Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:17 pm  

Smith has been great for us that cannot be really debated he has brought us silverware and had influences in changes off the pitch also. But so far is yet to bring us the super league trophy we want. The challenge cup and Lls should be the icing on the cake not make the season a success.

The reason for our failure to win the SL trophy can be debated but the buck must stop with him. We've missed out on finals where we have been ahead and should have closed the games out. I don't rate ts as a great tactician when we have creative and intelligent players we do and play well, without them we look devoid of ideas or a plan b when we don't blow teams away in the first 20.

Who do we look at to replace him? I don't know but we need a coach who can brig the best out of the players available. To be able to change things mid game someone that players will run thru brick walls for. We're not in a desperate rush but we should be looking as it should not be down to whose available when smith decides to leave. If the club become aware someone is available that they have identified as smiths successor they should get him signed up n move smith upstairs

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:14 am  

Wires71 wrote:

Can we nail this LLS stuff. No other big team sets that as a target. Our target was to win the Grand Final.

At the start of last season, after such a lacklustre season before and our full knowledge of our lightweight pack, our aim was just to get into the top4. We exceded our expectations last season.

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Fri Feb 17, 2017 12:32 pm  

Psychedelic Casual wrote:

At the start of last season, after such a lacklustre season before and our full knowledge of our lightweight pack, our aim was just to get into the top4. We exceded our expectations last season.

The coach and players last season were quite clear that the aim was to win SL.

Retrospectively lowering ambitions to just below achievement is not really the hallmark of winning behaviour.

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Fri Feb 17, 2017 2:08 pm  

I don't think a light pack is as relevant in this day & age & mobility among the forwards is more important.What seems to destroy our ambitions are any permutations of the following points...disrespecting possession, trying to score on every move & having no Plan B.Simple catching & passing moves would seem a good place for the coaching staff to concentrate on & try working some composure into our sets in possession.This subject crops up every season & nothing changes on the field.

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Fri Feb 17, 2017 7:37 pm  

I consider the clout of Moran far more significant and the key to success.
I doubt there would be any backward step if Agar took over from today.
I'd be content to see Smith take a role upstairs.
Crucisl selection errors in our post 2012 finals era.

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:09 am  

Wires71 wrote:

The coach and players last season were quite clear that the aim was to win SL.

Retrospectively lowering ambitions to just below achievement is not really the hallmark of winning behaviour.

Well a club with one excellent prop in Hill, an injured Ben Westwood, an injured Ben Harrison, an okay Sims and some dross with Bailey and Cox and then young lads shouldn't be expecting to win anything. If we did then our expectations were unrealsistic. We had no pace in the forwards, a lack of aggression, lack of weight. We didn't have, and still don't, any true decent centres who create space and good passes for the wingers neither.

At the start of last season I expected to challenge for around 4th/5th and I never thought about any finals. I thought we were well short.

We have a stronger heavier more aggressive pack this year, still no pace in there though. And still have no true centres. And a right mish-mash of backs who are okay in a range of positions but masters of none!

Wigan and Cas look much better than we do on paper. So I, again don't expect us to win anything this season, and I reckon we'll finish 3rd-5th.

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:52 pm  

I'd have smith back at Leeds tomorrow please swap for McDermott anyone?

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:18 am  

What always amuses me is some of those who have such a "accept nothing less than winning" mentality are the same types of old guard fan who will have us believe that the great team of the 80s with Les Boyd, Mike Gregory and co in, was some kind of benchmark of greatness.

In reality, that team finished 3rd and 4th a couple of times but for much of the 1980s we were a mid table side that would get to the occasional final or semi final and lose. It wasn't just Wigan that were better than us though, we were behind the likes of Widnes and Saints.

Now maybe back in the old days Warrington was not as big a club as it is today and so that 80s team was seen as plucky mid-table heroes who could front up and give the big teams a spirited fight even if they ended up defeated.

But I think if you have such high standards that anything less than the title is a failure then you shouldn't be glorifying that Warrington team you should be telling us about Shaun Edwards, Ellery Hanley, guys who actually were relentless winners.

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:08 am  

EVO105 wrote:

Kevin is a similar player the Lee Briers so I think good times are round the corner for the Wire again

How did Kevin play last night

Re: 2017 and Tony Smith : Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:12 am  

Psychedelic Casual wrote:

Well a club with one excellent prop in Hill, an injured Ben Westwood, an injured Ben Harrison, an okay Sims and some dross with Bailey and Cox and then young lads shouldn't be expecting to win anything. If we did then our expectations were unrealsistic. We had no pace in the forwards, a lack of aggression, lack of weight. We didn't have, and still don't, any true decent centres who create space and good passes for the wingers neither.

At the start of last season I expected to challenge for around 4th/5th and I never thought about any finals. I thought we were well short.

We have a stronger heavier more aggressive pack this year, still no pace in there though. And still have no true centres. And a right mish-mash of backs who are okay in a range of positions but masters of none!

Wigan and Cas look much better than we do on paper. So I, again don't expect us to win anything this season, and I reckon we'll finish 3rd-5th.

Will I think this season will bring you silverware