Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:44 pm  

The kicking game could be vital especially if it is wet.

Just kicking for touch may gain ground but gives them possession without any pressure. [unless it is a 40-20]

We need the type of kick which puts their full back under pressure so that we can compete for possession whilst the ball is in the air, or at least 'hit' the receiver as soon as his feet touch the ground.

Make no mistake they will do that to us, possibly a case for playing Wellens. Maybe recently he may not have been at his best but that has been in wet days and possibly carrying some injury.

Added to that Wigan will be kicking to the left wing - Pat Richards. So we need to work out the best way of combating that weapon. Saints have not been at their best when defending kicks.

For the type of kicking we want - see Bobby Golding at Wembley - I think it was 1996 or thereabouts.

Best wishes Saints

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:56 pm  

Champs wrote:

The kicking game could be vital especially if it is wet.

Just kicking for touch may gain ground but gives them possession without any pressure. [unless it is a 40-20]

We need the type of kick which puts their full back under pressure so that we can compete for possession whilst the ball is in the air, or at least 'hit' the receiver as soon as his feet touch the ground.

Make no mistake they will do that to us, possibly a case for playing Wellens. Maybe recently he may not have been at his best but that has been in wet days and possibly carrying some injury.

Added to that Wigan will be kicking to the left wing - Pat Richards. So we need to work out the best way of combating that weapon. Saints have not been at their best when defending kicks.

For the type of kicking we want - see Bobby Golding at Wembley - I think it was 1996 or thereabouts.

Best wishes Saints

Wellens is not the right man to be defending kicks. Unless they are dead central beneath the black dot he won't be in the right position for them anyway. He's even dropped a few of those this season, such as Tomkins' try in the hammering at Widnes.

I can see it already, young Mackinson being out jumped by Richards for Wigan's 9th try while Wellens arrives just as Richard's is kissing his badge camply to the Goon fans, doing his usual disgusted face and swing of the arms/cricket appeal to the officials.

We need a new fullback ultra quick.

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:44 pm  

Champs wrote:

For the type of kicking we want - see Bobby Golding at Wembley - I think it was 1996 or thereabouts.

Best wishes Saints

for that to work wigan would need an inept full back like Bradford had that day in Nathan "bomber" Graham. Would imagine he still has sleepless nights remembering that match

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:47 pm  

To beat Wigan you need to win the ruck.

Far easier said than done, but they control that area with such dominance that if you get on top you can cause them some serious problems.

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:58 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Strongest squad all year.

Dixon/Gaskell to miss out - would start TP/Graham at prop with Flannery/Wilkin/Soliola in the back row to ensure we have 2 props on the bench (LMS/Clough) since Wigan will have 2+2 (Prescott/Lima/Coley/Mossop) and we need to make sure we don't become lightweight when Graham/TP are spelled.

Agree with you.

There's no real excuses (although the 7 injured players Royce talked about is a concern), but with that squad we should at least compete. Let's hope we turn up Saturday, because if we do it'll be an absolute cracker.

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:55 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Wellens is not the right man to be defending kicks. Unless they are dead central beneath the black dot he won't be in the right position for them anyway. He's even dropped a few of those this season, such as Tomkins' try in the hammering at Widnes.

I can see it already, young Mackinson being out jumped by Richards for Wigan's 9th try while Wellens arrives just as Richard's is kissing his badge camply to the Goon fans, doing his usual disgusted face and swing of the arms/cricket appeal to the officials.

We need a new fullback ultra quick.

I agree, we do need a new fullback but for Saturday I think wello has to play. Eastmond did a great job at fullback but for this game I'd go with wello.

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:08 pm  

Even with your best 17 out you still won't beat 1 of the 2 best teams in Rugby League.

You are has beans get used to it and stop all this hollow we have got a chance posturing

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 8:16 pm  

Fatbelly wrote:

Even with your best 17 out you still won't beat 1 of the 2 best teams in Rugby League.

You are has beans get used to it and stop all this hollow we have got a chance posturing

You're funny. What do you think your chances are in the semi's? Oh wait........

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 8:29 pm  

Fatbelly wrote:

Even with your best 17 out you still won't beat 1 of the 2 best teams in Rugby League.

You are has beans get used to it and stop all this hollow we have got a chance posturing

The best teams in RL fight it out in the GF at Old Trafford every year. Wire have never played in a GF. If you need me to make it any clearer, please let me know.

I like Wire fans banging on about their incredible run of 2 CC wins as if it's never happened before. The year they won the first of the 2, Saints had only just finished winning 3 on the spin, and 4 in 5 years!

Lovely little club though. Nice ground too - like a nice little cheapy version of what we're building. Good on them for trying to better themselves.

Re: 19 Man Squad Announced for Semi Final. : Thu Aug 04, 2011 8:40 pm  

Fatbelly wrote:

You are has beans get used to it and stop all this hollow we have got a chance posturing

Not sure if Saints players eat beans. Although it could be a good ploy against Wigan on Saturday. You know what they say: beanz meanz fartz. If we can't beat em by dominating the ruck then farting in the ruck might be one way of getting rid of three gristly pies in one go.