Joined: Apr 18 2004 Posts: 910 Location: By the Cemetry Gates
I was at this stage after a loss at home earlier in the year, apathetic now about a major part of my life. Thanks Brian, I'd love to know what more he has to do to get the boot.
It's very difficult to keep the enthusiasm going when it's not being reciprocated on the pitch.
We've now had three years of Brian Noble, and a harsh truth is that many aspects of the Wigan team we knew and loved have deteriorated under his stewardship.
We've heard a lot about the traditional 'Wigan culture' being absent these days. To me this is a key issue. When Millward was sacked, it was plain the culture was still there, because the team and the fans embarked on a phenomenal winning run, which enthused the whole town, and saved the club's skin; there was more excitement at Wigan at the end of that season than there was at the top of the table. True, Noble was part of that, but he'd only just arrived. Since then, we've seen an alarming decline in playing standards until we've reached the point where Wigan can't even seem to do the basics correctly. We've also seen a very worrying change in team attitude. The fans boo them for being diabolically bad, and they sulk. The chairman tells them off for being diabolically bad, and they run their mouths off to the press. The coach tells them off for being diabolically bad, and - some of them at least - walk out of training in a huff. This is NOT the Wigan attitude, and it only seems to have come in during Brian Noble's reign.
It's plain to me that team matters at Wigan are in urgent need of root and branch reform. We need an entire tactical overhaul, new levels of fitness and conditioning, and a new era of iron-hard discipline. If the current players won't adopt the 'Wigan attitude' willingly, it needs to be brutalised into them on the training pitch.
Whatever positives there are about Brian Noble - and there are some, I'm not denying that - he's plainly not the man for this job. I'm not trying to be clever after the fact here, but I worried about this last year, when it took a bollocking from the chairman to make the team get its act together rather than a bollocking from the coach. This year there's been further evidence. Nobby seems to have spent more time whingeing in the press about not getting a new contract than he has trying to earn one.
It's simply not good enough. I really wanted things to work out with Brian Noble. I've met him and like him as a guy. He had a great track record at Bradford, he seemed to have the correct attitude when he first arrived here (though anyone's attitude would have seemed good after Millward's), but he's clearly a poor motivator, a poor disciplinarian, he's no tactician and he lacks technical expertise.
Wigan have been more than patient with him, in my opinion.
But to get back to the point of this thread, the club can't really move on this until the CC is sorted out one way or the other. I think we've got past the stage where even winning at Wembley would save Noble now (his comments in the press alone would be enough for some chairmen to sack him), but if we get rid before the semi it might cause so much disruption that we'd be handing it to Warrington on a plate. I'd suggest that the club hang onto him at least until then, and that we supporters keep attending, keep cheering, keep doing everything we can - though it's precious little when it's so poorly responded to by the players - in short that we don't give up the way fans at other clubs not too far from here are famous for doing. We're probably still not as far from success as we may think.
I refuse to believe that Noble and his ineffective regime will be here beyond this season. Only a Grand Final victory could make that happen now, and to be honest, I doubt we'll even make the play-offs, so there's no chance of that.
It is't too far off. We've just got to keep our nerve.
Joined: Sep 20 2005 Posts: 7574 Location: Mecca of RL
AJ wrote:Stupid though.
All teams improve when a new coach takes over, what happens in 12 months time, if we are still in the same position?
I'm giving my opinion of what Wanes demands would be if he took a caretaker role till the end of the season
If were still in the same position in 12 months time we look again. To be honest mate i would take a few months a having a team looking like they actually care than what were watching right now.
I didn't go to the game, it was my son's presentation night.
Ironic really , because as we were getting texted the scores through, Andy Gregory was doing the presentations, and was telling a little anecdote - Wigan signed a new player, and the lad asked Greg what the winning bonus was. Greg replied £500 a match, the lad asked what the losing pay was, Greg replied, don't know son, I've only been here 2 years;)
Tongue in cheek I know, but on Satuday night, it really marked the decline for me.
Newsnight 13th May 2010: "With the role of Deputy Prime Minister a non-job. Has Nick Clegg gone from King Maker to tea maker????"
I kept the faith and I kept voting Not for the iron fist but for the helping hand For theirs is a land with a wall around it And mine is a faith in my fellow man Theirs is a land of hope and glory Mine is the green field and the factory floor Theirs are the skies all dark with bombers And mine is the peace we knew Between the wars
wigan_knight wrote:I'm giving my opinion of what Wanes demands would be if he took a caretaker role till the end of the season
If were still in the same position in 12 months time we look again. To be honest mate i would take a few months a having a team looking like they actually care than what were watching right now.
No, i understand what your saying, but if/when the change is made, i want it to be a well thought out long term chance, not just this "give it to wane" guff.
Joined: Jun 08 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: For my Sins i now live in St Helens.
{Hogan} wrote:After the game on Saturday i was leaving the ground back to my hotel and i waas thinking about the game, usually i would be pee'd off or angry towards Wigans performance. But i wasnt, i simply wasnt bothered that we had lost to the worst team to grace Superleague since Leigh the other year.
Maybe its the way the players just dont looked bothered either, maybe its starting to rub off on the fans who pay there hard earned each week and turn up with the hope that they may turn it around.
But im typing this post now, and i seriously would not be overally concerned if i didnt get to watch Wigan again this season. Simply bored of watching them with the lack lustre attitude.
Is anyone else feeling this way....?
felt the same beginning of last season so not been a single game this year and so glad i haven't.
And i tell you something for free i don't miss it one little bit i still watch all the sky games at home or in the pub because i love the game but have fallen completly out of love with Wigan Rugby League im afraid.
£100 donated to Mike Gregory Fund thanks to Saints winning F#CK ALL !!! thanks JLM23 for paying up.
king warrior said "I'd chop my **** off for a win on sat seriously"
Pemps replied " You wanna borrow some nail clippers?"
Joined: May 27 2003 Posts: 20417 Location: educating League Freak on all things rugby league
In truth i have had a feeling of apathy towards Wigan for the last couple of years. The few peaks have been enjoyable but generally as much as i love the sport as a code, i also find myself drifting away from it at times.
The World Cup combined with the Wigan performances of this year have really taken my enthusiasm for the game, i go to watch most other clubs throughout the course of the year and again generally i think the entertainment is not up to what it has been in the past.
I no longer buy the Rugby League weeklies, which i used to buy religiously, rarely would i not go to a game over the course of a round, now i find myself looking at other options.
I still am thankfully glued to the NRL coverage, but regards SL it just seems to be in a rut that i cannot get excited about.
Unofficially the most boring poster on Cherry and White.
Users browsing this forum: Google Feedfetcher and 261 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum