Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:05 pm  

Mick W. wrote:

I think we should go for it in the Northern Rail Cup. Any good results there are bound to reflect in league games, surely? We need the team to have confidence in themselves, wins in the cup will help with that.

We possibly should go for the cup, but the point being raised is that the Barrow game is effectively a "dead rubber".

Is it worth risking people when we are already in the QFs?

Save the side for the Championship and knockout games.

Seems simple to me.

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:06 pm  

girl power wrote:

I am not getting into a long drawn out argument Jim suffice to say to suggest in any sport you give up before you start is silly, would you tell your pupils when they get a driving test date not to bother because they will not pass, no you would not.

I have to say, as analogies go, that's a really crap one.

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:24 pm  

aj cougar wrote:

Is it worth risking people when we are already in the QFs?

There'd be an outcry if one of our key players got themselves ruled out for the season if they got badly injured playing in a game like that.

I certainly think we should send a team up there, as it would bad for Barrow and we could even get sued for them losing revenue if we no showed.

Whilst it may not be necessarily in the spirit of the competition, I think we should look at the bigger picture and send a weakened side up there and keep the nucleus of the first team preparing for the league game.

The mountain we've got to climb is difficult enough, why make it even harder for ourselves?

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:32 pm  

I can't agree with the 'weakened team' idea - not much of a boost for those involved, knowing they are our weakest players...
Barrow are a good side, a good display against them is just what the club needs.
Besides, I would hate Cougars to be known as a team that goes in for such gamesmanship. If you turn up to play, at least play to win.

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:44 pm  

Mick W. wrote:

I can't agree with the 'weakened team' idea - not much of a boost for those involved, knowing they are our weakest players...
Barrow are a good side, a good display against them is just what the club needs.
Besides, I would hate Cougars to be known as a team that goes in for such gamesmanship. If you turn up to play, at least play to win.

No one's saying we play to lose.

We just don't send our strongest side out that's all.

I'd still expect the 17 to give it everything they've got.

This is like the Wolves arguement, they put a weak team out at Man U and got turned over, they changed their entire 11 and won a "6 pointer" at home against Burnley, it's about utilising the whole squad in order to achieve the best result for the club, which as far as i'm concerned is us defying all the odds and staying up.

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:02 pm  

We should give the players who have not had much game time the chance to prove themself to barry that they are up to the challenge.

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:43 am  

So for instance say Barry did pick a slightly more inexperienced team to send up to Barrow.
1 Would any of you bother going ?.
2 Would you still come on here moaning a bucket full, when they got hammered.
3 Would you be full of praise if they pulled it off ?.

This cup is part and parcel of applying for super league, and remember that is the aim of our new board. So I personally think Barry will be sending his 1 chioce, and not 2nd best.

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:14 am  

cougar red wrote:

So for instance say Barry did pick a slightly more inexperienced team to send up to Barrow.
1 Would any of you bother going ?.
2 Would you still come on here moaning a bucket full, when they got hammered.
3 Would you be full of praise if they pulled it off ?.

1. Its a midweek game. How many do you really think would be able to get to the game. And no i wont be going.
2. No i wouldn't?
3. Yes of course i would, also just think of how good the players would feel. It would also give Barry, the chance to see how good the fringe payers really are.

cougar red wrote:

This cup is part and parcel of applying for super league, and remember that is the aim of our new board. So I personally think Barry will be sending his 1 chioce, and not 2nd best.

So is having a stadium fit for SL. Can you see that happening within the next 3 years?

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:38 am  

No never, unless someone with deep pockets comes along.

Re: Should we just give Barrow the game. : Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:40 am  

The original poster (GW) said:

"should we just give barrow the game?" In my opinion NO

"Is there really any need to play the game?" In my opinion YES and I am sure in the eyes of the RFL we have no choice.

If we throw the game without playing we deprive Barrow of home income and the players of winning pay - would Keighley have to make financial recompense to Barrow?
How would the sponsors feel?
We all knew the rules and chances of fixture congestion before we started, the game must be played.

I have no problem with using squad players - that after all is why you have a squad. I have no problem with using capable young players if we have injuries and have no other choice. However, I would not want to play young players who are not ready, just to act as cannon fodder. Not good for them, the team or the game.

I can see where the op is coming from and yes, the league is very important, but IMHO not at any cost.