Briscoe, Tickle, Newton and Wild.

]

Like..?

I would probably only take Steven Wild out of them for Phil Bailey. But even then we have Lee Mossop and Liam Farrell coming through the reserves with Tomkins Hock and Hansen already in the first team squad.

I think we've had the best years out of Newton for sure - I'd take him over Riddell (at the moment) given Riddell's form. At the time it was a bigger loss than it now.

I'd take Shaun Briscoe over Mathers but that's no compliment to Briscoe that's just how bad Mathers is. At the moment with Pat at fullback, Roberts and Ainscough on the wings with Pryce to cover I wouldn't have him back.

Jerome Guisset is probably the only player out of there I would really take back. He's much better than Coley and would do a cracking job, I really rate Guisset and was disappointed when we could not keep hold of him for another season.

I would have liked to have seen Chris Melling been given more of a chance. He was a great utility player (much better than Phelps) and was a fantastic goalkicker as well. Under the right environment he could have been (still could be) a really great player. It didn't suprise that he got a GB call up and a starting place as well.

If Ryles hadn't been injured i still think we could have got Guisset this season. Like you say he’s hands down better than Coley. Was he not the Cat’s and French captain also? I’m not saying he’s an Andy Faz type leader but he’s better than what we have.

Melling is a good player but at the time we had just signed Withers and Ashton had exploded onto the scene. Quins came in and offered him more money than we wanted/should have paid him. I don’t think he’s gonna be great tho and I’d still take Colbon over him if faced with a choice of the two.

I would have back atm-

Briscoe
Wild
Robinson
Newton
Hargreaves (better than Coley)

Agree with that

Would take Wild back in the centres

I think Riddell will come good

Some make it sound like Briscoe over Mathers but its more like Ainscough instead of Mathers

Which is the back 3 would you rather have

Briscoe Roberts Richards
Richards Roberts Ainscough

The latter one for me (mainly thinking of the future)

Would take Guisset over Coley but think there will be better quality available at the end of the season, just got to hope IL blows the cobwebs off his wallet

In Mike Gregorys autobiography it says that Maurice Lindsay told him he had to get rid of three youngsters in order to keep Adrian Lam. But Wild diddn't want to leave but was forced out. Well something along those lines, is that right anyone whos read it?

Compare that to IMO our best starting 13:


1. Shaun Briscoe/Pat Richards - Richards
2. Dave Hodgson/Amos Roberts - Roberts
3. Paul Johnson/Darrell Goulding - Goulding, Johnson injured too much
4. Chris Melling/ George Carmont - Carmont
5. Martin Aspinwall/ Shaun Ainscough - Ainscough
6. Danny Orr/Tim Smith - Smith
7. Luke Robinson/ Tommy Leulaui - Leuluai
8. Jerome Guisset/Stu Fielden - Fielden
9. Terry Newton/Mark Riddell - Newton
10. Danny Sculthorpe/Feka - Feka
11. Danny Tickle/ Hock - Hock
12. Bryn Hargreaves/ Tomkins - Tomkins
13. Stephen Wild / Lockers - Lockers


So basically the reason we got rid of all of those players (except newton) is justified, they are all players who want to be playing first team every week and if they were still at wigan they would just be here in place of mathers, phelps, bailey, coley etc and just looking at that team makes me feel bored, bottom table team imo, wouldnt even beat warrington

It was Ian Lenegan that took Melling to Harlequins so he obviously rates him.

Yes I read that as well. Mike didn't want to put too much pressure on Luke Robinson to replace Lam but he thought he could handle it nevertheless with the experience in the side as well.

He also wanted to sign Andy Coley, Gareth Ellis , Martin Gleeson and one other player who slips my mind. Andy Coley we wouldn't sign because he was not Wigan standard. (And yet 2 years later ML signs him) Gareth Ellis wanted to stay in Yorkshire & Martin Gleeson had played for Saints.

How on earth can a player be "replaced" by somone when they end up playing the same team given they both featured in the 1st 17 all season and in Tickle's case played 5 more games in the back row than Fletcher?

The reason given for letting Tickle go was salary cap constraints not he was being replaced by a player already here! Had we signed another 2nd row for 2007 you might have a point. They were members of the same squad in 2006.

Riddell repleaced Higham because Higham left. Riddell has not replaced McIllorum as the latter is still here. Likewise Fletcher did not replace Tickle.

Dave

I cant believe people wanting Tickle back. It shows what short memorys people have. In his last season he was plain lazy taking the ball up. Such was his disinterest in running the ball in hard he was flattened by Vinnie Anderson. He also had a poor attitude off the pitch. I have edited the rest out as I am sure such accusations are unacceptable on here.

I spoke to somebody who was involved with Tickle at another club and is now quite a prominent figure in Rugby League.

He was adamant that if you could get Tickle out of the betting shop and onto the training park he could be a good player.

Briscoe mentioned the other day he'd love to come back to Wigan at some point