In sport, if you want to go forward, there's no time for sentimentality. Saints avoided this with Long, Scully and KC. Sadly, they appear to have forgotten this with regards to Wello.

Assuming you were responding to my post - and that's just an assumption, granted - then I think you have ignored everything I have said. I don't think sentimentality plays a part in it at all, unless you think rewarding someone (the captaincy) is sentimental. In which case, nobody should ever earn a bonus in their life again, or a promotion come to think of it!

Love him to bits so it's great news. However it also means he'll be playing in the starting line up. Which isn't so great news.

Of those, only long was a managed departure. Kc decided himself that it was time to retire, I think had he chosen to play on, he would still be our number 9. Scully had to retire due to injury, it wasn't at a time to suit the club. I think 2012should be wellens final season unless he can reinvent himself.

We was never going to get shut of the local hero when we are moving into a new stadium.

Gaskell IMO next year will only be a squad player filling in when with have injuries. That leaves lomax, lance and pryce(if he stays). It's vitally important we keep pryce as he's the player that makes us tick, he's the go to man, he's the x factor.

If pryce stays then I'd go with pryce and lance in the halves and lomax can cover the back on the bench. I'd liked to have seen lomax at fullback but that won't happen. Lomax might get the hump a little by being on the bench but he's still only young and learning his trade. His time will come.

It does however look as if Leon is going which leaves lance and lomax as our halves which I must admit don't fill me with much hope.

Wello can be captain but he can't start at full back next year. Big mistake if he does.

This

and like Carlos says theres no room for sentimentality in sport. I'll be very disappointed but not surprised if he's our No1 next year

He could Captain the team from second row or even the bench. Being club captain does not mean you have to start every match.

He may have said that, but that was before Lomax showed his ability in the halfs.
Just because he's a big name signing doesn't mean he gets everything his own way, he still has to deserve the shirt everyweek.
However, from what's been said about his fielding of kicks, it sounds like we'd be better having lomax at #1 and lance in the halfs with Leon/Gaskell.
If Leon stays, then given his current form I'd find it hard to justify Wello's inclusion in the 1st choice 17.

Yes, I know. I said that!


I don't know where you get the idea from that this will be either his attitude or our intention.


Well, I gather that. But then, lots of people are writing Wello off anyway, mainly because he isn't Billy Slater.

Have you ever had an argument in an empty room?

My point is that whilst some things may have been said on his initial signing, things change, in life and in sport especially and Saints as a club will change they're plans accordingly. I'm sure Lance, as a proffesional player would appreciate that and hope that he would give his all no matter what role we asked of him.

What I can't get my head around is this thinking that the likes of Slater, Hodgson, Tomkins etc playing as an attacking fullback is some sort of new idea.

Just from a Wigan pov Martyn Ryan, David Bolton, Colin Tyrer, Shaun Edwards, George Fairbairn, Jason Robinson, Kris Radlinski etc have all been very good attacking fullbacks. (all with superb pace and capable of scoring from anywhere on the pitch)

You can't compare the way Edwards, Robinson or The Ginger Doormat played to the way the Australian full backs have developed because the attacking game isn't just about coming into the line and being an extra man. It's the way Minichiello attacked the ball when it was in flight that was revolutionary. He was catching the ball on the front foot which is something that nobody has done over here since I've been watching the game. Sometimes players over here occasionally did/have done it but it's usually been due to a poor kick rather than exceptional positioning and bravado. Robinson was just a great kick returner when he got the ball in his hand whilst Edwards and the other guy were just great support players. Edwards at full back is a bit of a red herring anyway because he was hardly there during his peak years and was pretty insignificant when he started his career there.

For me Captain has to be one of the first names on the team sheet and assured of his place week in week out. Realistically you need your captain influencing the game on the pitch both through his own play and how he interacts with teammates.

In my opinion Wellens is not safe in his selection for next season despite how great a player he has been over the years. I would therefore have given the captaincy to Roby.

He's a great guy, but there comes a time to clearly see that the game has changed and a more attacking style of full back is now the way to go, even if their defence is poor. We won't have that!