He is particulary good though Dave. He has made the fullback spot his own. He did not just walk into it either he beat decent candidates for the role in both Roberts and Richards. We look a better team with him at fullback and we are alot more dangerous in attack.

As Grego said, Smith is on his way regardless and Bailey 100% has to leave as we have three good enough players in Mossop, Farrell and Flannagan more than capable of stepping up. I do not see why would have to lose a good player on a small wage who has demonstrated very clearly he wants to play and give his all for Wigan RL.

We do, but not according to those who love Shaun Ainscough because it is easy to blame Phelps for him not being selected - irrespective of Phelps being as you say the #1 fullback at the club.



I tell you why - his name isn't Shaun Ainscough and it's his fault Ainscough has faults to his game.

Agreed...I was trying to not get drawn into the Ainscough debate as its utterly pointless.

If only all the players had the commitment and passion Phelps has ..

If it was a straight decision between Roberts and Phelps it's Phelps for me.

Phelps is average at best, i'm not saying Roberts is the ideal solution but he is here on a 4 year deal. If we are really wanting to make move forwards we must remove the deadwood and average players from the squad, so for me its bye bye Phelps. Great effort but simply not good enough, if we hope to be a top 3 club competing for silverware.

I do agree, but I think he should be offered another one year deal, to see what sort of player he can develop into. Still quite young.

This is what I am trying to say. Ideally I'd get rid of Roberts but we can't.

Phelps may have made the full back spot his own but that isn't saying much at Wigan currently.

There is also the fact the none federation trained limit drops from 8 to 6 next year. I read on Mike's forum that means with IL saying he is after recruiting two players both Carmont and Phelps will have to leave to accommodate the new signings assuming Bailey and Smith going get us down to 6. These are the only none federation trained players out of contract so if we want to recruit two players all four have to go to keep us within the limit.

So it's a case of do we want to keep Phelps and not bring in a prop or half back from overseas (and that is what IL said he was doing)?

If we keep Phelps then this means looking to recruit from within the GB federation (how likely is that?) or sticking with what we have e.g. TL and Sam being the half backs or giving Coley a new deal.

So if we keep Phelps it compromises recruitment elsewhere so as I said you need to look beyond individual players and look at how you are to strengthen the team. Keeping Phelps reduces the flexibility to do that a great deal.

Dave

Said this months ago when ainny first came through......1h a day with rads he'd be a different player....Shows you what a muppet Noble is when hes got one of the worlds greatest full backs in his coaching team who could give anyone a masterclass on making the ball yours, and he fails to utilise him properly and players have to GO to rads rather than nobby saying Amos / Ainscough etc. get learning off radlinkski

I second that!!!
I'd send Roberts back to Oz on the first plane available as he has done nothing so far this season, and i'd replace him with Ainscough. Ainscough and Phelps have shown more enthusiasm and excitement at playing for the team than Roberts. Noble drops Ainscough for making a few mistakes, but Roberts has made just as many if not more but he doesnt get dropped and hes meant to be a more experienced player!! what a joke!! Keep Phelps and send Amos back!

Take it you've not read Rad's book then...

LOL!