Bobby, I was one of his critics earlier in the thread and I'm not saying for one minute that this Daily Star expose is, in itself a panacea for Lineham's early Wire form, or more correctly my opinion of it, as it appeared that some are satisfied with try scoring stats alone.

I'm also not aware of his previous 'mannequin admissions' etc, but, the first step on the 'road to recovery' is admitting that something needs to change?

Agreed, Rico. I too am hopeful he turns it around - he's a Wire now, and when fit, he's a formidable weapon in the nal (I know, more talk for the poor lad). I just worry that his head isn't in the game in the way other professionals are. Hope I'm proved wrong. An expose in the Star was the last thing he should've been signing up for - doubt the club will be happy to read that piece.

All the article makes me think is....£125,000 Really?!

Like Rico says admitting there is a problem is the first step to rectifying it. He has been ok without really justifying his price tag but I will still back him to come good, needs to lose weight and improve his all round game. No reason he can't go and become a terrace hero, so long as he wants to and appreciates that he has a long way to go in order to reach that status.

I agree totally Yed
You've clearly gone big with this purchase monetary wise but with very little thought or research about what you were buying IMO
It's almost like buying a Audi R8 but with a 1L engine and then wonder why it's not performingicon_lol.gif

Most players take time to settle in, plenty of time for him to step up. I suspect TS has his measure, time will tell but don't think it's time to panic just yet.

The £125k isn't a big deal to us, we can afford that to spend on a player TS clearly sees as a project rather than the finished article.

Westerman on the other hand, a couple of defensive lapses aside looks like a very good buy.

The wings are an area of the team we've spent no money on. Riley Penny and Ormsby were all free as they came though the youth team and JMonaghan was free as he'd been sacked. So we've only spent £125k on five wingers over the last six years or so really. Not much is it?

Plus the money doesn't really dent us, further still, the more money being spent in the game the better as it usually filters down or at least is spent by the receiving team on improvements in some shape or form.

Which, since Hull sit top currently, it clearly has done. We might not have value for money yet but a good way to look at it is we gave money to another SL club, which is good for the league in general if more teams do it.

Sorry Alffi I can't agree, £125k might not be a big deal to us, but, surely it is a big deal to spend that kind of cash on a 'project'?

Especially so if you are balancing the books across a squad and that TS's project will be getting paid a wage, probably a fairly decent one in comparative terms and in a capped sport.

Still don't really understand why the club released the Lineham/Bailey locker room video as it portrayed both players in a pretty bad light. Now adding to that the Daily Star interview and I have to wonder what on earth is going on (especially if the club sanctioned an interview with that rag). I'm dreading the day when he wins a Sky Man of the Match award, god know what he'll come out with!

The club need to give him some advice/training in dealing with the media and for the meantime he ought to shut up and start to do his 'talking' on the pitch.

I'm sorry for prattling on especially as a naysayer, but, whilst splashing the cash might be commendable, splashing it willy-nilly isn't a good business, or sporting model

There appears to be a lot of leaping to conclusions, as there were with Matt King (not saying he is in same class but his first season and reaction to the fans in "that" game may be relevant).

But TS (and myself) are not expecting Lineham to continue at his current level, we are expecting him to improve, if he doesn't the 'project' would absolutely be labelled as a definite failure.

He has signed a 4 year contract (I think?), if in years 2-4 he picks up his game and plays to his potential, then it was worthwhile.

Speculating £125k on a player who might improve makes Tom a pretty expensive apprentice.

I'd be disappointed if I was Kevin Penny. The two of them display/displayed the same frailties in their game, both have/had a bit of growing up to do, but both shown great attacking potential and boasted a good try scoring rate.

One gets a mega money deal, one gets a full time job and a Swinton Lions tracksuit.

I think Lineham can be a good player for the club, but as above, an expensive project

i think the worry that most of us have, is that he doesn't; have the stones to knuckle down, and improve himself, he should be looking at being the next ryan hall, based on size and body type, but he'd have to work bloody hard to improve himself.

And yes, the point about penny is a great one, he should be held up as a success story about what working hard will you get you.

Lineham's card is well and truly marked. It's becoming difficult to see a future for him here at this time. He doesn't seem the character to get a kick from deselection. More like he couldn't be too bothered either way.

Lineham, unfortunately, is a lazy young man, who needs a rocket up his Aris. His attitude smells worse than Gatewarth sewage works.
Smith's faith in him is wearing thin, and makes him look like a fool, as he's the one who's knocked on Moran's door, and asked him to buy Lineham.

Having said that, he'd've scored that try in the corner, that Russell msde a mess of.

I tjought the same thing when Russell try was disallowed!!

I personally don't think dropping him is going to do any good, he needs confidance a good run of games will give him. I thought I went looking for the ball against hull and truly wanted to make an impact against them, I think it's unfair to drop him based on that game personally.

I believe had we not spent money on him.n signed him ooc there would be far more patience for him, when we as a team have played well he has scored!! Despite the fact not getting much ball or chances created by his centre!!

He has his weaknesses but no worse in defence than penny!! wing play is so hard as a mistake is emphasised as in attack it's a scoring opportunity missed and in defence it could result in a try the margin for error is far smaller than anywhere else on the pitch. I do expect him to improve! We don't know the factors behind his drop in form / effort and are only speculating I trust that the club will be working on turning things around for him as the incentive is there he can be one if best wingers in the super league!! on his side he could be in a trophy winning team I refuse to believe he joined us with the intention if performing how he is is currently.

We did have a lot of criticism of Daryl Clark in his first season due to loss of form, & Asotasi didn't get his form back till the last two games of his 2 year contract .

Looks a shadow of the player that scooted down the touchline against us for the last few years.

I read an article on his fatness recently where he complained at a lack of ball and said at Hull he got more ball. Bit of a dig at Evans but I do think he has a point. Neither Evans or Atkins can pass the bloody ball. The only way the winger's get ball is by coming in field.

Same song sheet.

A winger is only as good as his last pass.
Inside every world class winger is a world class centre.

Bevan Challinor. Eg

Look at how good Faafili's try scoring record was outside of Gleeson.
What keeps Atkins in our team is because he knows where the try line is again not for knowing where his winger is.
It's Currie and or Sandow who puts Penny through.

Same goes on the right side, Evans is in because of his defence and he's actually fit, plus we have no other centre but Toby or make do with Hughes or Rachford, who incidentally along with Gidley are responsible for supplying the right edge, whoever that may be.

I agree with people who say a good centre makes a winger, and for all Rhys Evans determination in defence he must be the worst attacking centre out of all the top 8 sides... cannot pass and never seems to beat a man.

It is a bonus when a winger can create out of nothing and it can often win games. Chris Hicks in the CCSF against Wigan springs to mind.

What a winger he was in retrospect.