: Tue May 19, 2009 12:17 am  

Mission wrote:

I for one would be very pleased to see this team, it would be an acknowledgement that Deacon is not playing well and is dropped even though he is fit. It would hopefully send out a signal. A complete change would be a disaster, small changes week to week are the way forward.

I'm struggling to see a lot wrong with that team or that logic.

: Tue May 19, 2009 9:53 am  

Halley
Sheriffe
Menzies
Nero (if fit)
Tadulala (if fit)
Sykes
Jeffries
Scruton
Newton
Lynch
Cook
Langley
Burgess

Subs: Rinaldi, Worrincy, Donaldson, and Kopzack (only cos we are struggling for a prop on the bench). Deacon and Platt to miss out altogether for reasons that speak for themselves and Langley need a good game or the same for him.

: Tue May 19, 2009 10:02 am  

Halley
Sheriffe
Menzies
Nero (platt if Nero doesnt make it but Semi does)
Platt (hopefully Tadulala)
Sykes
Jeffries
Scruton
Newton
Lynch
Cook
Worrincy
Burgess

Rinaldi
Olbison
Kopzcak
Langley/Crossley/Donaldson

Im assuming Tadulala wont make it and Nero will for this.

I think we have to drop Deacon and go back to the Jefferies/Sykes combo that at least started to give teams something different to think about - put the responsibility back on Jeffries rather than Deacs as I think he thrives on it. Langley needs dropping to the bench at least and Worrincy starting in the second row with Cook should give us plenty of energy from the start to try and set us off in the right frame of mind rather than wait for his impact in the second half.

Olibson to freshen things up from the bench and I'd like to say one of Donaldson or Crossley as well (or someone else who is tearing it up in the reserves - others might have a better clue as to current form), but I'm wary of making the bench too leightweight - but some freshening up and dropping is required IMHO and its the reserves that are going to have to provide this competition for places at some point or we'll see more complacent performances like Sun.

Im also not sure what to do about FB, Halley made some mistakes on Sun but then so did everyone else, he also did some good stuff - open field tackle on a Celtic break at half way, then from the resulting play the ball Celtic kicked into the corner and it was Halley back there to defuse it - excellent stuff. On balance I'd keep Halley there for now but Im not convinced he's the long term solution.

: Tue May 19, 2009 10:48 am  

Duckman wrote:

Halley
Sheriffe
Menzies
Nero (platt if Nero doesnt make it but Semi does)
Platt (hopefully Tadulala)
Sykes
Jeffries
Scruton
Newton
Lynch
Cook
Worrincy
Burgess

Rinaldi
Olbison
Kopzcak
Langley/Crossley/Donaldson

Langley needs dropping to the bench at least and Worrincy starting in the second row with Cook should give us plenty of energy from the start to try and set us off in the right frame of mind rather than wait for his impact in the second half.

Worrincy has looked good when coming on but I'm wondering if he can make more of an impact against a tiring defence. He's running good lines with good pace and you might lose that putting him in from the start. He does need to come on earlier though so I'd give him a stint towards the end of the first half.

Langley does need to start showing better go forward but I've never seen him shirk the hard work.

Dropping Deacon is a no brainer imo as he's been targeted and increasing looking like he can't handle the physical side of the game.

: Tue May 19, 2009 11:09 am  

childofthenorthern wrote:

Worrincy has looked good when coming on but I'm wondering if he can make more of an impact against a tiring defence. He's running good lines with good pace and you might lose that putting him in from the start. He does need to come on earlier though so I'd give him a stint towards the end of the first half.

Langley does need to start showing better go forward but I've never seen him shirk the hard work.

Dropping Deacon is a no brainer imo as he's been targeted and increasing looking like he can't handle the physical side of the game.

I agree that Worrincy is excellent coming off the bench, Im just trying to find ways of shaking it up without handing out 6 or 7 debuts in (yet another) game we really must win. Langley gets trough hard work but he looks very flat in attack and again benching him might just give him and other players something different to think about.

as an aside, I've just noticed that for the first time ever in SL our odds to finish bottom (33/1) are shorter than our odds to win the grand final (40/1)

: Tue May 19, 2009 11:23 am  

Hands up if you honestly think Deacon will be dropped?

: Tue May 19, 2009 1:44 pm  

debaser wrote:

Hands up if you honestly think Deacon will be dropped?

Heart says yes, head probably says no!

Even if Tadulala wasn't fit, I'd still be inclined to pick a team that doesn't include Michael Platt. I know he's a bit of a scapegoat, but he is one for a reason, just doesn't look comfortable wherever he plays.

Matt Cook'd be worth a shot in Platt's centre position that he occupied on Sunday. Gives 100% every game.

The team I'd pick, if Semi was fit:

Halley
Sheriffe
Menzies
Nero
Tadulala
Sykes
Jeffries
Lynch
Newton
Scruton
Burgess
Cook
Langley

Worrincy
Rinaldi
Kopzcak
Donaldson/Olbison

: Tue May 19, 2009 4:40 pm  

My team:

1. Halley the comet
2. Shotgun Sherrifffe
3. Beaverrrr
4. The emperor
5. Tinky wonky
6. The Psyko
7. Jefferies
8. The Worrloard
9. The Surrender Monkey
10. The Lynchpin
11. Burgess
12. Cook
13. Scrotum

14. Sir Isaac
15. Kojak
16. Captain Calamity
17. Orbison

Deacs and Langley >>>>> The championship

: Tue May 19, 2009 5:41 pm  

Ancient Provocateur wrote:

My team:


17. Orbison

: Tue May 19, 2009 6:11 pm  

AaronBull wrote:

Heart says yes, head probably says no!

Even if Tadulala wasn't fit, I'd still be inclined to pick a team that doesn't include Michael Platt. I know he's a bit of a scapegoat, but he is one for a reason, just doesn't look comfortable wherever he plays.

Matt Cook'd be worth a shot in Platt's centre position that he occupied on Sunday. Gives 100% every game.

The team I'd pick, if Semi was fit:

Halley
Sheriffe
Menzies
Nero
Tadulala
Sykes
Jeffries
Lynch
Newton
Scruton
Burgess
Cook
Langley

Worrincy
Rinaldi
Kopzcak
Donaldson/Olbison

minor point but he only played 10-15 mins at Centre before tadulala went off and he was shifted to wing where he did look a bit lost. whilst at Centre he didnt look too terrible. in hindsight it may have been a better option to switch platt and halley round once semi went off. bit harsh to criticise a player covering in a position hes had very experience off and he didnt really make any major errors iirc.( or at least no more than anyone else)

That said I like look of your team and assuming all available I'd go with that. can't help wondering if theres an element of unrest in squad due to deacs walking straight back into team and breaking up a halves partnership that was looking a lot more effective.