: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:57 pm  

Yes they are the future but if they cant be bothered waiting and being patient for their chance in the team then are they really the kind of players we want in the squad? I could understand if they were being constantly overlooked but its only one game and as Sheddy has mentioned, in his last game against Celtic Ratchford had a poor game.

Are we going to get this argument before every game when he doesnt get picked?
You could argue that Sidlow and Jewitt arent getting any game time because of various overseas players and they are the future blah blah blah, but it appears its a different matter for Ratchford...why???

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:31 pm  

[quote="OrdsallRed"] but it appears its a different matter for Ratchford...why???[/quote]

FWIW I'm not falling for all this Ratchford hype either, OK he's got great potential but he's along way to go and he's not the finished article. It's a big learning curve playing at Super League level against top quality opposition and there's no guarantees he'll cut it. My view is why rush him and risk ruining him by throwing him straight in at the deep end while the team are just feeling their way back in to SL.

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:07 pm  

The Coach picked the team and we won - I can live with that. I feel lucky and excited that we have some really cracking young players and when the Coach feels the time is right to play them, I am sure he will. Let's be straight about it? We need to make a decent start to build confidence this year and a game against the Crusaders HAD to be won. I think our younger players will get games throughout the season and Ratchford, Turner, Jewitt and Sidlow (to name four) will come into their own when we, as a new squad, have gelled more cohesively than can be estimated after a few meaningless friendlies? These lads are the future for our Club but what's the rush? Surely it will be better them coming into a team that is settled and playing with some confidence in each other?

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:18 pm  

Good reply "theredshed".On GMr last week, Shaun was asked the same questions re Stefan, he said, he would pick the best team for the game against Celtic, & as said, we had played them plenty of times last season which he would have duly taken notes of. He also said we have got a squad of 28 & he can only pick 17 for the game ahead so obviously, some squad members are going to be disappointed, & he will look at the opposition every week & judge which squad members will hopefully provide us with the effort to win against that team. Just because certain players have not been picked for the Celtic game doesn't mean they won't be in the team for the next game, he said he may change 4/5 players for the next game if he deems they will play better than the last team.
We have played one league game, I think we need to wait & see, if someone is consistently playing badly & stays in the team, THEN have a moan about it.

Oh by the way, can't remember when we last had this dilemma of having too many decent players

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:03 pm  

Lets all remember why we are here ..... in Engage SL XIV

1) A 3 year franchise prime motivation :- to blood new young English/ GB Academy Players to SL Standard to be the future of our sport - 13 of our 2009 squad are either Academy bred or GB qualified and 24 yrs or younger.

2) To provide Facilities & infrastructure to enable the above to happen.

Everything else from a playing point of view is incidental I.MO.

this was Game #1 in a three year franchise, 80+ games to go and plenty of opportunities for Ratchford , Turner, Sidlow, Palfrey, M Alker Jnr , I suggest . McCrae's Job is to deliver this and and show acceptable team performance over those 3 yrs, Tricky

But no use ragging him after game 1


At least wait til game 5

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:57 pm  

It's not really 3 years is it.
If the application timetable is like last year's the applications have to be early in the third year for decision mid way through year three.
So it's only this year and next that we've got to prove we are worthy of retaining our place.