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

As discussed between mini rogue and jonh, the Wigan careers of the likes of Joel Tomkins, Darrel Goulding, Harrison Hansen, Feka and for me Lee Mossop hang in the balance in 2010 which is great because we will see some real effort from the word go id've thought..

February's miles away though

Not bad

What i wish and what i think are slightly different but what i think is:-

Phelps
Roberts
Gleeson
Carmont
Richards
Tomkins
LuLu
Fielden
Piggy
Prescott
Hansen
Bailey
Lockers

Feka, Coley, Deacon, Goulding....

What i'd like to see is....

Roberts
Ainscough
Gleeson
Goulding
Richards
Tomkins
LuLu
Fielden
Piggy
Prescott
Lockers
Bailey
Tomkins (J)

Feka, Coley, Phelps, Deacon

Loving how nobody agrees with selection at the moment, just hope we don't all spend our time moaning all season (me included), and if we do, here's hoping we will all be pushing to get different players in rather than out this time around...

No carmont?

Feka I agree with but to say the future of the rest "hangs in the balance" is way, way over the top IMO.

Hansen is the oldest at 24 (and very underrated IMO), Tomkins is 22, Goulding 21 and Mossop 20.

If they were all four years older then maybe so but to suggest players of their ages are in some sort of last chance saloon is IMO ridiculous especially given they have all done well for us. They may not do it every week but look how old they are. The senior pros have failed just as badly at times but these players have the potential to get better.

Dave

Totally agree with this post