Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:25 am  

Gaskell, Makinson and Ashe all really impressed, Perry, Clough and Dixon looked good in bursts in the forwards, Wheeler showed flashes of quality on the rare occasions the ball went his way (and lasted a full 80 minutes). Hohaia also looked dangerous (to both teams mind you) a few times running with the ball, and Sia got a few good smacks in... That's about it as far as positives go really... Mostly all down to unfamiliar territory and pre-season rustiness etc. I'm sure, so nothing to be worried about particularly yet, but I was just a little alarmed at Foster's terrible defensive howlers seemingly carrying on from last season. He needs to sort it out and fast. Also Lomax' kicking game looked no better than last season (although perhaps unfair to judge in the conditions) which is another slight worry. In fact our tactical kicking game generally was simply shocking throughout - some teamsheet juggling to squeeze Gaskell in somewhere may start to become a priority...

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:12 am  

I thought it was a difficult game to assess with so many interchanges and Royce trying so many different options.
Widnes looked better as they more a less kept to a 17 man team with not a lot of interchanges until they had injuries.
Did notice the lack of ball bounce on the pitch, and that windy NW corner kick when the ball comes back.
Only noticeable things seemed to be the lack of momentum with our pack and the difference in attack when Gaskell came on.

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:13 am  

Bomb Jack wrote:

How did Widnes fair in this game ?

It will be nice to read an unbiased report..........

I thought Widnes did very well, they looked like a team that had been together much longer than they have. The halfbacks looked good and paddy Flynn took his tries well.

I think saints class told in the end but up until last 15 mins I thought Widnes was slightly the better side and IMO had a perfectly good try ruled off when foster dropped another kick.

On the subject of foster, he looked shocking!

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:10 am  

bewareshadows wrote:

It's always hard to tell alot from a friendly (especially when you are not there), but one thing came across on the radio pretty clearly, we needed more than 1 friendly. Thats it now, a couple of weeks no more games and we are into the real thing.

I don't think you need more than one friendly. The season is a long, hard slog and as Leeds proved, it doesn't matter if you're poor early on as long as you finish well. They had the best season of anyone last year and they finished 5th! We're also lucky we have London and Salford up 1st, two teams who are likely to be in the lower half of the table. It gives us a chance to build momentum rather than playing someone like Wigan or Warrington early when we're not ready (like last year).

Whilst Saints looked rusty and poor at times, we will improve as the season goes on and we have time to find our best form and side (which I think is up for debate at this stage). I just hope we're in the mix again come the end of the season and do justice in the new stadium.

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:30 am  

The main things to take out of last night IMO are that Makinson and Gaskell MUST start....Gaskell looked to have beefed up and cruised around the pitch, also gives us the only option of a kicking game...

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:35 am  

Badabb1978 wrote:

The main things to take out of last night IMO are that Makinson and Gaskell MUST start....Gaskell looked to have beefed up and cruised around the pitch, also gives us the only option of a kicking game...

I've said since the first play off game against the pies last year that gaskell has to be the first name on the sheet in the halves but as Royce got the balls to drop young superstar lomax or the highly paid world cup winning kiwi?

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:06 am  

St pete wrote:

I've said since the first play off game against the pies last year that gaskell has to be the first name on the sheet in the halves but as Royce got the balls to drop young superstar lomax or the highly paid world cup winning kiwi?

I think the Saints team that plays at the end of the season will look distinctly different to the one that starts against the Broncos.

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:09 am  

SomersetSaint wrote:

I think the Saints team that plays at the end of the season will look distinctly different to the one that starts against the Broncos.

Don't you think it's a little unfair that Gaskell won't be first choice?

IMO he earned his right to start after a good season last year.

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:20 am  

I can't see gaskell be happy Sat on the bench at the start of the season for me he as to start at six because come up against the top teams in the league without a kicking game and we will get battered he gives us a far better option on the last the anyone else in the team plus he give us a good thirty metres on penaltys which no one else does plus he is the best half back at the club

Re: Saints first home game v Widnes : Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:21 am  

St pete wrote:

Don't you think it's a little unfair that Gaskell won't be first choice?

IMO he earned his right to start after a good season last year.

I do, and I think that is the view of the majority of speccies too. However, the best thing he can do, is to keep performing like he did last night, and prove that he is an absolutely vital cog in a successful Saints wheel. Whilst he is doing that, Lomax, Hohaia, Makinson, Foster, Wellens, Gardner, Meli all eaqually have points to prove, because the inclusion of Gaskell will mean a reshuffle elsewhere, and at least one of them losing their place. Chuck into that mix a fit Wheeler, and Royce really does have some big decisions to make. The chock stone in all this is the Hohaia contract, which sees an aging overseas player, on a sizeable wedge of salary cap, squeezing out some of our best and brightest talent. He is under the greatest pressure to perform, if he doesn't, then we have a major white elephant on our hands.