Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:52 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

True but alot of the youngsters got fed into the team under potter.

Lomax, Wheeler, Clough, Ashurst, Dixon,

I think Potter is a builder of teams. He was what we needed at that point in time to stand still. But he did not look like a motivator. Maybe just me???

I thought he was someone who brought consistency. But did not have that magic quality to win high pressure knock out games and finals.

I still think we should have opted for Wigan at home in the playoff semi last year on a narrow pitch, with home support to sway the ref and get stuck into the wigan players

Paul Clough was brought through in the Anderson era and I think it was Millward who gave him his Debut in 2003??? (Not so sure about the year)

Potter did bring consistancy I agree but we where never going to win Trophies under his tenure for a number of reasons. As you say he was rebuilding a side that was so succesful and lost a hell of alot of leaders in that time. Maybe we where all harsh on Potter as he did bring alot of young talented players through.

As for picking Wigan at home in the play-offs Im not so sure tbh. We beat Leeds in to qualifying Semi's at home twice and lost the Grand Final both years. Picking Huddersfield last year was the right chioce unfortuatley we where 2 half backs short in the GF to give Wigan a game.

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:55 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

But when the chips were down, did Potter stick with Gaskell in the halves or did he put Wilkin there? He put Wilkin there. Gaskell wasn't injured after he was first played. But he didn't keep on playing him as Simmons has done. Had he done so then I would have been more convinced that Potter actually integrated the youngsters. We had Jamie Ellis at that time too. As well as Lomax (granted, Lomax was injured quite a bit, as was Wheeler). So he could have done what Simmons has done when we first lost Kyle and Leon. But he didn't. He preferred Wilkin with Moore.

I couldn't be more relieved that Potter has gone. Simmons for me any day of the week. And he really HAS integrated youngsters - #Lomaskell went down a treat!

I have mixed opinions on Potter but I don't see him as the root of all evil and as bad as some made out at the time.

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:03 pm  

I'm just enjoying the style of rugby after a boring 3 years. Silverware this year would be a bonus for me, not a necessity.

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:04 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

I have mixed opinions on Potter but I don't see him as the root of all evil and as bad as some made out at the time.

He wasn't the root of all evil. He was just naff.

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:08 pm  

foz11 wrote:

Simmons has proved me wrong as is working wonders at a club that has got a horrendos injury list but is still winning matches playing a great brand of Rugby League Football. I know for a fact we would have crumbled under Millwards tenure if he was working under similar conditions as Simmons and even the most succesful coach of our Super League era at Saints Daniel Anderson would have struggled with it. Keep up the good work Simmons!

The team appear to want to die for each other, and that's a great mentality to have, especially with the youngsters coming through. The comment above about the team needing coaching was spot on. I was unsure when he was announced, purely as the only other experience I had of him was his lacklustre time at Hull, but so far, I am very impressed.

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:10 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

I'm just enjoying the style of rugby after a boring 3 years. Silverware this year would be a bonus for me, not a necessity.

Thats my point really, winning is important obviously but at least if we cant win trophy's (which no team can every year unless you play in the SPL lol) then playing a good brand of Rugby and giving 100% commitment is a must.

I dont think Potter ever really understood the club or the fans (or some of the players if the rumours are to be believed).

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:43 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

True but alot of the youngsters got fed into the team under potter.

Lomax, Wheeler, Clough, Ashurst, Dixon,

I think Potter is a builder of teams. He was what we needed at that point in time to stand still. But he did not look like a motivator. Maybe just me???

I thought he was someone who brought consistency. But did not have that magic quality to win high pressure knock out games and finals.

I still think we should have opted for Wigan at home in the playoff semi last year on a narrow pitch, with home support to sway the ref and get stuck into the wigan players

Could be describing Eric Hughes, and the team he built that went on to super league glories. Needed mcrae to instill the winning mentality , Hughes must have done a good job!

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:21 am  

He's doing a great job considering our injury list and I hope that he can tighten up that defence because it needs tightening if we are to challenge for a trophy this year.

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:38 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

But when the chips were down, did Potter stick with Gaskell in the halves or did he put Wilkin there? He put Wilkin there. Gaskell wasn't injured after he was first played. But he didn't keep on playing him as Simmons has done. Had he done so then I would have been more convinced that Potter actually integrated the youngsters. We had Jamie Ellis at that time too. As well as Lomax (granted, Lomax was injured quite a bit, as was Wheeler). So he could have done what Simmons has done when we first lost Kyle and Leon. But he didn't. He preferred Wilkin with Moore.

I couldn't be more relieved that Potter has gone. Simmons for me any day of the week. And he really HAS integrated youngsters - #Lomaskell went down a treat!

This was also Nobles problem.

He wouldnt stick with the younger players even though they was playing better, and it was found out in the end as it took an injury to Tim Smith to give Sam Tomkins a real go in the team.

It seems both Madge and Simmons will play the youngsters if they are playing well - which is what us fans like to see.

Re: Sir Royston of Simmons : Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:40 am  

McClennan wrote:

He's doing a great job considering our injury list and I hope that he can tighten up that defence because it needs tightening if we are to challenge for a trophy this year.

He was tightening it. We were at a 17 point average until we lost five players over three days! It's difficult to defend to the best of our ability when our players change by the minute! I'm sure he will do just fine in defence once - or if - we manage to field a reasonably consistent team.