It would be interesting to consider how many of each club's first team squad have been brought into the club as external signings. I would have a guess that there is very little difference between the number of signed players each club has in their squad.

:xqyrka02

I'll have a go at this one:


Wire:

Brett Hodgson [Signed
Chris Riley [Academy
Chris Bridge [Signed
Ryan Atkins [Signed
Joel Monaghan [Signed
Lee Briers [Signed
Richie Myler [Signed
Adrian Morley [Signed
Michael Monaghan [Signed
Gareth Carvell [Signed
Trent Waterhouse [Signed
Ben Westwood [Signed
Ben Harrison [Academy
Mick Higham [Signed
Simon Grix [Signed
Paul Wood [Academy
Mike Cooper [Academy
Matty Blythe [Academy
Stef Ratchford [Signed
Chris Hill [Signed
Tyron McCarthy [Academy
Rhys Williams [Signed
Rhys Evans [Academy
Gareth O'Brien [Academy
David Solomona [Signed
Danny Bridge [Signed at age 18 from Wigan Academy
Brooke Broughton [Academy
Jordan Burke [Academy
Ben Currie [Academy - Was signed from Wigan, but before he was in Wigan Academy
Brad Dwyer [Academy
Ben Evans [Academy
Ben Hellewell [Academy
James Laithwaite [Academy
James Mandeika [Academy
Glenn Riley [Academy
James Saltonstall [Academy
Ryan Shaw [Academy

Out of 37 Players for Wire 19 are from academy, a little over 50% there.

Wigan

And out of 36 for Wigan 24 are from our academy. Overwhelmingly in our favour on that one!

Couldn't give a monkeys if we signed them all or had a full team of academy, 13 v 13 and if they wear the P&B, i don't care.

Glenn Riley played for Wigan academy.

It was about number of players in each club's first team squad that were externally signed rather than Academy produced.

From the Warrington list Bridge has yet to play first team so can't really be classed first team squad so I'm discounting him whilst Williams was through our Academy (recruited when released by Welsh RU at 18). That leaves 16 players signed externally.

With the Wigan list then obviously Thornley has been externally signed (as you acknowledge with your "resigned" reference) whilst Roberts has also been in your first team squad this season. That by my reckoning gives Wigan 14 players signed externally.

So 16 against 14 is not that big a difference when all said and done. Certainly an interesting alternative and radically different view than taht given in Odem's post.

+1

Warrington signed him from Wath Brow - is it the same player? (and I wouldn't class him as first team squad anyway).

Yes, he played for Wigan about two or three years back and then returned to Cumbria. I was surprised when I saw him v Wigan earlier this year too see how big he was.

Until Warrington win a GF then they need to tread very carefully with the opinions, 2 CC's is good don't get me wrong but all great teams win GF's, Warrington need to step up, because currently they haven't!!

Infact getting to a GF would be a start for the 'Mighty Wire', walk before you can run and all that!!

I don't quite get this whole thing where Wiganers get erections over their wonderful, never-be-beaten academy.....Spending cash and signing big name players was never a concern back in the 80's and 90's was it??...



I suppose bankrupting yourself and losing your stadium can be a major reason for this change in mindset???....