Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:07 pm  

Performance is one thing, making offensive gestures at the crowd (if this did indeed happen) is quite another. I've been all for a reasoned approach to the Eastmond situation, but he has to realise that his decision was always going to upset a certain proportion of our fans. He needs to man up and get on with it, instead of rising to the bait like a petulant child.

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:23 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Gaskell has been thrown in at the deepend due to the lack of Pryce and the lack of investment by the club in a decent squad. However, he wasn't awful. He made three awful mistakes but the rest of the team should have covered his back by defending. Kyle Eastmond had Longy and then Pryce to help him blend into the team. In fact, I can't remember the last time we stuck a 20 year old in the halfback position without having an experienced partner beside him to guide him and cover for him.

I feel really sorry for Gaskell and I hope this season isn't runining his confidence. He tried really hard to change things around - was probably too anxious.

Spot on dont give the YOUNG LAD stick it's his first season and he's going to find it hard

I thought he was very good against wire

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:14 pm  

Dux wrote:

Performance is one thing, making offensive gestures at the crowd (if this did indeed happen) is quite another. I've been all for a reasoned approach to the Eastmond situation, but he has to realise that his decision was always going to upset a certain proportion of our fans. He needs to man up and get on with it, instead of rising to the bait like a petulant child.

I totally agree, he needs to accept that not all fans understand why he went and he needs to handle himself in a much better way.

The only way he can silence to booing and jeering is by playing the rugby he can play. He now needs to prove to these so called fans that he still is committed to saints.

Don't forget, James Graham ain't signed a new deal and hasn't said he wants to stat either and Graham is playing his worst rugby in a saints shirt.

So what's the difference?

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:22 pm  

The Eastmond saga has dented team morale and cohesion in my opinion.

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:24 pm  

SaintMarshy wrote:

The Eastmond saga has dented team morale and cohesion in my opinion.

Does that mean the Graham saga has dented team morale as well?

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:27 pm  

St pete wrote:

Don't forget, James Graham ain't signed a new deal and hasn't said he wants to stat either and Graham is playing his worst rugby in a saints shirt.

So what's the difference?

The difference is Graham has paid his dues to Saints. Eastmond has yet to.

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:33 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

The difference is Graham has paid his dues to Saints. Eastmond has yet to.

I fail to see the difference if he's paid his dues or not. This is our club captain we are talking about.

It's hardly eastmonds fault he's been injured for most of the last two years so he can't pay his dues.

The whole eastmond, Graham and Pryce saga is having sone effect on the team but to Pryce credit he's stated he wants to stay.

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:34 pm  

St pete wrote:

Does that mean the Graham saga has dented team morale as well?

No. Why? Graham is/has:

...an established player within the Saints team, has won things with us, and has proven he is worthy of hype
...staying within the sport so could still play for England
...consistently shown PASSION and pride in the red vee he wears

Yes, the players might be sad to see Graham go but he'd be going with their best wishes no doubt. Eastmond has done nothing substantial for the team, is turning his back on the sport, and is hardly well-known for his passionate performances. That'd pish me off as a player.

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:45 pm  

SaintMarshy wrote:

No. Why? Graham is/has:

...an established player within the Saints team, has won things with us, and has proven he is worthy of hype
...staying within the sport so could still play for England
...consistently shown PASSION and pride in the red vee he wears

Yes, the players might be sad to see Graham go but he'd be going with their best wishes no doubt. Eastmond has done nothing substantial for the team, is turning his back on the sport, and is hardly well-known for his passionate performances. That'd pish me off as a player.

I fail to see what Graham has won, if he's established, or the fact he's staying in the sport has any bearing on him staying or going.

Graham will never be doubted about loving the club and the passion he shows in the saints shirt but I fail to see how what's he's done in the past is any different than eastmond.

Re: Eastmond at FT : Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:50 pm  

St pete wrote:

I fail to see what Graham has won, if he's established, or the fact he's staying in the sport has any bearing on him staying or going.