: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:00 pm
norfolkngood wrote:
In defence I thought Monas had a really good game and didn't most of thier tries get scored near the middle away from King? We lost Morley and Carvell in that second half. Riley only his second proper game at full back and Chris Bridge and Vinnie Anderson first or 2nd game in a long time. We played a side who did virtually nothing wrong on Sat and who were 3rd last year. We're not a top 3 side and have'nt been for the past few years so why should be suddenly be expected to be one now?
Also, give Jimmy a chance. Forget last season, he took over a regime at the wrong time of year. We can only judge him by this year and to judge a coach on 2 matches against the best side over the past 4 years and last years 3rd placed team is a little unfair. We should be backing him and the players 100%, they need us on their side not on their back continually which is what is happening.
But we want more from a scrum half than good defence, that should be a bonus. Mark Gleeson was very good defensively, unfortunately, he was lacking in the more important part of a hookers game, just like Monas is showing at scrum half. Anyone can stand there and catch and pass, we want direction, take the ball to the opposition line, creativity. That's where he's lacking.
Lowes has had his chance as far as I'm concerned. He dropped Penny from a great height last week and stuck an half back in his place.There were more culpable players from the Saints game that should have been dropped before Penny, but they weren't. Nobody will convince me that Bridge is better on the wing than Penny. Even Matty Blythe can consider himself unlucky to miss out on the starting line up.
At least these 2 show enthusiasm and team spirit, something severely lacking from a lot of the rest.
We also played a side that had 12 men for 10 minutes, unfortunately for us, we somehow managed to look like we had 10 and I think we conceded twice in that time.
We have the playing staff to be a top 3 side now and have done for the at least the last season, the fact that we aren't a top 3 side or look like becoming a top 3 side is the reason why things must change quickly or it's another season of discontent.