Roy Haggerty wrote:
You're playing the man, not the ball, Muggers.
I don't post much these days, but that performance got me out of my bath-chair. It was unacceptably bad. In fact, it was terrible. There's a very good chance we're looking at a run of 8 games without a win. While I could swallow 3 losses to Wigan, Wire and Leeds, the Saints squad is better on paper than Hull, Hull KR, Catalans and certainly Bradford. In fact, on paper, we're better than Huddersfield, but on the pitch they are light years ahead.
The performance WAS bad. For two weeks I've been texting friends saying we've reverted to the days of Eric Hughes. But bad as things are we need to retain some perspective. I know I'm as guilty as anyone so this is somewhat ironic. I guess it's part of - eventually - growing up.
Hohaia doesn't deserve anything like the stick he's getting. The guy has barely had time to settle in and we know from experience it sometimes takes anywhere up to 12 months for that to happen (which it did with Talau). Wheeler, Gaskell and Foster are similarly taking more than their fair share. Wheeler is older, but injuries have set his career back by at least sixteen months. Gaskell hasn't physically matured and Foster looks mentally shot.
If we are to point the finger of blame at players we should look no further than the experienced pros who have badly let the side down. Wilkin has really, really let us down. He is the obvious replacement as leader and go-to guy in times of strife and so far he's been completely anonymous. Puletua looks physically gone. Wellens - every attacking move ends with him etc. etc.
Of course, Royce deserves some stick. But if he's culpable then McManus must be also. After all, he's presided over player selection these past few years with some absolutely awful decisions (Meli, Gardner - even Wellens).
