Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Fri May 02, 2014 2:03 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

Ok so edge defense is a problem.

When I watched the match back after I'd returned from the game I noticed that Stevo had a rare lucid moment and made an astute observation. He said that we were operating a sliding defence within our own 10m when we should be marking one on one at that stage. He also asked whether Brown was setting us up like that. I think that could go some way to explaining why we are failing on the edges as invariably it is on goal line defence that we are doing so.

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Fri May 02, 2014 2:23 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

When I watched the match back after I'd returned from the game I noticed that Stevo had a rare lucid moment and made an astute observation. He said that we were operating a sliding defence within our own 10m when we should be marking one on one at that stage. He also asked whether Brown was setting us up like that. I think that could go some way to explaining why we are failing on the edges as invariably it is on goal line defence that we are doing so.

I don't think we slow the play the ball down enough, teams are up fast and attacking before we set. Pretty strange as Brown used holding down tactics at hudds.

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Fri May 02, 2014 3:52 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

When I watched the match back after I'd returned from the game I noticed that Stevo had a rare lucid moment and made an astute observation. He said that we were operating a sliding defence within our own 10m when we should be marking one on one at that stage. He also asked whether Brown was setting us up like that. I think that could go some way to explaining why we are failing on the edges as invariably it is on goal line defence that we are doing so.

Crikey. Well, even a stopped clock and all that.....

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Sun May 04, 2014 5:43 pm  

Reading some of the posts on here, you would think we are battling relegation as opposed to being comfortably the 2nd best squad in the comp.

Yes, there are areas to improve on and yes, there are valid criticisms of some that can be made, but I just wonder to what extent the early 2000s have spoiled Saints fans.

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Sun May 04, 2014 6:17 pm  

The Real Moaner wrote:

Reading some of the posts on here, you would think we are battling relegation as opposed to being comfortably the 2nd best squad in the comp.

Yes, there are areas to improve on and yes, there are valid criticisms of some that can be made, but I just wonder to what extent the early 2000s have spoiled Saints fans.

We are grumpy sods.

But I think people will start to recognize this come mid point of the season. At that point you can start to measure yourself against the rest.

At the moment we are measuring ourselves against a dire 10 days.

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Mon May 05, 2014 12:13 am  

I agree about the spoilt attitude. We don't really have a right to expect trophies yet although I would be disappointed if we didn't make the final this year.

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Mon May 05, 2014 12:19 am  

saintcj wrote: I agree about the spoilt attitude. We don't really have a right to expect trophies yet although I would be disappointed if we didn't make the final this year. Eamon would agree with you according to this: http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_149 ... drick.html?

saintcj wrote: I agree about the spoilt attitude. We don't really have a right to expect trophies yet although I would be disappointed if we didn't make the final this year. Eamon would agree with you according to this: http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_149 ... drick.html?

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Mon May 05, 2014 6:49 am  

saintcj wrote:

I agree about the spoilt attitude. We don't really have a right to expect trophies yet although I would be disappointed if we didn't make the final this year.

I absolutely agree the GF is the target, I know others call it the hubcap, but I would think from a revenue point of view and the fact we are now out of the Challenge Cup the league leaders should also be a target.

How do clubs make their money?

From people walking through the doors, and a winning team gets people through the doors. Winning the GF is too late in the season to provide a boost money wise. You get little for winning the thing and season ticket sales the following year will be based on expectations on the 2015 team not the glories of the 2014 team.

The GF brings all the credit, but it's the league leaders that bring in the money.

My expectations are a top 2 and a GF... Not an easy task, but I think that is why we should aim for league leaders as 2nd+3rd will more than likely be the toughest draw, being a combination of probably Wigan, Leeds or Saints.

Whoever gets top will more than likely be playing Widnes, Cas, Huddersfield.

I know which teams I would opt to play twice at home.

Also the fixtures have been kind to us apart from the Easter period.
Our away trip to Catalan has a two week break prior to playing them.
Cas at home: they have to play wigan the week prior
Wigan away: wigan have to play 13th, 18th, 22nd us on the 27th. It's their catch up week for the WCC.
Leeds away: is the Friday after the CC final always a nice time to play a team
Hudds away: is an 8 day break.


I'm not for one minute suggesting a run of unbeaten games to the end of the season, but you look at that fixture list and with nothing else to aim for we should be sending our best team out week after week, with good odds on winning.

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Mon May 05, 2014 8:33 am  

The Real Moaner wrote:

Reading some of the posts on here, you would think we are battling relegation as opposed to being comfortably the 2nd best squad in the comp.

Yes, there are areas to improve on and yes, there are valid criticisms of some that can be made, but I just wonder to what extent the early 2000s have spoiled Saints fans.

Obviously that's your opinion that we have the 2nd best squad in super league. I disagree, I'd put both Wigan and Leeds above the squad on paper.

Problem is, the game is plsyed on grass and not paper, if you go out with the wrong attitude like this team in, then we get burned.

Nobody likes to lose but it's part of all sport and has to be accepted but losing with no heart, comitment, desire and poor attitude is very hard to accept and to many players are not playing to their ability so having even the best squad counts for nothing.

Re: I'll bet anyone.... : Mon May 05, 2014 2:16 pm  

The Real Moaner wrote:

Reading some of the posts on here, you would think we are battling relegation as opposed to being comfortably the 2nd best squad in the comp.

Yes, there are areas to improve on and yes, there are valid criticisms of some that can be made, but I just wonder to what extent the early 2000s have spoiled Saints fans.

We aren't spoiled. We have high expectations.

Maybe if other clubs had high expectations as well there wouldn't be so much mediocrity about.

We want Saints to be the best squad in the comp, not the second best. It's what everyone should be aiming for.