Re: FC Finally Win At Wembley in an Absolute Classic : Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:20 pm
Mild Rover wrote:
I think Radford deserves enormous credit for getting fairly unheralded players like Washbrook, Green and Bowden to place where they can contribute meaningfully to the success you're having. All on the bench on Saturday, but it is a 17 man game nowadays. Put them into the rovers set-up of the last few years, and they'd likely go from quietly effective to completely anonymous. Same if we signed somebody like Dom Crosby. Ryan Bailey contributed basically nothing for us, now probably the third best prop in a good team.
Tuimavave would probably have been one of those 'waste of a quota spot' players for us. Talanoa and Michaels, fall into the 'not going to get you to the next level' and Dave K's 'don't use quota spots on wingers' argument.
Yeaman, setting aside the antipathy some Rovers fans have towards him, and his age - still a good player IMO.
Tuimavave would probably have been one of those 'waste of a quota spot' players for us. Talanoa and Michaels, fall into the 'not going to get you to the next level' and Dave K's 'don't use quota spots on wingers' argument.
Yeaman, setting aside the antipathy some Rovers fans have towards him, and his age - still a good player IMO.
Fair summary. I think Washbrook is and always will be a solid, dependable SL player. He won't ever get many plaudits or headlines, but he just goes about his business and rarely does anything wrong. He's especially good at what some people might call the dark arts, holding up attackers and controlling the ruck speed. Green and Bowden have always shown promise but never really done it week in week out. This year they are like new players. They very much play second fiddle to Watts and Taylor, but unlike in previous seasons we don't lose much when the main guys go off.
Think you're spot on with Tuimavave. He has all the skill in the world, but he doesn't show it that often. But with Sneyd pulling the strings we can afford to carry him knowing that when he does inject himself into the game it can be deadly. He'd be seen as a luxury player by alot of people. I also agree about Michaels. He's brave as they come, and for a little guy actually goes forward well, but he looks like he will be leaving, and I think that's probably the correct decision.
The one I cant agree with is Talanoa. I know you have two good wingers in Sio and Mantellato, so if you prefer them I won't argue, but for me Talanoa is one of the best wingers in the league, and probably our second most important back after Shaul. He can finish, he can defend, he's decent under a high ball, but most importantly the go forward he provides is huge.
As for you guys, I know the life of a Hull KR fan isn't the best just now, but there's plenty to be excited about as long as you can survive the qualifiers. Get a good full back, sort out the Campese situation and make three or four quality pack additions and you will have a very competitive squad Imo.
