: Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:58 pm  

Mr Potato Head wrote:

90% would disagree though. He was only brought back on because it was Smith or Riddel and he won that battle. Wigan were a better team without Riddel than with him. You seem to have a real problem criticising Wigan.

I agree with Rogues, I thought he pulled us round the pitch well for the time he was on. It was a very controlled performances and although nothing special i thought he did well. He took his scoot options well and his delivery was spot on.

He laid the platform for TL to add his extra zip to the position when Tomkins came on.


Saints often look better when Roby comes on due to the extra zip he has at the play the ball, it does not mean they are a better team with him on the field for the full 80 though.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:05 pm  

Mr Potato Head wrote:

90% would disagree though. He was only brought back on because it was Smith or Riddel and he won that battle. Wigan were a better team without Riddel than with him. You seem to have a real problem criticising Wigan.

Not commented on this thread so far, as I think its way to soon to comment on him in a Wigan top. But i cant believe some of the criticism he is getting. I did listen to a good interview on 5 live two weeks back with Edwards. He was asked about the form of one of his players not being up to what was expected, his reply went along the lines of "It takes a player 12 to 13 games to gain full match fitness" Add into that its a new team for him I fully expect him to take more than half a season before we see the realy Piggy, assuming he stays fit.
We as fans do this every year, expecting all the new players to start like the star we think they are. Some do, some don't, some never do. Time will tell.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:06 pm  

Mr Potato Head wrote:

90% would disagree though. He was only brought back on because it was Smith or Riddel and he won that battle. Wigan were a better team without Riddel than with him. You seem to have a real problem criticising Wigan.

Watch the game again and concentrate on Riddell. His passing was good maybe one pass to TimSmith was high, his tackling and slowing down of the opposition play the ball was good, and he made some good runs with ball in hand. He played about 50 minutes of the 80.

I don't have a problem with criticism at all provided it's constructive.

I've criticised the likes of Coley, Higham and Gouldingetc but always given reasons i.e Highams poor discipline, the way Coley ambles into tackles etc.

[JTB]

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:08 pm  

jonh wrote:

I agree with Rogues, I thought he pulled us round the pitch well for the time he was on. It was a very controlled performances and although nothing special i thought he did well. He took his scoot options well and his delivery was spot on.

He laid the platform for TL to add his extra zip to the position when Tomkins came on.


Saints often look better when Roby comes on due to the extra zip he has at the play the ball, it does not mean they are a better team with him on the field for the full 80 though.

Agreed, having seen the game a few times the control and movement from the players running off dummy half was orchestrated well when he was on, a fine contrast to Micky's horror show the night before where he looked as though he'd arrived in a comedy exploding car. The contrast of Piggy and Tommy works well, especially with Tomkins coming on as they switch to alter the tempo of the game.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:15 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Watch the game again and concentrate on Riddell.

I don't have a problem with criticism at all provided it's constructive.

I've criticised the likes of Coley, Higham and Gouldingetc but always given reasons i.e Highams poor discipline, the way Coley ambles into tackles etc.

I have and did. He's far too slow to get into position, he bends down like an old man, he offers no threat as a runner, he does not draw defenders before passing to runners. He passes the ball better than Higham but who does not? He is only playing half the game at best so he should be putting everything into that 40 minutes.

Brad Drew gave Riddel a lesson in how to play hooker in the first game, Shaun Berrigan and Ryan Hudson both outplayed him. Chad Randall dished out another beating. This is a player supposed to be at the peak of his career and yet what has he done for Wigan thus far? The longer he stayed at Parramatta the worse Parramatta became.

People talk about time. Even now Roberts is showing hints of class. Smith even had some great touches at Hull. Sadly his defence negates any good he can do. Riddel at the moment is down with Mark Reber.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:44 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

No they didn't.

I've just watched the game again from start to finish and Mick and Montmerency NEVER comment on Riddells passing.

I'll stand by my original comments that Riddell had a good game.

I suggest you watch the game again.

One thing I did notice is that we conceded three tries on the last tackle.
It would be interesting to see how many last tackle tries we have concede this season.

Are you also going to tell me that Riddell didn't pass to the Invisible Man on at least two occasions?

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:53 pm  

Jack Kerley wrote:

Are you also going to tell me that Riddell didn't pass to the Invisible Man on at least two occasions?

has riddell píssed on your kids or something? he's played 4 games for the club, 4 games with injurys! Cut him some slack for gods sake. Hes not even playing that bad either!

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:24 pm  

Mr Potato Head wrote:

I have and did. He's far too slow to get into position, he bends down like an old man, he offers no threat as a runner, he does not draw defenders before passing to runners. He passes the ball better than Higham but who does not? He is only playing half the game at best so he should be putting everything into that 40 minutes.

Brad Drew gave Riddel a lesson in how to play hooker in the first game, Shaun Berrigan and Ryan Hudson both outplayed him. Chad Randall dished out another beating. This is a player supposed to be at the peak of his career and yet what has he done for Wigan thus far? The longer he stayed at Parramatta the worse Parramatta became.

People talk about time. Even now Roberts is showing hints of class. Smith even had some great touches at Hull. Sadly his defence negates any good he can do. Riddel at the moment is down with Mark Reber.

Mick it's fine - Warrington will eventually win soon.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:47 pm  

piemandan wrote:

Mick it's fine - Warrington will eventually win soon.

Well said

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:55 pm  

The problem for the "Eddie and Stevo" generation is that they judge a performance on the one off instances of good play, eg. Micky Higham scoots 20 yards and is praised thus the Eddie and Steveo brigade follow, he knocks on, gives penalties away and generally fails to deliver quality ball to the half back which isn't mentioned in commentary and is thus deemed never to have taken place.

Riddell will probably never scoot the way that Higham does thus failing to catch the eye as much, but what he will do is do the basics well and generally have much more of a positive impact on the way that the team plays much of which will go unnoticed to the "Sky generation".