Staffs FC wrote:You may not subscribe to the fact that it takes time for creative players to settle (especially two thrown in together at the same time) - the inference being I guess that they would strike up an instant understanding of each other and their new team mates in match conditions. I would think it normally takes time.
That's not what I said. At all.
Staffs FC wrote:It's not just that though that has contributed to the upturn. For example we're no longer selecting three hookers in the team due to the fact that our best players are now available. Incidentally that will obviously help on the practice field as well as on game day. The practice field with half a squad missing isn't going to produce the best conditions for 'creating options' come the match day. Allied to all of this players move in and out of form - in the last few games we have had more players playing to their potential.
That's closer to what I said, that it isn't the only factor, and furthermore I don't personally even think it is the major one. The major factor has been that we have dramatically changed our attitude to how we play. We are committing more runners/options for the ball carrier, running from deeper and staggering the attacking line, backing up breaks in better numbers, looking to promote offloads more often, moving the ball wider more quickly, playing the ball a bit more quickly, varying which side we attack with more effectively and with more purpose, generally playing with more variety and intelligence. Pretty much all of the things lots of us have been crying out for for a long time.
Staffs FC wrote:As you said earlier long may it continue - we're far from smelling of roses as of yet in terms of the table. Let's hope the fans who decided against attending will get back on the bandwagon and the whole club can move forward together.
Bandwagon is an unfair term, IMO. It suggests people will go back because we are winning, which is not always the case. I stopped going after the Catalan game, which we did actually win but it was still poor quality entertainment with near enough a full-strength side It then wasn't a few wins that got me back (or I'd have been back after the Widnes game), it was the change in approach since. I'll go every week as long as the team make the effort and try to play rugby. Trophy contention would be a bonus.