Joined: Jul 17 2015 Posts: 4682 Location: Sitting on the naughty step
An escape rout from the rumours thread! I think the majority of us agree that we have been fairly toothless at centre this season, question is why and how will it improve next season? First let me put my cards on the table re Ratchford. I couldn’t disagree more strongly with the view that he has never really fitted in. In fact he has done a good job wherever he has been asked to play and in his earlier days was a real running threat although the one handed carry was a concern. It seems strange that all those people who say they just want players to give their all rarely credit him for this aspect of his play. I do think this season has looked a season too long for him at times, but given at the start of the season the left side was scoring regularly perhaps the blame doesn’t entirely rest with him. In the other centre berth we have Matautia, I made no secret of my view at the time that he was a poor signing and take no comfort from being right. He was obviously brought in as Powell’s lieutenant in the dressing room and that hardly seems to have resulted in harmony. However batsh1t crazy Mamo was he definitely posed far more of an attacking threat than his successor. With regard to Wrench we have seen glimpses of what he may be able to do, I reall hope he kicks on
Just my opinions unless it's a FACT, in which case it's a fact.
I agree that some of the criticism of Ratchford is OTT and doesn't show enough respect for what a good player he has been for us.
Plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the centre position: we have just brought in as assistant coach the best English centre of his generation. And our head coach is a former England Union centre (ok maybe let's forget that bit).
Both Tai and Bruines come with a bit of a gamble but Wrench is (for me) a real talent and needs game time in his position.
Captain Hook wrote:An escape rout from the rumours thread! I think the majority of us agree that we have been fairly toothless at centre this season, question is why and how will it improve next season? First let me put my cards on the table re Ratchford. I couldn’t disagree more strongly with the view that he has never really fitted in. In fact he has done a good job wherever he has been asked to play and in his earlier days was a real running threat although the one handed carry was a concern. It seems strange that all those people who say they just want players to give their all rarely credit him for this aspect of his play. I do think this season has looked a season too long for him at times, but given at the start of the season the left side was scoring regularly perhaps the blame doesn’t entirely rest with him. In the other centre berth we have Matautia, I made no secret of my view at the time that he was a poor signing and take no comfort from being right. He was obviously brought in as Powell’s lieutenant in the dressing room and that hardly seems to have resulted in harmony. However batsh1t crazy Mamo was he definitely posed far more of an attacking threat than his successor. With regard to Wrench we have seen glimpses of what he may be able to do, I reall hope he kicks on
Ok, in terms of grammar, punctuation and spelling thats a somewhat difficult read. Are you a failed TEFLER per chance?
Regarding your content I concur that Ratchford has been a positive for the club but due to our lack of goal kicker succession planning his tenure is 2/3 years too long. Gleason should play himself next season
Ratchford has never let the team down, apart from the one handed carry at times. IMO though he is better creating space for himself than being a part of the three quarter line.
Joined: Sep 20 2005 Posts: 1097 Location: The Yard
MRS_MOP wrote:Ok, in terms of grammar, punctuation and spelling thats a somewhat difficult read. Are you a failed TEFLER per chance?
Regarding your content I concur that Ratchford has been a positive for the club but due to our lack of goal kicker succession planning his tenure is 2/3 years too long. Gleason should play himself next season
There should be an apostrophe in thats, perchance should be one word rather than two, and the correct spelling is Gleeson. I believe TEFL UK is based in Winmarleigh Street, if you fancy popping down?
Joined: Jul 17 2015 Posts: 4682 Location: Sitting on the naughty step
MRS_MOP wrote:Ok, in terms of grammar, punctuation and spelling thats a somewhat difficult read. Are you a failed TEFLER per chance?
Regarding your content I concur that Ratchford has been a positive for the club but due to our lack of goal kicker succession planning his tenure is 2/3 years too long. Gleason should play himself next season
Sorry about that, I’ll try using pictures in future.
Just my opinions unless it's a FACT, in which case it's a fact.
I’ve got nothing against Ratchford. Good pro, seems to be a likeable man and has served the club well over the years. But the speed and elusiveness has faded away, and with it the threat. He can still catch and pass, but that should be a prerequisite.
It’s a Warrington thing. We often hold on to those who have served us well for too long. We did it with Westwood, accommodated him in a different position because he’d lost the ability to play his proper role.
A bench spot, maybe. Cover across the backline and a bit of 9/13 at a stretch. But he just doesn’t have it in him to be a strike weapon in 2023.
Developed into an excellent goal kicker though, to his credit.
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