We usually announce the squad for the following game on those dates, yes.

Amos Roberts was announced on a Wednesday as was Mark Riddell.

generally, isn't it 11 tues and thurs 1 for RL media announcements.

It used to be but they changed it.

Good post. I have a lot of sympathy for Mathers situation as I don't want to see players fail (I am sure no one does). When we lost Ashton and went for Mathers as replacement I thought that was a fair risk to take given he was on a contract that said he had to prove his injury was completely healed.

Well his injury did heal but something else went wrong. Personally, I don't think our senior players get a lot of coaching so it's sink or swim as you are and what Mathers needed was some serious defensive coaching. He needs/needed to re-learn that part of his game but I don't think he got it here.

If I am correct then the club should never have signed him if they were not prepared to invest the coaching effort into the player. He was never going to be a ready made full back given his lay off.

If he leaves he might find a new environment one that is prepared to work with him more than I think Wigan have done. He might also be in one where the defenders in front of him haven't forgotten how to defend as well!

Dave

I've heard before the end of the week, don't panic if it's not announced by Fri, it's going to happen.

Looks like Goulding is going for a signing, not loan.

2010?

Richards
Roberts Gleeson, Carmont, Ainscough
Tomkins (Tommy?)
Lynch? Riddell LuLu/Fielden
Hock Lockers
Tomkins
------------------------
Prescott, O Barrell, Micky, Hansen.

Personally I'd like to see Tommy move to 9 and interchange with Piggy bring in a new 7 (if the cap will allow it). Let's raise the standards at Wigan get rid of the players who aren't cutting it giving more opportunities to younger forwards.
Gotta be more pressure on the likes of Hock/Lockers/Tomkins/Hansen with the likes of Flanny/Farrell/Mossop pushing on. Comp for places is a good thing. People who read my posts on here know how I feel Hansen maybe pushed out for one of the three up and coming backrow forwards.

Maybe a deal will be done with Fielden moving back to Bradford if Lynch comes our way. I'll be sad to see Fielden go, not cos he's been a great player, but because when he signed we were all truly happy, and in his time, overall he's disappointed and not lived up to expectation, when it goes I feel his legacy at Wigan will be an 'unbelievable prop' who never actually arrived'- hope that makes sense.

Overall things are Looking better.

A more balanced team, I don't want another holocaust moment were we lose our world beater, a single player (Farrell/Barrett) and look like our teams dead and buried.

Why is Goulding slowly but surely becoming a player no one rates? He is still young and learning the game. He has also copped a lot of unfair stick from some fans and has been made a scapegoat by Noble who regularly drops him when IMO the fault has lain elsewhere.

People are ready and willing to forgive mistakes/deficiencies in S Tomkis and Ainscoughs games (rightly so) but after another season will they be writing them off like Goulding if they have not become England internationals?

I know Gleeson is a good player but I think Goulding will be one day and this will be seen as Wigan letting young players go for older players not produced by the club. If Gleeson is only to be signed for 2010 won't he be 30?

Dave

That is being considered.

Any favourites to be wearing the number 7 shirt next season?

I agree tbh in regards to Goulding. I've always been a fan and people have been quick to write him off at times but he does seem to be going down the path of so many other Wigan juniors in that he may need a move to re-ignite his career.

Nobby doesn't seem to be a fan of his so whilst Noble is in charge he won't be playing anyway and also there is the fact that Gleeson is a better player then Goulding is or imo is ever likely to be(which doesn't mean Goulding is a poor player).

I've heard Karmichael hunt is looking to play half-back...

What about a new 6 too? Will we finally have a pairing that can play together for more than a couple of seasons? I'm sick of players swapping positions.