Surely we will need to mix the squad up a little bit, just to cope with the Easter period, if not the players will be absolutely knackered for the next few weeks.
The fixture scedule is bad enough at the best of times, but Saturday, Friday, Monday and then Friday is crazy.
We are having to play the 4 fixtures, with 2 days less rest than the other clubs and it is these fixtures that will define our season.

Totally agree re washbrook, He's being playing great so why move him? We finally have a genuine ENGLISH LF at the club!

Aiton has being outstanding at hooker, probably our best player this season so far, so why move him

Wood has really established his self in the impact hooker role. So dropping him for Ellis wouldnt be right when he is playing so well, that said he's still a developing player and I'm sure at some natural point Ellis will take over that role

For me the matter is simple, the team need more time to play together and we need a decent prop with some size adding to the props we already have to help the pack gain some forward momentum

Clearly Agar wants to bring another prop into the club and Southern is filling the prop gap for the minute, I'm sure once Southern drops back to the back row we'll see the best from him

Can't agree about Aiton - fantastic player that he is - he ain't a hooker.

At random I chose Danny Houghton for a comparison

Half the number of dummy runs and about 2/3 of the metres made. Not the right player for the role.

He would definitely be in the 17, and I don't mind him covering hooker, but for him to play most of the game there is stifling our play straight away.

I don't believe that any of the players should be dropped based on Saturdays performance - it would do no good to single out individuals in a dreadful all-round performance - but I do think that tactical changes could be in order and I would certainly wish to see either Wildie or Ellis in the 17, with Aiton's role being altered. If that means someone has to make way, then that is what has to happen.

If we can't get momentum from the PTB, then we won't be able to play our expansive game - without it just being lateral movement.

This is not someone getting something wrong - I just don't feel that we've got it right yet!

As for Southern - get stuck in lad and lead from the front as the job description says - you are that man, if you want to be!

Can't just compare him against 1 hooker, (Possibly the second best hooker in the league behind Roby)

Look at the stats against luke robsinson.. rlStatsrl

Aiton is a class act, and quite possibly the best signing of our season

I would like to see Ellis given a start but to drop Washbrook and put Aiton at loose would not be fair as Washrook has done no wrong.We do need another prop and not just anyone one that will drive the ball up all day long and make the yards not just go down at the first touch of a tackle.The loss of Amor for a few weeks showed this and in the London game he appeared to get a knock at one bit and did seem as though it stunted our go forward.Up to that game most players had given it a good go so who to drop/move I will leave that up to Agar hes the coach not us and will rise or fall by his choices over the long run.

Not argued at all.

However, his stats against Robinson don't show that - given that Robinson has played 1 game fewer and will have certainly spent less time on the pitch.

The only definitive win to Aiton is tackling - and he could still defend around the ruck, even if someone else is playing at half-back.

We need more go forward from the PTB.

There's a bit of chicken & egg here. Bigger forwards may help to put us on the front foot, but more runs from dummy half might also allow our forwards a little more space and time to run into - rather than a charging defence!

agreed, if he's to play at dummy half, he needs one thing; coaching.

How often has our pack this year got a roll on and given Aiton the opportunity to have a go?? Roby wouldnt be going from acting half in this side, well not as much as he does at Saints anyhow.

Houghton and Robinson are playing in sides that are near the top of the league. 2 sides that have predominantely been on top in the games they have been involved in. Compare our props stats to Crabtree or Lynch and im sure you will see similar differences.

I think Aiton as done a fantastic job but I would also like to see him go on his own a lttle bit more. It may be unfair to bring Wood into the argument as Aiton as done most of the hardwork, but Wood never seems to hestitate in having a go and he's actually put us on the front foot. Mind due, like people have highlighted and you yourself, we have little go forward compared to the bigger teams when building a platform for the halves and the hooker to have a go regularly. Also we don't know what the coach tells em !

Jesper Parnevik ...my favourite golfer . Hope he recovers from his injury asap .

Sorry - back to the topic everyone .

I agree and so do many more. I think RA knows he needs a prop as well but who's available?
I think such as Andy Raleigh and Ollie Wilkes make good yards as support props if you like, but Steve Southern and Paul Johnson although excellent defensively don't seem to be as productive in the prop role.
Looks like they'll have to soldier on for the foreseeable future though!

Completely agree. When Aiton does it he looks dangerous and was near London's try line on one occasion in ther 1st half when he tried it which surprised them and wasn't far from scoring. Whatever anyone says its missing from our game as is a 18 stone top quality prop.

The proof in the 'chicken or egg' argument about which comes first (the go-forward from strong forward running props or the dummy half runs from PTB creating more space for your forwards) will be shown to a certain extent when hopefully Ellis gets a run in the next week or so.