I'd go with your line up. However I think you are being a bit harsh on O'Carroll who IMO can easily compete with Prescott.

Goulding just looks to be behind two better centres but overall your side is one that contains players I would expect to respond readily to the new tough fitness orientated regime we are supposed to be getting.

How Roberts will respond will be interesting. He needs to become the player IL signed him to be - IL's "flying winger". If his form is as erratic as last season he will not last long IMO.

Feka and Riddell must get fit before even being considered or that will undermine the new ethos. You can hardly flog the players in training and then pick two unfit ones ahead of those who have done the work.

Same with Pryce. Make or break year for Pryce. If MM & SW can get him fit and raring to go he could be an awesome player.

Dave

1. Phelps
2. Roberts
3. Gleeson
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Tomkins
7. Tommy
8. Prescott
9. Riddell
10.Coley
11.Tomkins
12.Hansen
13.O'Loughlin

14.Fielden
15.Feka
16.Mossop
17.McIlurom


EDITED.. McIlurom doesnt deserve to be left out. Deacon should be back up nothing more IMO. If things dont start well then bring him into the squad

I think Goulding was unlucky under Noble. He got dropped after being far from poor as Noble did his usual squad selection then when he was called back from Salford after showing some form back here he got injured.

I think if he gets a chance next season he must grasp it but Carmont only has a one year deal with the option of another and in the 2nd year it's expected (I think) we see him act more as cover than first choice and this may give Goulding his chance.

Dave

Thats the team that i would also go with if the season was to start tommorow and everyone was fit

1. Phelps
2. Roberts
3. Gleeson
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Tomkins
7. Deacon
8. Coley
9. Riddell
10. Prescott
11. Hansen
12. Bailey
13. O'Loughlin

14. Leuluai
15. Feka
16. Mossop
17. Fielden

Totally disagree, we should play them even if they're not fit



Of course they should only play if they're fit. The same goes for everyone else in the team.

Like AJ I agree with this, though I'd have Tommy and Deacs playing 60 mins and Riddell 40, unless his fitness increases as his weight decreases.

what is great about this discussion is the great depth in the squad we have, insofar as no one has comne up with the same ideal starting line up. I think it might depend on the team we are playing and the weather conditions. A wet spring night blowing a gale (Hull KR) last year springs to mind we would definatly benefit from deacons kicking. Against the top teams we might want piggy to direct us around the field. I think MM has the grounding to select a team given the opponents as well as the performence in training. GOD I CANT WAIT UNTILL THE BEGINNING OF FEB!!!!!!!

1.Phelps
2.Roberts
3.Gleeson
4.Carmont
5.Richards
6.Tomkins
7.Leuluai
8.Prescott
9.Riddel
10.Coley
11.Hansen
12.Tomkins
13.O'Loughlin

14.Fielden
15.Palea'aesina
16.Mossop
17.McIlorum

19.Goulding
20.Pryce
21.Ainscough
22.Deacon
23.O'Carroll
24.Farrell
25.Davies
26.Tuson
27.Thornley

etc imo

1. Phelps
2. Roberts
3. Gleeson
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Tomkins
7. Deacon
8. Prescott
9. Leuluai
10. Coley
11. Bailey
12. Tomkins
13. O'Loughlin

14 Mossop
15 Hansen
16 O' Carroll
17 Fielden

Would keep Leuluai out at 9 all game, he can swap with Deacon at times. After all the Aussie's tend to run with a 9 for 80mins, so it can be done.

So with Paul Deacon now joining Martin Gleeson back at his hometown club, I wonder how many 'Wigan lads' or 'Wigan trained' players we will have in our squad this year?

Shaun Ainscough
Paul Deacon
Martin Gleeson
Sam Tomkins
Joel Tomkins
Lee Mossop
Paul Prescott
Eamon O'carroll
Mike McIlorum
Sean O'loughlin
Darrell Goulding
Harrison Hansen
Liam Farrell
Ben Davies
Chris Tuson
Ian Thornley

I make that 16 as it stands at the moment. So I wonder how many more we will promote?

Josh Vievers?
Stefan Marsh?
Joe Mellor?
Neil Holland?


We could have around 20 Wigan trained/born players in our squad which is outstanding IMO. Not to mention Shaun Wane, Kris Radlinski (Paul Deacon as well), Mark Bitcon, Mike Forshaw and John Pendlebury all having being born in Wigan/played for Wigan in the coaching setup. I can't remember a time when there was a bigger Wigan influence around the club which is fantastic.

1. Phelps
2. Ainscough
3. Gleeson
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Tomkins
7. Deacon
8. Coley
9. Leuluai
10. Paleaaesina
11. Hansen
12. Bailey
13. Lockers