Quote: Jukesays "That's what I thought you'd say, and it wasn't a trick question.
The problem I have with it is that there are a number of observations I have with that situation before I even talk about Bibbys decision making.
We number up wrong on the blind, they have 2 players short side and we have 3 (you could argue 4 as Bateman is directly behind the ptb and Smith IMO is hiding a bit).
Being 1 man down and numbering up that way we're already 2 maybe 3 players short in the line.
I think Faz pushes up a bit and him and Partington seem to number up 2 on one which again leaves space,( it's more complicated than that as I think Partington is too passive, if he pushes up then I trust Smithies and Bateman inside to deal with inside runner).
Anyway, this is my big issue
After that ball Bibby finds himself 4 on 1, not just because of what's happened inside.
The comments made to me about Bibby rushing in, I counter with Where the hell is Marshall outside?
Hes 20 to 25mtrs behind the defensive line on the 3rd tackle !!!
It's likenhes playing full back, but Field is in the perfect FB spot, so what's he doing?
If Bibby doesn't rush in there's a 3 on zero outside him (I do agree rushing in May not be great), but where the hell is Marshall and why is he 25mtrs back on the 3rd, 20mtrs in field?
Also
Marshall was all over the place on the first Batchelor try.
Although I can just forgive him when they come short side and he comes in off his wing to suppprt Bibby (a bit Bibby esque) and gets beat outside by Bennison. He gets back after a Bibby tackle and they pin bennison 2ft from the touchline.
As he plays the ball Welsby is 1st receiver 11mtrs in from touch and Marshall goes walkabout chasing after Welsby inside and gets picked off and stranded without laying a finger on him. Bibby is also in trouble as he can see 2 runners back outside and he's practically 4 on 1.
Welsby turns back outside and we have a 3 on 1 to defend 7mtrs from touch
What's Marshall doing?
He reminded me of the younger Kid in the playgorund Marshall of 4/5 years ago on Saturday. Running around trying to solve problems that didn't exist instead of doing his job.
Anyway, probably over analysing and all with a backdrop of the players all being knackered due to the defensive efforts.
But I just think Bibby was unfairly singled out on that last play.
At the PTB he's exactly where I'd want him to be, Marshall on the other hand is miles away.'"
That’s certainly a more analytic view than my 10 pint deep brain managed on Saturday
I like Bibby. It wasn’t his best day but poor I’ll agree was over egging it. I’d like to see if Halsall can take his place and would give him a game but ultimately I expect Bibby and KPP will see the season out as our centres.
Marshall needs to get himself switched back on. It must have been a bit of a whirlwind few weeks. He needs to cut out the basic errors he’s making. In the semi and the final the big glory moments masked the basic errors he made taking the ball out. It’s been pretty uncharacteristic from him, as I’ve never seen handling errors as a huge issue. Defensively I think he’s really tried to make a mark this season, rushing out and bashing people but he was well off the mark on Saturday as you say. He’s plenty of money in the bank though and I wouldn’t leave him out.
