: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:33 pm  

Foz wrote:

You know what? You're absolutely right. We should continue to rely on a player who, once every blue moon, has a good game and that's only when he not warming a north stand seat injured. Let's continue to rely on a player who is getting on a bit and leave ourselves in a situation where we've no replacement. That's the smart thing to do.

Ah, well glad thats that settled then.

I've been saying for two years we need to find a replacement. I was laughed at then.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:35 pm  

Dave T wrote:

I can't beleive that somebody is using Sean Long as a role model when criticising Briers.

Long has had plenty of rumours around him and his off field habits, has consistently been shown up at Test level, despite claims of him being World Class, and he walked out on his country mid tour.

Long has won many games for Saints just like Briers has won many games for Wire.
Long has many more opportunities to win games with fancy plays though as Saints are far more dominant than Wire are.

At times we see Saints introduce young lads and they look world beaters. Much of the time this is due to the strength of their overall team. Didn't Matty Smith get a hat-trick against us at the HJ a year or two ago, and people were raving that he would be the next big thing. Actually, he is an average player and was simply playing in a dominant team which allowed him to show what he could do.
How often has Briers played in a dominant team?

I would say that the last 18mnths have been his worst at the club, and IMO it was on the back of Cullen trying to remove our reliance on Briers, by bringing in Monas and taking the captaincy off him. Unfortunately, Monas hasn't been up to it, and Briers has struggled taking a back seat.

Long has also been considerably helped by the fact he has always played with strong alternative pivots and class play-makers at 6, 9 and 13.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:38 pm  

Rugby chick:

Who would you play at 6 and 7 on Friday at Bradford? Also, I want to know who Wedge>Anderson would play there as well...

For the record I would pick Bridge and Briers, with Monas at 9 if he has to be anywhere near the pitch given his complete lack of confidence at the moment.

This is all presuming we haven't signed Lockyer, Marshall, Long >insert a good half back here< before friday

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:38 pm  

mark_m wrote:

Long has also been considerably helped by the fact he has always played with strong alternative pivots and class play-makers at 6, 9 and 13.

I know a lot of Saints fans who have been fed up of Long at certain periods during the last however many year he has been there. Fortunately for them, they have been a good enough team to still get the wins, so the fans don't get on his back.

Every few games he will then come up with a good performance, maybe do something to win the game and gets the plaudits.

We have all seen games where Long passes behind players with the ball going straight into touch, loads of kicks out on the full, and games where he has simply been anonymous. In those games, they have others who step up and carry the team.

When Briers has an off day, nobody steps up and covers for him. We simply die on our ar$es, as has been seen in the last couple of games.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:39 pm  

mark_m wrote:

Warrington took a BIG chance on Briers after he had broke onto the scene when Goulding was injured at Sintellins. Maybe now is the time to do the same with another young prospect.

Eastmond/Myler.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:40 pm  

Dave T wrote:

I know a lot of Saints fans who have been fed up of Long at certain periods during the last however many year he has been there. Fortunately for them, they have been a good enough team to still get the wins, so the fans don't get on his back.

Every few games he will then come up with a good performance, maybe do something to win the game and gets the plaudits.

We have all seen games where Long passes behind players with the ball going straight into touch, loads of kicks out on the full, and games where he has simply been anonymous. In those games, they have others who step up and carry the team.

When Briers has an off day, nobody steps up and covers for him. We simply die on our ar$es, as has been seen in the last couple of games.

Indeed and agreed. That was my point. Briers has been a one man show for virtually all the time he has been at the club.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:40 pm  

Dave T wrote:

I know a lot of Saints fans who have been fed up of Long at certain periods during the last however many year he has been there. Fortunately for them, they have been a good enough team to still get the wins, so the fans don't get on his back.

Every few games he will then come up with a good performance, maybe do something to win the game and gets the plaudits.

We have all seen games where Long passes behind players with the ball going straight into touch, loads of kicks out on the full, and games where he has simply been anonymous. In those games, they have others who step up and carry the team.

When Briers has an off day, nobody steps up and covers for him. We simply die on our ar$es, as has been seen in the last couple of games.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:43 pm  

Wedge>Anderson wrote:

No that quote is actually trying to make the best of our situation at the moment which is completely different to mediocrity

Fair enough.

Wedge>Anderson wrote:

Secondly we are actually agreeing. Briers Is the best we have at the moment and ultimately we do have to replace him. But that’s no easy task. It would be interesting to see who you suggest we replace him with? Myler - would he leave Salford? Tomkins - wouldn’t leave his boyhood Wigan. Eastmond - allegedly similar attitude to Briers and would Saints let him go? As I have mentioned several times the lack of quality half backs is evident especially British ones….

To be honest I'd really like to see Myler. He young and from what I've seen a really good player and with some of the big names and experience we have I think he could be brilliant. I hope he could be tempted from Salford, I feel we've a lot more to offer but of course, it's all opinion!

Not so keen on Tomkins and now you've mentioned that about Eastmond I'm not so keen on him either. Plus he's getting a nice taste of what it'll be like to be Long's replacement and I don't think we'd tempt him from Saints. He's got a very promising career with almost guarenteed trophies ahead of him at that club.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:54 pm  

Purplehaze wrote:

Rugby chick:

Who would you play at 6 and 7 on Friday at Bradford? Also, I want to know who Wedge>Anderson would play there as well...

For the record I would pick Bridge and Briers, with Monas at 9 if he has to be anywhere near the pitch given his complete lack of confidence at the moment.

This is all presuming we haven't signed Lockyer, Marshall, Long >insert a good half back here< before friday

Bridge and Briers all day. You can tell monas heart isn't in this club and wants out, so let him go! I've had enough of him after i expected so much and defended him saying the guy needs time etc. He has done nothing for us and he should be out of the door way before lee briers.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:56 pm  

Wire On The Telly wrote:

Ah, well glad thats that settled then.

I've been saying for two years we need to find a replacement. I was laughed at then.

Believe me I've been saying it for longer

Purplehaze wrote:

Rugby chick:
Who would you play at 6 and 7 on Friday at Bradford? Also, I want to know who Wedge>Anderson would play there as well...

As I've said on a previous post, I didn't mean get rid of Briers tomorrow. We are stuck for the remainder of the season until we can get rid and replace players. I would definately leave Monas out, I think he does us more harm than good in the halves. I'm fairly happy with Bridge, after being out so long he deserves the opportunity and Briers we don't really have a choice.