Roby was fortunate that he didnt have to do it alone , he was understudy to the King and so although he was playing first team he was still very much learning and developing

Exactly, he was gently eased into the side, not thrown in at the deep end

Jones wasn't eased in last season. So why assume Speakman needs easing in this season?

Showing your lack of understanding again. People develop at different rates both physically and mentally it's not 1 rule fits all. The difference between playing in the centre and second row to playing in a pivot position like 6, 7 or 9 is immense.

You've just agreed with me. That's exactly what I was saying. One rule doesn't fit all. So why assume that Speakman isn't ready just because he is young? That appears to be what is being done here.

But you are assuming he is just like Jones. We all assume, but the coaches will be actually able to say where they are and what they can do. If the coaches assessment is that Speakman requires drip feeding into the team, that's based on them knowing the player not just making a wild guess about what type of player he is.

However I still maintain that when Cunningham retired, why was the club not looking to recruit a hooker? Speakman would have been in the under 15's so obviously we had no youth product ready at hooker, so we should have brought one in.

I'd say if our big pack was getting the quality service that Speakman looked like he could provide, they could make things comfortable for him even if he is a bit tender.

I'd say that overall this would be just as effective as playing a guy who's more physically equipped, but has less talent for dummy half distribution who could look better as an individual, but hamper the pack slightly with inferior service.

But , in Brown we trust. If we get a result today, fair play to him.

Quality post, Chief - and I completely agree.

The assumption is based on the fact that Saints have signed a hooker on loan and are putting him straight into the squad for today's game against wigan. That alone justifies the assumption that NB doesn't think Speakman is ready for regular first team action, as a teenager playing in arguably the most important position on the field.

If it looks like a dog, and barks like a dog, chances are, it's a dog.

No I wasn't. I was positing that one player wasn't introduced gently so why should another automatically need to be. My point is exactly that each player is different, and I have made that same point many times over the years, even when others were disagreeing with me! But until we actually see Speakman play in a full match then we won't know how he copes and nor will Brown. Percival, who isn't the biggest bloke in the world, was thrown in for the full 80 against Leeds, who are the champions, so I don't see why Speakman couldn't be given a go against Wigan. Ultimately it is always sink or swim for a new player once they are out there on the pitch.

You say justifies. I guess we will see whether his decision was justified in time. We can't possibly know yet whether it was.

It comes down to position, its as simple as that. Percival played centre for 80mins against Leeds and did a fantastic job. There is a big difference between playing on the left edge and facing Ablett than playing hooker, defending in the middle of the park and facing the likes of Bailey, Leuleuai and Peacock. Hooker is by far the more challenging position and if NB, with the input of some of he games best junior coaches, doesn't think he's ready, then we have to accept that. For me, it illustrates there is a problem with the system (lack of u21/u23 team) as per my previous post.

I agree on both counts. On the second point I would add 'alas'.

I agree, real shame but Im sure Speakman will develop into a great understudy for Roby, just best not to rush him, otherwise it will do more harm than good. Same with Percival, came in, won MOM on his debut, but then we haven't seen him since.

Percival is playing today. I've put a link to the teamsheet in another thread.

One thing I did consider was, if Speakman isn't ready for first team action then how is he ready to play in a Championship side? They're all still fully grown blokes who play at pace and with aggression, etc. So is Speakman now not playing at all?