: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:04 am  

Nat (Rugby_Aholic) wrote:

Give over Pepsi Max. Our best players yesterday were Penky and Gleeson. Two of the new contract players.

Well its the first game i have missed all season so i was asking the question thats all .
So come on what do think has caused the massive dip in form then ? or is it something that just happens ?

I am not saying that this is THE reason why the first half was bad, but part of Pepsi's point was B. the ones without contracts are upset.

Thankyou for reading the rest of my post.

[Nat (Rugby_Aholic)]

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:13 am  

Tiredness; we have a small squad and it is hard having every team play against you like it’s a grand final. We don’t have the ability to rest key players (especially forwards) as much as in previous years, e.g. Larder looked knackered on Sunday. At this time last year we brought in Flanagan, perhaps another loan signing will give us a bit of freshness.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:35 am  

Nat (Rugby_Aholic) wrote:

Tiredness; we have a small squad and it is hard having every team play against you like it’s a grand final. We don’t have the ability to rest key players (especially forwards) as much as in previous years, e.g. Larder looked knackered on Sunday. At this time last year we brought in Flanagan, perhaps another loan signing will give us a bit of freshness.

Good point but what about players in the squad that have hardly played this season ? The Bowmans & Wrenchy for example. I dont know the team from yesterday, were they playing?

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:49 am  

Nat (Rugby_Aholic) wrote:

Tiredness; we have a small squad and it is hard having every team play against you like it’s a grand final. We don’t have the ability to rest key players (especially forwards) as much as in previous years, e.g. Larder looked knackered on Sunday. At this time last year we brought in Flanagan, perhaps another loan signing will give us a bit of freshness.

We must stop 'sulking' and feeling sorry for ourselves after a defeat like we did again yesterday, the first half we did not work hard enough they were well worth a commanding lead although we should have taken our chances and had something on the scoreboard, I must say Roberts just is not a centre, no way.
As for the pack where were Neil Cherryholme and Dana Wilson yesterday?? Why persist with an out of form Dave Larder? We must strengthen the pack and soon a loanee and start looking for a stand off for next season NOW.
Our kicking game is nearly non existant or just plain poor, the one area where we are worse than last season following Hollys move, get somebody to take the responsibility Matt, Gateshead killed us first half with their kicks.

A big well done for coming back at them though, we must come out of the blocks quick on Friday and batter Leigh (sorry Leythers).
I trust this team ,we will, come on lads put yesterday firmly behind you, we have not become a bad team we just need to re focus and kick on.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:50 am  

The Bowmans should have gone out on loan this season to keep them sharp, there is nothing better than playing to keep "Match Fit", with a recall at any time clause. I'm sure they'll figure again against a crap team at home. Calland doesn't seem to play the lads against quality opposition.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:53 am  

jeffvickers wrote:

The Bowmans should have gone out on loan this season to keep them sharp, there is nothing better than playing to keep "Match Fit", with a recall at any time clause. I'm sure they'll figure again against a crap team at home. Calland doesn't seem to play the lads against quality opposition.

Andy Bowman was poor yesterday, gave away at leat 3 penalties and did not make much impact tbh.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:16 am  

Fax4Life wrote:

Andy Bowman was poor yesterday, gave away at leat 3 penalties and did not make much impact tbh.

Underlining Jeffs comments about match fitness then.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:18 am  

Pepsi Max wrote:

Underlining Jeffs comments about match fitness then.

Our fitness is not an issue, remember who was out on their feet last week and what was the score second half yesterday.
Our problem is no stand off and we are missing Matt James and need another second rower.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:44 am  

I was saying yesterday that I think the squad running at 23 is too small, It doesn't give us the chance to rest players the same as if we had another 5 or 6 squad players.

Quite a few other teams have brought players in mid season. Yet up to now this year we havn't (apart from Hemingway).

We have the same players, playing each week and fatigue must slowly be becoming an issue. When your top of the league (or near the top) everyone wants to beat you and will raise their game (even more so after the country mile comment) so every game is going to be a test. A few bigger squad would have taken a bit of the pressure off those playing every week

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:52 am  

Brew wrote:

A few bigger squad would have taken a bit of the pressure off those playing every week

But those playing "every week" may get annoyed at "rotation football". When we're winning - it's difficult to keep everyone happy. When we lose then the coach can justify dropping some. Besides, we don't have enough dosh to support such a squad.