atkins & Shenton : Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:18 pm  

I've seen both atkins & Shenton several times this season and I agree with Andy Gilder. Atkins is no better than the young lads (Ratu, Watkins & Gibson) that we have coming along. Shenton seems ok but he's playing in a team of few stars and stands out more, the same applys, we have better. Senior stands miles above them both and will continue to do so, you have to understand he is recognised as one of our main strike players and is therefore targeted more. I'm more than impressed with Ratu he has shown good defence and attack lets give him more game time then we will know.

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:36 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

:lol: Atkins is vastly over rated, but thats a joke right?

No, being utterly and totally convinced that England would win the world cup is a joke.

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:51 pm  

Serge A. Storms wrote:

Overrated only gets a mention because of the lack of any really emerging talent in his position currently trotting around SL - Shenton is the only other player of note and he is no Brad Godden that is for sure. The fact that Senior is head and shoulders above any British centre in SL says everything you need to know about the quality of centres in SL

I wholeheartedly agree with the point you make about Senior being the best British centre representing a sad indictment of emerging young talent (or lack thereof).

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:59 pm  

G1 wrote:

I wholeheartedly agree with the point you make about Senior being the best British centre representing a sad indictment of emerging young talent (or lack thereof).

Personally I also think it has a lot to do with the obsession that clubs are having in holding back younger players until they reach a certain age.

You will probably find a glut of talented centres come through soon, rather than a trickle which would be the case if we allowed potential stars to emerge earlier and learn the game quicker.

Only my opinion of course. But thats how it used to work, and suddenly changed over last two years or so.

Re: atkins & Shenton : Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:01 pm  

digger47 wrote:

I'm more than impressed with Ratu he has shown good defence and attack lets give him more game time then we will know.

Yes, I bet Joel Tomkins will think twice before running all over him next time.

I jest of course as none of the current right centre options are top defenders.

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:04 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

I'd say that's an unfair comparison on Chev's behalf to be honest, as Mark Calderwood would probably testify to.

Ok, I've become addicted to stats but...

...if you compare Atkins career to date with Chev Walkers Leeds career from 2003 - 2006 you'd get this:

Tries per game
Walker 0.60
Atkins 0.52

Assists per game
Walker 0.17
Atkins 0.10

Carries per game
Walker 10.54
Atkins 9.49

Metres per game
Walker 89.24
Atkins 73.86

Metres per carry
Walker 8.47
Atkins 7.78

Tackle busts per game
Atkins 2.09
Walker 1.91

Breaks per game
Walker 0.94
Atkins 0.53

Offloads per game
Walker 1.18
Atkins 0.93

Errors per game
Atkins 0.95
Walker 1.14

Penalties conceded per game
Walker 0.34
Atkins 0.52

Tackles per game
Atkins 13.11
Walker 12.38

Tackle completion rate
Atkins 92%
Walker 90%

Atkins is marginally ahead on a few counts but Walker is ahead for the vast majority - some by some considerable way.

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:26 pm  

Puig-Aubert wrote:

Ok, I've become addicted to stats but...

You must be a wow with the ladies....

TVOC himself has queried the way that OPTA award assists. I can't believe Calderwood scored all those tries outside Walker and so few were down to his centre.

Also, why your recent obsession with an avg per game stat? Not an entirely accurate barometer if one has played far more games than the other.

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:32 pm  

G1 wrote:

Also, why your recent obsession with an avg per game stat? Not an entirely accurate barometer if one has played far more games than the other.

Surely avg per game stats produce a better basis for comparisons.

Unless I've completely misunderstood your point.

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:37 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Surely avg per game stats produce a better basis for comparisons.

Unless I've completely misunderstood your point.

He's right. Every player has games where they are not so great. If somebody has played more games than the player you are comparing to, then it goes without saying he will have had more of those not so great games than the other.

Therefore average per games for somobody playing 50 games, can not be compared to someone playing 200 games.

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:37 pm  

G1 wrote:

You must be a wow with the ladies....

TVOC himself has queried the way that OPTA award assists. I can't believe Calderwood scored all those tries outside Walker and so few were down to his centre.

Also, why your recent obsession with an avg per game stat? Not an entirely accurate barometer if one has played far more games than the other.

I thought the same about Calderwood's tries. I guess he scored quite a few from kick chase, quick taps or general support play up the middle and Chev probably had the pace to score off a number of breaks himself.

Completely disagree with your point about average per game stats. It levels out the difference when player 'A' has played far more games than player 'B' by virtue of being an average. In this instance though the difference wasn't staggering (87 games for chev vs 81 for Atkins) but still enough that an average should be used.