Joined: Feb 03 2004 Posts: 3702 Location: United Kingdom
Giants struggled against a enthusiastic London last week in the first half Is there any chance we could be enthusiastic Is that part of the culture ? To be enthusiastic ?
Giants decided to put London to the sword after a half time rollocking
Rovers took the foot off the gas last night as they did against us last week in the 2nd half
So we will find out if we have turned a small corner or if Smith has decided that it’s all irrelevant unless we win !
I assume he’s talking about the Culture being irrelevant unless they win !
bonaire wrote:If this was Smiths first season you may have a point but its not said before if anyone can tell me what Smith has done since he has been here that has enhanced the team on the field other than make us the most ill disciplined team in S/L i am waiting to hear. I was happy to see Smith appointed coach but now he needs to go as we are going backwards with him in charge and the club is now the laughing stock of Super league
And that is my point. If your only criterion is what happens on the pitch then fair enough. But if positive changes are happening behind the scenes ‘culturally’ to help us on the field for several years ahead then I have to support that. I don’t like being hammered every week but if I can rationalise it like I have then I won’t translate my angst into calling for Smiths head
UllFC wrote:Our defense is bad in general so id take Balmforth missing a few tackles but actually doing something in attack. An aging Houghton will tackle all day but its getting us nowhere ultimately.
Ive not seen anything from Tindall so far.
Nowadays missed tackles result in tries so I reckon this coupled with fitness may be Smiths problem with Balmforth. Houghtons tackling has been vital to us over the years, his darts from dummy half too. He’s not James Roby but never get the criticism of Houghton as a player. He’s no captain though
TnT wrote:Nowadays missed tackles result in tries so I reckon this coupled with fitness may be Smiths problem with Balmforth. Houghtons tackling has been vital to us over the years, his darts from dummy half too. He’s not James Roby but never get the criticism of Houghton as a player. He’s no captain though
It’s his passing from dummy half that gets me…he always takes a step and the defence is up…all the other hookers ping it from the ground and make sure we are on the front foot.
BP1 wrote:I think that under the current IMG format our SL status is relatively safe. With or without an A-grade rating we are still, given our current circumstances, comfortably one of the top twelve clubs in the sport which keeps us within the elite.
My big worry would be if in, say two years time, a decision is made to abandon any ranking process and to go back to straightforward on the field promotion/relegation. If, in that scenario, the promoted team turn out not to be the usual sacrificial lamb (such as Leigh last year) then we suddenly find ourselves in a straight fight with Cas/Salford/Leigh/whoever to avoid the drop. Having pruned the squad back to the bare bones, in the name of cost cutting, believing we were safe come what may, there then becomes a genuine chance of relegation for us rather than a theoretical one.
We all know what the sport is like for carrying out sudden U-turns at a whim. If we continue to go with ever weakening squads we will run the risk of being caught out by a sudden turn of events. Relegation would most likely see the end of the club in its current set-up. We are not equipped to survive outside the top flight.
You've hit the nail on the head re current IMG format. Whether we like it or not it is the correct decision to focus on the club's financial stability as opposed to splashing cash we don't have on players that may / may not perform well. The current situation is hard to take but it will be well worth it if it results in a stable, sustainable club with a squad that has been "developed" rather than "bought" that is capable of competing. As you say, the sports administrators penchant for a sudden U turn is our biggest risk.
TnT wrote:Nowadays missed tackles result in tries so I reckon this coupled with fitness may be Smiths problem with Balmforth. Houghtons tackling has been vital to us over the years, his darts from dummy half too. He’s not James Roby but never get the criticism of Houghton as a player. He’s no captain though
I don’t think it can be a fitness thing. The kid looks shredded he has really leaned off. It’s just his ruck control in defence.
Joined: Mar 23 2018 Posts: 6674 Location: Kingston upon Hull
I went for a walk yesterday, through the Walton street entrance, round the stadium, then over the unlocked walkway, I noticed to the left of the stadium, the astroturfing caged courtyard, looked a right mess, it looked like it’s just been left with no maintenance, don’t really know if this area is part of the Stadium control, or others responsibility, but it seems to fall in with the rest of the malaise at present, no money, no paint I suppose.
To the game this afternoon, Saturdays don’t sit well with me to be honest, I prefer a Friday night or a Sunday, just me I suppose, with all the goodwill and hope in the world, I would love a win today, against a team, assembled with pots of money, hope I’m wrong but can see Swifty and Jake relishing the chance to send us further, the slightest pressure we fold like balserwood cut outs, fearing the worst, hoping the best.
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