: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:35 pm  

saintc wrote:

are a little OTT given you have won 2 games. I also commented that people jump in too quickly to critisise when its not going well but this jumping in is also being done too soon regarding how good Smith is doing. Its too soon yet.

Now, where in those very reasonable comments is there anything that is either not true or out of order?

This is the crux of where you show you haven't got a clue what you are talking about.

Winning, or losing for that matter, has nothing to do with the praise being given to Smith.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:42 pm  

getdownmonkeyman wrote:

This is the crux of where you show you haven't got a clue what you are talking about.

Winning, or losing for that matter, has nothing to do with the praise being given to Smith.

what and its just a funny co-incidence that these comments have only come after your 2 wins. There were none of these "Smith is the best thing since sliced bread" after the Cas game, was there?

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:46 pm  

saintc wrote:

what and its just a funny co-incidence that these comments have only come after your 2 wins. There were none of these "Smith is the best thing since sliced bread" after the Cas game, was there?

I think you will find it stems back to the defeat by Leeds.

In Smith we trust has been bandied around here for the past month. By the simple fact you refer to defeats highlights the point you just don't get it.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:16 pm  

saintc wrote:

what and its just a funny co-incidence that these comments have only come after your 2 wins. There were none of these "Smith is the best thing since sliced bread" after the Cas game, was there?

No doubt people are bouyed by the wins - I don't think that's unusual.

However GDMM is right -it's as much about off the field than on it. And by off the field I'm still referring to the players.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:24 pm  

saintc wrote:

what and its just a funny co-incidence that these comments have only come after your 2 wins. There were none of these "Smith is the best thing since sliced bread" after the Cas game, was there?

Actually, this is why I took issue with your first comments, because you are wrong. Smith has had nothing but praise and support ever since he took over.

Even after the Quins shocker people had faith in him. Many of us have wanted Smith for a good while, so people are not now making judgements based on a couple of wins. People have been excited about this appointment since it happened, and now we are actually seeing a hint of what may come. We aren't stupid, we know that everything isn;t suddenly fixed, but in the last couple of weeks we have done things which didn't look possible just 8 weeks ago.

We are taking the best bits of what we did under Cullen (flair), but are disciplined enough to know when to do it and when to hold the ball. Cullen couldn't sort that,yet Smith has made great strides already. Likewise with much of the defence. We are no longer guaranteed to concede when defending our line.

So what if people are getting excited about having Smith in charge, but you are wrong when you claim it has come on the back of a couple of wins.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:34 pm  

Penalty count down
Defensive line disciplined
Kick chase 100 times better
Pack playing with confidence
King looking like an Aussie test star again
Monaghan looking like a rugby player again
Deadwood leaving
Matches being won
Expansive Rugby

I think it would be naive to say TS hasn't had a hand in any of that

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:47 pm  

Wire_Yed_79 wrote:

Penalty count down
Defensive line disciplined
Kick chase 100 times better
Pack playing with confidence
King looking like an Aussie test star again
Monaghan looking like a rugby player again
Deadwood leaving
Matches being won
Expansive Rugby

I think it would be naive to say TS hasn't had a hand in any of that

That's just the start of it.

Not only do we appear to have a gameplan now, we have one that the players seem to understand, enjoy & want to be a part of. I've never seen us do the little things so well, the kick chase, the sliding defence, the scrambling defence, dominating the floor, clearing the ruck, marker tackles. All the daft things that Saints & Leeds fans will have taken for ages, but we've looked on in envy, we are bridging the gap, for sure.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:47 pm  

The Casual Des wrote:

Agree. Certain players (your Briers' etc) will be dreading training sessions under Smith and the extra scrutiny. The others who wanna push themselves will thrive under Smith.

Don't you think that Briers has thrived under Tony Smith? I certainly think he has

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:05 pm  

Wire_Yed_79 wrote:

Penalty count down
Defensive line disciplined
Kick chase 100 times better
Pack playing with confidence
King looking like an Aussie test star again
Monaghan looking like a rugby player again
Deadwood leaving
Matches being won
Expansive Rugby

I think it would be naive to say TS hasn't had a hand in any of that

If I may add my personal favourite; line speed in defence.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:29 pm  

WalterWizard wrote:

Don't you think that Briers has thrived under Tony Smith? I certainly think he has

Because if he doesn't perform he won't be playing !!