I could write an essay on what my views are of the Wigan club at the moment. I've only been watching them since the 1950's.

Last week was bloody shocking, and it's not the only time we have performed like this this season
is it ?
It is happening on a regular occurence. I didn't particularly like Wanes appointment as I think he lacks an high IQ, but I have to admit he has done better than I thought. He has not been helped by our Chairman, who I think is 'tighter than a ducks bum'. We have lost player after player over the seasons, and they haven't been replaced with similar quality.

Now, back to the present.

Against Leeds, I think we might get slaughtered. And I can't see a win for the foreseeable future.

There has been too much 'pennypinching' at the club, and we are now suffering badly with that policy. The problem with businessmen is, they all love money too much. We are living in this 'austerity cycle 'that shows no sign of abatement in life, and the consequence is no one complains about falling standards anymore.

This team is not the club I have followed for many decades. There seems to be no desire, and the quality is not there.

Even 'Lockers' has been a shadow of his former self, of late. Can we name one player at Wigan, that we could say would get in any in RL team anywhere at the moment ? The answer to that is no.

...and yet despite that, we are third in the table, have scored the second most points in the league, and conceded the third fewest .

Go figure, eh?

And have just secured the signature of one of the UK's best players.

We're in a rut, for sure, but for some people the glass is always half-empty.

It's a shame Gells is injured because I bet Wane would be wondering about throwing Sarge in at full back and playing Joel and Gelling at centre. Was superb against Hull FC last year, and his horrible defence recently won't be too much of a worry back there.

Out of Bowen and Hampshire, I'd stick with Mango. I still think he offers more than Rocky does, even though I do rate Hampshire, I just don't think he is a full back. Really think this could be the weekend which we turn our away form around, it would just be typical Wigan to do it in the hardest away game possible!

This pops up time and time again and I'd love to know who has spent more on transfer fees than IL

Off the top of my head
J Tomkins
S Tomkins
M Smith
S Taylor
M Gleeson
L Mossop
D Sarginson
T Clubb
J Bateman?
I Thornley?
T Tautai?

Apart from the bottom 3, who I'm not 100% sure about, we paid a transfer fee of some sort for these lads. Give me the name of another club that has paid a transfer fee for 11 players over the past few years? In fact give me the name of a club that's paid a transfer fee for 5 players over the past few years.

Sure we paid about £50k for Bateman and possibly something for Thornley. I believe TT was out of contract

How dare you let facts get in the way of a good old fashioned rant.

So, apart from paying significant amounts of money on transfer fees what has IL ever done for us?

Did we pay for blake green????

Yes

Sam Hopkins (the invisible man), who the good Dr is now getting interested in.

The fees received for Sam, Joel, and Hock covers that lot with a few quid to spare

I'm sure the money for Joel was put in to Central Park. How much did we get for Hock?

Which only proves what good acumen our good Chairman has.

Personally i think IL is a class act.

I will happy clap him because he deserves it.

I also think SW is doing a cracking job. I was reluctant to mention that as i did not want to be viewed with contempt by 41% (at the last count) of the forum.