Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:10 am  

Saddened! wrote:

It's a complete farce. Someone at the club clearly feels they need to release these media soundbites to try to appease the fans. They are clearly acutely aware of the fact that Wello as a player is no longer rated or wanted by the supporters. This must be the fourth or fifth cringeworthy release since the end of last season. They knew his contract renewal wouldn't go down well, so released that with no fanfare, months after it had been sorted.

If McManus or one of his cronies (Appleton for example) are reading this, FFS stop putting sentimentality and jobs for the boys ahead of progress for the club on the field. Playing ANOTHER season with 16 contributing players isn't acceptable, especially when there are players good enough to make a contribution being denied a place.

When his contract was announced a lot of you ensured me he wouldn't be playing when there were enough fit players. Clearly that isn't the case.

I know you often get accused of unfair criticism towards Wellens, but in this post you are 100% spot on.

It really is ridiculous that we are continuing with him in the 17. He offers nothing from a playing perspective. There isn't a position in the squad where there aren't at least 2 better options.

I love and respect Wellens for what he has achieved, but he is now like an old dog clinging on for dear life, knowing that the final trip to the vets is just around the corner. For the good of the club and our chances of success this season, we need to develop a ruthless streak and quit the nostalgic nonsense of selecting people based on former glories.

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:20 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

I know you often get accused of unfair criticism towards Wellens, but in this post you are 100% spot on.

It really is ridiculous that we are continuing with him in the 17. He offers nothing from a playing perspective. There isn't a position in the squad where there aren't at least 2 better options.

I love and respect Wellens for what he has achieved, but he is now like an old dog clinging on for dear life, knowing that the final trip to the vets is just around the corner. For the good of the club and our chances of success this season, we need to develop a ruthless streak and quit the nostalgic nonsense of selecting people based on former glories.

Can't blame wello for signing the new deal. He's got bills to pay just like everyone else. I think it's obvious now that I know wello as a friend and he still believes he's got something to offer. He still feels if he gets a opurtinity to play that he will take it with both hands.

It's the club that are to blame for offering him a new deal.

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:24 am  

St pete wrote:

Can't blame wello for signing the new deal. He's got bills to pay just like everyone else. I think it's obvious now that I know wello as a friend and he still believes he's got something to offer. He still feels if he gets a opurtinity to play that he will take it with both hands.

It's the club that are to blame for offering him a new deal.

I agree, I am not blaming Wellens. The club, whether that be Brown, Rush, McManus or a mixture of all 3, need to grow a pair and tell him he is past it.

I didn't know he was a friend of yours, weren't you agreeing the other day that he shouldn't be used any more?

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:32 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

I agree, I am not blaming Wellens. The club, whether that be Brown, Rush, McManus or a mixture of all 3, need to grow a pair and tell him he is past it.

I didn't know he was a friend of yours, weren't you agreeing the other day that he shouldn't be used any more?

I don't think anyone would have bad things to say against wello as a man, and I have no doubt he can contribute to the squad as an influence. I even hope he has an amazing swan song year, but if it's anything like last year his legacy is being destroyed.

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:52 am  

Saint Simon wrote:

I don't think anyone would have bad things to say against wello as a man, and I have no doubt he can contribute to the squad as an influence. I even hope he has an amazing swan song year, but if it's anything like last year his legacy is being destroyed.

I agree mate. The longer he carries on like this then the more the memory of him is being tarnished.

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:08 am  

I wouldn't knock Wello for resigning and I wouldn't ever call his commitment or effort into question when he does play, but we always have a better player available - we have some really good forwards that are missing out, hohaia offers better utility value, there's even argument that Ade Gardner would be a better choice - at least he can crash the ball up with real vigour.
If we had three beasts on the bench, I may be able to swallow it, but we're looking a bit crap in that area, even though we all feel like we've recruited well this off season.

the impression/hope we have is that his playing contract is a reduced rate, but I'm sure there'd be a coaching role somewhere in SL that could pay him the same.

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:09 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

I agree, I am not blaming Wellens. The club, whether that be Brown, Rush, McManus or a mixture of all 3, need to grow a pair and tell him he is past it.

I didn't know he was a friend of yours, weren't you agreeing the other day that he shouldn't be used any more?

He's a mate but I still don't think he should have been offered a new deal and shouldn't be in our 19 unless we have dire injuries.

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:11 am  

St pete wrote:

He's a mate but I still don't think he should have been offered a new deal and shouldn't be in our 19 unless we have dire injuries.

Fair enough. Let's hope he doesn't read this and knows your alias then!

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:35 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Fair enough. Let's hope he doesn't read this and knows your alias then!

He don't know I'm on on here lol

I had saints contact me on here last year asking me to stop revealing team news and injury news so they do read this forum.

Re: 19 man squad announced : Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:36 am  

St pete wrote:

He don't know I'm on on here lol

I had saints contact me on here last year asking me to stop revealing team news and injury news so they do read this forum.

Maybe they need to tell Wellens to stop giving you team news in the 1st place!!