Quote Rogues Gallery="Rogues Gallery"We could go back to having young players like Wild, Brown, Aspinwall, Hodgson, Robinson etc in the team, but we would be playing Leigh, Widnes, Barrow etc.
It doesn't matter where the players come from. I'd love 17 Wigan lads but it isn't going to happen because they are simply not good enough in total.
I don't care if we win the cup or Superleague with17 St. Helens born players, 17 Chinese, 17 Africans or some mixture if they are the best available at that time.'"
The selection issue for this game ought not to be about foreign players or not. At the moment we have a certain number of foreign players in the 1st team squad who are our senior players so they are going to get games. We will see how Wigan intend to proceed on this depending on what happens to Bailey and Phelps and who is recruited for 2010.
The selection issue for Celtic for me puts the spotlight right back on Noble and how he deals with the absence of three players.
He can do one of two things. Revert to how he selected teams in 2007 and 2008 which was to ignore the junior players and play his favourites even if that was out of position when we faced lowly opposition. In other words pass up the chance to give younger players experience against the weaker teams.
Or he could introduce some younger players.
There is no way Noble or anyone else should be worried about securing a win v a team with Celtics record. This isn't arrogance it's common sense in that are are by far the worst team in the league.
So if Noble retains his 2007/2008 selection policy against Celtic then I seriously hope we have a new coach next season.
Unfortunately to use Nobles own words I suspect he will "cobble together" a side. I hope I am pleasantly surprised and proven wrong but I aint holding my breath.
Dave
I couldn't resist
