Re: Wire game : Fri Aug 05, 2016 7:53 am  

For me, the main change seems to be much better defensive structure. We're still not scoring many tries, we still look unlikely to score from our half. We still haven't got quite the forward yard-making I'd like. But because our defence has tightened so much - particularly on the flanks - we can now win games we would have lost previously just by conceding more tries than the opposition.

Confidence is building, and that's obviously very important for attacking and support play. But it's defence where the notable improvement is.

Re: Wire game : Fri Aug 05, 2016 8:08 am  

Cunningham reminds of Radford, in reverse. Cunningham overly praises performances when he shouldnt, whereas Radford was openly critical of the team and individuals after defeats. Both seem to be learning this side of things, and starting to turn things around

Re: Wire game : Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:38 am  

6-7 weeks ago I wanted Cunningham out. I couldn't see things getting better. Stats backed up opinion in that it was our worst attack since the early 90's and worst defence since long before that.
Something has happened though...they're defending their hearts out, working hard for each other, this is turn as instilled confidence in other aspects of their game. Having Lomax back as given us a new dimension and again, I was one of the people who thought we should probably release him due to all the injuries. I also wonder if us sending a couple of dissenting (albeit quality) players out the door as maybe lifted the mood in the camp.

I don't for one minute think everything is fixed and we're back to our best, but I'm enjoying our performances and effort. I'm realistic in knowing that we'll lose a few more games before the seasons out but I'm starting to believe that the future still involves us being in the mix for winning trophies instead of declining into a middle 8's side.

Come on you Saints!!!

Re: Wire game : Fri Aug 05, 2016 2:48 pm  

I noticed a change of attitude during the home game against Hull KR. Hull KR was Making us look like amateurs for large part of the first half and the crowd was booing the players. I think it's the first time I've seen saints booed so early in a game (20 mins).

We then put few tries on the board and the fans picked it up and was chanting and cheering, you could see the players notice this and they upped their game.

I think until that point, the relationship between players and fans was worst I've ever seen but all on the same script now.

Obviously any team will be much stronger with lomax back in and then Walsh coming back. Having them two adds more dimension in attack. We've gone from having likes SMD, Matty Dawson, the Young lads like ash and Wellington to having lomax, percy, Walsh all back from injury so our attack had to get better with those players back.

It was good to see Owens have his best game in saints shirt. Few good runs and took few kicks so let's hope he kicks on now.

Re: Wire game : Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:30 pm  

LFC Saint wrote:

Thought Jon Wilkin was awful and so was Greg Richards. Vea was pointless.

Big raps for the rest of lads especially Turner, Owens, Amor, Greenwood and Knowles

You can add Peyroux to the awful / pointless list.

Everyone else did OK.
I thought Greenwood, Thompson, Robes, LMS, Percy, Walsh & Swift were the stand outs.
Loved the Walsh tackle on Currie !!

Owens is playing much better as indeed is Turner, but he also had a few brain explosions.

Re: Wire game : Fri Aug 05, 2016 5:31 pm  

[quote="saint at wire"]You can add Peyroux to the awful / pointless list.

Everyone else did OK.
Apart from injuries Don't know what you're problem is with Peyroux.

Re: Wire game : Fri Aug 05, 2016 5:52 pm  

Twentyman wrote:

6-7 weeks ago I wanted Cunningham out. I couldn't see things getting better. Stats backed up opinion in that it was our worst attack since the early 90's and worst defence since long before that.
Something has happened though...they're defending their hearts out, working hard for each other, this is turn as instilled confidence in other aspects of their game. Having Lomax back as given us a new dimension and again, I was one of the people who thought we should probably release him due to all the injuries. I also wonder if us sending a couple of dissenting (albeit quality) players out the door as maybe lifted the mood in the camp.

I don't for one minute think everything is fixed and we're back to our best, but I'm enjoying our performances and effort. I'm realistic in knowing that we'll lose a few more games before the seasons out but I'm starting to believe that the future still involves us being in the mix for winning trophies instead of declining into a middle 8's side.

Come on you Saints!!!

I wonder if Lomax has contributed to our defence.
When SMD and the other chap stood in for Lomax last year, it was noticeable how they could not get the numbers right in the defencive line.
It could be with Lomax at the back he is getting the numbers right and this is giving us a more solid structure.

Re: Wire game : Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:28 pm  

[quote="dede"Everyone else did OK.
Apart from injuries Don't know what you're problem is with Peyroux.]
[/quote][/quote]

I just don't rate him and he seems anonymous

Re: Wire game : Sat Aug 06, 2016 8:55 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

I wonder if Lomax has contributed to our defence.
When SMD and the other chap stood in for Lomax last year, it was noticeable how they could not get the numbers right in the defencive line.
It could be with Lomax at the back he is getting the numbers right and this is giving us a more solid structure.

I think it's more a case of them being confident in Lomax's fitness now,when he came back players were switching around to keep him out of harms way. Now he has had a run of games and they don't have to cover for him anymore there is a lot more confidence in defence.

Re: Wire game : Sat Aug 06, 2016 9:14 pm  

saint at wire wrote:

I just don't rate him and he seems anonymous

He shut down just about everything that moved in a wire shirt down that side, especially in the first half. He had quite a few good carries driving it in. Didn't do much attacking wise though and did bomb a decent chance with a poor pass.

I'm still not sure what to make of him, but all told I thought it was a positive performance on Friday and justified his selection