Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:42 am  

Saddened! wrote:

I read somewhere that LMSs metres per carry is second only to Tony Puletua out of the top 25 metre makers in Super League. Some 1.5 metres more than Ginger Graham.

He's made a fine start, just needs to add some ego and chest beating intimidating to his game. I thought he was great at the weekend. Everyone bleats on about Morley, but look at the first hit Morley put in and what it actually did to LMS, then look who LMS runs the ball at the next few times he's running it up away from the line or following kick offs, Morley.

Agreed. I do think he struggles when the defence is up on him quick and he can't get a head of steam up. I think that more static side of his strength will naturally develop as he gets older, although a neither Jammer or Perry are that quick on the floor, so perhaps he should concentrate on being our more Dynamic prop.

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:50 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

I was sorry to see the re-emergence of Jammer's temper tantrum in the first 15 minutes. I thought (hoped) we'd seen the last of that sort of thing.

It's really beginning to get on my wick. It just sends out all the wrong signals when your captain has completely lost his cool. Warrington must have been rubbing their hands when he started his now familiar ranting and raving.

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:51 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

We had a bad start and perhaps the comeback took too much out of us to then close it down. We didn't get the bounce of the ball on a couple of occasions, perhaps, but we let some silly mistakes ruin a lot of good work - eastomnd's excellent long kick which he followed up with a high tackle, or us getting a scrum in their terriory and Lomax knocking on in the first play. As the wet conditions continued, we seemed to loose to many balls, when we should have closed things down. Our pack had got to grips with Wire and I thought I could see the old crazy wolf team emerging, desperate to throw those panicy offloads, but they regained their composure (much thanks to the reintroduction of Monoghan) and came back..

I think this is a great summary of the match.

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:52 am  

Dux wrote:

It's really beginning to get on my wick. It just sends out all the wrong signals when your captain has completely lost his cool. Warrington must have been rubbing their hands when he started his now familiar ranting and raving.

I may only have been a Rugby union player, but it was a well discussed point that you knew you had a team for Liverpool beat when they started bitching (it would usually be amongst themselves, mind).

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:54 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

I think this is a great summary of the match.

It was far from perfect, but it was a performance that made me think we could be a real contender in the playoffs, if we polish things up as a team. I have a lot of faith in our playing roster (at least, the first 18 names).

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:31 am  

IMO we lack some class in the backs, we've got no real great attacking weapon in the backs or a " go to player" when we need to break up a tight game which IMO puts us behind Warrington, Wigan and hudds. In the past we've had pure quality which pull things out the bag when we need it or look down and out.

I'll prob get shot down for this but I'll say it anyway. I think we are in urgent need of a quality 6 or 7. Gaskell and lomax are two young kids who've been fantastic for saints this year and can't be knocked but IMO we've got two options with them, we either stick with them both at 6 and 7 but need to accept that in all honesty we will be a team fighting for a top four spot for the next 3/4 years as they learn their trade and develop into the players we hope they can be

Or

We stick with one of them and bring a good quality halfback in who can run the game, move us around the park and take control. At the moment Gaskell has been pretty steady and looks to have great long kicking game but he goes missing for large periods of the game. Lomax looks to have raw natural talent but at the moment he's showing it only in flashes and isn't being involved enough in the ball handling and at the moment isn't capable of controlling a game. So basically we are counting more more and on the forwards and especially Jon wilkin ( who's in the best form for years) and James roby to make things happen with the ball. I know lance looks to be playing in the halves next year but he's a runner, he likes to take the line on and isn't a ball player.

Before people start shooting me down ( saintsfan ), I'm in no way shape or form bagging Gaskell or lomax as they have exceeded our expectations this year and done us very proud but I'm saying we either stick with them and give them time but expect to be a team on the verge of the top four for few years or get a halfback signed and hope he can create a little more with the ball and move us round the park.

Also, what the hell has happened to wello over the last few weeks? He looks like he's finished, he can't even take the high balls now which he's been so safe with for the last 10 years or so. To be honest I've been shocked at how poor he's looking.

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:38 am  

St pete wrote:

Also, what the hell has happened to wello over the last few weeks? He looks like he's finished, he can't even take the high balls now which he's been so safe with for the last 10 years or so. To be honest I've been shocked at how poor he's looking.

I'm assuming he's carrying an injury that's restricting his game and buggering up his timing. He certainly doesn't look himself at the moment.

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:42 am  

Dux wrote:

I'm assuming he's carrying an injury that's restricting his game and buggering up his timing. He certainly doesn't look himself at the moment.

Agreed. I'd give him a rest and let Ashe have a run at full back.

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:48 am  

Dux wrote:

I'm assuming he's carrying an injury that's restricting his game and buggering up his timing. He certainly doesn't look himself at the moment.

I hope that is the reason because it's pretty sad watching him St the moment, he's a pale shadow of the player he was.

It's strange that he's lost his ability to take the high ball that has been a main feature of his game and imo has been the safest player I've seen for part 10 years unde the high ball.

Re: Dire v Saints game thread .. : Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:56 am  

St pete wrote:

Before people start shooting me down ( saintsfan ),

Now would I do that?

I'm in no way shape or form bagging Gaskell or lomax as they have exceeded our expectations this year and done us very proud but I'm saying we either stick with them and give them time but expect to be a team on the verge of the top four for few years or get a halfback signed and hope he can create a little more with the ball and move us round the park.

You've made a valid point. Wow! Just joking, honest. About the wow, I mean, not the valid point! Without experienced halves we can only go so far. But the only way halves gain experience is by playing. Bit of a catch 22 really! Should Pryce actually make it on to the pitch for more than three minutes, he will undoubtedly play from then on in, I would imagine with Lomax as his halfback partner unless Eastmond is considered to be on form/engaged enough to go back to his 7 spot. Whatever the club decides, for this season or next, I hope that the experience the young guys have gained this season is not put to waste and that any replacements in the halves are not played to the detriment of their chances to develop.

Also, what the hell has happened to wello over the last few weeks? He looks like he's finished, he can't even take the high balls now which he's been so safe with for the last 10 years or so. To be honest I've been shocked at how poor he's looking.

I know. I've said it elsewhere. He seems to be right off form or carrying an injury. He was a little better under the bombs on Friday - he caught them all. But for the first time since I've been watching him, I was nervous when they came at him!