Chris71 wrote:For me and I know some will freak out at this (can't believe I'm saying it myself) but I'd be tempted to put Johnstone in at 9 as while he doesn't offer a great deal, for me currently he would be more effective than a very tired Houghton and have Balmforth on the bench to come on after 20mins. Its not just the playing 80mins in a game but the fact its still week in week out and Danny is still not recovered a week later and that was clear as day against Wigan from the start. BH can't keep expecting him to do it week in week out even when short on numbers and expect him to offer anything or be effective, Houghton needs leaving out to allow him the time to recover similarly to how Gaz Ellis was rested some weeks after tough games and long minutes he played. We need to seriously up the pace we play at with much quicker ptb and line speed (both in defence and going forward) and we aren't going to do that playing a tired and worn out Houghton.
Walker Simm Mitch Wynne McIntosh Lovodua Gale Sao Johnstone Evans Lane Mau (if fit) Fash
Satae Taylor Brown Balmforth
If Satae isn't 100% and Mau is fit Longstaff comes in on the bench.
Definitely agree about resting Houghton but I'd look at putting hookem in the half's and get joey in at 9 because after all the hype at the beginning of the season with his performances I feel he is becoming just a OK sl player at 6. Wigan away and magic are the only 2 games where I thought he was good at 6. Really need benny back
Joined: Jan 30 2004 Posts: 8185 Location: Never never land away with the fairies
Keiththered wrote:Resting Houghton will not really help him or the team. He has not been a SL quality hooker for the past couple of seasons. Even fully rested I doubt he will bring anything to the table. He has been a good servant to the club but needs to recognise when to say enough is enough.
I don't disagree to an extent but he would be far more effective if he was rested and able to fully recover and then spelled with a player such as Balmforth arther than flogged for 80mins then expected to do it week in week out even on short turnarounds and the heat.
I really enjoy long walks especially when they are taken by people I don't like!
Joined: Jan 30 2004 Posts: 8185 Location: Never never land away with the fairies
Woods1969 wrote:Definitely agree about resting Houghton but I'd look at putting hookem in the half's and get joey in at 9 because after all the hype at the beginning of the season with his performances I feel he is becoming just a OK sl player at 6. Wigan away and magic are the only 2 games where I thought he was good at 6. Really need benny back
I'd tend to agree with you on having Hookem come in if we had a 7 that was on form and had actually shown any sort of form over a period of games but sadly with Gale we have seen little from him in that respect so asking a young player to step up week in week out under those circumstances would have a bigger negative impact that positive on the player and team.
I really enjoy long walks especially when they are taken by people I don't like!
Dave K. wrote:Houghton won't be dropped, Hodgson doesn't have the balls, won't even sub him unless the game is gone.
I agree and i have said several times he is too loyal to certain senior players. Its stupid because we have a little pace now at full back with a player who can back up breaks and also make breaks himself then all the momentum stop at nine. Hodgson really has continued to flog Houghton without interchange or any real thought process in what he wants at nine yet week after week he sees opposition nines destroy us with speed from dummy half. It looks like he has now seen the light with Griffin,but no doubt there will be an excuse of he tweaked something rather than coming out and saying he is dropped and Taylor should be next in the firing line when we have more players back. He wont drop Houghton but his master stroke for Friday will be to have Johnstone on the bench.
The time out injured for Mau and Carlos is very similar over the last three seasons which is why i said no one seems to mention the injury record of Carlos even though he is several years younger than Mau Come onyou hull actually posted the stat several weeks ago
He's dropped Gale, Reynolds, Shaul, Griffin, JJ off the top of my head this season.
Last season he didn't have any issues dropping Fonua or Faraimo.
He's made a big decision of Sneyd. Which admittedly we could've signed a better replacement, but at the time most were positive about Gale.
The only one you could say is Houghton, but the injuries to the spine has probably meant that Joey hasn't got the run at 9 he wants. JJ not being good enough and green academy lads probably hasn't helped either
Joined: Mar 14 2003 Posts: 25781 Location: Back in Hull.
Just watched the trys again and this and following the Rovers game, I'd drip the whole left side of Griffin, Simm and Longstaff. Simm was responsible for 3/4 trys due to an error and one on one misses. Big game from Walker needed as he went from Hero to Zero.
Walker Martin Wynne Mitch Mcintosh Hookem Gale Satae Lovodua Evans Mau Lane Fash
Sao Taylor Brown Houghton
If Taylor and or Satae are out, bring in Longstaff and Laidlaw.
mwindass wrote:I really don't buy that BH has favored players.
He's dropped Gale, Reynolds, Shaul, Griffin, JJ off the top of my head this season.
Last season he didn't have any issues dropping Fonua or Faraimo.
He's made a big decision of Sneyd. Which admittedly we could've signed a better replacement, but at the time most were positive about Gale.
The only one you could say is Houghton, but the injuries to the spine has probably meant that Joey hasn't got the run at 9 he wants. JJ not being good enough and green academy lads probably hasn't helped either
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
