: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:39 am  

Lock it

Re: Right hand side - cracked record : Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:45 am  

JMT wrote:

You've confused me there, tvoc!

Maybe it's a generational thing (it was for me) but whenever my first two used to say the same thing at the same time, they said jinx. I can't remember what happens next though.

: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:46 am  

make a wish !

: Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:33 am  

IMO right hand side isn't that much of a problem, or it wouldn't be if the pack was performing, but we have a very poor performing pack of forwards at the moment, and the go forward is limited. Our back row is too workman like, our props don't seem to be making an impact and generally are not playing the ball quick enough.

: Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:58 am  

Move him to the other side ?? what difference will that make ??

: Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:11 pm  

Just look in the match day programme to see all the different combos we have tried already this season on the right. I agree with most on here about Gibson, I didn't see the need to change it. Continuity is needed, it was the same story last season. Even in the GF!! I know they are waiting on Smithy, but until then they need to stick with a pairing. Donalds lack of form hasn't been helped by playing with a different centre every other week. And the centres that have played haven't supplied. The reason that there has been so much chopping and changing IMO is because none of them have done a good enough job. My nagging feeling last season was that we needed to replace Toopi when he got released, and I still feel the same now. I appreciate the kids having a go, but Watkins isnt there yet, Gibson while a been technically a good rugby player isn't a centre, Ablett has struggled there. Add on the top of that the limited squad (losing Toopi, Ellis, Scrutton, Tansey, Eastwood) and only gaining Buderus, is really having an impact at the minute. Players cant practically be dropped, and why Kylie came back in and Burgees in the reserves is beyond me. We got some tempo back last week, so I'd have run out with the same 17. Weird performance and form will lead to all kinds of speculation and the rumour mill will be busy. But I have started to wonder if anything is going on??? We are failing as a team not individually and that is worrying.

Re: Right hand side - cracked record : Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:22 pm  

tvoc wrote:

McClennan can be a confusing coach at times. Last week (in the build up) he said "Kallum Watkins will develop, but he is primarily a left-centre." The young bloke is then selected on the right and low and behold his opposite centre Howell has a field day. I'm one of Gibson's biggest critics but even I could see he had a good game defensively at the Galpharm last Saturday. Very strange.

JMT - jinx.

Smith/Hall/Smith/Hall last year was also baffling, as is the reasoning behind switching Donald to the right. He's a tidy player, but defensive rock is not how I would describe him.
Can't believe Gibson was dropped after last week - he defended superbly.

: Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:35 pm  

The right side isn't our strongest but I agree with all others that Mclennan is taking an area that hasn't been a strength and turning it into a disaster area.

I really don't care now who he thinks his right centre should be, Gibson, Watkins, Ablett or Smith but whoever it is must be given at least half a dozen games to strike up some form and continuity with poor Donald. His dithering over the right centre is shocking coaching.

Oh, and if we do sign a new player for right centre I hope that signing brings with his a game-plan that ensures he receives good quality ball in open space otherwise we will have wasted our time and money.

Re: Right hand side - cracked record : Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:39 pm  

simy123 wrote:

Despite sound like a cracked record, once again the right hand side is awful.

The young kid Watkins. He's young. He's English.

But he aint good enough.

What the feck as the right hand side got to do with anything.

We could have anybody in that centre position last night, just like the rest fo the season, and we still would have looked crap.

The second rowers are appalling, and the tactics are a joke.

Same old fickle Leeds fans. We have been shite all season so far, but because we were top of the league and won at Huddersfield last week, everything was fine. It's not fine, it's a joke. This team is appaling to watch, and I don't care who plays right centre or wing.

: Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:42 pm  

G1 wrote:

The right side isn't our strongest but I agree with all others that Mclennan is taking an area that hasn't been a strength and turning it into a disaster area.

I really don't care now who he thinks his right centre should be, Gibson, Watkins, Ablett or Smith but whoever it is must be given at least half a dozen games to strike up some form and continuity with poor Donald. His dithering over the right centre is shocking coaching.

Oh, and if we do sign a new player for right centre I hope that signing brings with his a game-plan that ensures he receives good quality ball in open space otherwise we will have wasted our time and money.

But you think our back line is good enough as stated in your continuous debates with tvoc, so why are you now saying that it isn't a strength (understatement of the year!!), that side is pathetic.

Don't you think to have a side capable of winning things you need both sides of the park to function as an attacking threat?