One thing I will say about Coleman. Similar to Betts, he has his hands tied in relation to budget.

Last season he delivered Widnes’s best year since 2016 and people shouldn’t lose sight of that. We have had coach after coach who has failed, we found one who succeeded in his first season and he should be allowed to build on that for 2/3 years.

I will say this, recruitment from him needs to improve, signing players in bulk from Swinton who were relegated isn’t going to improve a team wanting to hit play offs.

I thought one of the reasons he was brought here was his ability to work wonders on a budget.How does Creary manage at Barrow with his budget ? Always an excuse for mediocrity here at Widnes.

@sinbad very true that also when we played swinton they were a aggressive side whereas we have no aggression at all

@sinbad I am not sure why needs excuses? He reached target last year and still has the opportunity to reach the clubs target for this year.

Whats the alternative? Sack him, start the process again and rewind. A club like Widnes that have been shocking on and off the pitch for 8 years now shouldn’t hound any manager out of a job after a poor run. Especially if he proved his worth last season.

Is it the plastic pitch that puts better players coming to Widnes? Lyons, Gilmore and Jack Owens all need replacing with better players who can run and create tries. Coleman seems a guy who has his favourites no matter how poor they play. Why sign Bennion, Bailey, Jones, Buckley and never play them? He talks team is busted, but plays a 80% player over Bailey and Bennion? They are not injured, so Coleman needs to learn to utilise his squad to keep players fresh. Bored of all the excuses he needs to turn this around otherwise there will be more fans dropping off and booing. Fingers crossed Mcwhirter and Maizen give us a boost. Bent can't break a wet paper bag, Kirk for a man mountain is poor, and Bennion never plays. So for me Coleman has recruited poorly and not improved the team from last year. A running number 6 is a must player. 

I can not understand players are busted, but  Bailey and Bennion seem fit but he does not seem to rate them? If it is the case why sign them which is definitely a waste of money? I want Coleman to succeed because seems a nice guy but looks like the pressure is getting to him. Lloyd and Butt have been the better players from Swinton, but I think he needs to come away from the mate scenario and get the best players he can get within the budget. I am also not a fan of Jack Owens, Lyons and Gilmore never kicks far to touch? Drives me mad gaining 5 yards to touch, so why not kick at least another 30 meters to put more pressure on the opposition? Hope the 2 new signing re-inject some new life into the team, and if using dual or loan we need to use it better otherwise same circle every season.  

I think we need to give Bailey a run of games from the bench. Having both Bent and Roberts leaves us too small for the Championship. I would go with Roberts for the fact he can cover the centre position if we suffer injury. 

In the Championship you need 4 big props to rotate, 3 strong running back rows and 2 good hookers. We have just got our hooker back, we have lost Wilde so are short of a running back rower and Coleman doesn't seem to fancy Bennion or Bailey based on recent team selection.  But we now have a new Aussie prop.

Based on the age and size of Bailey I would say im going to pick you for a run of 5 games and give the lad a chance to build confidence, match fitness and settle in. Lets face it, after the last 5 games what have we got to lose giving him a run of games. 

@dan1 I agree mate according to his interview on total rl we are running with one of the smallest salary cap in the division so how is that happening? It has to be the stadium

@vikingfox71 After administration, we submitted a very conservative squad budget to the RFL, I wonder if this ever increased?

We shouldn't be struggling to compete at this level so I take it the stadium is draining us