Just read the courier. MC says "it's disappointing, we are not putting in 80mins and lacking a bit of punch at the moment. A frustrating game" For goodness sake come out and take some responsibility for the team on the field, decisions made before the start of the season and their continuing effect on the field, eg players signed who are not up to it.

It is also disappointing that the coach is never on the sidelines, Wright was there and you could see that his enthusiasm was rubbing off on the players. Fax are on the pitch and where the hell is Calland, as it's televised next week he might be at home.
Which could well be the best place to be, at least there's the on/off switch there. Something needs to be done NOW!!!!!

Many coaches don't stand on the touchline.. Think you are clutching at straws on that front.

I would have thought, when the chips are down you need to be as close to the fryer as posible. The amount of time I have watched Bally shrug his shoulders and point to his head set, has to be seen to be believed.

Just read on Twitter that James Nixon broke his leg in yesterdays game

Fair play to Nixon then. He still got up and played the ball before being helped off.

hopefully after the bulls game revenue well have some cash spare to sack

Your joking there will only be about 2500 paid for tickets!!

Something I have noticed is how, having one of the shortest pitches in the game at 89m, every team bar Halifax kick for 40/20's? Also, when Paterson is playing, why don't we have him kicking from the left side of the field, (right footed), and either Holly or Jones from the right side, (left footed)? It worked for Melbourne with Cameron Smith and Matt Orford.

That wasn't a true 40-20 from where i was stood behind the sticks. What are people's opinions who were sat in the East stand ?

It was borderline to be fair and my initial thought from my seat in the East Stand was he was outside the 40.

Sorry guys, but I called 40-20 as it left his foot. I was sat mid East Stand and I was pretty convinced myself.

That's not what I said. I asked why every team except Halifax go for the 40/20 at the Shay.

Because every visiting team is on the front foot come 4th or 5th tackle. Wheras we have abandoned going forwards and started going lateral.

spot on.

Its glarignly obvious, the question is can MC adapt his squad?

Lets see?

I don't think it's a matter of just at the Shay, it's a tactic that's there for every team to utilise, but obviously, you can't use it from every part of the field where a tackle takes place.
Two things though, the line should be able to read a player like Rooney or even hear the call go out & attack his kick.
Secondly, the wingers & full back could be better placed to defend the kick.

It's basic defence, MM. The wingers and full back should be watching for that type of kick, and it should be instinctive as to positioning. They've played the game for long enough. Surely, by now some things just come naturally, or are they coached out of them?

He could have hopped the length of the pitch and scored. Our lot still wouldn't have stopped him.

You can't just drop both wingers back to defend a kick on a whim, with the full back & two markers that leaves eight defending what would be a frail line to run ball in hand.
The kick isn't bound to make it's target either so it's be a gamble dropping back, all I'm saying is smarten up, that's what Rooney did, play smart.

Cruel FM but probably correct

Where did I say drop both wingers back? Don't misquote me, please. I said it should be instinctive in a player with regards to positioning. Most teams just have one winger and the full back drop back to cover a ick these days.

I'd say with the shocking defence going down in the centres atm the wingers would be a bit unsure whether to drop back too far anticipating a kick or to stay up to defend the line if they run it cus from what ive seen teams have breezed through the centres. The positional sense of the whole team has looked poor.

correct.

I didn't mis-quote you, I was offering an explanation.

He did the same when he shattered his arm against Leigh (on Sky) last season - he got up, played the ball and ran straight down the tunnel. He had a double compound fracture of his arm !

Gutted for him again. He was just getting his confidence back. It's a tough sport.