Bailey can play a lot of minutes and is solid in attack and defence if not spectacular.

Aye was just wondering whether he would be a better option than Petero

Chris Hill - Leigh Centurions

Big, young British prop with great potential.

Wouldn't sell any season tickets though

And crap. If I had to take a NL 1 player as a prop it would be Lee Doran from Widnes, he isn't a second rower even though he plays there he is a prop and a hard working one at that. Played for Ireland during the world cup too, it would be worth a trial me thinks. Oh and he's a Wigan lad too.

NL1 props are not what we need

IMO we are a decent centre, a sh1thouse prop and a general SH away from breaking the Leeds and Saints dominance

If we can break in a centre (Soliola/Reddy/?) and a prop (Luke Bailey, Petero, Lynch) for the 2010 season because I think Tommy will be our 7 for next season (don't know why just think he won't let McIlorum go and it would be a big mistake to let Tommy go) that leaves us with a side of

Richards
Roberts
Soliola/Reddy/?
Carmont
Ainscough
Sam
Tommy
Fielden
Riddell
Bailey/Petero/Lynch
Hansen
Tomkins
Lockers

Feka
Hock
Prescott/Eamon
McIlorum

Prescott/Eamon, Mossop,Farrell,Flanagan, Goulding backing up

Carmont and Fielden will more than likely leave at the end of 2010. If Fielden regains some form we could keep him on a reduced contract. Shenton comes off contract at the end of 2010 so he would be ideal to replace Carmont and LMS would be ideal to replace Fielden if Stu leaves. I think McIlorum will have had time to prove how good he can be and if he isn't up to it I think we should keep Tommy as interchange hooker and let him go or if he shows good form we should keep him and let Tommy go and go for either Dobson or Myler for SH as both are off contract, at the moment I would prefer Dobson but if Myler continues to develop and play like he did on friday we should definitely consider him. That would leave us with a side of

Richards
Roberts
Soliola/Reddy/?
Shenton
Ainscough
Sam
Dobson/Myler
Fielden?/LMS
Riddell
Bailey/Petero/Lynch
Hansen
Tomkins
Lockers

Feka
Hock
Prescott/Eamon
Tommy

That side would be one of the top in the country and very capable of winning trophies. The youngsters would be coming through as well as it seems likely that by the time Riddell leaves Logan Tomkins willl be ready to take the plunge and we can move Tommy or McIlorum up to starting hooker. By the time Bailey/Petero/Lynch leaves Eamon and Prescott will both be ready to play super league every week. Mossop and Farrell will be pushing Hansen etc hard for places and will give the coach (whoever that will be) a big headache when they come in due to injuries and suspensions

Do we want to win things? Then lets get real. Let's look at our team.

1 Richards (Decent full back but not 100% under the high ball, would move him to the wing)
2 Roberts (Really needs to improve his work rate, shocking under the high ball considering he's played FB so often)
3 Bailey (Steady Eddie. nothing more)
7 Tommy (I like him, but a better 9)
8 Fielden (Gone, past it, for what reason isn't the issue anymore, the true is he's gone)
10 Coley (Will be seen as a poor signing by the time he leaves)
13 Lockers (Better as a SR, not good enough to be a ball playing loose or capt.

Future (Which would be nice)

1 Briscoe
2 Richards
3 Attacking fast big strong centre
4 Carmont
5 Ainscough
6 Tomkins
7 Dobson/Myler
8 New hard as nails prop, not an enforcer but an intimidator, some one with presence
9 Riddell
10 Same as 8, lets build a pack other teams are scared of.
11 Hock
12 Lockers
13 J Tomkins
----------------
Feka, Prescott, Tommy Farrell (Looks really good in the reserves)
-----------------
Sell:
Mathers
Fielden
Coley
Goulding
Phelps
O Carroll (Yep, A tough one, but I don't think he'll make it)
Smith
--------------
Points of concern
------------
Hansen
Roberts

Just one point- How is Pat dodgy under the high ball? It’s one of his strongest attributes his ability to pick the high ball out? He almost reads the game perfectly and positions himself where the ball is. I don’t think I’ve seen him drop one yet?

Other than that I agree apart from Hansen and Roberts but that as already been done to death

I do like to read this thread, it's like watching Blackadder.
Same old stuff repeated time and again but it's still funny.

Why does anybody think that any of the players people are placing in their Wigan teams for 2010 or 2011 would want to come to Wigan?

I'm not saying they don't but it doesn't stand to reason that they do either. We were in negotiations with numerous players last autumn. Who signed?

So what do you suggest we do? Do we target the best players or give up on them because they may not wanna come?

I also don't think anyone has said anyone really said anyone who we don’t stand a chance of signing have they?

We don't stand a chance of signing Lockyer or Carl Webb for a start.

Keep our halves, Tommy is a main driving force in the team at the moment. Everything possible must be done to keep him at Wigan.
Sam T is assured a place for a long time to come.
Beefing up the pack is a priority, it has been for the last two years but nothing done yet. This will depend on those leaving or have contracts re-negotiated and subsequent money which is available.
Departures may depend on signings although some may go as we bring players through from the academy.