Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 3:00 pm  

Right now, Rovers are in a dark place. 1 fortunate point from 6, key players injured, less than 17 fit players, poor squad quality, small squad, playing badly without passion or desire. Outlook bleak in the short term. A team led by a coach that most fans now want to see the back of. The same usually loyal and passionate fans, frustrated and subdued throughout, that perhaps justifiably booed the team at the end of a home game following their abject performance against a disciplined but average Wakefield team.

So following that summary, here's a 10 point plan of what I would do against Saints. The first 5 relate to team changes, the second 5 to game plan.

1 - Sio to fullback, he's wasted on the wing
2 - Minns to right centre. Should never have been dropped for the below average Salter anyway. Plus Salter has injured his shoulder again
3 - Blair to interim captain. Horne should be dropped on current form if I had my way, but injuries forcing our hand. He may improve without the captaincy burden
4 - Shaw to start at right wing, if Cockayne unfit. Take over the kicking duties, in the event we score a try
5 - Play Greenwood at loose forward. Horne to interchange with Lawler at hooker

6 - Tempo. Play with greater intensity and speed. Get into the faces of Walsh and Wilkins. Run the ball hard at these 2 as they can't tackle
7 - Support Play. Use support runners. Start doing it automatically
8 - Defence. Stop conceding yards after contact. Don't switch off at the ruck. Maintain line speed in defence
9 - Attacking lines. Attack the ball at speed with straighter or more angled runs. Kick for field position. Kick further into touch on penalties.
10 - Passing. Pass faster, crisper and flatter. We need more passing practice

How much of this do you agree with. Have I missed owt?

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 3:39 pm  

We used the link play with Cockayne round the back a gazillion times and it just didnt work. It was all very laboured (like all of our attacking play)and Sio may benefit from playing fullback.

Considering how reliable Horne was last year he has been totally gash this year and should be dropped, but for lack of bodies he is in the team.

We seem short of natural leaders or players that really lead by example,, so Blair would probably be my choice too.

Lawler is doing a decent job at hooker and not sure who could rotate with him tbh. Not sure who the academy players are or whether they would be good enough.

With the odd exception in the odd set, every player is taking the ball stood still, no one seems to 'come on the burst' any more. We rarely get a team on the back foot and this is probably due to the lack of tempo, are we fitter than last year, is it due to ack of fitness... i dont know.

Our completion rate is killing us, I would guess its under 70% for the season. Countless times we give the ball away early in the tackle count and in good field position. We rarely build any pressure and let teams off the hook.

With regards to a game plan, do they really need telling to back up, tackle etc, surely its an integral part of the game and should be in the DNA of a rugby professional. Chester doesnt appear to have any sort of gameplan suited to play to the opposition weaknesses or indeed our strengths (assuming we have any right now!)

Not sure what the answer is as if I did I would be in a different profession, but what I do know is that something has to change or its going to be a fight for Super league survival come October.

Not feeling very optimistic at all!!

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 3:40 pm  

you need props and you have no one in charge you are rudderless Kelly seems fed up

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 3:55 pm  

The start of the second half summed it up for me. Short kick off, floated ball in the air, both Kelly and Sio jump for it, result..........knock on. Dumb rugby and also the Communication is just not there. The lack of a leader is killing us. Blair is my obvious choice but even he isn't vocal enough. Campese is such a massive loss to us. But, the buck stops at Chester. Would you imagine the furore if this was Sandercock coaching us since the Cup final?! Chester is on borrowed time and the longer Rob and Neil dither about the less time we have to sort it out. I fully expect a 1000 fewer on Friday (and that includes me!).

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 6:11 pm  

Hessle rover wrote:

I fully expect a 1000 fewer on Friday (and that includes me!).

On TV, city at home and on TV and the dross being served up I reckon it'll be well down on numbers

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 6:14 pm  

Hessle rover wrote:

The start of the second half summed it up for me. Short kick off, floated ball in the air, both Kelly and Sio jump for it, result..........knock on. Dumb rugby and also the Communication is just not there. The lack of a leader is killing us. Blair is my obvious choice but even he isn't vocal enough. Campese is such a massive loss to us. But, the buck stops at Chester. Would you imagine the furore if this was Sandercock coaching us since the Cup final?! Chester is on borrowed time and the longer Rob and Neil dither about the less time we have to sort it out. I fully expect a 1000 fewer on Friday (and that includes me!).

I think you may be over optimistic in your estimation of a 1000 fewer supporters been there on Friday, that's if the comments by many around me in the east stand and in the pubs afterwards are anything to go by, plus the fact that its on Sky will also have a bearing on it of course.

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 6:14 pm  

Pickering Red wrote:

Right now, Rovers are in a dark place. 1 fortunate point from 6, key players injured, less than 17 fit players, poor squad quality, small squad, playing badly without passion or desire. Outlook bleak in the short term. A team led by a coach that most fans now want to see the back of. The same usually loyal and passionate fans, frustrated and subdued throughout, that perhaps justifiably booed the team at the end of a home game following their abject performance against a disciplined but average Wakefield team.

So following that summary, here's a 10 point plan of what I would do against Saints. The first 5 relate to team changes, the second 5 to game plan.

1 - Sio to fullback, he's wasted on the wing
2 - Minns to right centre. Should never have been dropped for the below average Salter anyway. Plus Salter has injured his shoulder again
3 - Blair to interim captain. Horne should be dropped on current form if I had my way, but injuries forcing our hand. He may improve without the captaincy burden
4 - Shaw to start at right wing, if Cockayne unfit. Take over the kicking duties, in the event we score a try
5 - Play Greenwood at loose forward. Horne to interchange with Lawler at hooker

6 - Tempo. Play with greater intensity and speed. Get into the faces of Walsh and Wilkins. Run the ball hard at these 2 as they can't tackle
7 - Support Play. Use support runners. Start doing it automatically
8 - Defence. Stop conceding yards after contact. Don't switch off at the ruck. Maintain line speed in defence
9 - Attacking lines. Attack the ball at speed with straighter or more angled runs. Kick for field position. Kick further into touch on penalties.
10 - Passing. Pass faster, crisper and flatter. We need more passing practice

How much of this do you agree with. Have I missed owt?

you have got the right idea it will soon be time for another coach do you fancy the job bring your own team

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 6:34 pm  

cravenpark1 wrote:

you have got the right idea it will soon be time for another coach do you fancy the job bring your own team

Thanks mate. However, Stan's the man for the job. He put forward a belting team for the Wire game. Instead, we fielded a younger side and ended up on the end of a 6 try beating.

I mean. Would you have picked Horne ahead of Sit Down, Waldo? Or Cockayne ahead of Burtons Forearm? I rest my case.

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 7:11 pm  

The standard of our passing probably merits a thread of its own.

Re: Right Now, What Would You Do? : Mon Feb 22, 2016 7:20 pm  

Sit down, Waldo wrote:

The standard of our passing probably merits a thread of its own.

Especially from dummy half. How many times have we seen the first receiver have to jump up high just to catch the ball hence stopping all momentum.