Joined: Oct 13 2004 Posts: 36099 Location: Poodle Power!
Wollo-Wollo-Wollo-Wayoo wrote:I thought it was pretty decent on Sunday. Overall improvement since Finn stood down.
Really I don’t it’s about the same though Finn tended to end sets better.
Not sure why people dig at Finn, I mean I expect it from Eastern who’s opinion changes more times than the wind.
Finn was carrying an injury but when he returns isn’t it good that we have someone of his ability to use if required.
I actually hope he isn’t needed because there is far more mileage in young Hampshire but let’s be honest if he is a diamond then he’s still at the rough stage. Despite Belly’s ludicrous over hype there is a reason he’s ended up with us - he needs a lot of polishing - still he’s at the right place.
Joined: Oct 13 2004 Posts: 36099 Location: Poodle Power!
Eastern Wildcat wrote:Hows Jacob Miller panning out for you Vasty?
He’s improved and he needed to but if you want me to say he’s the new Wally Lewis then forget it. He’s lost some of his pace but has upped his creative game but you’d expect that as he gets older. However he still doesn’t run a game imo and that has consistently been my opinion on said player - you could learn from that.
Joined: Aug 05 2002 Posts: 10512 Location: Standing on the heads of Giants
vastman wrote:Really I don’t it’s about the same though Finn tended to end sets better.
.
We just don't appear to be giving easy balls to opposition wingers and full backs to run straight back as was Finns forte. Touch finders, 40:20's and up'n unders the usual ending now.
This world was never meant for one as beautiful as me.
WTRLC 2012 to 2014 "The wasted years"
Magic Weekend "Whipping Boys" 2013, 2014 & 2015
2017 - The year the dream disappeared under Grix's right foot.
vastman wrote:It’s an issue with all teams, I’ll say again nobody plays 100% perfect rugby.
I think that nails it - what looks to us like our lads switching off, is actually just part of the natural ebb and flow of a RL match; one team dominates possession for a spell, and good ones will convert that to points. What we have become better at, Wire first half aside, is defending those periods of pressure so we don't ship loads of points.
Just for the record, and once and for all, I will give my honest opinion on Liam Finn from day 1.
We signed him for the 2016 season, to play alongside Jacob Miller. I said at the time, I thought we needed an extra half back to provide cover and competition, to cover injuries and loss of form etc. Fortunately, Miller and Finn gelled, and stayed pretty much injury free, fortunately for us. Had this have been different, we could well have struggled.
We did bring in that extra half back in 2017, in Sam Williams, and although without setting the world alight, I don't think he really did anything wrong, but I don't think he really got the same opportunity to gel with Miller, like what Finn did.
Again in 2018, we have the extra options in the halves. Finny has suffered a dip in form, but I am fully aware that he has been carrying a hand injury. I don't think though, that the dip in form, is just due to his injury. As Wollo has rightly stated, our kicking game at the moment is much better. It is, and you don't use your hands to kick a ball. Also the last tackle kicks weren't great prior to the injury. Whilst I do believe he is our better organising half back, I do believe in pulling him out to get fixed, whilst at the same time, giving a new partnership the chance to blossom, is the right thing to do.
I don't know as to whether or not, we will be keeping him beyond this year. If we do, I will get behind him, like I do with the rest of the squad. If not, then, like in 2016, I would say we would need to replace him. That is unless of course, Ackroyd and maybe Schofield are game ready.
I did make a comment at the end of last year regarding both Liam Finn and Scott Grix, and their involvement in the World Cup, that as our oldest players in the squad, and questioned as to whether or not they would have enough gas left in the tank, to see through the whole 2018 effectively, and that we may need to give these players a break, and maybe look to the future prospects in these positions at some point of the season.
I did say a few weeks ago too, that maybe we signed him at the wrong time, and that he may have been an ideal replacement for Danny Brough, instead of going with Paul Cooke, and then Gareth Moore. We obviously scoured the championship, by bringing Moore in, so I'm sure his name would have cropped up.
One final point, having played the sport, and other sport, and also in all forms of life, a partnership is something that takes time to nurture, and can not be borne immediately, like some seem to think.
These are not anti-Finn comments at all, these are just observations, I have made, and maybe a little constructive criticism. I am not alone in these thoughts, and we are all entitled to opinion
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