Riddell could find the cure for cancer and David would still complain as he replaced his beloved Michael Higham.

Smith was injured at first (ankle, I think), then he was magnificent.

Rogue,

For some reason I couldn't reply to your post inviting Dave to go to the South Stand to see that Riddell isn't so fat.

I keep imagining you carrying one of those mirrors from the fair ground that distorts the body shape and Riddell innocently walking in front of it.

Then Feka pushing him out of the way.

I just wasn't very good ...

When we were arriving at the ground on Friday Riddell was walking from the players car park.



I was walking alongside Barnsley Pie who posts on here. He commented on Riddells size saying that some of the posters on here would be surprised that Riddell was not as fat as they thought.

I agree, Rogue. He wouldn't last 50 mins if he was that fat. It's just the invitation to the South Stand conjured up a surreal picture for me.

Looking at the stats in comparison to Cunningham the only thing Riddell needs to do to improve to be on a par if not better then Cunninghams level of preformence is to take the line on a little more. He's been doing that more recently and he always causes problems.



If the lad has a really commited pre season next year I think we'll see a better player in 2010.

He committed to a pre season in 2009 in case you forgot. Was supposedly coming over early to get up to speed and settle in. As to being on a par with KFC with some improvement, you have seen them both play and one is clearly far better than the other.



Dave

It wasn't one bad pass. It was one bad pass and a ridiculous kick

But it isn't just one game or a couple of mistakes I am making my judgement on. It is now virtually a complete season and IMO he has had significantly more poor games than he has had good and I do not subscribe to the notion there has been a steady improvement. He still remains as likely to have a bad game as he does a good one IMO.







He looks unfit whether he is fat or not.



I do no think we will see much different from him next season and I don't think that is good enough for a player in his position, one of the key positions on the pitch.



Dave

He had a pre season in 2009 but picked up a knee injury half way through and missed one of the friendlies due to that.



I'll be the first to admit i'd like to see some improvment from him on a couple of fronts at the start of 2010 but i also feel he's got that improvment in him.



He's not been spectacular but has been solid enough and can get better.

One makes more metres, but makes less tackles, misses more tackles, makes more errors and gives away more penalties, and WAS once a great hooker.



They are different types of hooker. Cunningham is a runner from dummy half, Riddell is a distributing hooker.



Is it any coincidence that Wigan backs have scored more tries than any other back division this season?

Rubbish.



I've rarely seen Mark Riddell actually play poor this season.



His technique, tackle completion, distribution and organizational play is consistantly very good. He just sometimes hasn't raise his game in certain fixtures, and that IMO is mainly down to not taking the line as much as he should.