Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 10:28 am  

wiganrl wrote:

I honestly think Saints have too many journeymen who are stealing a living for Saints to be a quality side again you need to get rid of Wellens (Retire), Shenton(Cas quality & you should have left him there), Wheeler (Salford, Wakey or Widnes quality), Perry (send him home), Flannery (Retire), Clough (Bradford), Maggennis (Hull KR, Wakey London), Foster (Bradford, Hull FC) for me Saints need to build a new team around Roby, Gaskell, Makinson & Lomax Saints need a quality Full Back, they need to throw some good money at Cudjoe, Arundel, Clark & Brough, Kopszcak highly unlikely obviously but those 5 with Roby, Gaskell, Makinson & Lomax then Saints would be a force again.

You do have a point re: Shenton, Perry, Flannery and Foster

But...

Wellens - I actually though he had a decent game; got rounded by Finch, but that is down to his pace and he cannot personally help that. He was one of our better performers yesterday.

Wheeler - one of our most naturally talented youngsters and will step up as his development progresses

Clough - He has been in decent from the last couple of weeks; you can tell it's his final year of his contract! Always reliable in defence and in making the yards. I'm sure he'll improve vastly under Brown.

Magennis - Had a staggered development because of injury so is behind, but still showing great potential. Not good enough in the collision yet, but under Brown I can see him improving ten-fold

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 3:42 pm  

I watched the game on TV yesterday, I have no axe to grind. I thought Saints lacked penetration, and Wellens has always been slow. He was put into space yesteday and easily caught. Having said all that I thought at least two of Wigan's tries came from moves that were clear obstruction and Saints were unlucky to concede. Having said that they never looked like winning the game.

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 4:12 pm  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

Yes, but only because we had very limited opposition in the playoffs on the way there

Until the final

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 5:37 pm  

saints were v dissapointing especially in attack but i have to say that wigan look a damn decent side and unfortunately could get better
when more of those passes land.

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 7:15 pm  

I just think whatever else you do in sorting out the forwards, you need to get Lomax out of the halves and put him in at fullback. I think he'd flourish there and give you that extra bit of pace coming into the line that you wouldn't get with Wellens.

What's happened to Gaskell? Is he injured or just not getting a look in?

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 8:09 pm  

inside_man wrote:

I just think whatever else you do in sorting out the forwards, you need to get Lomax out of the halves and put him in at fullback. I think he'd flourish there and give you that extra bit of pace coming into the line that you wouldn't get with Wellens.

Makinson looks a far better fullback. Lomax is a 6.

What's happened to Gaskell? Is he injured or just not getting a look in?

Not getting a look in.

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 8:29 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Makinson looks a far better fullback. Lomax is a 6.

Not getting a look in.

Granted I don't see as much of them as you do, but I think Lomax could be devestating at FB, keep Makinson on the wing for the time being, what's your alternatives in those areas? More players with little pace?

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 8:32 pm  

inside_man wrote:

Granted I don't see as much of them as you do, but I think Lomax could be devestating at FB, keep Makinson on the wing for the time being,

I've seen Lomax at fullback and I've seen Makinson at fullback and Makinson is the better fullback, bearing in mind both are early on in their careers (especially Makinson).

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Sun May 13, 2012 11:23 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I've seen Lomax at fullback and I've seen Makinson at fullback and Makinson is the better fullback, bearing in mind both are early on in their careers (especially Makinson).

its very disconcerting when you talk sense

Re: Absolutely shocking - Roll on 2013 : Mon May 14, 2012 2:23 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

one of the best youth set ups in the league, THE best training facilities in the league, THE biggest dedicated rugby league stadium in the country, full use of the salary cap plus extra allowances for Robes and wilkin/ade (i'm hoping wello retires)

Fair point I thought you meant current playing resources! You do have an excellent youth set-up and Rush is an excellent junior coach but I am not convinced about the standard of players you have brought through or the quality of those in the immediate pipeline. Obviously, there is time for some young players, currently in your squad, to improve but only time will tell. Your U15s look good but the U16sand U18s appear to be a fallow years, with the odd exception.

I think you will find that Wellens goes around again next season, don't forget that these guys are in it for the money, and rightly so. You could move him to loose forward. Roby is top quality but needs to play behind a better pack. Wilkin is a good utility player but would never make my starting 13 and Gardner wouldn't even make my squad.