Great post, thank you.

I don't think there can be any conceivable negativity about this development now. Kris Radlinski would perform every one of these functions admirably.

brilliant appointment

I like that phrase in bold and it hits the nail on the head as to what the club needs and is getting.



When Lam's name was mooted as a potential coach never mind football manager I am on record on here as being not convinced as I thought he hadn't been away from the playing side long enough.



Your views on him seem to concur with mine. Hopefully one day he will develop into a top coach but I think we have so far made appoints of the "adult with no personal problems" nature including MM as well as Rads and SW.



Appointing Lam would have been a bit like appointing Alex Murphy instead of Graham Lowe at this stage of Lam's career IMO.



Dave

I totally agree. Lam was beset with off-field problems even as a player and at the height of his power. I'm sure it would be a gamble appointing him now, given that he's achieved very little as a coach, and has few people down under singing his praises the way they were about Maguire.

Time for a lie down in a dark room.



I agree with DaveO again.

As you know I don't live in Wigan and so never know what to make of the off-field problems certain players have supposed to have had that crop up on here every now and again but what I have always said is that it wasn't professional behavior if any of these reports were true.



This usually ended up in a debate about it not being anyones business what players get up to out of hours and being young lads they should be allowed to relax and enjoy themselves (meaning getting paralytic not just having the odd beer).



I think it's safe to say that sort of behavior won't be tolerated anymore. With Rads focus on the clubs ethos and the kind of training (in particular the monitoring of players recovery times etc) we are hearing any players who's performance drops off compared to what is expected will have some explaining to do!



This sort of professional behavior off-field is something I felt was lacking and getting it back (because we used to have it as a club) is an important aspect of getting the players to perform better. I am sure Rads will help instill the importance of players looking after themselves all the time into the squad. Most won't need to be told and probably do so anyway but I'd expect to hear less tales and see fewer rumours about off-field activities that cropped up about Lam and others in the future with Rads and the rest of the coaching team in charge.



Dave

Around the time he was writing his book, Rads went out on a limb - without actually naming names - to make comments about the Wigan ethos being absent. He never actually said that too many Wigan players are on the p122, but I felt it was implied. According to Rads, the attitude among the playing staff was simply wrong. He did not deem it professional enough for a club like Wigan, and now, thankfully, he's in a position to do something about it.



I completely agree about the 'getting ratted in Wigan' routine that's apparently bedevilled us in recent seasons. I've never accepted this "young lads should be allowed to go out and do what they want when they're not at work" attitude. To me, that's the height of amateurism - they're getting paid to be athletes, and therefore should NOT be allowed to go out and do anything they want if it impinges on their athletic performance.



At the end of the day, it's a short but potentially very lucrative career. They can go on the lash all they want when they're in their 30s.

I can't argue with any of this. However, doesn't Rads himself refer to getting slaughtered a few times in his book?

Also as a senior pro shouldnt he have done more to ensure that the wigan ethos didnt die with the bells, edwards of this world.



Its easy to point fingers.

I think there's a difference between 'a few times' and every weekend (and then some!) as was the case with certain players in recent times.

This (bit in bold) has always been my view and thankfully it seems out of fashion at the moment.



I agree about the career aspect as well. What opportunity these young lads have.



Dave