[DaveO]

Re: Drop Smith - Play Tomkins : Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:49 am  

Chorley Warrior wrote:

Time has come to give the young man a run out, he can't be any worse than Smith was tonight!

Agreed. Smith can't defend to save his life. When defending out wide in both games at the JJB he has been directly responsible for opposition scores due to an inability to tackle. The opposition just run at him and he can't cope.

That one tonight was embarrassing for any player.

People have said Tomkins is too small but I bet he has a better tackling technique than Smith.

Dave

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:54 am  

Meyt N Prater Pie wrote:

That for me is now the problem.The longer noble leaves it, the higher the pressure for sam and the more likely the hype is gunna fall flat on its face. Sam is a fantastic talent and doesnt deserve this. Id leave if I were him

Totally agree. People are worreid about the pressure he faces, but the longer they leave it, the more the anticipation grows. I think he should have a run out next week in London... an away game, with not a huge crowd, see how he copes.

[DaveO]

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:54 am  

Saz wrote:

As much as I rate Tomkins and being a believer in "if you're good enough, you're old enough", I just hope that he's not overwhelmed by the amount of expectation that people are placing on him. The way that some fans go on about him, anyone would think he's the second coming.

Ainscough wasn't.

No-one can deny that he had excellent games previously but would shoving him hastily into the first team when expectations are high and moral is low going to do him any good with his confidence? One man does not make a team and i'd hate him to lose confidence should the team not pick up with him part of it.

I have to say I am tired of reading posts like this about Tomkins. He needs to play sooner rather than later.

No one is daft enough to think he is the new messiah but Smith was poor enough tonight to be dropped (as was Coley v Wakefield).

We have a squad, Tomkins is 20 and when a player is as poor as Smith was not to let the reserve have a go is stupid.

Dave

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:07 am  

I wouldn't drop Smith all together, he might be a weak link in defence but he can come up with some very smart plays in attack. Personally I'd have Sam at 6 with Smith at 7, Piggy at 9 with Leuluai as our other hooker. I know that means McIlorum would be dropped but we've got to think whats best for our attacking options as McIlorum IMO doesn't offer much and has a tendency give away soft penalties in positions where we can't afford to let teams get piggy backed up the field.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:11 am  

It's at games like tonight when all the Phil Bailey knockers should hide. He was missed beyond belief tonight.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:12 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

It's at games like tonight when all the Phil Bailey knockers should hide. He was missed beyond belief tonight.

Yep. Needs to be brought straight back in at centre.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:20 am  

If Tomkins is half as good as I'm lead to believe he is surely it's time to show some faith in him. McGuire and Burrow were both playingfirst team when they were 18. That Ainscough also looks a real prospect, how the hell is Phelps before him in the pecking order?

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:21 am  

AJ wrote:

Yep. Needs to be brought straight back in at centre.

We could have Hock missing next week so depends on his injury, could mean Bailey going back in the 2nd row but otherwise I'd agree.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:20 am  

Tommy did nothing tonight other than score the try. Smith was the only player trying to organse the wigan team. Next week has got to see Tommy dropped from half back to hooker.

I even thought mcillorium was better than riddell tonight.

: Sat Feb 21, 2009 3:10 am  

Smith's defense is the weak link. It's shocking.

He took up the centre's position in defence with Goulding moving inside, they rinsed us down that side tonight.