: Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:54 am  

gulfcoast_highwayman wrote:

Seeing the title of this thread I thought it must be about the Sky teletext report of the game. It's a right dog's dinner, mixing up our titular heroes at random intervals.

On Thursday it quoted Warrington as a Yorkshire club!

Re: Sinfield & Senior : Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:54 am  

leicester_rhino wrote:

I disagree. The way you carry the ball will influence how the defence reacts. The defence will have not expected the pass as Gibson had it in one hand. That doubt that Gibson created in the defenders mind gave Donald the split second he needed to squeeze in at the corner.

So all that coaching boll0x about carrying the ball in two hands because the defence won't know what you are going to do is wrong then? Last night the defender had already commited to him -he transferred the ball to one hand and flicked it out in a high risk move. He could just as easily have passed. Do you recall the next time he got the ball and took an age to transfer the ball to his right hand which was so obvious anyone could have spotted it? Donald didn't get the ball that's for sure.
The one handed flick is used best after you have made contact with the defenders and you are being tackled and only have one hand free - like Mr Lauititi or Keith does it - any other time it's just incorrect passing technique.

Re: Sinfield & Senior : Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:54 am  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

Most penalised team in the league, now with a defence that pensioners could walk through? Something not right here - and it's not the squad - which should be up to this (although if Luke Burgess doesn't learn how to tackle people that don't run straight at him we should be looking at a lower league prop with peripheral vision capability very soon - oh...hang on?).

Not the squad in terms of ability but perhaps it is the squad in terms of application?

I've posted this before but mentally the team are in a tremendously difficult situation that most posters seem blissfully unable to comprehend.

Teams struggle to retain titles because its so difficult to mentally get up to performing to the same intensity and consistency for a second year. This squad is trying to do it for a third year - something that hasn't been done in Superleague before.

: Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:57 am  

GCM1980 wrote:

I was more convinced by Gibson than I have been in a long time. I've been a bit quick to criticise in the past but everything he did yesterday was good. His defence is really solid.

His postional play last night was poor, every time Hull moved the ball that way they looked dangerous. He has defended better other times I've seen him. Burgess, Diskin, Worrall, Doanld and Gibson were all leaving holes last night. As a team we were not up to standard.

Re: Sinfield & Senior : Sun Jul 05, 2009 11:02 am  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

Most penalised team in the league,

I am sure that I will be berated for sour grapes, BUT how many times are we penalised and the opposition arent? Last week Bradford were hardly ever ten yards at the play of the ball. Last night Hull were the same. We either adhere to the rule or scrap it - How many other teams have been penalised for offside at the kick off this season, beside us on Easter Monday?

Then again, we must have a great team to bounce back despite being over penalised!

Re: Sinfield & Senior : Sun Jul 05, 2009 11:04 am  

Puig-Aubert wrote:

Not the squad in terms of ability but perhaps it is the squad in terms of application?

I've posted this before but mentally the team are in a tremendously difficult situation that most posters seem blissfully unable to comprehend.

Teams struggle to retain titles because its so difficult to mentally get up to performing to the same intensity and consistency for a second year. This squad is trying to do it for a third year - something that hasn't been done in Superleague before.

Hard to argue with that. I would say though that if Saints finish first after the regular rounds again, then that consistancy is possible. The difficulty is when big games come up mid season - like Saints in the cup. We are not getting up for them, which could be because of the lack of performance consistancy at that time of year. Very hard to just switch it on. The run in to the playoffs usually has three or four big games in regular season and this is where we start to lift and put it together. I'd be happy to see that again, but I think we are starting from a lower performance base than last year. The up-side is that Saints seem to be at a lower level as well. Our defence the last few games has been a serious concern - Hull scored pretty much whenever they got near our line, and they weren't clever tries. I'm not sure what has happened here.

Re: Sinfield & Senior : Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:06 pm  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

Hard to argue with that. I would say though that if Saints finish first after the regular rounds again, then that consistancy is possible. The difficulty is when big games come up mid season - like Saints in the cup. We are not getting up for them, which could be because of the lack of performance consistancy at that time of year. Very hard to just switch it on. The run in to the playoffs usually has three or four big games in regular season and this is where we start to lift and put it together. I'd be happy to see that again, but I think we are starting from a lower performance base than last year. The up-side is that Saints seem to be at a lower level as well. Our defence the last few games has been a serious concern - Hull scored pretty much whenever they got near our line, and they weren't clever tries. I'm not sure what has happened here.

As long as the players can lift/focus for the play offs I'm happy but you're right: the goal line defence last night looked disjointed and without intensity.

Re: Sinfield & Senior : Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:09 pm  

Puig-Aubert wrote:

As long as the players can lift/focus for the play offs I'm happy but you're right: the goal line defence last night looked disjointed and without intensity.

when you race into a big lead and just switch off slightly, I guess its difficult to just switch straight back on.

we are saying its difficult to lift yourselves from one season to another, it must be difficult to be 100% on the ball for 40mins, have a seemingly unassailable lead, then have to suddenly raise the intensity again.....

not saying the team should lost the intensity in the first place, but....

Re: Sinfield & Senior : Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:39 pm  

Puig-Aubert wrote:

Not the squad in terms of ability but perhaps it is the squad in terms of application?

I've posted this before but mentally the team are in a tremendously difficult situation that most posters seem blissfully unable to comprehend.

Teams struggle to retain titles because its so difficult to mentally get up to performing to the same intensity and consistency for a second year. This squad is trying to do it for a third year - something that hasn't been done in Superleague before.

Doesn't help that your 3rd attempt to retain the title is being done with a weakest squad in 3 years.

: Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:08 pm  

Senior is the best centre in super league by miles and at the moment doesn't need to be thinking about retirement at all.

Sinfield looks to be playing well after a poor start to the season and I think Burrow had his best game this season, maybe because McGuire didn't play? Buderus is crucial to Leed's hopes.

I think we're in a good position for the title at the moment. Are defence can be easily rectified, i hope Webb's injury isn't too serious. Saints should be the team to be worried, a lot of missing players, I can see them missing out on all trophies this season.

I thought Leeds finally got some decisions our way last night, after the start of the season where we were not getting any 50/50 calls.