Re: Widnes score : Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:35 pm  

First half was an absolute debacle, defensively horrible and shot ourselves in the foot on too many occasions. Second Half was like watching a completely different team, a massive transformation and we definitely deserved the bonus point.

Defence is obviously a massive problem, but at the minute I'd say our biggest concern is how light we are in the forwards, we only have Aizue, Barlow and Ostick who seem to run and hit with any purpose (Aizue will kill somebody eventually with the way he charges out of the line) and we end up bringing Worrincy inside to take drives. When we have Barlow and Aizue on the field we're far better as they make far more yards and are physically intimidating and that little bit nasty in defence. Frank still isn't fit which doesn't help, but at the minute I'd say starting with Aizue and Barlow is a must, we need to set our stall out from the beginning and not start every game 12 points down after 5 minutes.

One huge positive was the return of the Nash, if he's anywhere near fully fit now he has to play. Dangerous out wide and is a big body who made decent yardage with his hit ups. Still for me I'd like to see Calland send someone out to find 1 more forward (Championship, C1, National Conference, our academy don't care where they come from) who hits and runs hard consistently. The rest will come.

Also worth noting we conceded three tries from White failing to field kicks, worst game from him in a while, though he was much better in the second half. Whereas Worrincy in comparison had a surprisingly solid game in defence, was a shame to see his scoring streak end though. Not all White's fault though, we never put any pressure on I'Anson the entire game.

No cause for panic, as many have said, injuries and losing some key players due to salary cap has hurt us but the attack is still fine, it may be disjointed but its the Halifax way, and its never dull. No reason for Calland to be sacked, we're not going to get anyone better without paying a considerable amount of money. Pretty confident we'll have our first win on Monday.

Re: Widnes score : Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:57 pm  

The Reporter wrote:

First half was an absolute debacle, defensively horrible and shot ourselves in the foot on too many occasions. Second Half was like watching a completely different team, a massive transformation and we definitely deserved the bonus point.

Defence is obviously a massive problem, but at the minute I'd say our biggest concern is how light we are in the forwards, we only have Aizue, Barlow and Ostick who seem to run and hit with any purpose (Aizue will kill somebody eventually with the way he charges out of the line) and we end up bringing Worrincy inside to take drives. When we have Barlow and Aizue on the field we're far better as they make far more yards and are physically intimidating and that little bit nasty in defence. Frank still isn't fit which doesn't help, but at the minute I'd say starting with Aizue and Barlow is a must, we need to set our stall out from the beginning and not start every game 12 points down after 5 minutes.

One huge positive was the return of the Nash, if he's anywhere near fully fit now he has to play. Dangerous out wide and is a big body who made decent yardage with his hit ups. Still for me I'd like to see Calland send someone out to find 1 more forward (Championship, C1, National Conference, our academy don't care where they come from) who hits and runs hard consistently. The rest will come.

Also worth noting we conceded three tries from White failing to field kicks, worst game from him in a while, though he was much better in the second half. Whereas Worrincy in comparison had a surprisingly solid game in defence, was a shame to see his scoring streak end though. Not all White's fault though, we never put any pressure on I'Anson the entire game.

No cause for panic, as many have said, injuries and losing some key players due to salary cap has hurt us but the attack is still fine, it may be disjointed but its the Halifax way, and its never dull. No reason for Calland to be sacked, we're not going to get anyone better without paying a considerable amount of money. Pretty confident we'll have our first win on Monday.

No cause for panic?
You there tonight, you at Toulouse or Sheffield?
We are a team out of form, not playing together and it looks like not playing for their coach despite what some say.
Yer we won't be relegated I very much doubt yet we should be looking at top 4 now sadly it will be 5th or 6th if we are lucky, unless a new coach can turn it around.

Re: Widnes score : Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:09 pm  

Fax4Life wrote:

No cause for panic?
You there tonight, you at Toulouse or Sheffield?
We ar a team out of form, not playing together and looks like not playing for their coach despite what some say.
Yer we won't be relegated I very much doubt but we should be looking at top 4 now sadly, unless a new coach can turn it around.

Yes I was there tonight, not at Toulouse and was there at Sheffield.

We're a team out of form, that is the key point, it will turn around. Toulouse and Sheffield are teams we should not be losing to but we've also had Leigh, Featherstone and Widnes in our first 5, not easy.

Top 4 is easily achievable, 15 games left yet and we're in the NRC Semis albeit with a tough draw but there is nothing to panic about at the minute. Even if we didn't make top 4, but made the playoffs and the NRC Final I'll be happy.

