Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:19 am  

Last years squad fowards where Washbrook and Dowes.

I'd rather have the likes of Green, Cunningam etc than keep and play these two.

In fact I'd rather play the above over Lauaki.

Another foward will be signed, Whiting in the pack and we are OK.

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:23 am  

tommyfromhull wrote:

How are they supposed to gain 1st team experience if we don't trust them to show us what they can offer?

It's a tricky one as you don't want to be relying on the youngsters too much, but at the same time you don't want to have the squad so full of seasoned pros that they don't get a look-in. Personally, I still think we're at least two experienced players short of giving the youngsters the best environment to develop in.

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:24 am  

tommyfromhull wrote:

How are they supposed to gain 1st team experience if we don't trust them to show us what they can offer?

You ease them in, not depend on them

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:25 am  

Dave K. wrote:

Last years squad fowards where Washbrook and Dowes.

I'd rather have the likes of Green, Cunningam etc than keep and play these two.

In fact I'd rather play the above over Lauaki.

Another foward will be signed, Whiting in the pack and we are OK.

Could Pearce be our new Luauki? Only better hopefully.

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:26 am  

Jake the Peg wrote:

You ease them in, not depend on them

Just out of interest, how would you ease them in? Play them over an experienced forward every once in a while? Try out one of them each week?

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:28 am  

tommyfromhull wrote:

How are they supposed to gain 1st team experience if we don't trust them to show us what they can offer?

By easing them in one or two at a time for a week here and there with plenty of "protection" from established players.

As it stands, even an average amount of injuries to our pack could see us relying on too many of them for a substantial part of the season.

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:28 am  

tommyfromhull wrote:

Just out of interest, how would you ease them in? Play them over an experienced forward every once in a while? Try out one of them each week?

Play them when you get the inevitable injuries. As it is now, a couple of forwards out and we'll have 3 inexperienced forwards in the 17.

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:31 am  

Jake the Peg wrote:

Play them when you get the inevitable injuries. As it is now, a couple of forwards out and we'll have 3 inexperienced forwards in the 17.

I don't disagree, as I said I think we do need another experienced forward in the pack, but I think this will be their perfect chance to break into the first team squad and finally get their chance. We must take at least some risk, otherwise they will never make it and will be another 'could have been'.

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:32 am  

thehullwhitestar wrote:

By easing them in one or two at a time for a week here and there with plenty of "protection" from established players.

As it stands, even an average amount of injuries to our pack could see us relying on too many of them for a substantial part of the season.

So you would play them over Manu, Tickle, Westerman or Whiting, just to try them out? Or would it be because of injury?

Re: Tony Martin : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:34 am  

I'm very very happy to see the back of Radford, Dowes, Lauaki and Washbrook but as ordinary as they all were, we can't just replace them in our squad with untried academy players.

5 forwards out and only two in, should surely mean that we plan to have another two forwards coming in to address the balance?