McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 1:15 pm  

How do you start at this point?

I've watched Saints for over 30 years and I've seen good sides and bad sides but the recent one is such a shadow of very recent times how did we get it so wrong?

We're playing Wigan against yet ANOTHER 'Saints Reject' half back who looks to be doing a great job meanwhile we have a 2nd row at 7 and an OLD SLOW (still a hero) Full Back at 6!

We have no decent kicking game and no structure and even when fit our supposed 6 is also a Full-Back. All this on the back of letting a young 6 leave who maybe had his faults but had a very good kicking game - possibly our weakest element at the moment.

Then we've had to bring in an unknown 'hooker' because we've no backup - a Superleague team with only one recognised Hooker and not even backup who could 'do a job'.

I could go on - I'm past anger now I think its despair!

So in conclusion – Mr McManus we love what you’ve done for the club from a financial and business point-of-view but HOW have you let it get so wrong on the field. Remember this is a results business, results count and this squad won’t get them!

Rant over.

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:06 pm  

Wellens was terrible at 6 - we may as well play an extra forward the amount of times he got tackled with the ball.

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:13 pm  

Harborne Saint wrote:

Wellens was terrible at 6 - we may as well play an extra forward the amount of times he got tackled with the ball.

That wasn't my point though you can't blame Wellens it's not his game.

My point is WHY do we have to rely on him at 6.

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:16 pm  

Harborne Saint wrote:

Wellens was terrible at 6 - we may as well play an extra forward the amount of times he got tackled with the ball.

Wello proved today that the idea of him playing loose is a complete joke. Too slow and absolutely no physical impact or stamina.

As for the original point, McManus is ruining the team. To go into a season with no decent halves is a joke. Find a hundred grand and buy one FFS if there really aren't any in the academy.

Those saying there isn't enough money need to remember that the long term impact on the crowds will cost a lot more than a halfback or two would. Our averages will drop this year and every year after that until we're competing for trophies again.

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:18 pm  

Bizarre recruitment decisions of late. Could charlock have done worse ?

Great 2nd half effort always behind the eight ball with our half back pairing

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:21 pm  

WidnesExile wrote:

My point is WHY do we have to rely on him at 6.

Because Hohaia is injured and Brown doesn't want Gaskell.

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:24 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Because Hohaia is injured and Brown doesn't want Gaskell.

OH Great insight THANKS for stating the obvious - I did also say Lance is a FB anyway.

Maybe it's time he said why Gaskells been shipped out - the lad has many admirers around SL - so what's he done wrong?

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:32 pm  

WidnesExile wrote:

OH Great insight THANKS for stating the obvious

Ask a daft question and you'll get a daft answer.

Maybe it's time he said why Gaskells been shipped out - the lad has many admirers around SL - so what's he done wrong?

If you want an answer to that then I would suggest you make yourself a good brew and prepare to turn into dust.

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:33 pm  

Harborne Saint wrote:

Wellens was terrible at 6 - we may as well play an extra forward the amount of times he got tackled with the ball.

No worse than wilkin a 7. Kicking game was a bad joke.

Re: McManus - Squad - Half Backs : Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:34 pm  

Wellens played 6 not loose today. So he was not playing in the pack, the fact the ball stuck with him would not have as big an impact at loose. Especially as we have been playing props at loose.

As to the OP.

We actually shaped up in that 2nd half and Wilkin played a bit better, but it just shows that there has to be something else going on, to ship out our last halfback standing.

We have now got rid of in the last 3 years

Long, Smith, Ellis, Eastmond, Pryce, Gaskell.

We do not like halfbacks. We must be the only club who can't see the wood for the trees. We've shipped out more halves than I can think of, to leave us with literally only 1 half of any standard in the whole squad. Wheeler.

If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd be suggesting the Wheeler has the ear of some important people and to keep him in contention given his injury record, he's knocking off the competition.

It's not that but seriously the last decision is just one in a long line of axing halves before their time.