Re: Player Ratings : Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:37 pm  

Chief Scout wrote:

What's with the Matty Smith loving? Let if go for gods sake! He is not good enough.

You haven't exactly proven yourself an authority on here! However, as you will note if you read my post, I don't want to discuss it any further.

Re: Player Ratings : Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:49 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

But he still made the initial break. Most tries are scored as a result of multiple hands, same as the next one I cited. But someone has to start the ball rolling just as someone has to finish it off.

Ironic that he did, really, given that he failed to notice a free man on his right and instead passed to his left to give away a certain try himself! I don't like it when Wello blasts inexperienced players just because he's frustrated that we are losing. But there is a sense of justice when he then goes and does something stupid himself.

The team looked livelier; no better though. They still dropped balls, gave away penalties, defended poorly, etc. They just did it in a livelier manner.

I'll leave it there though as I'm not going to get dragged into another argument with you. I found the whole performance upsetting enough as it is without listening to one of the least experienced lads on the pitch getting pilloried for what was a dismal display by everyone (to varying degrees), including our dumb former coach.

I'm with you on most of this (as I am with most of your views on HP).

The pass to wilkin was a mistake, but as much wilkins mistake as smiths. I'm not totally convinced wilikin meant to be a dummy runner. As a dummy runner I wouldn't have thought you would block your own players line of sight for passing. Certainly when I was watching it, me and 5000 other fans around me thought wilikin had dropped a perfectly good pass which should have led to a certain try.

Smith did knock on with the try line at his mercy but most of the team also did!!

Re: Player Ratings : Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:21 pm  

saint at wire wrote:

I'm with you on most of this (as I am with most of your views on HP).

The pass to wilkin was a mistake, but as much wilkins mistake as smiths. I'm not totally convinced wilikin meant to be a dummy runner. As a dummy runner I wouldn't have thought you would block your own players line of sight for passing. Certainly when I was watching it, me and 5000 other fans around me thought wilikin had dropped a perfectly good pass which should have led to a certain try.

Smith did knock on with the try line at his mercy but most of the team also did!!

You and 5000 other fans aren't good enough to play scrum half for us either (I was one of them until I saw a replay.)

I'm not blaming Smith for the defeat, he didn't perform excellently, but then I don't think anyone really expected him to. He just showed that he isn't good enough to play for a team challenging for honours at this moment in time.

Re: Player Ratings : Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:49 am  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

I'm not blaming Smith for the defeat, he didn't perform excellently, but then I don't think anyone really expected him to. He just showed that he isn't good enough to play for a team challenging for honours at this moment in time.

So because he didn't do what Longy failed to do for three consecutive years, he isn't good enough to play for a team challenging for honours? Was Longy not good enough for Saints either then? By your reasoning he wasn't because he didn't perform 'excellently' at any of the previous three Grand Finals. So I suppose it must always be the scrum half's fault if we lose a match. I must remember that next season, should Kyle not have a good day in a big match!

I think it's really unfair to blame the inexperienced players for our performance on Saturday night. The responsibility for that shambles lies with our experienced players, of which we had many and most of whom gave a poor to dismal performance.

Re: Player Ratings : Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:54 am  

saint at wire wrote:

The pass to wilkin was a mistake, but as much wilkins mistake as smiths. I'm not totally convinced wilikin meant to be a dummy runner. As a dummy runner I wouldn't have thought you would block your own players line of sight for passing. Certainly when I was watching it, me and 5000 other fans around me thought wilikin had dropped a perfectly good pass which should have led to a certain try.

I would agree. Also, when coaching juniors, it is instilled into them always to be ready for the ball. So whether Wilkin was the dummy runner or not - and like you, I'm not convinced - he should still have been ready to collect the ball. I don't go with the 'not ready' excuse at any time. All players should be alert to the ball at all times.

Smith did knock on with the try line at his mercy but most of the team also did!!

He did and I felt for him. But as you say he wasn't the only one. Keiron finished his career off beautifully with a knock on. Paul Wellens effectively passed to a Wigan player with the line at his mercy. Tony P disappeared up his own jumper. Meli gave away two penalties. The whole team was a shambles. It still amazes me that we weren't nilled.

Re: Player Ratings : Wed Oct 06, 2010 1:31 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

So because he didn't do what Longy failed to do for three consecutive years, he isn't good enough to play for a team challenging for honours? Was Longy not good enough for Saints either then? By your reasoning he wasn't because he didn't perform 'excellently' at any of the previous three Grand Finals. So I suppose it must always be the scrum half's fault if we lose a match. I must remember that next season, should Kyle not have a good day in a big match!

I think it's really unfair to blame the inexperienced players for our performance on Saturday night. The responsibility for that shambles lies with our experienced players, of which we had many and most of whom gave a poor to dismal performance.

Ididn't think you were talking to me anymore on this topic?

Long wasn't fit in 07 and was past it in 09. As I've said I don't blame Smith for the defeat, however he is limited player in what he offers for me and the promised solid kicking game never appeared. What the game confirmed for me is that he doesn't offer enough beyond his kicking game to be kept on at this moment in time

Re: Player Ratings : Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:44 am  

after the wire game you was all saying it was a mistake letting smith go then he has 1 bad game and you slate him real bad sore losers

Re: Player Ratings : Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:57 am  

Willows Road wrote:

after the wire game you was all saying it was a mistake letting smith go then he has 1 bad game and you slate him real bad sore losers

The people who were saying that still think that in the main, the people who weren't still aren't.

You signed a decent scrum half, but that's all he is and as a club looking to challenge for more trophies than Salford are, IMO, we need more than that.