Re: Full Squad : Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:04 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Lance is crying out to be the reserve back. He can cover most of the back line and can also make him self useful in the 9 and 13 roles if there's no back injuries, meaning we're not playing 16 against 17.

That maybe the case but Lance does not want it that way. He signed with the remit of playing in the halves and to start messing him around may have contractual issues. A big mistake IMO promising a player a certain position in the team.

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 7:59 am  

bewareshadows wrote:

Yup totally agree, but will anyone be willing to play him in that role given that was his role for the Warriors and he left them to come to us on the promise/expectation of playing half back?

If it was me picking the team then no problem, I couldn't care less, but for Royce to do it would carry consequences; in terms of player management, moral and team moral. Not to mention if we end up not performing Royce will get it in the neck for leaving our 'star' import on the bench.

You're right, but that's what the coach is paid for and, afterall, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.

I could see lance having a real positive influence playing in a similar role to Scott Moore last year, adding energy and zip off the bench, taking a bit of pressure off Robes at DH.

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:43 am  

redex113 wrote:

That maybe the case but Lance does not want it that way. He signed with the remit of playing in the halves and to start messing him around may have contractual issues. A big mistake IMO promising a player a certain position in the team.

There won't be anything in the contract about what position he plays in; I can't see any club being daft enough to sign a player on those terms. There is always the possibility of unsettling the player, though, which isn't ideal.

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 12:30 pm  

redex113 wrote:

That maybe the case but Lance does not want it that way. He signed with the remit of playing in the halves and to start messing him around may have contractual issues. A big mistake IMO promising a player a certain position in the team.

Lance was at Gardner's forum last night and was asked about which position he preferred. He said 6 but he was happy to play at 1 or 9 to cover and help out the team. One of the attractions of Saints for him was that he was wanted at 6, which is where he feels he is best and where he feels most comfortable playing. Therefore, I would imagine that there could be trouble ahead if he doesn't have significant time at 6. There is the possibility of rotating Gaskell and Lomax, of course, to complement Hohaia but I don't think we have seen the best of Hohaia yet, not by a long chalk. He is still adjusting to the way Saints play and so will get better over time.

Incidentally, Ade said that Hohaia was the winner in a recent speed test so I think we have a nippy halfback on our books here, along with other nippy players who seem to be quite prevelant in our team, which I never thought I would say about three years ago!

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 12:42 pm  

Am not sure why so many speccies are bagging hohaia. From what I have seen so far, he looks like a dangerous player who is going to create lots of opportunities for tipse who run off him. The only downside is the lack of a kicking game, not just from him, but from the rest of the team bar Gaskell which is muddying the waters. I think the player under greatest threat at present is lomax who may find himself squeezed out of the equation, unless he can reproduce some of his best form from last year

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 2:10 pm  

Lomax at 1 anyone?

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:38 pm  

SomersetSaint wrote:

Am not sure why so many speccies are bagging hohaia. From what I have seen so far, he looks like a dangerous player who is going to create lots of opportunities for tipse who run off him. The only downside is the lack of a kicking game, not just from him, but from the rest of the team bar Gaskell which is muddying the waters. I think the player under greatest threat at present is lomax who may find himself squeezed out of the equation, unless he can reproduce some of his best form from last year

I think the player under greatest threat at present is lomax who may find himself squeezed out of the equation, unless he can reproduce some of his best form from last year[/quote]

What exactly has Lomax done wrong? are any of the players producing the goods yet?. Give Lomax the chance to establish himself and there is a star in the making. He cant be MOM every week.

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:47 pm  

redex113 wrote:

What exactly has Lomax done wrong? are any of the players producing the goods yet?. Give Lomax the chance to establish himself and there is a star in the making. He cant be MOM every week.

He's looked a little less willing to take the line on, from what I've seen, and it has been contributing to the habit of playing very laterally that we seem to have gotten into. Hohaia is equally guilty of this, though.

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 4:02 pm  

Well I've only seen Lance once live, so maybe I am being a harsh judge, but not seen much to be impressed about. The kicking game is an issue for a Lance , Lomax combo, but not for Lomax per se. Lance has to contribute too.

Re: Full Squad : Wed Feb 22, 2012 4:06 pm  

SomersetSaint wrote:

Am not sure why so many speccies are bagging hohaia. From what I have seen so far, he looks like a dangerous player who is going to create lots of opportunities for tipse who run off him. The only downside is the lack of a kicking game, not just from him, but from the rest of the team bar Gaskell which is muddying the waters. I think the player under greatest threat at present is lomax who may find himself squeezed out of the equation, unless he can reproduce some of his best form from last year

I agree, lance has done ok and showed glimpses of what he can and IMO needs 6 weeks playing in order to settle in.

I think we will see a better lance when the ground gets firm as well but I'm not sure he's our stand off as IMO only Gaskell in our squad is a natural 6. Maybe at fullback or scrum half ?