being negative is what i call it

I suppose its easier to take if you put down to negativity rather than reality for some.

How's Dave Armitstead going for you guys?? We were all gutted when he wasn't offered a new contract - a real 100% player. However, I don't think he'd get into our side at the moment.

Injured

One thing Leythers don't have is patience. I remember a long time ago Hull (Sharks, as they were then) decided to put faith in the youth of Hull to get them into Super League. They decided that they would give every kid in the area that wanted the opportunity to play first team RL their head. They attracted kids that would have normally have gone to the likes of Leeds a spot in their squad. What happened? They unearthed the likes of Richard Horne and eased them in and out of their first 13, eventually sweeping all before them. We need to nurture the young kids we have in the squad and not solely rely on them. Ridyard is the classic example. Before the season started Ridyard was signed as a backup half back for the Aussie we had signed. Had his work permit have come through Ridyard would have been watching from the sidelines learning about this level, coming of the bench in certain games making mistakes and learning from them. What as actually happened is the kid has been given responsibility far beyond his experience and has been made a scapegoat. Talented kids need to have their talent nurtured and used sparingly easing them in. The fans of Leigh have been screaming for youth to be given their chance. The only problem is, the youth have been brought in as a cost saving exercise not as a development exercise. There are kids in Leigh and the surrounding areas who are more than good enough to sign for the club and improve the squad, but they don't want too because they see it as a backwards step. Someone on the board needs to ask the question why.

Going with a youth policy is not a bad option but over exposing kids who dont have the physical size will do more harm than good.
Look at the great Wigan teams that allowed the likes of Edwards/Betts/Clarke/Dermott/Lucas/Farrell/Radlinski/Robinson to come through, for every kid coming through they had 5 established stars to protect them.

only seen him play in the friendly against Wigan, hard to judge him on that day, although his 'attempted tackle' on Andy Coley's try, was like a netball player 'having a go' ! But he certainly looked enthusiastic, kind of bought as a replacement for Lee Doran, BIG boots to fill.

Much better than Doran! Doesn't give away needless penalties and is a 100% workhorse. Offers more in attack with his offloads also.

We've not seen enough to judge how good he really is in my opinion. I know he's injured but what's wrong with him btw?

We are missing him thats for sure.
Good to see Marsh back, now lets find a stand off and get Rudd back at centre.

This youth debate gets me, how can you unearth Super League standard talent if you aren't playing in the Super League?

My thoughts are keep on going lads, yes mistakes will be made but that's part and parcel of playing young players.

The likes of Mort, Higson, Meeks, Hilly, Rourke, Morrison aren't letting anyone down, they are learning their trade and are more than holding their own against people in this division.

Having seen Widnes a number of times this season, they are in a similar position with a group of young players there who will become good players in time.

As for today's game, yes it should really have been killed off at 24-6 and I feel had Alstead's try stood then Donny were there for smashing, as a result of a sinbinning following straight on from that, Donny got a sniff and went close.

Big efforts for mine came from Hobson, Hilly, Rourke before he was injured. Higson got through a lot on the fringes and I felt Jock had a good game both defensively and his passes were crisper. Marshy as well showed some good touches too.

Having looked at the dvd again, Kurt Haggerty had a top game and I hope the club can look at adding him to the squad permanently.

Like him or loathe him, Ian Watson makes that team tick and he kicked a 40-20 too.

It's in the right place Frank, but it's a comma not an apostrophe!