Then you have a funny way at looking at a team sport. You can only be poor if you've not acheived what your coach tasked you with doing - even given the errors I think he probably did that. You might need to not make those amount of errors to have a better than good game, but eitherway how can you possibly slip to 'poor' (unless the word poor means something totally different to the people here saying it than it does to me)..

This may not go too well on here but:-
I think Stu Fielden in his four and a half year has been a superb signing for Wigan. His commitment and attitude have been excellent. How many games has he missed?

Forget his salary, that's not he's fault. I really hope he signs an extension (at the right price)
Certainly MM has commented on Fieldens professional attitude.

I don't have the stats on me, but I recall him giving Leeds the ball in our half at least three times, and once on the halfway line. That's inexcusable.

No it's inexcusable if you do bugger all else to make it right.

When you put in 38 tackles, and bust your ass trying to make up for every mistake you make, what bloody more can a player do?

I reckon he'll have a stormer on Friday

Perhaps I should have been more specific but as we were talking about him losing the ball at the play the ball I thought that was understood.

I know that's what you meant mate, I was just trying to point out that some errors go more noticed and stick in peoples heads than others

We were talking about this at the U20 game on Saturday. A friend had studied Fieldens errors at the play the ball and said that he appears to carry the ball in one hand and then transfer it to the other as he plays the ball. It does then cause problems especially if he is trying to do this very quickly.

Quite possibly Brian, I'll take a look to see if this correlatres with his fumbles and knock-ons in future games (although I hope I don't get the chance as he's already corrected it! )

I have noticed the one hand carry as he gets to his feet, but I have seen others do this without any problems so I discounted that. However, if he's changing hands too, that could well be the reason. The coaching staff need to get onto this right away IMO. For now I'd have him regaining his feet slightly slower. I think he tries just a little too hard for a quick play the ball which, in itself, is admirable but also has a cost in terms of ball security. The proverbial swings and roundabouts I suppose!

Overall, Fielden has been no where near as bad as most people make out for wigan. Sure, he had the odd ocasion where he was totally dominated by a front row of randoms but on the whole he was at least workman like.

The problem is, for the wage he is on, you want someone like Graham or an NRL prop. On a reduced wage he is an asset.

What's happened is history. Thankfully a lot of his salary will be released to use elsewhere within the squad. I hope he stays on a much reduced wage, he's seems much happier playing the game these days after some hard (and sad) times a couple of years ago.