: Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:32 am  

Saint Simon wrote:

Its almost unreal their fall from grace. TBH their pack isnt bad on paper, Langley, Burgess, Newton to name 3 are good players on their day, but they just dont seem to be doing a job, the back are a disgrace though, no place in superleague there

Newton and Langley have gone backwards bigtime, they are no longer a threat. Sadly, Burgess looks the same as well but he has been injured for a while.

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:35 am  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

Newton and Langley have gone backwards bigtime, they are no longer a threat. Sadly, Burgess looks the same as well but he has been injured for a while.

I'd have to agre, 2 years ago i would have been happy to have Langley or Burgess at saints, not sure anymore

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:53 am  

if it tips down with rain, you may only beat us by about 20 points. if it is a dry track then God knows.

the key to our downfall is the policy of not promoting from within, where you can get better value for money when bringing players through. Also, many of our top players got old together and there was nothing coming through beneath them.

Hape and Vainikolo got injuries that rendered them shadows of the plares they were, and we got them off cap at what looks like the right time. the problem is that we have replaced them with very average players like Worrincey, Platt etc... and even worse like Sherriffe!!

the club claims to be spending the full cap amount! that means that there are some players who are being seriously overpaid!

four years ago, if we put our squad up for sale, the top three teams would have taken virtually all of our squad off our hands. Now, after 3 years of McNamara and Hood's mismanagement, we probably have half a dozen players who would be an asset to the top sides, and a squad full of players who are probably as high up the league ladder now as they are ever going to be!

I still think that Burgess, Scruton, Lynch, Morrison, Menzies and (I'll say it very quietly) Newton, are good enough to get in most teams in SL. but of those 6, four are 29 or over and there lies our problem.

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:05 am  

isaac1 wrote:

if it tips down with rain, you may only beat us by about 20 points. if it is a dry track then God knows.

the key to our downfall is the policy of not promoting from within, where you can get better value for money when bringing players through. Also, many of our top players got old together and there was nothing coming through beneath them.

Hape and Vainikolo got injuries that rendered them shadows of the plares they were, and we got them off cap at what looks like the right time. the problem is that we have replaced them with very average players like Worrincey, Platt etc... and even worse like Sherriffe!!

the club claims to be spending the full cap amount! that means that there are some players who are being seriously overpaid!

four years ago, if we put our squad up for sale, the top three teams would have taken virtually all of our squad off our hands. Now, after 3 years of McNamara and Hood's mismanagement, we probably have half a dozen players who would be an asset to the top sides, and a squad full of players who are probably as high up the league ladder now as they are ever going to be!

I still think that Burgess, Scruton, Lynch, Morrison, Menzies and (I'll say it very quietly) Newton, are good enough to get in most teams in SL. but of those 6, four are 29 or over and there lies our problem.

The 6 you named on form are still good players but like you said due to age and probable salary demands I could only see the top sides looking at Burgess (when fit), Scruton and Lynch. Newton just isnt the player he was even though he isnt that old in reality.

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:15 am  

Give the thread regarding Flannery going home until the Magic Weekend and the possibility of Pryce being unavailable that is likely to result in this team.

1. Paul Wellens,
2. Ade Gardner,
3. Matt Gidley,
19. Chris Dean,
5. Francis Meli,
6. Leon Pryce/21. Gary Wheeler,
7. Sean Long,
10. James Graham,
9. Keiron Cunningham,
15. Bryn 'Brian' Hargreaves,
11. Lee Gilmour,
16. Tony Puletua,
12. Jon Wilkin,

14. James Roby,
17. Paul Clough,
18. Kyle Eastmond/21. Gary Wheeler
23. Maurie Fa’asavalu.

There is also the option of Tony being in the frong row with Clough in the backline and Brian starting on the bench.

Regarding the Bulls there is not much wrong with their pack. Their weakness is there backs especially their centres who seem incapable of defending. This has been made worse with young Crookes being ruled out for the season. They also suffer from having some pretty poor halves.

Matt Gidley could be in for a big game.

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:16 am  

Flannery is back apparently, which is nice

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:19 pm  

IF Flannery is returning its going to be a nice headache to have

Dean to drop out Gilmour back to Centre's with Flannery in the Second Row?

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:21 pm  

SaintStevo88 wrote:

IF Flannery is returning its going to be a nice headache to have

Dean to drop out Gilmour back to Centre's with Flannery in the Second Row?

I'd be tempted to rest gilly and play dean against this lot

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:33 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

Flannery is back apparently, which is nice

Thats good, and now I expect Pryce to play too which is good.

: Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:54 pm  

isaac1 wrote:

the key to our downfall is the policy of not promoting from within

Not completely, McNamara was promoted from within, and according to most he is a big part of the problem.