Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:31 am  

Mugwump wrote:

Thought the whole game was totally surreal.

I agree with that. But it is probably because we were lost. Before the match started, people were wandering around outside wondering how to get to their seats and they were having to be directed. There is no pop side. We can't hear the almighty roar of the fans egging on the team. It's going to take a long time for Saints fans to adjust. Knowsley Road was a very special place in lots of ways. HOwever, no-one around me in the East Stand was 'shrugging their shoulders or scratching their heads'. The East Stand was noisy and actively involved all the way through. But the impact was not as it was when there was the pop side.

As for the team, well it is a different team. We no longer have stars in it. There are a lot of young players in there who have hardly been around five minutes and a lot of well known faces have gone. We totally lack creativity or any player who can think independently. I got the impression tonight that at least half the team were waiting for instructions from the coach about what to do next. But hopefully that will change as the team gels and we learn how to attack without Keiron to barge his way over the line. Or it could be that we are heading into a period of mediocrity. Who knows? Time will tell. I do agree though that the halfback situation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 6:57 am  

you must have big hands saddo all those straws you are clutching at

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 8:46 am  

It is always going to be a difficult transition, playing in Widnes is like an away game for the players at present, a lot of people are going to select matches, mid week we were being told virtually sold out and and an attendance not a full house far from it.

Other clubs have suffered for a lot longer period than St Helens will and supporters have stayed loyal!

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:46 am  

morleys_deckchair wrote:

graham got owned early

Yes, I'd like to see Carvell's left hook from a different angle, it certainly took Jammer a while to get up from that one. Does a forearm to the head count as being owned or a cheap shot?

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:56 am  

jaybs wrote:

Other clubs have suffered for a lot longer period than St Helens will and supporters have stayed loyal!

If we show any signs of going through a Bradford or Wigan style transition period there would be rioting and scenes on par with those in Libya and Egypt recently. Our fans are not the type to sit back and accept mediocrity. My 'sack the board' placard might need to come out of the garage if they don't sort things out sharpish.

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:00 am  

I only got back from holiday late last night, so had to be content with watching the recording on the sky+ box.

My initial reaction was that of frustration. Although our pack wasn't smashed, Wire did boss the PTB and therefore were getting quicker, cleaner ball. Ours was slow and therefore we strggled to test the defence.
My reaction - Is this what it comes down to? Whoever gets the quick plays wins the game.
However, this morning I've watched the Hudds-Cas game from last week. Neither team were managing particulary quick PTB like wire got last night, but they still managed to get the ball wide to the 3/4s in a manner we don't. Something really needs working on there.

That said, I don't think you'll see Wire play as well as that every week (in defence at least)- they were really possesed at times and they're a seriously big pack to take on, especially when they've got their tails up. At least we've got the hoodoo at the way - no more wondering when the loss will come.

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:07 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

My reaction - Is this what it comes down to? Whoever gets the quick plays wins the game.

Always worked for Saints and now Wigan, so yes I suppose so but that's not really news is it?

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:08 am  

Mugwump wrote:

Thought the whole game was totally surreal. Sans Knowsley Road it was like a weird "who-cares?" attitude had permeated through the crowd. Everywhere I looked there seemed to be people shrugging their shoulders or scratching their heads in absolute perplexity. The team itself was like a thinly visible spectre of former days. The jerseys were there but the flesh, bone and - most importantly - heart were off inhabiting some other dimension.

Set against the backdrop of decades of Saints memories - some glorious, others less-so - it wasn't a terrible performance. We made a few silly mistakes and Warrington, to their credit, played well. Despite the addition of Shenton and the welcome emergence of Gaskell the balance of the side still doesn't look right. Clearly the unedifying saga that is Kyle Eastmond's contract negotiations MUST be resolved before the next match because I think it's plain to see it's having an effect on not just Eastmond' performances but the team's. At the end of the day, the scrum half is the focal point of any side and players need to have total faith in their key playmaker. I didn't see much faith tonight and this was reflected in the display. If Saints don't force Kyle's hand soon I think the potential exists for years of team harmony - which has been just as instrumental to our success as any player - to be put in dire jeopardy. And that simply cannot be allowed to happen.

But more disturbing was the lack of any emotional connection for me. Completely irrespective of the performance - they just didn't seem like my team. Perhaps it's just the ground. I'm not sure. But the disquieting worry is that it isn't...

I agree with this the game had a feel of 'pre season friendly' about it. Even the Saints fans didn't seem to care that much.

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:10 am  

Offside Monkey wrote:

My initial reaction was that of frustration. Although our pack wasn't smashed, Wire did boss the PTB and therefore were getting quicker, cleaner ball. Ours was slow and therefore we strggled to test the defence.

Spot on. They shut down Roby by dominating in that area. I don't recall us making any serious yardage around the PTB which impacted on the forwards who were taking the ball up.

Offside Monkey wrote:

My reaction - Is this what it comes down to? Whoever gets the quick plays wins the game.

It's been like that since Super League I. If you dominate the ruck you will put yourself in a good position to win the game. It has always been so.

Re: Not bad - Seriously : Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:18 am  

McClennan wrote:

It's been like that since Super League I. If you dominate the ruck you will put yourself in a good position to win the game. It has always been so.

I obviously never minded when we were the best at it, though

Seriously though, as I said, without the quick plays, Cas & Hudds still managed to at least look slightly dangerous out wide. We're too one dimensional, which was exaggerated by a very powerful performance by Wire.