: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:48 pm  

donkey O'tay wrote:

Let's be realistic, would Potter really walk straight into the club and take kicking duties from a key player when that player was on 999?

I didn't say take them away; just share them out. I don't see why a new coach wouldn't make changes. In fact, I'd expect a new coach to make changes - where they were needed, and here they are needed. Clearly.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:01 pm  

Sean Long is probably one of the best goalkickers in Super League. He still clearly has a problem with doing the job though. Most of his kicks are half-arsed attempts that look like he's trying to chip a free kick in from the edge of the box. It's an attitude thing.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:09 am  

Did anyone at the game today watch Longy practicing his kicks in the warm up? Stood in the in-goal area almost on the touchline, aiming at the sticks. Hit them twice. One rebounded off the far post over the line. Show that on Soccer AM's "Crossbar challenge" and they'd be jizzing themselves. The lad can kick, end of!!
Two out of eleven is better than most on here can manage!

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:17 am  

I don't understand where all this 'let Gidley kick' nonsense is coming from, the guy never kicked a goal in his 10 years in the NRL! And he's only ever managed to kick 4 in his time at Saints.

Years Team Pld T G FG P
1996–2006 Newcastle Knights 221 68 0 1 273
2006– St Helens 61 23 4 0 100
Total 282 91 4 1 373

We've had our goalkicking centre, he's gone. In this case i don't believe Matt is the answer sadly!

Ignoring his kicking problems of the couple of seasons Longy's kicking has took him to second on the Saints All Time Highest Point Scorers list, he has broken the club record for most points in a Super League season twice, 284 points in 1999 and then again with 352 points in 2000 and as you know knocked over his 1000th goal kick for the club inthe Huddersfield match. All of this despite the fact that he has continually suffered with knee problems (he has had at least one knee reconstruction, following a possible career threatening injury in 2001), and has arguably been the second choice goalkicker since 2005.

As clearly the most experienced goal kicker in the current squad he's the obvious choice for Mick Potter, but you should also factor in the possibility that he may be the only player prepared to do the job - even if it potentially causes him pain to do so. Maybe if we gave him more encouragement BEFORE he kicks rather than moaning and groaning AFTER the fact we as fans can help Longy raise his tally even higher?

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:28 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

He's more than a good kicker.

He's the best young kicker I've sen since Andy Farrell, and he's also a very good prospect as a centre.

Would I take a chance on him in the first team, no, not yet.

You `d love to have Saints problems, u just worry about that shower at the jjb

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:37 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Sean Long is probably one of the best goalkickers in Super League. He still clearly has a problem with doing the job though. Most of his kicks are half-arsed attempts that look like he's trying to chip a free kick in from the edge of the box. It's an attitude thing.

I'm in 100% agreement of that post.

If he was offered £50 for every 2 successful kick he'd be 5 from 6 every week.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:10 pm  

Saint Rabban wrote:

Did anyone at the game today watch Longy practicing his kicks in the warm up? Stood in the in-goal area almost on the touchline, aiming at the sticks. Hit them twice. One rebounded off the far post over the line. Show that on Soccer AM's "Crossbar challenge" and they'd be jizzing themselves. The lad can kick, end of!!
Two out of eleven is better than most on here can manage!

I remember him and Tommy God having training for kick from some American bloke (if I remember right), when Longy was kicking at his best. That was when he started to practice, pre game, kicking at the posts from the touch line. He used to hit them quite often, stick with him he is good enough.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:10 pm  

jonnythesaint wrote:

I'm in 100% agreement of that post.

If he was offered £50 for every 2 successful kick he'd be 5 from 6 every week.

That would probably work

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:13 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Yet on the Sky website Potter is apparently 'sticking by' Long as our official goal kicker. I can't see how at 32 and having been inconsisent for it seems like ever he can suddenly start producing the kind of goal kicking we need. Surely it would make better sense to have Gidley kicking as well so that the pressure isn't all on Long alone?

Because Gidley's going to be around so much longer than Long isn't he?

What about Wello? When they had a professional kicking coach at the club he said that Wello had the best technique (and therefore potential) of them all.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:26 pm  

Harry Pinner wrote:

Because Gidley's going to be around so much longer than Long isn't he?

What about Wello? When they had a professional kicking coach at the club he said that Wello had the best technique (and therefore potential) of them all.

Wello would struggle to kick a tin can down the street, let alone a kick from not directly in front of the goal.