FORUMS > St. Helens > Something has to change |
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users/saints.gif Please sponsor me, I am doing the Challenge St. Helens 5km run to raise money for Willowbrook Hospice. Any money raised will be very much appreciated. To sponsor me please click here:
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| We're so slow and lacking in ideas it unbelievable. Yes we played well against Leeds but they are not in the same league as Wigan who just look at our weaknesses and expose them. Surely a better team would be:
Hohaia - terrible at SO, FB would let him play how he wants to.
Gardner - the fact he's our best winger says a lot.
Wheeler - awful today but not finished yet.
Jones - showed more in the couple of games he's had than shenton ever has.
Makinson - never lets anyone down and is very quick.
Gaskell - we need a half back that can control a game and kick.
Lomax - looked miles better last year playing with Gaskell.
Perry - has been improving recently.
Roby - still best in the league with tomkins IMO.
Puletua - we are a different side with him playing well.
Lafranchi - SR more natural to him also makes our pack bigger.
Soliola - shocker today but still been one of the best so far this season.
Wilkin - needs to improve but still good enough.
Shenton, flannery, meli should not play again. If we had more wingers I'd also give FB spot to makinson and get rid of hohaia as well.
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Player Coach | 5355 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
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May 2005 | 19 years | |
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Apr 2023 | Apr 2023 | LINK |
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14942.jpg Currently, I'm not Fat!:14942.jpg |
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| Quote: Saddened! "I'd swap our 1-7 with Salford in a heartbeat.
'"
Ouch........... you must be really fed up
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International Board Member | 19907 | No Team Selected |
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May 2002 | 22 years | |
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Jul 2024 | Oct 2018 | LINK |
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1883.jpg Didn't William Webb Ellis pick up the ball and run, someone should really tell Rugby Union.
www.squadbuilder.co.uk:1883.jpg |
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| Thing is Saints types, I don't think you are a million miles away from getting back on the horse.
Saints' primary problem is being easy to read/control in attack. Virtually all sides now play with their fullback as an additional ball handler/attacker popping up either side of the PTB making defences guess/stretch to counter this. With Saints attacking from around marker/first receiver it is easier to concentrate defences around that area to suffocate the attack. The loss of Graham and his ability to draw players in whilst tipping the ball on has also compounded this.
If Roby gets a roll on from dummy half he will still hurt the opposition, control it, and he is pretty damn nullified. Lomax too, can be got at due to him being your only playmaker and standing close to the PTB at first receiver. Hohaia at stand-off is purely wasteful, give him space/broken defences and his footwork and speed will be a far greater asset.
My two'penneth: Hohaia to fullback, where he appears to have played for NZ/Warriors for the past three years (reasons as above); Wellens to loose forward, his experience and pretty decent passing game would give Lomax some much needed support in the middle of the pitch, a variation on Sinfield, if you will. I think his defensive contribution would also lighten the load on Roby, keeping him fresher in attack. Finally; Gaskell (possibly Wilkin) in at stand-off. It would give a little more control/organisation to the side and leesen the responsibilty on Lomax, who appears to be tasked to do everything.
This is obviously a short term solution, as I I think any side would struggle bringing two young halfbacks through together. I certainly think you need to bring in an experienced halfback next season to aid the development of Lomax/Gaskell.
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Administrator | 25122 | No Team Selected |
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Dec 2001 | 23 years | |
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7.gif :7.gif |
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| Quote: Webbo "Worth a go - especially a Hohaia/Gaskell 7/6 partnership.'"
It's not without risk. But provided Hohaia cedes responsibility for organising the attack (and kicking) to Gaskell and concentrates on giving him the quickest and most reliable service possible we may be able to salvage something from the season.
I'm not entirely happy about putting so much responsibility on Gaskell's shoulders (although I do think he can deal with it better than Lomax) but we're kind of out of options. Besides, he is the future and the sooner we gear our game around his talent the quicker we can gain some attacking traction.
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International Star | 1343 | No Team Selected |
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Sep 2010 | 14 years | |
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Oct 2014 | Oct 2014 | LINK |
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52961_1317652331.jpg :d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_52961.jpg |
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| Quote: Mugwump "Lucky for you they can't reach up to your cross.'"
I can see your house from up here ![Wink icon_wink.gif](images/smilies//icon_wink.gif)
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Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 1220 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/18.png) |
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Sep 2010 | 14 years | |
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Feb 2023 | Sep 2022 | LINK |
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52916_1378593744.jpg A pint of sweat, saves a gallon of blood. - George S. Patton
In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity. - Winston Churchill
It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it. - General Douglas MacArthur
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. - Isaac Asimov:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_52916.jpg |
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| Quote: Saddened! "I don't see why. Makinson, Foster, Gaskell and Lomax have all played in Grand Finals. I wouldn't pick Swift in that list to be honest, I don't see any potential for him in the outside backs. I've never seen him play in the halves, but he's no winger.
I think that list highlights that we're going to have Gardner in the team for a few years yet, nothing in there to displace him, bar Makinson who we would all like to see at fullback.'"
You are now starting to achieve the same status level as robinson on these boards.
Where is that clown smilie when you need it!!!!!!!
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