Re: Ordinary : Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:11 am  

Ski wrote:

We need to raise our game. We were awful tonight (by our own high standards). Playing like that next week will only see us get raped.

All this in mind, just how poor are Salford.

Widnes must be going flipping mental.

I would agree, anyone seeing just the scoreline would think that we were fantastic but we were far from it.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:14 am  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

I think a lot of Saints fans are in for a nasty surprise over the next season or two.

Youre no gunna streak across the pitch, are you?

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:31 am  

I think we need to get a sense of proportion here...

1 - 3 first line players missing last night who should play next week - that means 3 of the kids won't.
2 - the things that are annoying everybody (me included) are ALL correctable catch pass complete kick etc..
3 - It would be nice if we had played the same team for any period of time.
4 - Those kids are playing long minutes which will benefit us in the long term - the more experience they get now the better.
5 - WE WON 7 tries to 2
6 - we had another 2 tries disallowed last night, along with the 5 or 6 last week and the 3 against HKR would suggest we are quite strong attacking wise.
7 - defensively we are as strong (if not stronger than any other team) we just need to STOP giving teams possession in our 20 especially next week.
8 - It's round 5!!

Lets see at the end of the season what happens?

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:35 am  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

I think a lot of Saints fans are in for a nasty surprise over the next season or two.

There are 3 factors effecting our play so far this season.

1) We are in a transition phase this season, by blooding our young players, Mick Potter was signed up to do this task, so far in the last 4 games we have played a lot of youth. Last night there were 5 young players on the field, if 2 out of the 5 develop into superleague standard then we are in a better position for the future. Eastmond, Wheeler, Armstrong, Nixon, Foster and Emmitt look as though they have the potential. While most other clubs are going for the short term overseas fix.

2) Lack of a left centre, this is a gamble the chairman has taken, at the moment its a risk because the abscence of Meli means we look weak on that side. But come 2010 Jamie Lyon will definitely be back.

3) Reffing the game, we have seemed to adopted the Aussie wrestling game at the tackle play the ball. This has the biggest effect on Saints this season who rely on 3 to 4 second play the balls to create open fast rugby.
But once we get the faster hard grounds I can see Saints being more predominant and the scrappy wins will replaced by bigger win margins.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:37 am  

But:

Edged past an awful Warrington side.
Played well at Hudds but the scoreline flattered you.
Beaten by KR.
Beat Celtic by 4
Thrashed a woeful Salford team.

Next week's a very big game.
If we go 4 points clear, it'll be tough for you to claw it back like last year looking at the lack of depth in your squad. But a win for you, and it'll be all in the balance.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:39 am  

efcrhino wrote:

But:

Edged past an awful Warrington side.
Played well at Hudds but the scoreline flattered you.
Beaten by KR.
Beat Celtic by 4
Thrashed a woeful Salford team.

You've seen a lot of our games for a leeds fan?

consider then on the other hand

edged past Celtic playing their first ever SL game with NO warm ups
Played well aagainst Wakefields acadamy
Lucky at HKR with interesting video ref decisions
SLAUGHTERED by Manley
Edged past an awful Warrington side
Thrashed a woeful Wigan team

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:59 am  

efcrhino wrote:

But:

Edged past an awful Warrington side.
Played well at Hudds but the scoreline flattered you.
Beaten by KR.
Beat Celtic by 4
Thrashed a woeful Salford team.

Next week's a very big game.
If we go 4 points clear, it'll be tough for you to claw it back like last year looking at the lack of depth in your squad. But a win for you, and it'll be all in the balance.

Hang on you said all this same time last year, we give you a 6 point start last year. Ade Gardner quoted in the press you will be caught, which happened. So going behind by 4 points is even less of a challenge at the moment.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:03 am  

If (big if) we beat leeds on friday we are 2 points behind with a game in hand, hardly time to panic

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:21 am  

Saint Simon wrote:

If (big if) we beat leeds on friday we are 2 points behind with a game in hand, hardly time to panic

Which table you looking at mate?

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:29 am  

Lets be quite honest here. There were a number of youth players in the side last night that wouldnt get in the normal 17 if everybody was fit and healthy. Wheeler, Dixon, Ashurst and Emmit are players for the future and playing in the games against the likes of Salford will only aid there development. Some people on this board expect wonder performances everyweek and for this year at least this isnt going to happen due to the sheer lack of strength in depth. Personally I would get used to this as its going to become a regular thing until these young players get to the standard that we have played over the last few years. Some people on this board really do need to get real and dont expect world class performances and world class tries everyweek.