Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:14 pm  

fez1 wrote:

My assumption is that 4 of the 21 to be dropped are fringe players like Oakley (ok maybe a big assumption) - so replace the fringe players with 4 first teamers, then drop those first teamers when the squad is cut to 17 - unless peole already know that SP is already planning to drop 4 first teamers from the 21.
I've no way of knowing.

If he wasn't going to play them he wouldn't have named the fringe players in the squad. I don't think any of the senior first team players will play.

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:32 pm  

fez1 wrote:

I understand the reasoning behind this 21 but I'm disappointed.
I want us to win the LLS - many (arguably including SP) don't rate it.
It's one of only 3 trophies on offer.

We have the strength in depth to field a much stronger team without significantly affecting our chances in the cup.

I almost feel like it's taking the p***.

If SP wanted to field a weakened side it would have made more sense to me to name 4 additional first teamers in the 21 and not play them because it could have bluffed Salford into naming a stronger side.
Also there is the risk that some of the youngsters get 'scarred' by a mauling by Salford before their SL careers have really begun.

I appreciate that this may not be a popular view.

Everyone entitled to their own opinion but I'm not happy about this.

I agree that there are too many changes really and freshness is not as big a thing as momentum in sport IMO. I think we could have brought 7 or 8 in and still have a very good chance of winning.

I disagree about the lls if we win it but nothing else its hardly a consolation and if we pick up one of the others (especially the superleague trophy) I don't think anybody will care if we don't have the lss to go with it.

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:39 pm  

I understand all of your comments and I appreciate your points of view.
I know my view is in the minority.
Unquestionably there are some reasonable points, but like I said, I think we can win this without impacting the future games with a half decent team (rather than a full 2nd tier team - no offence intended to the fringe players) and don't want to throw it.

Anyway, we'll see.
Let's hope it's a good match and the guys stand up to be counted.

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:54 pm  

There isn't even home advantage in the play-offs to worry about.

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:55 pm  

It’s now very awkward and no-win situation. for Salford as they will be expected to win. Massive incentive for the youngsters playing for Wire.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:58 pm  

Fez I'm not so sure that you are in the minority on here as I'm in the half way house camp with CW8, a bit of a rerun of the team selection perhaps with different criteria of who's in/out when we had 8-9 out but played through due to Covid

I'm still looking forward to the game and hope that it's competitive and we can get some positive from it beyond a write off result and a rest well earned though it is for many.

The question it really raises is who do we consider is still in the running for top 4 given as others have said there's no advantage being 1st or 4th

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:14 pm  

I reckon we will approach it like the Kangaroos used to on their tours. Have our first choice teams for the weekend games with a "mid-week" team for this Salford game, the Leeds game on the Wednesday before Wembley and Huddersfield game on a Sunday after playing Friday night and before Saints the following Friday.

That way our "weekend" team plays once a week from now to the end of the season.

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:20 pm  

Uncle Rico wrote:

The question it really raises is who do we consider is still in the running for top 4 given as others have said there's no advantage being 1st or 4th

It's looking like 4 from Wire, Saints, Wigan, Leeds and Catalan. Saints no longer have the cup to contend with so I would expect them to make it easily. We have to play all of the other 4 contenders, so it's very much in our hands.

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:30 pm  

Looks like Wigan are adopting the same approach as us judging by their squad.

Re: Teams for the two Salford games : Sun Sep 27, 2020 7:02 pm  

St Helens Wolf wrote:

It's looking like 4 from Wire, Saints, Wigan, Leeds and Catalan. Saints no longer have the cup to contend with so I would expect them to make it easily. We have to play all of the other 4 contenders, so it's very much in our hands.

And we took two points against Catalans (who are a threat to our top 4 aspirations) with a very strong team. The Salford game isn't a four pointer (or what the equivalent phrase is now it's on percentages), hence we have the shadow squad named and we'll revert back to a very strong squad in the semi final. The strength of the squad in my opinion fits the importance of winning that particular fixture.