Some pretty selective choosing of stats to try and prove your point there...

I'd also argue that averaging nearly 3 errors per game for a SL player is pretty unforgiveable.

Edit: I goosed up calculations first time round. Added in the stats I (didn't deliberately) leave out. To be fair though it's based on 9 games for Gelling, 2 of which were out of position on the wing where he's hardly likely to rack up assists or tackles

It's the errors for Gelling that are the big worry. An average of three per game is shoddy and its holding him back.

He's a raw talent and he'll continue to learn. For me, he has got more potential and room for improvement than Thornley. Still question marks over whether he'll reach that potential though, I hope he does.

Its pretty pathetic when people leave out stats, which are pretty crucial in showing how a centre plays, to deliberately try and paint a one sided picture. You know someone is struggling to advance the claims of a player if they can only do it by continually slating another.

So without Gelling against Huddersfield did we look stronger or weaker out wide?

I am probably in the minority in thinking that some of the criticism towards Gelling has been exaggerated in recent weeks. I agree that he has made some mistakes which have been frustrating but against Huddersfield I was really frustrated with Thornley who in comparison offered almost nothing in attack.

It is difficult to judge when we spent too much time in our own half and Thornley can't be blamed for that but he does seem to escape criticism in comparison to other players and I actually think Thornley has been below par for a while now.

Makes you realise what a great player George Carmont was for us.

We could have had inglis never mind Gelling or Thornley and it would have made little difference on Friday.

Gelling goes looking for work more than Thornley does IMO, that could have helped us.

Would agree with that - he always looks for work.

Thornley is probably the safer of the two but in games like Friday night when you really need that spark I thought Gelling could of offered more in attack.

Be interesting to see who gets the nod for Wembley.

Agree, he would have gone inside looking for work and helped the forwards. If we could put Gellings aggression with Thornleys size we would have a top class player.

Only if the combined player knew how and when to pass - both seem to lack this important attribute which is why I am struggling to believe that either is a long term option on recent showings (Thornley missed two obvious passes to Richards in space against Hudds).

Anthony Gelling has agreed to stay at Wigan until the end of 2014 (todays Daily Express).

If you combined Gelling's aggression with Thornley's size you would get.. Anthony Gelling as he is bigger than Thornley already

I remember the days when a 6ft5 centre (like Gelling) or even a 6ft4 centre (like Thornley) would have made hay against almost any British opposition.

Granted, we have bigger backs in the came now generally, but neither of them do anything like enough damage for me. I don't think either is the long-term solution to our left centre problem - unless we're content to have someone there who is 'okay, and will occasionally do a job for us'.

There is a worrying lack of cutting edge in our three-quarters at present. Pat is clearly finished and Goulding seems to be slipping back into his old habit of making mistakes every other time (like going for interceptions when he should be tackling, and thus causing even more problems for his teammates). After the Gelling/Thornley show, that just leaves Josh - who is head and shoulders above the others as a striker.

You have answered the first part of your question yourself. Players are bigger and stronger than they used to be, so being that size [iper se[/i doesn't count as much thesedays as maybe it would have done 20 years ago.

That said I believe you are spot on with the rest of your post.

I look at our backs and in all honesty we have 3 decent players.

Sam
Josh
Goulding (The only natural centre we have left)


Pat can kick, but apart from that...........
Our halves are worse than rubbish, and are added to the list of bizzare signings as of late