: Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:51 am  

childofthenorthern wrote:

if you're going to bring in young players do you want to put them into pivotal positions (half backs for example) in their first game?

Especially not the crazy high-pressure scenario that Friday's game will be.

Absolute madness to throw young guys in off the cliff into this of all games IMO. Maybe subsequent games, but not this one.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:03 am  

Adeybull wrote:

Especially not the crazy high-pressure scenario that Friday's game will be.

Absolute madness to throw young guys in off the cliff into this of all games IMO. Maybe subsequent games, but not this one.

So to change something you have to move someone out of position (where they don't normally train or play) and if that's one of the halves you are trying to create a partnership in a very short space of time. People keep suggesting Menzies/Jeffries for the halves but they've been team mates for only a few months and never played as a pair.
It's difficult to see how you can replace any of the key positions, especially given the current squad and injuries, so you end up looking at Centre/winger combinations.

Having said that and given we started the season with only Deacon and Jeffries you'd hope there was plan for covering them in case of injuries.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:42 am  

Bullseye wrote:

I'd be careful. When Wigan were going through a spell like ours under Millward they played a lot of youngsters who took years to get over the experience.

If we do bring any in I'd restrict it to one or two at a time.

Gleeson, Dallas, Aspinwall, Wild, Carney, Brown, Moran, Seuseu, Newton, Sculthorpe, Tickle, Allen, Beswick. Subs Godwin, Hargreaves, Guisett, Hansen.

Wigan's team for the 75-0 defeat by St Helens in 2005. Dont think that defeat did much for the development of the younger players.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:14 pm  

not saying drop them all.... but why not give one or two a go off the bench and actually give them some game time. No point been 18th or 19th man in he squad, I am sure they know what match day is all about - give them a go if the senior players are not performing.

[Bullseye]

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:15 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

Gleeson, Dallas, Aspinwall, Wild, Carney, Brown, Moran, Seuseu, Newton, Sculthorpe, Tickle, Allen, Beswick. Subs Godwin, Hargreaves, Guisett, Hansen.

Wigan's team for the 75-0 defeat by St Helens in 2005. Dont think that defeat did much for the development of the younger players.

Reminding me of that derby result gives me an awful feeling about Friday!

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:17 pm  

well lets just hope Macca has put a rocket up them and come up with some quality tactics!

Oh dear.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:29 pm  

childofthenorthern wrote:

So to change something you have to move someone out of position (where they don't normally train or play) and if that's one of the halves you are trying to create a partnership in a very short space of time. People keep suggesting Menzies/Jeffries for the halves but they've been team mates for only a few months and never played as a pair.
It's difficult to see how you can replace any of the key positions, especially given the current squad and injuries, so you end up looking at Centre/winger combinations.

Having said that and given we started the season with only Deacon and Jeffries you'd hope there was plan for covering them in case of injuries.

The most obvious way to take some pressure off deacs and jeffries, and also help out newton who's clearly struggling to keep going the full 80 each week in godwins absence, would be the following:-

jeffries-so,deacon-hb,newton-hk starting

when newton comes off deacon-hk,jeffries-hb,menzies-so.

would also address some of defensive frailties which seem to occur later in game when deacon and newton tire by putting menzies into the halves in later stages.

alternative is to promote academy hooker to spell newton, but not sure if he's ready yet and whether chucking him into a high pressure game like friday is too much to ask.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:44 pm  

mat wrote:

The most obvious way to take some pressure off deacs and jeffries, and also help out newton who's clearly struggling to keep going the full 80 each week in godwins absence, would be the following:-

jeffries-so,deacon-hb,newton-hk starting

when newton comes off deacon-hk,jeffries-hb,menzies-so.

would also address some of defensive frailties which seem to occur later in game when deacon and newton tire by putting menzies into the halves in later stages.

alternative is to promote academy hooker to spell newton, but not sure if he's ready yet and whether chucking him into a high pressure game like friday is too much to ask.

Anybody would think a game at home against Leeds is way to much to ask a teenage Super League player to make his debut the way some people are carrying on. Whether we win lose or draw a bit of exposure will not ruin a young mans career. It's time we stood up and stop being so soft and use the junior talent that we have when our established men are quite clearly not performing to the standards that are required from them.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:50 pm  

hmmmm....

hmmmm....

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:50 pm  

Asim wrote: hmmmm.... I remember watching that game, it was an absolute beauty.

Asim wrote: hmmmm.... I remember watching that game, it was an absolute beauty.