[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Squad Numbers : Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:19 pm  

St Helens Wolf wrote:

With the senior players not yet back in training I don't think that we can read too much into the squad numbers at this stage other than the fact that Dwyer is well down the list rather than having a bench spot. As they stand, 1 - 17, it looks like Ratchford starting at centre then moving into Dummy Half, in order to spell Walker, with Tai taking over at Centre.

That is THE most confusing assumption I've ever seen on here

Re: Squad Numbers : Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:23 pm  

Being realistic , i would love to see a team with plenty of young lads giving everything on the pitch but the benchmark for most fans is success on the pitch & it is that success that governs a coach's shelf life. It is a
short season with the easily lost chance of winning silverware so the coach will go with what team he thinks will bring most success.

Re: Squad Numbers : Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:31 pm  

ninearches wrote:

Being realistic , i would love to see a team with plenty of young lads giving everything on the pitch but the benchmark for most fans is success on the pitch & it is that success that governs a coach's shelf life. It is a
short season with the easily lost chance of winning silverware so the coach will go with what team he thinks will bring most success.

Winning is everything. If suddenly we started picking "plenty of young kids" & started losing we'd soon find out from our fans. I'd give 'em two games before the sparks would fly. Selectors pick who they think is their best team. Of course we don't all agree with the selectors but that is how it is.

Re: Squad Numbers : Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:44 pm  

karetaker wrote:

Also with Ratchford keeping the 4 shirt I really hope he is not kept as captain for next season.

Who would you give it to?

Re: Squad Numbers : Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:48 pm  

We have a player in our ranks who is respected across the Rugby League world, is a guaranteed starter if fit and is the current England captain….no brainer. It cannot be Ratchford again…..and I’ll be telling Sam this tomorrow.

Re: Squad Numbers : Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:01 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

Who would you give it to?

Tbh I don’t have a clue simply because nobody spoke up when we were down. Ratchford was not the answer last season, now whether the Maguire thing really did cause a split in the team or not we have never known. All I know is we need someone behind the sticks geeing the lads up if we are down. Since Briers who was a monster with his vocals on the pitch only players I know was Gidley and Sims that would often have a voice. I just think you have to have a vocal leader on the field.

Re: Squad Numbers : Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:11 pm  

karetaker wrote:

Tbh I don’t have a clue simply because nobody spoke up when we were down. Ratchford was not the answer last season, now whether the Maguire thing really did cause a split in the team or not we have never known. All I know is we need someone behind the sticks geeing the lads up if we are down. Since Briers who was a monster with his vocals on the pitch only players I know was Gidley and Sims that would often have a voice. I just think you have to have a vocal leader on the field.

Surely Williams is a candidate as the previous poster opined.

Re: Squad Numbers : Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:20 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

Surely Williams is a candidate as the previous poster opined.

Paul Vaughan might be a goer. Well respected & sure of his place. No matter who is chosen as Captain the main decision maker on the field will be Williams but he may not want to have the captain label on him.

Re: Squad Numbers : Sun Nov 12, 2023 12:36 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

Winning is everything. If suddenly we started picking "plenty of young kids" & started losing we'd soon find out from our fans. I'd give 'em two games before the sparks would fly. Selectors pick who they think is their best team. Of course we don't all agree with the selectors but that is how it is.

We've squandered so many opportunities when we have been poor, and in no danger of relegation, that I have little confidence of Hayes and others getting a go.

Re: Squad Numbers : Sun Nov 12, 2023 12:48 pm  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

We've squandered so many opportunities when we have been poor, and in no danger of relegation, that I have little confidence of Hayes and others getting a go.

We don`t seem to grasp that the youngsters actually want to win games, and always try their best.

It is just a job, to Drinkwater Dudson etc, most of the time last season, they couldn`t give a monkeys whether we lose.