Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 9:15 am  

It's time he got a new game plan before it's too late, Plan A (the only one ) isn't working. Wish I hadn't bought a Ticket for next week, we will get another thrashing irespective of how bad Bulls were yesterday. For Calland not to turn up in the Sponsors Lounge or on radio Leeds says it all. I'm waiting for the excuses. If we do get into SL(God forbid) all the best players will have been snapped up, Widnes are already recruting.

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 9:28 am  

rickster wrote:

Whether it's down to our fitness that isnt good enough or a mental thing but when was the last time we played well in the last quarter ? On a playing front cherryholme and White were our best players today

Let me first say this is not sour grapes just an observation. The last good final quater you had was the GF where your impact forwards Frank, Makali got a an extra 45 minutes rest, and you had more interchanges to use in the second half due to not having to use as many in the first. I would say fitness has a lot to do with it or balance of squad. Its like the tortoise and the Hair, you start like a house on fire and then seem to grind to a halt, except the Grand final, where you got to start the race twice. Please believe me when I say Im not knocking your success its their in the history books. I do think however it may have papered over some of you problems.

I would say Royston is the biggest loss for you, as when your creative players made space, broke the line, threw caution to the wind etc in Royston you had a player who always busted a gut to back up and make himself available to either finish or take plays on to second phase.

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 9:32 am  

rugbyball wrote:

I would say Royston is the biggest loss for you, as when your creative players made space, broke the line, threw caution to the wind etc in Royston you had a player who always busted a gut to back up and make himself available to either finish or take plays on to second phase.

Obviously a player of Royston's quality is a huge loss but from what I've seen there doesn't seem to be anywhere near the same threat from a Black-Holroyd partnership at half back as there was Branighan-Black, and arguably that's a much more vital cog in a side.

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 9:41 am  

Leyther_Matt wrote:

Obviously a player of Royston's quality is a huge loss but from what I've seen there doesn't seem to be anywhere near the same threat from a Black-Holroyd partnership at half back as there was Branighan-Black, and arguably that's a much more vital cog in a side.

I can see what your saying, however my observation is based on the fact that a lot of what was "good" at fax came from off the cuff stuff and and Royston made a lot of that pay due to his backing up. Also in the GF Brannigan was in the centre.

As a team Fax lack the structure of a Leigh or Fev and have relied on the off the cuff stuff for a while, which is fair enough as their fans will tell you its very entertaining and has won them a GF so fair play, but without sombody to capitalise or make themselves available to take plays on to second phase its a risky way of playing.

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 9:43 am  

Think what 'Fax are missing is that you have to earn the right to play off the cuff and do the hardwork beforehand to build a platform to create space in the backs.

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 9:45 am  

burybabe wrote:

It's time he got a new game plan before it's too late, Plan A (the only one ) isn't working. Wish I hadn't bought a Ticket for next week, we will get another thrashing irespective of how bad Bulls were yesterday. For Calland not to turn up in the Sponsors Lounge or on radio Leeds says it all. I'm waiting for the excuses. If we do get into SL(God forbid) all the best players will have been snapped up, Widnes are already recruting.

If some of them have any sense they will already have a plan and idea about the future, who could blame them.
As for Matt not turning up to post match activities, if he was running the riot act, i'd chuckle, its him thats playing old men with nothing to offer and its him that allows Frank to be on the pitch week in week out less than the kick tee lad or physio.

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 9:48 am  

I've bit my tongue for a while. The way I see it is this. We have a squad of players here at fax most of whom would walk into any other side in the league. Any of those other sides that are currently above us. They are not performing as they for, in my opinion one of two reasons:

1. They are badly coached and motivated and not in a professional environment
2. There is no incentive for them to perform, they pick up a pay cheque regardless.

If its number 1, then we need to get rid, quickly, before the rot truly sets in. If number 2, I guess we'll never find out why there may be no incentive to perform. I doubt the blindly obvious excuse of not being able to be promoted is enough. I don't buy into the theory we are super league bound and none of the players will be staying. We are the RFLs fall guys here to get other clubs to pull their socks up. If we are super league bound then god help us if reason 1 is the case and is not rectified!

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 9:54 am  

[quote="Leyther_Matt"]Think what 'Fax are missing is that you have to earn the right to play off the cuff and do the hardwork beforehand to build a platform to create space in the backs.[/quote

Thats what Im saying Matt their is a difference between building a platform in the forwards, pulling defences in then spreading it wide to the centres and wings and the off the cuff rugby that Fax play where it is often sparked by a half break from a Black or Worrincey, which the likes of shad used to convert. What I am saying is what used to work for them does not now partly due to the lack of some body like Royston busting a gut to support. I am with you that they perhaps a more structured approach to laying a platform would work better now. I would suggest it is the case that over 80mins they may not have the personnel able to get results with a more structured approach, born out by the poor defending and some players only being able to do 10 min stints.

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 34 78 Minutes : Mon May 02, 2011 9:59 am  

faxtastic wrote:

Does anyone else think that going for a drop goal was a little early?

No it was always going to be a tight game and it should have put us in a winning position, but it didn't because we cannot keep the ball when we need to.

Re: Halifax 25 Barrow 43 : Mon May 02, 2011 10:04 am  

freddies wig wrote:

We are the RFLs fall guys here to get other clubs to pull their socks up. If we are super league bound then god help us if reason 1 is the case and is not rectified!

Too true, the arguments dont wash, if we were fall guys the players should busting a gut to progress their careers, and if we are SL bound they should be busting a gut to be part of it. Either way they should be giving it everything. It is easy blame MC, but this is where he is supposed to earn his corn.