: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:23 am  

Bullseye wrote:

Indeed. Menzies has probably (hopefully) not yet found his niche in the side because we don't seem to be using him correctly.

Getting him to take the first drive from a tap is madness.

That sounds like crap coaching & crap captaincy.

[Bullseye]

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:33 am  

We could move Menzies to play at stand off if the scrum half was a good organiser. However Deacon is no Matt Orford.

I'm not sure what Deacon's problem is at the moment. He had a mare yesterday, his passes were inaccurate and his kicks largely ineffectual until he started putting up some bombs. Take him away though and I think we'd be even worse. Anyone recall the moment where Deacon was tackled on the 5th and the ball ended up with Lynch to kick? Where was the replacement kicker on that play? Surely that's where Jeffries, Newton or Sykes should slot in?

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:42 am  

Bullseye wrote:

We could move Menzies to play at stand off if the scrum half was a good organiser. However Deacon is no Matt Orford.

I'm not sure what Deacon's problem is at the moment. He had a mare yesterday, his passes were inaccurate and his kicks largely ineffectual until he started putting up some bombs. Take him away though and I think we'd be even worse. Anyone recall the moment where Deacon was tackled on the 5th and the ball ended up with Lynch to kick? Where was the replacement kicker on that play? Surely that's where Jeffries, Newton or Sykes should slot in?

That was just after halftime - we thought that was a cunning plan which had come out of the team talk. It confused a lot of the hull players actually - nearly worked!

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:47 am  

As a Hull fan i cant really comment but, how about Menzies and Jeffries at 6 and 7, and Deacon interchanging at hooker. People have said his kicking game is not as good as previous years, is that down to increased pressure from defence?? If so, get him in at hooker and kick from acting half

Just an option for discussion

[Bullseye]

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:50 am  

Irregs #16 wrote:

As a Hull fan i cant really comment but, how about Menzies and Jeffries at 6 and 7, and Deacon interchanging at hooker. People have said his kicking game is not as good as previous years, is that down to increased pressure from defence?? If so, get him in at hooker and kick from acting half

Just an option for discussion

I think he'd get even less time kicking from DH than he does standing back from the defence. He's our no 1 kick option so the markers would be at him immediately. At least if he's in the line he's got more time before the defence gets to him.

I'd say we could do with another kicker to mix things up. If Sykes is at fullback then he's an option.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:52 am  

Bullseye wrote:

...is at the moment. He had a mare yesterday, his passes were inaccurate and his kicks largely ineffectual until he started putting up some bombs. ..

Bombs? Thorman put up "bombs". Deacon (who must, I'd bet a whole lot of money, be able to kick a ball harder than Thorman, put up simpering damp squibs most of the time. If you're going to do a bomb, why not put your back into it and give the ball some decent height, so your players actually have a chance? It's not as if it is something he can't do, is it, having managed it these past numerous seasons? I'm baffled.

Bullseye wrote:

... Anyone recall the moment where Deacon was tackled on the 5th and the ball ended up with Lynch to kick? Where was the replacement kicker on that play? Surely that's where Jeffries, Newton or Sykes should slot in?

Yes it is, but then I doubt anyone had remotely expected Deacon on that play to dip a shoulder and go far a half gap, being instantly tackled. Ending up with Lynch putting up the 'bomb' was excruciatingly embarrassing, to say the least. Agree entirely that when it happened somebody should have been quick enough of brain and foot to slot in as a replacement kicker. They didn't.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:57 am  

I thought he'd play Centre for you guys.

[Bullseye]

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:06 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Bombs? Thorman put up "bombs". Deacon (who must, I'd bet a whole lot of money, be able to kick a ball harder than Thorman, put up simpering damp squibs most of the time. If you're going to do a bomb, why not put your back into it and give the ball some decent height, so your players actually have a chance? It's not as if it is something he can't do, is it, having managed it these past numerous seasons? I'm baffled.

He did put up a couple of kicks that spiralled nicely but not enough and it was too late. Too many kicks were only good at turning the ball over. They didn't go for height or distance and gave our chasers no chance to exert any pressure. McNamara must be tearing his hair out when he sees that.

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Yes it is, but then I doubt anyone had remotely expected Deacon on that play to dip a shoulder and go far a half gap, being instantly tackled. Ending up with Lynch putting up the 'bomb' was excruciatingly embarrassing, to say the least. Agree entirely that when it happened somebody should have been quick enough of brain and foot to slot in as a replacement kicker. They didn't.

I did wonder wtf Deacon was doing running in that position on the 5th but maybe he spotted a gap and it just happend to be closed. I was more disappointed with the lack of awareness by our other kickers who didn't take responsibility once Deacon was tackled, do players walk around in a daze? More concentration is needed.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:06 am  

Menzies looks willing enough but IMO we will not see the best of him until he stops having to play the full 80.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:42 am  

Bullseye wrote:

maybe he spotted a gap and it just happend to be closed.

He waits 10 years & then it's on the fifth. That's bad luck.