Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:13 am  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Not long. Maybe until the predicted placings thread.

Why? Because you already know you’ll be making excuses up for a bad season before a meaningful game is even played? Don’t worry, I get it, you’ll get no response from me.

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 7:28 am  

MorningGlory23 wrote:

Why? Because you already know you’ll be making excuses up for a bad season before a meaningful game is even played? Don’t worry, I get it, you’ll get no response from me.

Rather you'll be contradicting yourself saying Radford is beyond useless but still expecting a top 4 finish so you can spend all season moaning about it.

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:10 am  

Really tough to pick a 17, which can only be a good thing.

Everyone fit and the game tomorrow I'd go with,

Shaul
Swift
Connor
Carlos
Fonua
Kelly
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Bowden
Jones
Ma'u
Sao

Griffin
Johnston
Satae
Masi/Brown/Ellis/Fash

Need to spell Houghton, could even see him given a spell at LF, but we need some zip at hooker during the game, honestly think this is in Radfords plans otherwise I'd doubt Johnson would have come.

Very big season for Shaul, who should get 20 trys backing up the forwards and has Wynne breathing down his neck and Bowden, who must find his 2016/17 form.

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:22 am  

Dave K. wrote:

Really tough to pick a 17, which can only be a good thing.

Everyone fit and the game tomorrow I'd go with,

Shaul
Swift
Connor
Carlos
Fonua
Kelly
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Bowden
Jones
Ma'u
Sao

Griffin
Johnston
Satae
Masi/Brown/Ellis/Fash

Need to spell Houghton, could even see him given a spell at LF, but we need some zip at hooker during the game, honestly think this is in Radfords plans otherwise I'd doubt Johnson would have come.

Very big season for Shaul, who should get 20 trys backing up the forwards and has Wynne breathing down his neck and Bowden, who must find his 2016/17 form.

I think the squad looks OK, particularly in the back row and at centre. But prop is still a big concern for me. If Bowden doesn't step it up we only have Taylor yet again as a genuine quality front rower with Satae a decent option off the bench. Against the front row options of Saints and Wire it's not enough IMO. We need to be looking forward to rotations coming on, not dreading Taylor going off.

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:48 am  

Mrs Barista wrote:

I think the squad looks OK, particularly in the back row and at centre. But prop is still a big concern for me. If Bowden doesn't step it up we only have Taylor yet again as a genuine quality front rower with Satae a decent option off the bench. Against the front row options of Saints and Wire it's not enough IMO. We need to be looking forward to rotations coming on, not dreading Taylor going off.

If that's the case I'd move Sao to prop and play maybe Savlio at LF (Forgot about him in my first pick) I'd prefer him out wide, but with Ma'u, Jones, Griffin and Lane, we have some real quality out wide.

Personally think we have the squad to challenge,Wigan, Saints and Warrington, so a top 4 finish is a must next season and be competitive in every game.

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:27 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

If that's the case I'd move Sao to prop and play maybe Savlio at LF (Forgot about him in my first pick) I'd prefer him out wide, but with Ma'u, Jones, Griffin and Lane, we have some real quality out wide.

Personally think we have the squad to challenge,Wigan, Saints and Warrington, so a top 4 finish is a must next season and be competitive in every game.

Totally agree on the back row, but still think our props lack the punch to make the yardage and space for us to challenge. I think top 3 will be Saints, Warrington and Wigan who will be transformed with Hastings. After that I'd hope to be in the pack with Catalans, Castleford and I expect Wakefield to be much improved after their disastrous injuries this season. Interested to see what goes on at Leeds, not up to date with their squad, and obviously the revolution over the river is a big threat. .

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:51 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Totally agree on the back row, but still think our props lack the punch to make the yardage and space for us to challenge. I think top 3 will be Saints, Warrington and Wigan who will be transformed with Hastings. After that I'd hope to be in the pack with Catalans, Castleford and I expect Wakefield to be much improved after their disastrous injuries this season. Interested to see what goes on at Leeds, not up to date with their squad, and obviously the revolution over the river is a big threat. .

I think its fair to say that if we don't make top 4 with the squad we have assembled then the league campaign will be deemed a failure.

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:25 pm  

oooh Gravy! wrote:

I think its fair to say that if we don't make top 4 with the squad we have assembled then the league campaign will be deemed a failure.

Top 3 are nailed on IMO. I don't see we're entitled to the last spot at all with our limited front row options.

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:47 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Top 3 are nailed on IMO. I don't see we're entitled to the last spot at all with our limited front row options.

No team is entitled to finishing in the top 4 but I'm not alone in thinking that we should be making top 4 with this team. Saints aside, I don't think we are any more limited in the front row than Wigan, Warrington or anyone else; Taylor, Bowden, Setae, Sao, Ellis, Masi...

I don't think you can name four clubs that have better squads than us. Coaching however is a different debate.

Re: 2020 Line-Up : Fri Oct 25, 2019 2:01 pm  

oooh Gravy! wrote:

No team is entitled to finishing in the top 4 but I'm not alone in thinking that we should be making top 4 with this team. Saints aside, I don't think we are any more limited in the front row than Wigan, Warrington or anyone else; Taylor, Bowden, Setae, Sao, Ellis, Masi...

I don't think you can name four clubs that have better squads than us. Coaching however is a different debate.

As said, we have Taylor who must be at risk of burn out - we know he has played though injuries. Bowden still short of form for me. Satae is a good prospect off the bench but I don't feel we can roll other packs. Our middles have been exposed this year and we haven't strengthened if you think Paea was our best prop for much of this year. Kelly's fitness is another key concern. We know Connor at 6 with Sneyd isn't an amazing option. I would be delighted if your expectations were realised, of course.