Zig wrote:
Powell has only been a good coach on a narrow field. Continuity is key not ripping up a side. On paper Wire have a far better side than the one that is performing on the pitch which, raises the question why is that so? As for the size of the relative packs, I don’t think he is correct.
Genuinely intrigued by the having a far better side on paper comment - what's the thinking behind this?
As far I see it, we are distinctly average and have very few genuinely quality players (Though admittedly, that's something that could be said of the league in general).
For a start, in the most important area, the front row, we are pretty poor in comparison with other clubs. Mulhearn is probably the best of the lot and he's average at best. So, with that mind, that puts us on the backfoot straight away.
Our hooker is now, by most people's opinion, well past his best and his understudy is an enthusiastic, but pretty underwhelming sort.
The back rowers, Currie & Holmes, are both showing nowhere near the form that has previously been seen, and with Currie especially, this has been ongoing for around 2 or 3 seasons.
As for the backs, we have 3 youngsters, who while having showed promise, are still a mile away from being players you want to be relying on on a weekly basis. Ratchford is pretty similar to Daryl Clark, well best his best and if we are being honest our only genuine quality is Williams, and he is having to perform with all the averageness I've just described around him.
I'm certainly open to being corrected here, but for me, the idea this side is underachieving to what we have on paper is a completely misguided one - We have a bottom half squad and that's where we rightfully sit.