: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:21 am  

af wrote:

I suspect that at least one side that has been well placed for most of the year will drop out off the play-offs completely. Maybe Quins, maybe Wakey, maybe even Rovers.

True, and thatmay well happen. I just don't think any of the top 7 can now be caught by Bradford, although one of them could well be replaced by one of the teams currently 9th - 11th.

: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:22 am  

mystic eddie wrote:

Obviously.

But if you only have the ability to win half of your games you need to be taking advantage of the "easier" games at home in order to help you on the way to reaching your goal.

Two wins at home all season and losses to such quality as Castleford and the Celtic Crusaders at Odsal will hardly help.

In order to win half of our games we need to turn a 6.1.11 current record into a 13.1.13 record. Not gonna happen.

But the wins at Wire and Saints and at home to Leeds go in the other column.

If by not gonna happen you mean unlikely to happen I'd agree. But I think there's still a slim chance, for the reasons outlined. To provide further evidence, Cas and Hull KR could each end up with around 50/50 records as a result of a good run coupled with form not dissimilar to ours in their other games. If the run can happen in games 1-9 or 9-18, why not 18-27?

Like I said, unlikely but possible. Which is why I'd be interested in seeing odds.

: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:22 am  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

I'm not convinced it is lack of effort on Deacon's part so I don't think he needs a kick up the harris. I just think age has caught up with him and he's past his best. He just isn't the same player anymore and it is sad to see to be honest.

He doesn't have the players around him to carry him. He needs time & space, he gets neither now. His shortcomings are now brutally exposed. You can console yourselves that he is the greatest scrum half of the 20th century.

: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:30 am  

Bullseye wrote:

Every so often we pull a good performance out of the bag but then spoil it by putting in 2 or three bad ones.

I remember a time many years ago, when Leeds Utd, having won the last ever Division One title the year before, were garbage the year after and almost got relegated. However, despite being useless pretty much every week, towards the end of the season they played their socks off against Man Utd and almost beat them. Alex Ferguson blasted the Leeds players afterwards saying their performance was an insult to their boss as it showed how well they could play when they wanted to, whereas their performances over the rest of the season could get Howard Wilkinson the sack. One wonders if the same may be applicable here - I'm not absolving Macnamara from any blame, don't get me wrong, however in both games against Saints and Leeds the Bulls players have showed what they are capable of - too many times against other teams this year they have gone missing. Brings into question what percentage of the blame lies with the coach and what percentage lies with the players.

: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:37 am  

HyperbolicRhino wrote:

I remember a time many years ago, when Leeds Utd, having won the last ever Division One title the year before, were garbage the year after and almost got relegated. However, despite being useless pretty much every week, towards the end of the season they played their socks off against Man Utd and almost beat them. Alex Ferguson blasted the Leeds players afterwards saying their performance was an insult to their boss as it showed how well they could play when they wanted to, whereas their performances over the rest of the season could get Howard Wilkinson the sack. One wonders if the same may be applicable here - I'm not absolving Macnamara from any blame, don't get me wrong, however in both games against Saints and Leeds the Bulls players have showed what they are capable of - too many times against other teams this year they have gone missing. Brings into question what percentage of the blame lies with the coach and what percentage lies with the players.

Not sure. We showed in the laft 15 mins of the first half yesterday what we are capable of. It's just they then imploded in the second half. OK Cas got a lucky break with the first of the three tries as it should have been a penalty. But they had no excuse for the second and third of that period.

Too inconsistent this season even within the same game never mind a number of games.

: Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:33 pm  

DILLIGAF wrote:

Then play him at 6.

Now I know I said give the youngsters longer than 4 mins but even I think 6 years is too young

: Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:43 pm  

Ewwenorfolk wrote:

Snake Eater wrote:

10-11TH BECAUSE YOU'RE CRAP!

Such intelligence in such a short post.

You're currently 12th.

I'd say it was pretty insightful.

HAHAHAHAHA

: Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:07 pm  

Snake Eater wrote:

You're currently 12th.

I'd say it was pretty insightful.

HAHAHAHAHA

I said it was intelligent.

: Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:50 pm  

Ewwenorfolk wrote:

I said it was intelligent.

My apologies.

I got the impression you were ebing sarcastic.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:03 am  

Bullseye wrote:

If that doesn't get the team performing nothing will

It's as inspiring as a Paul Medley speech.