The end of Jamie Foster? : Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:56 pm  

Felt genuinely sorry for Foster tonight. Come hail or shine the kid sits there in the stands watching his team mates. Never misses a game.

Now, I can understand the case made by some for dropping him. But is he (not to mention Gaskell) REALLY benefiting from being completely frozen out for the best part of TWO MONTHS? In any case, there's genuine reason to question his demotion on the strength of a few mediocre defensive performances when you consider that Francis Meli has cost us two (possibly even three) Grand Finals and has never so much as heard of the the reserves. At best I'd have kept him away from the bright lights for two or three weeks. I mean, if a player can't see the error of his ways after three weeks in the reserves I very much doubt he'll do so in two months.

Is this how we treat our "precious young talent" these days?

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:04 pm  

It's a strange situation. It makes me wonder how big his contract was and whether this is the club's attempt to freeze him out to the extent that he asks to leave. When he signed his contract he was looking a great prospect, he'd won us games at the DW with superb performances, was finishing superbly and kicking brilliantly. Did we then over-egg his contract, believing him to be a top class prospect?

Either way it is ridiculous really that Paul Wellens isn't being replaced. We managed to take him off for 7 minutes today and Makinson actually got involved a bit. I cannot understand why Makinson isn't playing 1 almost every week now, with Foster brought in on the wing. But Jamie's stock appears to have fallen so far now that they select academy players out of position ahead of him.

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:09 pm  

There are only so many spots.

To fit Foster in, that would require dropping

Wellens for Makinson to fit Foster in for Makinson
Shenton for Jones to let Meli slide to centre to let foster on that wing
dropping meli for foster
dropping jones, to let meli slide across to centre to let foster in
dropping makinson


in the end someone would have to make way.

I know some would drop meli in a heart beat, others would drop shenton now he is moving on, wellens would be on others lips.

But regardless of the fans giving up on this year, I think the coaches still want some progression even if that's just being competitive in the playoffs.

If Foster was showing enough then Swift would not be getting in ahead of him, but I still think it's too early to call time on him, but in the end he may have to play elsewhere if he can't get a look in at Saints.

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:16 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

There are only so many spots.

To fit Foster in, that would require dropping

Wellens for Makinson to fit Foster in for Makinson
Shenton for Jones to let Meli slide to centre to let foster on that wing
dropping meli for foster
dropping jones, to let meli slide across to centre to let foster in
dropping makinson


in the end someone would have to make way.

Indeed. Meli. He's leaving at the end of the season anyway, if the Star report is to be believed. He lets us down routinely in defence and - like tonight - is generally retiscent to bend his back. All that is required to bring Foster back is to drop Meli. That will never happen with the present coach.

I too feel sorry for Foster. His tweets are sad to read because he is clearly trying really hard to keep his spirits up and going from playing in a team that for a while was in a winning position in a Grand Final to being frozen out for two months simply because there was a change in coach must be very difficult to take.

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:47 pm  

Life sometimes is poop. You've got to knuckle down and get on with it. Either his time will come or he will move on which imho would be a shame.

I said something similar to a mate tonight, I really dont see what Meli offers that Foster couldn't provide.

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:05 am  

Not big enough, hardly developed physically at all & light years behind Makinson. Defensively inept, woefully caught out of position regularly & being bitterly honest hasnt got the heart to play top flight RL, not even stand out in reserve grade from what ive seen. Swift & Percival look far better prospects without the spiceboy bullshit ego & attitude. Another Eastmond that believes his own hype & again cant see him having a future under Brown. Yet to see him beat a man...no pace for wing not sure where anyone would slot him in.

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:11 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

being frozen out for two months simply because there was a change in coach must be very difficult to take.

Can't beat a bit of revisionist history, eh? I think you'll find he has actually been frozen out for 2 months as his game had collapsed progressively over 12 months and he had become a complete liability worth at least 12 points a game every game to the opposition. Meli and Teflon Boy are far better options in the team right now until/if he gets his act back together so he simply has nowhere to play for the time being. Deal with it.

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:56 am  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

Can't beat a bit of revisionist history, eh? I think you'll find he has actually been frozen out for 2 months as his game had collapsed progressively over 12 months and he had become a complete liability worth at least 12 points a game every game to the opposition.

It is you who is indulging in the revisionist history. He had a very good season last season and I think you are the only one I have seen state that he didn't. He was a bit off form at the start of the season but that happens to all players at some point and it certainly isn't good enough reason to freeze him out for two months.

Meli and Teflon Boy are far better options in the team right now until/if he gets his act back together so he simply has nowhere to play for the time being. Deal with it.

Meli was utterly lazy (again) yesterday and he is a liability in defence. Meli is never a better option.

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:57 am  

theres only one stan wall wrote:

& being bitterly honest hasnt got the heart to play top flight RL,

Claiming that he isn't up to standard in terms of skill or physical build is one thing but Foster never lacked heart in any game he played. I think that bit is an unfair criticism of him.

Re: The end of Jamie Foster? : Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:02 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

It is you who is indulging in the revisionist history. He had a very good season last season and I think you are the only one I have seen state that he didn't. He was a bit off form at the start of the season but that happens to all players at some point and it certainly isn't good enough reason to freeze him out for two months.

Meli was utterly lazy (again) yesterday and he is a liability in defence. Meli is never a better option.

He practically lost us the Catalan game on his own. Failed to put his body on the line time, and time again. One of the worst wingers performances ive ever seen. Meli has some right clangers, but he always gets his body there and is at least a physical presence