I just don't get Tony Smith
Ratchford out of position! WTF?
Correct me if I'm incorrect but a game like last nights has cost us top spot the last two years for not fielding a stronger side
Why oh why rest a centre/ winger jees the workload is a lot less than any pack player
TS shows a lack of respect for widnes , a terrace full of wire fans and a team selection that could have been stronger
Every year we lose games that on form we should win and this defeat will cost us dear at the back end , a top 4 is going to be difficult with our run in .
The thread moaning about Roy A is a waste of time , there were far more players that under performed last night but no critics for them
Yes he's not what we expected but players like Paul Wood are well past their SL best and played p... poor as well as England , Russell . Ormsby to name a few
I do believe that we will be ready for the play offs but I don't think we will reach any finals this year.

In total agreement with all this s wolf

Fair case i have always been frustrated by the resting of the backs.

Don't agree one bit that outside backs don't need resting. Centres do a lot of defending and also mate a lot of carries. Joel's meters in the last 3 games are 386, compare that with Chris Hill who has made 324 in the same 3 fixtures.

Whilst I agree, TS doesn't put the same importance on the Widnes games as the fans do, I agree with his policy on keeping players fresh for the back end of the year. The selected 17 had more than enough skill and experience to win the game.

The difference between Asotasi and Ormsby, Russell, England and anyone else you want to name from last nights cast of mediocrity is that all of them have at some other point in their Wires careers grabbed the mantle and done it. By that, I mean produced displays that exhibit desire, ability, determination, raw courage and steel.

Asotasi has not, doesn't appear to be on any kind of upward curve towards achieving these and is frankly stealing the clubs pennies.

As for merits of resting players etc., we can argue the pros-and-cons but have to trust TS. The move of Ratchford to centre is the one that seemed to blow up in our faces but we could still have won it.

Players needing a rest what a load of rubbish, it's simple no one at the club cared about all the fans that payed good money to watch that last night, if our best players are fit they should play and reward the fans, I hope TS doesn't rest players at catalans.

Every team is entitled to an off day and that was it. After all ten wins from eleven games ain't bad. Widnes out enthused us roughed us up and we didn't play our usual game tried to play their way and it didn't work. I still think TS knows better than us what he is doing.

I can understand a few people being annoyed with it being Widnes (not that it bothers me I just see it as another game), but let's put this into perspective we had won 10 in a row before last night.. A few players had off nights without a doubt one of them being Russell who has been pretty good this season so let's not press the panic button.
TS knows the players and knows who needs a rest, we are building towards a C.C semi and the playoffs, and if things go our way in those losing to Widnes on a plastic pitch won't even get a second thought.

The cynic in me actually likens Tony Smith to that slightly dodgy racehorse trainer, who holds his horse back for a few races, getting him ready for that big race, when he comes home first, taking the hefty prize money and also picking up some gambling winnings at juicy odds.

Last night's display, along with several others over the last few seasons, have stunk to high heaven of a side sent out weakened, under prepared and under motivated.... Now, I'm not suggesting anything untoward, but its occasions like last night that really detract from Super League as a competition and make the argument against the play off system a lot stronger.

This

Last night we had 10 players in the 17 that either weren't playing for us last season or weren't in the regular starting 17, so whilst it wasn't the greatest performance, at least it shows how far the squad has come along in a short time.

penny drops for Dita's Slot Meter

Only problem is, Smith hasn't quite mastered picking up the big prize yet ....

No, it isn't - The big prize is the Grand Final. Until we win that, then we will be forever known as under achievers.

We can win as many Challenge Cups has we like, but until we claim a Super League title, then we will always be in the shadow of clubs like Wigan, Leeds and Saints.