I do have sympathy for MC because I do believe the major problem is a lack of commitment from the players when it comes to defence. Barrow defended brilliantly at times this afternoon when the pressure was on - whereas our players just expect someone else to bend his back when defending our line.

What I find unbelievable is why our players always get outenthused. If we had started the season like we did two years ago, and then given Bradford a good game, it would have made our Super League application in July much more compelling. As it is, why should we be given a chance in Super LEague when we aren't competitve in the Championship and, as a consequence, our crowds are way too low.

The fact that we are losing games simply due to lack of effort (because that is what it is) shows the mentality of some of the players. They don't care about the opportunity they are throwing away, the fact they are letting down the fans or that they are probably going to cost MC his job (perhaps that is what they want at the expense of everything else). You'd think a bit of self respect may come into it, but alas no.

Unfortunately, after the Widnes debacle, I can't see where MC can take this. He's said the strong words, dropped a few players, but it isn't improving. He clearly has either lost the dressing room or is unable to motivate his team to play to the levels they can and should be achieving.

Whilst the players are primarily to blame, I'm afraid it is the coach who is responsible. For someone who has got us to 2 GF's in 2 seasons, won one of them and taken a pay cut to help the club out at the start of this season, it really is extremely sad that we are now in this position.

Both Jones and Holroyd were guilty or coming out of the line and misreading Barrows play. In fact on one try Jones seed to fly out and create the gap for them and ended up chasing round like a headless chicken, when if he'd stayed in a line they had no where to go. As for the last try, the less said the better, what Holroyd was doing I've no idea. But again I ask why have both halfbacks defending the same side.

I remember the headless chicken try. I think you're being a but unfair to Jones as I genuinely believe he was being chased by a wasp. I can see no other reason for him running about wildly with his hands waving all over the place with absolutely no regard to what was happening around him on the rugby pitch.

I can't remeber if i posted it on here or not but when I was talking to a mate about the squad this year he were saying we've made some good signings and he were sayings its gonna be another good season. While i agreed we had made some good signings there not really replacements for the players that have left.

They were on opposite wings all the game until Haley went off. The left wing defended by the No.28 who ever he was left PW no chance at all to defend his line, as there was always an overlap as soon as the No 28 stood and watched . 6 or 7 tries in two games down the same wing ( could be more?)tells me something,does'nt it you?

I reiterate good-fair players DO NOT become bad ones overnight.

Now you know how we have felt at Widnes in the last few years.

1 Leigh 7 6 1 0 248 144 20
2 Featherstone 7 5 1 1 258 132 17
3 Batley 8 5 0 3 198 166 16
4 Sheffield 6 5 0 1 183 120 15
5 Widnes 8 4 0 4 243 210 13
6 Barrow 7 3 0 4 205 193 12
7 Hunslet 7 3 1 3 152 164 11
8 York 7 2 1 4 124 260 8
9 Dewsbury 7 2 0 5 139 196 7
10 Halifax 7 1 0 6 193 245 6
11 Toulouse 7 1 0 6 94 207 4

Were in the top 10 yayyyyy and we've conceded less than Leigh have scored, I'd say theres plenty to be positive about.
1 Were not bottom
2 We dont have the worst defence in the league
3 The side immediately above us are poor

I'm not at all concerned about the fact the only side below us are French and have already beaten us, and will be spared execution

Anyone who thought we had turned the corner after last week is seriously deluded. Today was a poor performance against a lacklustre Barrow team.

Lets go through the team:-

Greenwood - I thought he had his best game since his return from injury.
White - Looked lively and got through a lot of work.
Haley - Usually steady but all the tries while he was on the pitch came down his side. We must be short if he keeps his place for next week.
Nash - Steady but missed a few tackles.
Worrincy - Got through a load of work again.
Hollroyd - I was embarrased when he pulled out of that 50/50 ball in the second half and a very average game overall.
Jones - Honestly whos idea was it for us to sign him? Passing is average at best and his discipline terrible.
Gannon -See above.
Penky - Good coach? Ah Penky you had your best game in weeks for us when you played 80 minutes, i know i will just give you 40 minutes this week. See the momentum go out of the team when he goes off. Feel sorry for him that the players around him arnt performing with the amount of effort and desire he puts in.
Cherryholme - Only real go forward forward today.
Clayton - Steady at best.
Smith - Why?
Barlow - One of his better games this season.
Chandler - Looks to be getting better.
Fairbank - Didnt notice him.
Beswick - Not sure where he fits in to the team.
Watene- 10 minutes before half time and 7 minutes after half time, no team can afford to carry passengers but for some reason MC thinks we can carry about 5.

We are paying the price of Matt Callands poor recruitment in the summer. We are not in a false position, we are exactly where we deserve to be. We have more coaches than players and im not sure what purpose they all serve. We wont see any improvement in the short term and watching Bradford put 80 on us in front of National television is going to be painful to watch. The crowds will keep dwindling but the board cannot act until they know what is happening with the SL application. By then we will be well and truly in a relegation dog fight.

I can't disagree with ANY of those player assessments.

That's pretty much it.

I may be a knob sometimes and people will disagree with a lot that i say but i always try to be honest in my assesment.

I can't believe though that we are where wd are! There is still enough quality in that squad to beat some of the sides we've lost to this season. Calland has never seemed to be able to get the side worked up and passionate! When ever we say the BS in the paper we generally play pi$$ poor the next game!! I'm feeling totally disillusioned right now