obviously he is just on a wind up mission as well as some pride i guess haha. But i dont think even Rogue believes we could win the league with just Wigan developed players.

I wouldn't be so sure

And we do, what is your point? You go on about us being a buying club but who doesn't sign players from other clubs? We buy players to compliment the squad we have here not to force the youngsters out. It's laughable for it to be suggested that Wigan do anything other then look after their youngsters and give them chances to progress. They even let them leave for fresh challenges when they want to because we'd rather have money to re-invest (in all areas, not just transfer fees) then unhappy players on the books.

Look at Wigans side from the GF if you think our club developed players are being held back. Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Thornley, Mossop, McIlorum, Hansen, Farrell, O'Loughlin, Crosby and Hughes all came through our system. We have just short of a whole third of England's squad for Saturday made up of Wigan produced players. We've just had an England academy team playing a series against Wales with half of them being Wigan products. We're the Grand Final holders, Challenge cup holders and Academy grand final winners and they're all facts.

A jibe that we're a 'buying club' won't see too many Wiganers losing much sleep but it just doesn't make sense (a buying club is Salford or Warrington). Don't spout off about our youth system when we buy players? Why not?! We buy players and improve them (Smith, Taylor, Green etc being examples) to play them alongside a whole heap of locally produced internationals.

If we had won the double, I'd be arrogant too.

Any team that has success gets called arrogant. Us now, Leeds for years, you guys before that as well and certainly us back in the 80's and 90's. It goes with the territory.

I don't and I've told them the same many times in the past.
BUT Wigan DO produce more players than any other team. Their academy have been champions for five of the last six seasons. Isn't that something to be proud of?

If you look the post that started this debate Team A has 10 academy produced players and Team B has 11


Team A
Bowen
Charnley Goulding Thornley Burgess
Green Smith
Taylor McIlorum Flower
Hansen Farrell
O'Loughlin

Powell Williams Greenwood Lauaki


Team B
Sarginson
Manfredi Hughes Gildart Gelling
Hampshire Powell
Pettybourne Tomkins Dudson
Burke Clubb
Bateman

Crosby Tierney Lloyd Lever

I disagree. I don't recall during 1996-2006 Saints fans being known for being particularly arrogant. Nor do I recall Saints fans claiming they'd be shocked if they didn't win silverware and confidently predicting doubles and trebles.

I very much remember your mob being arrogant and taking the pee out of a faltering Wigan side at every opportunity. That's what it felt like anyway but maybe I was just being over sensitive.

Maybe the boots now on the other foot?

I thought I'd be unbanned from the Wigan for a moment then. A three page thread discussing the Wigan squad eh? Fancy that.

Taking the pee out of the other side has nothing to do with this. Most of the arrogant posts on the Wigan board don't mention Saints.

Take that point away then and the first part still stands.

Successful clubs (and their supporters) always get accused of being arrogant because everything you say gets scrutinised. Somebody makes a gag on our board that we'll win everything again with two teams, people back that up with serious points about how competitive the season will be but that gets brushed aside.

Read the thread again, it wasn't just that one comment that was very arrogant.

And as I said earlier, I don't recall you lot accusing of being particularly arrogant.

Just seen the Saints squad on the other thread.
What are your A & B squads do you think?