Left channel of the defence : Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:04 pm  

Alarming isn't the word.

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:26 am  

1 of many problems sadly

also add

fullback whos at least 12 months past his use by date
lack of an experienced half back to help bring on the young lads
lack of a world class prop
lack of a decent coach

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:30 am  

I have been saying it for ages that the biggest mistake that Saints have made in recent years is the
failure to replace Willie Talau with another recognised left centre.

We have had far too many stop gap players playing there at left centre with the club thinking we will get by and unfortunately until we bring someone in who is an experienced player in that position we wil continue to have defensive problems on that side.

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:30 am  

I know I keep harping on about it but

Lack of JAMMER

I knew we would miss him, but this shows just how much he did for the team.
Losing one of the best props in the world, and having p1ss poor Perry as a kind of replacement.

Laffranchi actually looks decent to me but not a replacement for Graham.
I think everyone was expecting a fit Perry to fill the void. No chance of that unless he improves dramatically.

imagine if TP had gone too.

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:43 am  

The worst part for me was the amount of times a prop like Perry ended up at first receiver, especially on the last tackle, as nobody else even seemed interested in standing there. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

We lack a scrum half to guide us around the pitch, we just look completely lost at times. I like lomax, he's a great player, but he's certainly not (currently at least) a scrum half. Having another kid at 6 also doesn't take any pressure off him.

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:53 am  

Smurf wrote:

The worst part for me was the amount of times a prop like Perry ended up at first receiver, especially on the last tackle, as nobody else even seemed interested in standing there. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

We lack a scrum half to guide us around the pitch, we just look completely lost at times. I like lomax, he's a great player, but he's certainly not (currently at least) a scrum half. Having another kid at 6 also doesn't take any pressure off him.

If we had 1 experienced half we would be fine. Signing a utility type like Lance was never the answer unless we were intending him to replace the Snail at 1

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:14 am  

No1 Saint wrote:

lack of a world class prop

Yet all the props are internationals, the great Anthony Laffranchi is supposed to be world class.

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:06 am  

Murphys Magic wrote:

I have been saying it for ages that the biggest mistake that Saints have made in recent years is the
failure to replace Willie Talau with another recognised left centre.

We have had far too many stop gap players playing there at left centre with the club thinking we will get by and unfortunately until we bring someone in who is an experienced player in that position we wil continue to have defensive problems on that side.

At last someone else has relised we've only had one centre since talau left. We've played anyone there over the past 4 seasons and I've never in all my time knew of a club which only has one centre on its books.

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:58 am  

Murphys Magic wrote:

I have been saying it for ages that the biggest mistake that Saints have made in recent years is the
failure to replace Willie Talau with another recognised left centre.

We have had far too many stop gap players playing there at left centre with the club thinking we will get by and unfortunately until we bring someone in who is an experienced player in that position we wil continue to have defensive problems on that side.

AGREED!


We have never replaced Talau


Id have him back now at 36!

Re: Left channel of the defence : Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:03 pm  

I'm glad that two fellow supporters also recognise what the problem is with regards to a lack of a proper experienced left centre.

Why on earth the club hasn't recognised the same problem I will never know. Having said that I think Saints did orginally intend to sign Soliola to play at left centre hence him wearing number 4 jersey. Sadly its not worked as planned.