How many players do we have that have the X factor ? : Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:00 pm  

If you go through our squad, how many players would you say have the X factor ? What i mean by this is how many of our squad would concern the opposition enough to be labelled as possible match winners ?

At the present time i can only come up with one player and that is Martin Gleeson who wouldn`t look out of place at any level, Micky Higham at his best is a deffinate match winner but we need to see more of him in a Warrington shirt to form a better opinion on his all round game and consistency.

Lee Briers isn`t the force he once was and this will probably be his last season, Adrian Morley gives nothing less than 101% but i`m sure even he will agree that his better days are behind him now and i wouldn`t say that he is the enforcer he once was, Paul Rauhihi is close to retirement and isn`t the force he once was for the Cowboys and the Kiwis.

Ben Westood plays with his heart on his sleeve and again you won`t get anything less than 100% from him but i wouldn`t say he has the X factor about him, when you talk of 2nd rowers with the X factor then you are talking about the likes of Anthony Watmough and Gordon Tallis at his peak.

Chris Hicks is a consistent performer but again he isn`t a Darren Albert of any kind or a Martin Offiah, Hicks is one of those players that won`t let you down but he is never going to do a Scott Donald and be a threat from anywhere in his own half, whats the furthest range he has run in a try from as i can`t remember more than about 20 yards ?

Stuart Reardon`s performances and appearances speak for themselves, Paul Johnson is another where his best days are probably behind him and suffers from regular niggling injuries. Paul Wood is a player that has always promised to deliver but to me he has never taken the next step and again he is another that suffers from injuries.

The 2 Andersons are both inconsistent and one is a penalty machine, both have suffered from injuries especially Vinnie and his best form hasn`t been seen for a long while. Simon Grix is another that suffers from niggling injuries. Jon Clarke has always been Mr average where most of what he does is slow and predictable, his effort isn`t in question but to me the level of his ability is.

I`ll be diplomatic and describe Matt King and Michael Monaghan as non settlers where were carrying 2 passengers virtually every week.

I havn`t commented on all the players but if you go through our squad its no suprise to me why we are struggling on the pitch as a team and thats on top of the rumoured off field issues.

Tony Smith has certainly got a job on his hands in sorting out the culture of the club along with building the team into one that has more than one dangerous strike player, he will need at least 3 yars in my opinion to sort this mess out and build his own team.

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:02 pm  

Kevin Penny obv. Yes, I am a fan btw. See try against Saints in CC last year.

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:05 pm  

Monmouth Wire wrote:

Kevin Penny obv. Yes, I am a fan btw. See try against Saints in CC last year.

great try too lucky to get beat but thats wire 4 you , we have got loads of match winners but they aint performing atm , hopefully it will start this sunday

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:08 pm  

One of Wires greatest problems over the past few years is the acquisition (through large of sums of money) of these supposed 'X-Factor' players. Rather than building/buying players that would form a co-cohesive TEAM.

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:08 pm  

Monmouth Wire wrote:

Kevin Penny obv. Yes, I am a fan btw. See try against Saints in CC last year.

A lot of coaches started to target our left so i wouldn`t say Kevin Penny worried the opposition, i`d say they saw him as a weakness more than anything along with Matt King.

Not many kickers would target Darren Albert or Martin Offiah as they knew that would be a big risk to give such potent attacking forces time and space to run into, its the opposite with Penny as kickers target him.

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:08 pm  

Kevin Penny, the most dangerous weapon in SL.

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:12 pm  

Rob Wire wrote:

A lot of coaches started to target our left so i wouldn`t say Kevin Penny worried the opposition, i`d say they saw him as a weakness more than anything along with Matt King.

Not many kickers would target Darren Albert or Martin Offiah as they knew that would be a big risk to give such potent attacking forces time and space to run into, its the opposite with Penny as kickers target him.

Said before that Penny wasn't the major factor in leaking tries - I blame all inside him, most notably Briers (for disappearing when needed) & Louis (for flying out of the line) leaving King and Penny totally stiffed.

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:12 pm  

Mark wrote:

Kevin Penny, the most dangerous weapon in SL.

Very true, just unfortunately plays for a team that don't appreciate that fact. I've said before, if we released him tomorrow you can guarantee that he would end up at Saints or Leeds. Don't even try to argue that fact, cos saints sniffed around him when he first burst onto the scene. One reason why we tied him up to a long contract very quickly.

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:14 pm  

Mark wrote:

Kevin Penny, the most dangerous weapon in SL.

That's True

: Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:15 pm  

Moe syslak wrote:

Very true, just unfortunately plays for a team that don't appreciate that fact. I've said before, if we released him tomorrow you can guarantee that he would end up at Saints or Leeds. Don't even try to argue that fact, cos saints sniffed around him when he first burst onto the scene. One reason why we tied him up to a long contract very quickly.

When he had a centre that passed he was fine and give him a centre that tackles as well he would be fine, interesting to note that over the past few weeks I have seen Ainscough, Hall and Briscoe all make a few errors yet they escape mass criticism, that's probably due their fans getting behind them and having a coaching team willing to work with them.