Quote: me 'n' our kid "you don't like him, where others do, ...........tough live with it.'"
I do. It looks like you're the one who can't handle someone having a differing opinion.
Quote: me 'n' our kid "As a prop he's effective enough in 'What he does best' he bottles up the middle in defence, is tight around the ruck in defence a makes hard yards.'"
He doesn't do those things and that is the problem.
He gets involved in plenty of tackles but his work is sloppy. He falls off, gets caught on the wrong side, and doesn't get properly set at marker. One of the oft quoted 'statistics' wheeled out to prove how hard-working Radford is is marker tackles. Ever wondered why he makes so many? Try watching what happens after a large proportion of the tackles he gets involved with. More often than not (an exaggeration possibly, but not massively so) a scoot or a ruck play follows. This isn't luck or coincidence, it's coaching. Engage Radford in the tackle, find a quick play and go from dummy half. A simple tactic, but an effective one. He gets involved in the next tackle, either through being run at or through him joining in as he's on his way back to join the rest of his team-mates in the line. If he stays at marker, watch for a similar play coming next time. If he gets back, look for the ball to be spread to whichever side of the ruck he's gone to.
I think that debunks the 'tight around the ruck' fallacy as well.
As for making hard yards, he does make plenty of carries. But, again, the quality of the work is usually poor. As mentioned by many others, he turns his back, wastes time fighting for an extra inch or two and is invariably in a poor position on the ground. An eternity unfolds and he then gets to his feet and plays the ball. We then have no option but to shift if, with the defence seeing Radford involved in the play and knowing that, in American Football parlance, a blitz is on if the play stays tight around the ruck.
This is made even more annoying by him having the ability to bust tackles, find the ground and get a quick play. He does it occasionally when he runs with purpose and it's as effective as anyone in the game. Unfortunately, this is a rare occurrence.
Quote: me 'n' our kid "You're so negative it's funny.'"
I'm not negative at all. I'm realistic and call it as I see it. I have no issue with Radford (check my posts about him from 2006 if you can be bothered; he was great that year and got the praise his performances deserved, and not just from me either), or any of the players, beyond wanting what's best for the club. For the past 2 and a half years, what's best for the club has been Radford not in the team.
