Time to wake up and smell the coffee? : Sat May 02, 2009 10:09 pm  

I think we would all agree that this year was going to be difficult compared to recent seasons - Ageing and thin squad but still with enough talent and good youngsters to "challenge" at the top of SL but not dominate the regular rounds as in recent years.

I thought a Cup win would actually be good this year compared to 07 and 08 when we really should have won 1 GF. I was expecting a stop-start league season and to finish top 4 but not sure where.

Now - we have had an exciting start and run which has raised hopes but we've hit a few buffers - we may just be settling out into how the league will pan out. I think its the latter - we've massively overachieved early doors and now need ot realise that stopping at the top will be a massive achievement. I actually think the top 6 is wide open and now MP can really earn his corn.

Can we respond?
Have we got more moves than the few run-around/mis-pass ones we have that are now appearing telegraph?
Is it time to thrown in Eastmond at 1 or half-back?
MP out posts are a joke. LEt's give the man time to mould his own team.

Its also the time we have to stick behind the team as much as possible and support as we transition from maybe the Long/KC era to the Eastmond/Roby/Pryce one for real.

: Sat May 02, 2009 10:15 pm  

well said that man

Re: Time to wake up and smell the coffee? : Sat May 02, 2009 10:18 pm  

Harborne Saint wrote:

I think we would all agree that this year was going to be difficult compared to recent seasons - Ageing and thin squad but still with enough talent and good youngsters to "challenge" at the top of SL but not dominate the regular rounds as in recent years.

I thought a Cup win would actually be good this year compared to 07 and 08 when we really should have won 1 GF. I was expecting a stop-start league season and to finish top 4 but not sure where.

Now - we have had an exciting start and run which has raised hopes but we've hit a few buffers - we may just be settling out into how the league will pan out. I think its the latter - we've massively overachieved early doors and now need ot realise that stopping at the top will be a massive achievement. I actually think the top 6 is wide open and now MP can really earn his corn.

Can we respond?
Have we got more moves than the few run-around/mis-pass ones we have that are now appearing telegraph?
Is it time to thrown in Eastmond at 1 or half-back?
MP out posts are a joke. LEt's give the man time to mould his own team.

Its also the time we have to stick behind the team as much as possible and support as we transition from maybe the Long/KC era to the Eastmond/Roby/Pryce one for real.

To answer the questions:

Yes;
Wigan certainly read our moves tonight although they were more helped by our painfully slow execution and poor passing,
Half back. Long's passing has been atrocious and it is unsettling te team;
Indeed they are;

: Sat May 02, 2009 10:23 pm  

I love Longy for his achievements but I think Wilkin's game v Leeds in the cup might have been the final nail. Long cannot boss us round the park as much as he used to and his kicking/pace/passing have dropped a level again.

Wilkin needs to be given more time at 13 in a support-organistional role alongside more game time for Wheeler and Eastmond. I'm quite excited by a Pryce-Eastmond-Wilkin 6-7-13 combo. I'd even start tothink seriously about Wello at centre and Pryce/Eastmond sharing 1/6 with Wheeler coming into contention as well? We've got to try this v say Salford/Celtic (no offence intended!)

: Sat May 02, 2009 10:29 pm  

Harborne Saint wrote:

I love Longy for his achievements but I think Wilkin's game v Leeds in the cup might have been the final nail. Long cannot boss us round the park as much as he used to and his kicking/pace/passing have dropped a level again.

Wilkin needs to be given more time at 13 in a support-organistional role alongside more game time for Wheeler and Eastmond. I'm quite excited by a Pryce-Eastmond-Wilkin 6-7-13 combo. I'd even start tothink seriously about Wello at centre and Pryce/Eastmond sharing 1/6 with Wheeler coming into contention as well? We've got to try this v say Salford/Celtic (no offence intended!)

I've just made some similar comments on the burn out thread.

I would give pryce a run at fullback and move wello into the back row to inject some pace and much needed yardage from fullback.

That would free up the stand off postion for maybe wheeler.

That would give us more options in attack.

: Mon May 04, 2009 7:20 am  

Puletua has papered over a few cracks this year and has been an excellent signing for you.

Whilst Long is going down the pan, Wellens and Gardner are absolutely shocking...

: Mon May 04, 2009 8:28 am  

Harborne Saint wrote:

Wilkin needs to be given more time at 13 in a support-organistional role alongside more game time for Wheeler and Eastmond. I'm quite excited by a Pryce-Eastmond-Wilkin 6-7-13 combo.

I agree, Wilkin is a good ball-player and needs to be more involved in the game rather than on the fringes of play.