I would be shocked if his computer was that old.

Not when you're Leigh there isn't.



Honestly, you pitying us like this is like a tramp giggling because a rich man just sent back his champagne for being too tepid.



You tell yourself we're worse off if it makes you feel better.

No reply to my other posts on this thread Chris ?

I've got to be careful how many of your posts I respond to lest you ridiculously accuse me of "stalking" you again.

So you pick on the ' funny ' , rather than the serious positive Chris , why is that ?

Made up for young betts





Lets be honest now,hand on heart,you know he's poop you have seen his poop tactics,I love watching him when your on sky and he either stares aimlessly into space or rants at his side kick.I thought he was going to choke on that pen first half v touloose.

For one, I can't be responsible for reading all of your drivel. I read enough of it as it is. I have no idea what post you are talking about and do not care. Your "groundbreaking" posts as of late have been thinly veiled bitter diatribes about the club, the fans, the system, and they've only got worse because Leigh have hit a bit of form.



And next time you write a "funny" post, perhaps you could distinguish it from others by writing in big capitals "FUNNY POST" before and after because you sure as hell don't distinguish it by writing anything funny.

Those who built up the hype tended to believe what they wrote, and then wrote that they were disappointed not to get whoever they thought should be the person best to coach us.



I was and still am convinced that what the game of RL needs in this country to get back to the style of play that we enjoy is fewer Antipodean Coaches and more British coaches.



Over a year ago, on another Board, I did say that what the Game needed were young British coaches.



Widnes have one in Denis Betts, unless you count 41 as old and Wigan not part of Britain.



So, let's get on with it, support Steve O and the team and watch it grow under Denis Betts.

I've reached acceptance now and am slightly less angry than I was yesterday. I remain committed to joining the stronghold when the club ask me to replace my season ticket in November.



However I remain completely disappointed. No more excuses about uncertainty it doesn't wash with me. It wasn't the case when Salford and Celtic were promoted in 2008 and it shouldn't be the case now.



He needs to sort out the performances and get this squad of players performing to the levels they are capable of which should be good.

We have good backs, a couple of decent halves and a decent pack with good options. No excuses!!!! sort it out this year...

How much say did Betts have on your recruitment for 2011? I'm led to believe that recruitment is Terry O'Connor's brief, and if so he brought in some shockers for this season. If I'm wrong, and Betts had 100% control of your signings for this season, then it might be evidence he's not be up to the job. If he's coaching a bunch of stiffs who he didn't pick and choose for his squad, then its a bit unfair to criticise him as much as some you appear to be. A coach will only prove their true worth when they've got their players of choice to pick from.

IIRC brought in 4 out of 40

Then you are led to believe wrong.

It's not within TOC's remit to be in charge of squad selection.



Just out of interest which shockers are you talking about? The worst player this year for me has been Tangi Ropati and there are few Widnes fans let alone fans of other clubs that wouldn't have picked him for their squad.



Also which coach ever has the privilege of having an entirely self selected squad when they take over a job or even one or two years after that?

I maintain that this years squad is good enough to be up challenging. Leigh are a class above but after that we shouldn't be worrying about anyone.

But they were the 4 you got rid of

Mellor, Tomkins, Crosby (all DR) & Sculthorpe?

I was referring to actual player 'recruitment' Chris, not squad selection. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong.

Aside from Ropati, who is making a living based on his family name, then I'd say that Leuluai is another dreadful signing. He's not up to Championship standard, and has his floppy hair to thank for making him appear dynamic with ball in hand. If he cut it off, it'd be more evident that he'd actually struggle to get in the XIII's at Oldham and Rochdale.

Remove Tomkins and Mellor from your current squad, and you'd be in a relegation fight. I've no doubt about that. Players like G.Haggerty, Sculthorpe et al. look good on paper, but in reality they are well past their sell-by dates and largely ineffective.

It was a ' joke '

He ripped us apart the other year though at Sheffield , as for Scully , I think he is a very good player , but he does seem to be miles from being fit enough to play ATM ,

Correction - Sculthorpe WAS a very good player. He's done nothing of note since his time at Wigan, which was how long ago?! As for Ropati, I've never seen him do anything remarkable whatosever. He's certainly not a better player than James Ford, who Widnes released only a few weeks ago.

The team without DR started the season 7 from 7 and tbh squad isn't that bad and overall is fairly young.



You can't look past the fact are bad run of form has coincided around the SL announcement buy now Betts is confirmed should be less pressure and we should push on.

TOC's role is the contact point between other clubs, players and their agents and our club. He picks up the phone when it rings. I suspect that PC in both his current role and as the outgoing coach would have sanctioned the actual signings. TOC does some of the negotiating of the contract once the green light is given and everything is signed off by PC and JG.



In terms of squad ability (including Thackray) I think that we looked a very handy side indeed.

The biggest areas of concern for me are defence, fitness and discipline. Things that a coach worth his salt should be in a position to improve.

No problems in the back line, the pack look like they could handle themselves and we have plenty of cover this year as opposed to last season.