Sign up Jonathon Thurston! : Thu Jan 09, 2020 11:50 am
Not quite, sorry 
I was going to add this to one of the other threads but as its kind of a suggestion, I’ll start a new one if that's ok.
As I and most others have pointed out to Belly, Hampshire is not the best player at the club, certainly not by a country mile! He is certainly not the best H/B, not even close IMHO. However, the sheer amount of treads regarding this player suggest most of us think he could be.
The belly is right though about a number of things. His effort and commitment are first class, he tackles like a demon, something that he doesn’t seem to get much credit for. The belly is also nearly right when suggests Rocky is the most naturally gifted player at the club. Nearly because Brough is more gifted, always was always will be but there is no doubt that his best years are probably gone.
The mistake Belly and others make is assuming that being naturally gifted equals great player, it doesn’t and it never has.
At present both Miller and Hampshire are lacking in key areas most notably decision making. I know a lot of this depends on the rest of the team performing as well but all the same, it's fairly obvious. Hampshire for me gets caught in two minds far too often. His natural instinct is to exploit broken play with his balance and pace and if that fails he attempts to put out the big glory pass. Problem is to be a great H/B you have to make the choice straight away, it has to be nearly instant, show or go. Ryan spends far too long IMO holding on to the ball looking for the miraculous gap but when it doesn’t come he’s caught in no man's land and ends up dying with the ball or putting out a feeble pass. That’s what's meant by decision making, the ability to know straightway whether the move is on or whether to go through the set. Rarely does a truly great playmaker actually create the play despite the title, they exploit the situation, it’s a very different skill.
Miller is better at this but not by much but he now lacks the pace he once had which negates it for me.
They all get caught out even Brough, but not as often in his case and when Brough finds he sweet spot he nails it. This is just my opinion.
I do however have a suggestion, it’s a long shot but here goes.
You may not be aware but Johnathon Thurston the master of creative play is in the UK in Feb (I think). Wonder what he’d cost for a few days spent with Hampshire and Miller and perhaps a few others and of course the coaching staff.
Might not do the trick, might not be long enough, he might not be interested but what harm could it do, far less risky and pricey than a new signing. Also, there are some players even the most egotistical of players can’t argue with (not saying they are). Sometimes just a few tiny alterations can turn a good player into a great one, especially when in Thurston case they are coming from a coach who as a player was all about being cool, calm and collected.
Worth a punt?
I'm ready to be shot down
