Itchy Arsenal wrote:
Agree with a lot of that Phuzzy but I think the fundamental problem is that quite a few of our squad are not good enough to raise their game when it really matters against quality opposition.
I’m not a particularly good loser so it’s unlikely that I which watch the entire game again but may subject myself to the highlights. My summary of yesterday is great effort for 20 minutes but insufficient power in the three quarters and pack when we needed to kick on. Unfortunately even with a full available squad we would still be the same position.
I’m consoling myself at the moment (I don’t really like thinking this way) that I can see some good foundations in Peet, Field, Havard, KPP, Nicholson, Cust, Mago(maybe) and Farrell.
We are paying a price at the moment for poor management in the previous 3 years compounded by some pretty awful squad management I’d say for a good 6 years.
The good thing is I can see improvement and with the correct signings over the next 3 years I genuinely think we could compete with Saints. The next signings have to be proven players in areas where we are particularly weak eg the three quarters. We have got to get off the treadmill of potential and invest in proven.
I haven’t checked the records but I suspect we have probably beaten Saints twice in the 15 or so games and that trend will continue unless they get a disastrous number of injuries to key players. It’s not what I want to say but I think it’s where we are at the moment. As long as I can see improvement and commitment I’m comparatively happy and as long as next season we buy in some proven talent.
Pretty much spot on Itchy. We're at the "could make the final" stage as it stands but it would take a perfect performance on the day to actually win something. That's a massive improvement on last year though and shouldn't be underestimated.
I have a little more optimism than yourself though. We had 4 missing from the three quarters including an X factor player in KPP and our best winger in Marshall. Hardaker isn't a world beater but he is very solid defensively (unlike Bibby yesterday) and brings the ball out well (unlike Bibby yesterday). Miski isn't good enough at this level (on yesterday's performance) so either of Thornley or Hallsall would be an improvement. There is lots of improvement in that backline. In fact, take 4 out of Saints' three quarters and they're poor too.
Then there's Ellis. He brought a lot to our forwards and has been missed in my opinion. Add to that we would have Batty back in the pack once some backs return and our pack overall is improved.
We still haven't found a way to fully integrate
Field and French into the side. If we can, that would make the single biggest game changer for us. There is an "if" there, of course, but it's an "if" that's worth figuring out.
Finally, as I said above, none of our players played anything close to their best. The amount of potential improvement on yesterday's performance is off the scale. I'm backing Peet to get those improvements by season's end.
There's no doubt you're right that it starts with the players who are simply not good enough to command a starting berth. If Peet can bite the bullet there it would go a long way