Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:07 am  

Coote has played 3 games less than Ratchford as well. He hinders our attack and it was as clear as day on Friday.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:15 am  

Moe syslak wrote:

You've been repeating this ridiculous sentence for years. He IS NOT our best player!!(and the fact that you say he is kind of proves my point ). I've never rated him as most people on here probably know, but hopefully Powell will just him as cover as this should be his last season at the club.

I never said he was Moe our best, I most definitely did said he was one of our “best players” though.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:21 am  

Well he's got his hands on the ball a lot this season and as I've just highlighted he's done VERY little with it. That is in a team scoring lots of tries at the top end of the table. Praying Powell strips Hughes of the captaincy and him and Ratchford of starting roles. It'll make a huge difference.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:28 am  

Moe syslak wrote:

You've been repeating this ridiculous sentence for years. He IS NOT our best player!!(and the fact that you say he is kind of proves my point ). I've never rated him as most people on here probably know, but hopefully Powell will just him as cover as this should be his last season at the club.

Thewlis to fullback, Ashton to left wing and cover/bench player for Ratchford, is the way I see it.

If there is no significant improvement to Charnley, at the start of the season, then give Wrench a gig there and see how he goes.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:15 am  

I don’t think Powell will get along with Charnley. I think if a reasonable bid comes in he could make way. Minikin is the obvious choice for that spot, should my suspicions be right.

Ashton getting a new deal signifies that Powell has a plan for him, Thewlis for me has been more consistent than Ashton this season and is heir apparent to Fullback in my mind, so maybe Ashton has first dibs on the left wing.

Is there scope for Brand to come in? I’ve not seen much of Leigh but appeared to finish the season as fullback. Minikin won’t make the start of the season so there is a vacant spot somewhere.

That leaves Ratchford and Thewlis in a battle for fullback, which is a case of when not if Ratchford is displaced. No room for sentiment, Ratch has been great for us, but these calls need making at the right time, not when it’s too late.

The forwards pick themselves really. There’s not a lot and not especially high quality. But you pick Cooper, then pad around him with Mulhearn, Butler, Doro, Clark, Hughes and Harrison once fit. Likely that Currie and Holmes will be second rows with Dobson and Longstaff for cover.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:36 am  

Longstaff for cover? Be the first name on the teamsheet for me. He knocks Hughes and J Clark into a cocked hat.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:01 pm  

[quote="Barbed Wire"] Ratch has been great for us/quote]
No he hasn't.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:06 pm  

I do think Ratchfords contributions have been underestimated at times, and I've been a vocal defender of his, but I do think now is the time to start ushering him towards the sidelines. I'd always find a place on the bench for him but it's time to.move on.

Thewlis, Ashton, Wrench, Doro and Longstaff need big close seasons and if they buy into the new regime then 2022 can be the start of long careers in the starting 17 for all of them.

Walker is another player who has improved hugely and I expect him to flourish under Powell, in the way McShane has.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:31 pm  

Deus Dat Incrementum wrote:

I don't think anybody is questioning ratchfords ability RD but it is more about mental strength.
When Ratchford was penalised for an incorrect play the ball he was frustrated and during the next set of six he decides to stay in the defencive line so that he can get in the referees ear. He stays in the line and mickey Lewis spots it and goes over. World class fullbacks would just get on with their job, get back in position and do what the team needs them to do.
Straight from the restart Ratchford moves to hooker and gives away a penalty for a ball strip. OK Abdul missed that penalty but it could have been 8 points worth of mistakes in 2.mins.

The problem I have is the same as Chris Hill when a decision doesn't go their way. Instead of putting their hand up and the team pulling together to defend the next set after a mistake or being on the wrong end of a 50/50 call then it is shaking of the head and that look of disbelief at the decision. The senior players can question the ref but just get on with your job and encourage your team mates to defend your mistake.
You would never see the likes of Sinfield or Roby do that. They would just get on with it and their team mates would dig in. They don't try and solve the problem on their own. The team would solve the problem..

Some of the senior players have really let themselves down when it comes to mentality in crucial games spanning the Tony Smith and Steve Price era. We can't afford that to continue into the Powell era.

Absolutely spot on. Ratchford cost any possibility of getting back into that game, as we then panicked and went away from what we did to dominate the opening 15 minutes. Time to move on with Thewlis (not Ashton!) at FB. Hope Powell isn't a square peg in a round hole type of coach. Agree with other posters comments regarding Hughes and J Clark, we need players who offer more with ball in hand, as well as being able to defend.

One thing that I want Powell to do, is to re-ignite Daryl Clark, who has been extremely disappointing this season.

Re: Price : Sun Sep 26, 2021 1:47 pm  

[quote="Moe syslak"]

Not overly fair or accurate, given his selection in multiple Rep squads during his time with us. Some may not necessarily like him, but you surely can’t dispute his effort for this club.