Re: Widnes score : Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:17 pm  

The Reporter wrote:

Yes I was there tonight, not at Toulouse and was there at Sheffield.

We're a team out of form, that is the key point, it will turn around. Toulouse and Sheffield are teams we should not be losing to but we've also had Leigh, Featherstone and Widnes in our first 5, not easy.

Top 4 is easily achievable, 15 games left yet and we're in the NRC Semis albeit with a tough draw but there is nothing to panic about at the minute. Even if we didn't make top 4, but made the playoffs and the NRC Final I'll be happy.

Sheffield are not a bad team especially at home but Widnes are poor thats why I was shocked tonight.
Batley are looking good and I would not write off Sheffield for top 4 so like I said 5th or 6th is our best hope imo.
The thing is the last 2 years we have had a fantastic squad which has won us games that at times we had no right to win, but this year we no longer have the players across the park and just a few top players who cannot do it on their own, this is why I think Calland is getting found out, before we could outscore teams but not this year.
James Roberts pre match article in the Courier is spot on!

Re: Widnes score : Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:28 am  

Chris Dalton wrote:

You'd think you would have learned about country miles by now. I think you're going way OTT. Give us some credit, give your own team some credit. Our attacks were better, you had some very clever short kick offs, both defences could have been better. It's not the end of the world.

Country Mile was tongue in cheek. Ive forgot about the game already which gives me time to just come back to it with a clear mind. I still go with my opinion that tonight those were the two worst teams i have seen in the Championship this season. Play like that against Bradford and they will stick 100 on us. Play like that against Leigh or Fev and they could stick 80 on us. Luckily we were up against a very poor team whom i think would have lost to just about every other team in the championship with a performance like that.

Re: Widnes score : Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:11 am  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

Country Mile was tongue in cheek. Ive forgot about the game already which gives me time to just come back to it with a clear mind. I still go with my opinion that tonight those were the two worst teams i have seen in the Championship this season. Play like that against Bradford and they will stick 100 on us. Play like that against Leigh or Fev and they could stick 80 on us. Luckily we were up against a very poor team whom i think would have lost to just about every other team in the championship with a performance like that.

A very poor side who has also hammered Fev this season away? And sheffield, a team who have been cited on this thread as being much better? A few second half losses against Leigh and all of a sudden we're worthless. Just not as worthless as your shower.

Hmm. You've thought this through comrade. I'll be back later when I can find a way to argue against such solid logic.

Re: Widnes score : Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:40 am  

Calland has been to 2 grand finals.Calland well done. keep the legend

Re: Widnes score : Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:23 am  

Chris Dalton wrote:

A very poor side who has also hammered Fev this season away? And sheffield, a team who have been cited on this thread as being much better? A few second half losses against Leigh and all of a sudden we're worthless. Just not as worthless as your shower.

Hmm. You've thought this through comrade. I'll be back later when I can find a way to argue against such solid logic.

He's just a hater Chris, nothing more to be said. His bias clouds his ability to speak fairly objectively about anything related to our club.

Re: Widnes score : Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:27 am  

Chris Dalton wrote:

A very poor side who has also hammered Fev this season away? And sheffield, a team who have been cited on this thread as being much better? A few second half losses against Leigh and all of a sudden we're worthless. Just not as worthless as your shower.

I agree. I have yet to see Hunslet, York, Barrow, and Dewsbury, but yes so far on that performance last night those are the two worst teams i have seen this season. Im not even sure a decent team would have let us off the hook last night.

Re: Widnes score : Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:34 am  

Three things from that performance... your defence is shocking and unless it improves you will be seriously in a relegation dogfight. It isn't even the case that you have just one or two players unwilling to bend their back, the whole line crumbled at times.
Secondly. Your discipline needs to improve and fast. I thought Laughton was being fairly generous just pointing and shouting at players for being offside when other refs would simply just blow the whistle and give a pen. Barlow likes to think of himself as an enforcer but he's nothing more than a thug that looks for the littlest players to wallop. The minute Sculthorpe or Varks are around he shrinks away.
Finally. You still potentially have one of the best attacks alongside Leigh. Black for his little drops here and there is a superb player and I would have given a lot to have had him at Widnes for the last three years. Holroyd is a true leader and was by far your best player last night. They also throw the ball around well, if not a little disorganised. Every player is comfortable with the ball in the hand and moving it on. If you can shore up the defence you will be just fine.

I think there are a lot of people making nottingham forrest type comments about you being too good to go down and they are right. But from what I have seen Hunslet have some real qualities and York had their moments.
You definitely need to start playing well soon.