Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:14 am  

I remember when Simmons was appointed last year and I said that playing there would make it extremely difficult for him in his first season because each game is more or less at a neutral venue. Whilst I am concerned at the lack of defensive toughness we've shown in the early days we need to consider this when assessing how the team is doing. The squad is still good enough to compete for trophies, however it will be a harder season for us because of our temporary relocation.

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:35 am  

I probably underestimated what a difference it would make. It felt nothing like a home game, I was sat in the North stand and you could hear a pin drop for most of the game. A longer journey (stuck in traffic for half of it), uncertain of where to go, sitting down etc are probably the reasons for it and we'll get used to it, but it was almost as if the players felt the same way which is a tad worrying.

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:44 am  

The lack of atmosphere is unlikely to go away at the new ground given that a lot of vocal support will have transferred into the seating areas coupled with a distinct lack of singing and what have you from the next generation. Man up next generation!

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:44 am  

It didn't have the atmosphere thats for certain. I reckon that if last night's game was at Knowsley Road, the atmosphere alone would have brought Saints through to win. It must be hard for them.

Things I particularly noted about last night:

1 - Two world class (In a ball collection sense) fullbacks had no chance with the high ball. Eastmond and Briers both put up bombs which went above the floodlights and couldn't be seen until they were back below the very low set lights at Widnes. That IMO is going to cause problems all season. Do Widnes play most of their games on a Sunday in the daylight?

2 - The width of the pitch. It may just have been our performance last night but it seemed that it was almost impossible to create any width in the game. Several times for both sides there were big overlaps and despite the ball going out quickly, it was shut down all too easily. Does anyone know the current pitch dimensions?

3 - Atmosphere is going to be terrible. Saints IMO shouldn't have sold any season tickets behind the posts. They should have sold them all for the North and South stands, filling up the sides and let the side stands be used for away fans and also spill overs if we ever get a decent crowd there. The majority of the Saints vocal support is now separated in two stands that are too far apart.

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:52 am  

Saddened! wrote:

It didn't have the atmosphere thats for certain. I reckon that if last night's game was at Knowsley Road, the atmosphere alone would have brought Saints through to win. It must be hard for them.

Things I particularly noted about last night:

1 - Two world class (In a ball collection sense) fullbacks had no chance with the high ball. Eastmond and Briers both put up bombs which went above the floodlights and couldn't be seen until they were back below the very low set lights at Widnes. That IMO is going to cause problems all season. Do Widnes play most of their games on a Sunday in the daylight?

2 - The width of the pitch. It may just have been our performance last night but it seemed that it was almost impossible to create any width in the game. Several times for both sides there were big overlaps and despite the ball going out quickly, it was shut down all too easily. Does anyone know the current pitch dimensions?

3 - Atmosphere is going to be terrible. Saints IMO shouldn't have sold any season tickets behind the posts. They should have sold them all for the North and South stands, filling up the sides and let the side stands be used for away fans and also spill overs if we ever get a decent crowd there. The majority of the Saints vocal support is now separated in two stands that are too far apart.

The Widnes pitch is wider than the one at Knowsley Road (according to Phil Clarke) and was mentioned in the build up to last nights game on Sky.

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:53 am  

Saddened! wrote:

2 - The width of the pitch. It may just have been our performance last night but it seemed that it was almost impossible to create any width in the game. Several times for both sides there were big overlaps and despite the ball going out quickly, it was shut down all too easily. Does anyone know the current pitch dimensions?

I'm sure Phil Clarke was on the pitch before kick off and said that the pitch was about a metre and a half wider than Knowsley Road.

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:54 am  

Ha! Great minds, Rogues!

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:55 am  

Smurf wrote:

I probably underestimated what a difference it would make. It felt nothing like a home game, I was sat in the North stand and you could hear a pin drop for most of the game. A longer journey (stuck in traffic for half of it), uncertain of where to go, sitting down etc are probably the reasons for it and we'll get used to it, but it was almost as if the players felt the same way which is a tad worrying.

Totally agree. I've got a great seat in the North Stand too but it just doesnt feel 'right'

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:55 am  

The pitch at Widnes is apparently 1 and a half metres wider than our old ground at KR.

Re: Playing at Widnes : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:58 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

The Widnes pitch is wider than the one at Knowsley Road (according to Phil Clarke) and was mentioned in the build up to last nights game on Sky.

Yep Widnes is a standard full size pitch. Its both longer and wider than Knowsley Road was.

The nes stadium will be the same dimensions.

The good thing re this is it encourages the use of faster backs as there is more space to work in.