Re: Given the lack of imagination, flair, pace etc... : Mon May 28, 2012 5:50 pm
Mugwump wrote:
... do we really WANT Rush taking up his old role of Academy coach when Brown comes in (assuming he does)?
I know Mike Rush is regarded as bomb proof by many. But there have been some very dubious calls made over the last few weeks which must raise questions about his competency for that KEY position.
I mean, taking on Wigan - a team noted for its speed in the backs - with arguably our slowest combination, on a red hot day, on a flat, dry and very quick pitch?
His continued reliance on Lomax as play maker. His questionable decision to bench Gaskell and then freeze him out. His total unwillingness to address the long overdue problem at full back. The bizarre treatment of Dixon - who seemed to be coming on well at the start of the season - only to have his streak of success cut short early. The continued absence of Foster, who for all his troubles in defence has consistently piled up points (tries as well as goals) whenever he has played. The ridiculous over-reliance on Roby - who might well be capable of 80 minutes, but this doesn't mean 80 minutes at full tilt. Jones and Swift both acquitted themselves well recently - yet both have now sunk without trace (odd, especially as Jones seems physically ready for SL right now). And there's the issue of established first team players seemingly guaranteed their place - regardless of form. Foster has a few bad games and he's out. Gaskell wasn't even playing badly and yet he was iced. Yet Francis Meli, Shenton and Wilkin have been stinking the place out for some time now and very little action takes place.
A lot of issues here.
I know Mike Rush is regarded as bomb proof by many. But there have been some very dubious calls made over the last few weeks which must raise questions about his competency for that KEY position.
I mean, taking on Wigan - a team noted for its speed in the backs - with arguably our slowest combination, on a red hot day, on a flat, dry and very quick pitch?
His continued reliance on Lomax as play maker. His questionable decision to bench Gaskell and then freeze him out. His total unwillingness to address the long overdue problem at full back. The bizarre treatment of Dixon - who seemed to be coming on well at the start of the season - only to have his streak of success cut short early. The continued absence of Foster, who for all his troubles in defence has consistently piled up points (tries as well as goals) whenever he has played. The ridiculous over-reliance on Roby - who might well be capable of 80 minutes, but this doesn't mean 80 minutes at full tilt. Jones and Swift both acquitted themselves well recently - yet both have now sunk without trace (odd, especially as Jones seems physically ready for SL right now). And there's the issue of established first team players seemingly guaranteed their place - regardless of form. Foster has a few bad games and he's out. Gaskell wasn't even playing badly and yet he was iced. Yet Francis Meli, Shenton and Wilkin have been stinking the place out for some time now and very little action takes place.
A lot of issues here.
Agree with most of the above, its as though we,ve gone out of our way to make everything we do have a certain amount of instability.
All of our back line are inconsistent, we still don,t have a team leader, set plays to test a defence, worse of all our mental toughness is worse than some of the saints teams in the 80's.