Nothing better than a nice dose of reality : Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:53 pm
Tonight at the game I heard all the usual excuses, the most consistent being that we're saving ourselves for the play offs and the weekly rounds don't matter and even a few idiots blaming the referee. Truth is the club's pathetic recruitment and lack ambition has left us with another season of mediocrity looming.The main problems I moaned about last season are still there. We have no half backs being the main one. When Long and Eastmond went we needed to sign an experienced half back. We still do, the signing of Hohaia was up there worst pieces of sporting recruitment business I've ever seen. We are also still lacking a leader, a Captain. When those tries starting raining in, there was no one rallying the troops, demanding a response and an improved effort. There is no voice on the pitch, this side is a soulless shadow of the club we used to be.
Tonight exposed with brutal efficiency just how average our 1-7 are. Huddersfield's had an absolute field day. Another aspect I mentioned once or twice last season was how we're lacking at fullback. Wello's not just over the hill, he's fallen down it into a ditch and his carcass is being chewed on by passing animals. He was, as ever, terrible in attack, contributing absolutely nothing again tonight and also a complete liability in defense. He is perhaps the only player than can be stepped from 20 metres away and not be able to even start to change direction before the player has strolled past him laughing at him on their way to the line. He is also making the embarrassing mistakes rookies make, only he's not got anything to learn by making them. He has to go, he cannot be allowed to meander through another season purely for sentimentality's sake. The club needs to grow some balls and do the Maurice Lindsey thing. Convince him he's played a game too many and find a cushy backroom job for him as a reward for his efforts over the years. Give Lance Hohaia a one way ticket home. It might cost a few quid, but just do it. Get an experienced half back in and play either Makinson, Gaskell or Lomax at fullback. You might say we don't have the money, but it will cost a lot more when the crowds are 3-4,000 below their potential levels because we're not in the hunt for trophies or exciting to watch any more. A new fullback and an experienced half would transform us.
Tonight really hasn't changed anything, we already knew we need a halfback and the back's are poor. We'll still do alright, top 4/5 is pretty guaranteed in this league. But the club needs to do something about that performance tonight. That was 17 players going through the motions and not caring one bit when Huddersfield (Who were excellent both in execution and their approach to the game) gave them a royal spanking. The attitude and approach wasn't acceptable. I would suggest flogging them in training, but judging by how skinny they all were tonight, that's probably not a good idea.
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