the last 2 GFs, you can't start sacking coaches because they're not achieving perfection in a very competitive league. The last 2 year's CC performances have been very disappointing, but there's no way SW's Wigan career is hanging as finely as you seem to be suggesting.

Old Trafford is away from home

. I'd be looking elsewhere if he doesn't win the grand final this year to be honest. We've gone backwards since Maguire left and getting knocked out of the cup by Castleford then Hull KR is beyond poor for a club of our means. I think people may have been calling for this sooner if it wasn't for our ridiculously easy cup run in 2013 (absolutely mental that we only had to beat Leigh, Hull KR, Widnes, London and Hull FC to win the challenge cup!)

Not really it just means he's obvious got higher standards than you.

ATEOTD if Wane doesn't win the GF this year he's been a failure. He's employed at Wigan to win trophies, if he doesn't pick up the GF this year that's 3/4 years in charge without either of the big two.

Thats not good enough for Wigan (although it's probably good enough for your version of Wigan as it means those little poor sides don't get too upset)

Exactly. We have the most fickle fans in any sport. Gets right on my wick.