Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 4:40 pm  

ninearches wrote:

Still disturbing ,the early doors lack of enthusiasm to compete against HKR & still the persistent problem of the opposition making excessive yards in possession so we get the ball back in the wrong part of the pitch. I do though live in hope that this is part of a grand plan to condition the team into winning ugly from a losing situation.
Is there a problem between Ratchford & Williams ? There seemed to be a few words exchanged at times. Perhaps there are too many captains in the side.

Williams should be the captain for me, Ratchford probably got it because of how long he as been at the club. Im still trying to figure out why he got a 2 year deal, Mata’utia gone at end of season we have Wrench coming back but no real news on new centres going forward, can only be the reason he got a 2 year deal uncertainty.

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 5:12 pm  

I wonder if maybe Ratchford would be better on the right if he is to be a centre ,as some players do have preferred positions. He does certainly look like a square peg in a round hole at the minute.

I have always thought that Ratchford is best when making space for himself & is better in a role of being able to crop up anywhere in attack instead of being shoe horned into a particular slot.

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 5:13 pm  

Some of the early comments on this thread are so miserable it is embarrassing & other clubs fans must have a right giggle at us. It is impossible to decide who gets the MMM Award (Moaning Minnie of the Match). But I think there might be a clear winner of the Newcomer Award.

We are always going to be more critical of our own team ... cos we watch them so closely & only see bits of the opposition. But all the main stats say tell us that we are currently the best team in Super League. We are top by 4 points, have the best attack (most points) & the fourth best in defence. As a priority, I reckon we should work on our line speed in defence & our medium/long kicks in attack.

We'll get torn apart one day & some of our players aren't always great but it's the same at every club. I left the ground last night concerned at our ineffective start but encouraged by the fight back against a decent & very committed HKR.

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 6:41 pm  

ninearches wrote:

I wonder if maybe Ratchford would be better on the right if he is to be a centre ,as some players do have preferred positions. He does certainly look like a square peg in a round hole at the minute.

I have always thought that Ratchford is best when making space for himself & is better in a role of being able to crop up anywhere in attack instead of being shoe horned into a particular slot.

Ratchford played right centre for Wire in the 2012 Challenge Cup game at Wembley, when we beat Leeds.

Chris Bridge was injured, and Ratchford looked quite comfortable playing on the right hand side to cover Bridge`s absence for a lot of games.

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 7:17 pm  

complete overhaul of the squad... gone from 2nd worst team in the league, to 4 points clear at the top, in a few months.

and we still have people moaning about the coach and that he hasn't managed to replace ALL OF THEM.

couldn't write it haha (well some people can)

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 7:34 pm  

morleys_deckchair wrote:

complete overhaul of the squad... gone from 2nd worst team in the league, to 4 points clear at the top, in a few months.

and we still have people moaning about the coach and that he hasn't managed to replace ALL OF THEM.

couldn't write it haha (well some people can)

Spot MD..were 4 points clear at the top not 4 points adrift at the bottom..if someone offered me this half way through may I'd snapped there hand off..last night proved this squad will scrap sometimes it won't be pretty but no team will roll over..keep going wire...

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 7:49 pm  

Have to agree with the posters who are sick of all the moaning. We've not played well the last 4 games, but we're top of the league and it looks a lot rosier from where we are sat compared to other teams.
And this week it's the centres that come in for stick.

FWIW, the team Ive been most impressed by this year is HKR.
Although we've beaten them twice both could have gone either way - and both times we've not had Abdell to contend with (and who in my view plays with MOS form when he's on the pitch).

Of course we've not got a perfect team or the best players in every position. The only person who has that luxury is the England coach.

Whilst I am aware of our short-comings - and there are quite a few - I prefer to acknowledge those but not let them be the over-riding issue.
Glass half full, far more than glass half empty.

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 7:54 pm  

Boss Hog wrote:

Ratchford played right centre for Wire in the 2012 Challenge Cup game at Wembley, when we beat Leeds.

Chris Bridge was injured, and Ratchford looked quite comfortable playing on the right hand side to cover Bridge`s absence for a lot of games.

I could've played centre in that team! It was over 10 years ago and he hasn't played centre since. Just keep him in the squad(we've got no choice thanks to the ridiculous TWO year deal)as a cover player.

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 8:19 pm  

ratticusfinch wrote:

Ratchford was moaning and moaning again last night, it’s getting rather tedious. He is not Captain material at all.

Smiffy will have his number, and will put a stop to it.

Re: Tonight’s game v HKR : Sat May 13, 2023 9:13 pm  

karetaker wrote:

Philbin MoM he carried us when he came on.

Good spot. Just seen he made 196m last night - awesome.

(That's metres and not miles).