You will find that most Widnes fans only want one thing - and that is to get to final and win prior to the next franchises - because that is all they need as everything else is already in place - it was your own fans that started calling it a Mickey Mouse cup as soon as you where knocked out of it - Mickey Mouse cup or not - its a cup that all who wish to compete in the next selection need to win - or a Grand Final.

I was saying yesterday that I think the squad running at 23 is too small, It doesn't give us the chance to rest players the same as if we had another 5 or 6 squad players.

Quite a few other teams have brought players in mid season. Yet up to now this year we havn't (apart from Hemingway).

We have the same players, playing each week and fatigue must slowly be becoming an issue. When your top of the league (or near the top) everyone wants to beat you and will raise their game (even more so after the country mile comment) so every game is going to be a test. A few bigger squad would have taken a bit of the pressure off those playing every week

But those playing "every week" may get annoyed at "rotation football". When we're winning - it's difficult to keep everyone happy. When we lose then the coach can justify dropping some. Besides, we don't have enough dosh to support such a squad.

The issue of Fatigue is a bit of a cop out IMO.
The backs should never suffer from fatigue, simple.
The forwards that do the hard yards (apart form yesterday) will obviously tire during a game, therefore the bench is usually 3 forwards and a utility player (Roberts, Barker etc).
The props get spelled so play approx 40 minutes. If an athlete cannot recover from 40 minutes hard graft in 7 days the need to seriously think about whether they want to play rugby.

Its becomes a no win situation. Big squad means more expense, also if we are constantly winning there is no reason to change the starting line-up. And with no reserve grade that leads to under-cooked, unhappy players.
Small squad means no room to rotate or cover for injuries.

Yesterday we looked lazy and had zero aggression in the first half.
Is that fatigue or attitude? Or possibly a bad decision to have a very light bench and pack!!

I don't agree.

Widnes were 26 points down against Gateshead, but won 46 - 30

I agree with fax4life, we are short of a stand off and have been all year, we have a none existent kicking game and poor organisation. We are trying to make a hooker into a stand off and its just not working. Are we the only team in the league who doesnt have a halfback partnership?

We also far too often play players out of their natural postion, like roberts, he is never a centre and never will be, he never brings his winger into play as he is usually pinballing around.

I think the biggest problem is attitude, i did wince with regard to some of callands comments which has probarbly fueled up the opposition, however we are top of the league and therefore we are now a big scalp for other teams and the players have to cope with that responsbility.