It can only get better.

I reckon we will win this one by about 20 points. I honestly don't see us having a problem in this game which will make last Sunday all the more frustrating that we totally bombed 2 league points.

I totally agree, it's hugely frustrating.

I agree with the above and would expect a big response from the players this week because last weekend was unacceptable. I would expect Doro to get a run this week with Fairbanks ban starting and leigh will not want gannon getting cup tied. I will go for a fax win 30-10.

Nothing earthshattering to add on this thread - just thought it might be healthy to start looking forward to this weekends game rather than continue ranting on about a game that's now gone. With Gannon and Fairbank missing Doro will presumably come back in- would have seemed a good opportunity to give Oakley a go from the bench. While I've nothing against Pickersgill assume JWH will come back in, both for his defence and the threat he adds to our attack.

Anyone any interest in this week's game - 70 posts on something that's dead and gone and now 5 on this weeks. I'm hoping for and expecting a victory this week - thoughts?

As has been said in the ranting post Fax had enough chances to win the game at Barrow with a bit to spare. The Barrow fans seem to think that was the best they've played this season but in reality although they deserved the two points, just, it was more a case of us being pretty poor that lost the game. Cut out the errors and take our chances and we'll be in't next round. Fax 30v12 Raiders. Up The Fax!

Not relevant to the weekend but Bulls will have 3 players suspended for Bank Holiday game, including Fenton Rogers who's looked a very useful forward.

Anticipating a better performance, I get the feeling sometimes we’re trying to run before we can walk and we need to work on our game management . There’s been a few games this season where we take the lead then think we can start playing Uber expansive rugby, I’d rather focus on some set completion during these times and get some territory, we’ve good enough ability wise just lapses in concentration and a little too excitable at times .

That's true but surely we're at the stage of the season where fundamentals such as these should have been all but iradicated.

They will be buoyed by last week but it would be a calamity if we lose this after the Fev result.Think it will be tight but hopefully lessons learned.

I agree that fax haven’t hit the form of last season, I have a lot of opinions of the whys and wherefores but work commitments and a stressful personal life mean I don’t often have the time and energy to reply in has much detail has I would wish but I will give an edited version of my opinion.

The rebrand to the panthers and the expansive rugby and the appointment of Grix ( a tony smith prodigy known for expansive rugby) was all in the aid if trying to increase crowds at the shay , nobody wants to watch five kicks and a drive rugby ( especially the younger generation) we want tries , long range tries , exciting tries , our recruitment within a budget has been lopsided in terms of this style of play , one downside of that is that sometimes the pack can be dominated especially early on and expansive rugby leads to more errors by its very nature. I remember speaking to Chester butler a few years ago not long after Grix replaced Marshall and he said his emphasis was fitness and skill set and that some players would struggle with the demand in these areas , Grix has generally recruited in these areas and some players haven’t met the demands in these areas for multiple different areas . Grix is still a young coach and even by his own admission not always got it right , he is yet widely praised by fellow coaches and media personalities for his coaching abilities and communication skills .

I believe most fax players are high in fitness and skill levels however there are individuals within the squad who are confidence players and some who are on the edge emotionally and that’s why we are frustratingly inconsistent, this balancing act is why we are occasionally brilliant and equally poor simultaneously.

We

Need

A

BIG

PROP

Aye, I can see all of that especially the bit about Grix still learning, he has all the makings of a top coach but isn't there yet. Hopefully he reaches the top whilst still at Fax.

In the early to mid quarters that’s where the building into the game mindset that Grix mentioned should be employed with the next phase based on that, if your in front same as keep it tight, if your behind then push and open up.

How many times have the players gone away from the game plan would you say?

During the week the coach and players will go through the skill set moves with live drill plays and that’s where for example the play the balls and marker roles will be practiced, it’s efficient because when training is on a part time team basis and limited it covers both attack and D in one play.

During training they look pretty good fast and slick and the vast majority of the time their not not doing it, but for some reason it’s often not repeated on the pitch, the coach and the players have said it’s not what we’ve practised all week.

Genuine question how do you stop it, I don’t know, it’s not only a problem just at Fax.

It seems a few other decent coaches and players don’t know either, they can’t be doing it on purpose but still it regularly happens.

Just one example that could have turned out to be a real killer is LJ at Fev in the cup game, in the space of 5 minutes he wins us the game and then with just minutes remaining instead of taking his time on the first tackle of an exit set with no pressure doesn’t play the ball right and almost loses it



I mean if an experienced professional rugby player like him needs to be shown or told what to do I give up on making sense of it, no one’s perfect but never mind the season surely by this stage of his career he should know how to do the right decision making?

That's fair enough. The last 5 minutes at Fev nearly finished me off!

3 DR players. will just bring more in.

Sheffield, London, Batley , Widnes their heads went in a twenty minute spell after Keyes n walmsley were injured, even fev in the cup was a bit brain farty at the end . 2nd half at keighley which wasn’t aided by two sin binnings . Every time we get a lead rather than getting back into the arm wrestle and getting some territory and sapping the opponent’s energy we give a penalty away or drop the ball .

Particularly relevant as when momentum shifts in a game we don't have the go forward to re-establish control.This has been a feature of virtually every game this season,even in comfotable wins.

Walmsley back in the squad - hopefully this means his recovery is going well but I'd be surprised if he was risked. With Fairbank and Gannon out I'd go with Doro and Cole as their replacements, only other change being JWH at fullback.

Fax win if they get there heads right before the game. Partly up to grix in the match prep this week
.

Mixed bag until 2 sloppy late tries goal line defence generally good - Barrow certainly had enough possession close to our line to test us. Attack wise the slickness we'd got used to last year seems have disappeared, some of our passing was woeful, a shocking pass to Gee leading to a mistake and Barrow's first try. Conversely Barrow were much slicker with the ball. We seem to be lacking in confidence with individuals trying to do their own thing, rather than sticking to a plan I'm sure they've been given. Still a big fan of Grix, but starting to wonder just how big a loss Finn has been especially for sorting our attacking plays. His new team going great in league 1 and had a fantastic result today thumping Widnes.

Another scratchy win and some soft tries towards the end leaving the game on a knife edge till the last play . Individuals are playing well during spells of the game but the team as a whole doesn’t seem fluid in their attack. Tom inman had a great game and injects more guile skill and urgency into our attack, woody is a handful , maizen shows glimpses but never seems to receive the right pass to put him in a hole and often has to create his own opportunities. Doro had an impact and Maher was a slight improvement on previous displays. McComb isn’t firing yet both in attack and defence. Fax are a frustrating side to watch at the moment, with some big games coming up the next few weeks are important in terms of where are season is heading.

Awful standard of game, Barrow came to niggle and it worked, we really didn't play well, and despite that the result really was never in doubt once we hit the front. I hear we might have a good forward signing up our sleeve but we desperatley need 2 centres and it stands out like a sore thumb week in week out.