Agree with that, I would love to have Colbon in the squad instead of Mathers. Centres are more important than wingers and I would rather have a world class centre with Colbon on the wing that a winger with and average centre.

Look at the potential team under Nobby compared to the team when he arrived.

Richards
Roberts Bailey Carmont Ainscough
Tomkins Smith
Fielden Tommy O Carroll
Hock Lockers
Tomkins
-----------------
Hansen Feka Pryce Riddell

OR

Ashton
Calderwood McAvoy Vaeakilli Dallas
Orr Moron
Logan Higham Seuseu
Hock Fletcher
Lockers
--------------
Hansen Godwin Tickle Hargreaves

and remember that team was VERY close to going down.

Isn't McGuire younger than Pryce thus putting a hole in your original statement re not giving young players a chance?

The extent people go to, to have a go at Noble!

Jeez do you HAVE to post that old team? I am trying to erase it from my memory.

Mr Coley wouldn't have got a game though

Blimey. Some people really do go to extreme lengths to have a pop @ Nobby.

It's getting pathetic and downright annoying now.

Im not doing it, but think people who do have a pop at him are entitled to their opinion. Some people have yet to accept that we are not going to be as dominant as we once were.

If he had not played O'Carroll and Prescott who else would he have played? Don't forget in his first season IL said we would not sign any new props given who we had on the books. Nobby had no choice but to play these two players.

If O'Loughlin had not got injured would J Tomkins have got the game time last season and left Noble with the dilemma of which back row to drop (one he has not worked out the answer to yet)? I would say not.

Had injuries to the likes of Phelps and suspensions not occurred would he have played Ainscough and S Tomkins? I would say not again.

It seems pretty clear to me he has only played younger players and diverted from his preferred 1st team ever since he has been at Wigan when his had was forced.

Unless someone can convince me otherwise I would not be surprised if this is how the young players at Bradford came through as well i.e. not due to a deliberate policy of Noble's but only when his had was forced.

Unless you look at the circumstances as to when new players get introduced it looks as though Noble has been responsible for bringing in young talent at Wigan i.e the players I mention above J & S Tomkins, O'Carroll, Prescott and Ainscough. In fact when you look at the circumstances of their debuts his had was forced into playing them each time.

Anyone who thinks different is daft IMO.

Dave

Did Noble play the young players in question yes or no? YES he did. Most young players become starting 17 material through some kind of oppurtunity. Wigan young players have got there oppurtunity and that is the end of the matter.

You are daft IMO.

You know as well as I do that he only played these players when he had no alternative. Everything I said about the circumstances he chose to play these players under is correct and you can't dispute it. As you didn't because you can't.

Its as plain as the nose on your face he has only played J & S Tomkins and Ainscough when injuries and suspensions have occurred because that is when and ONLY when he has played them. Given this has happened several times it is not possible it is pure coincidence and that it was all some sort of master plan to introduce these players at the time he did.

Saying he has played them so that is all that matters is to be honest too stupid for words. It is important these players have got the game time that have but it should be by design and not by accident and by accident which is exactly how it has happened. It's obvious and why people won't see this I really do not know.

I'd hate for you to be on a jury if Nobby was up for drink driving having failed the breath test because despite all the evidence he was over the limit you would say he was not guilty even if he had run your granny over.

Dave

By the age Sam Tomkins is now, Roby had played 40-odd SL games for St Helens.

its not often i agree with Dave O....BUT this time i think he is right....Ainy and Tomkins wouldn't have been in the team if it wasn't for injuries/ suspensions and lets be honest if Ainscough had not had a fantastic game he would of been dropped...thats how Nobby does it. he likes to stick by HIS players no matter what.