After our night out and only seeing the last 20 minutes in the Belle Vue Dog track Sports bar we got back to Billinge at about 1 a.m. and went for a last drink.



A Saints fan came over to me and said who was the big lad who came on.

I guessed at Mossop.

"That's him, Man of the match " he said.


After watching the recording this morning I thought he played well, but Sam was outstanding again.

Mossop for me will go on to be a Morley / Peacock prop forward as he bulks up.

I would take that, if he can be half as good and play for as long as those 2. We have another gem, me thinks.

Would certainly agree with that, looking at the work he got through and the effort put in I would say that a likeness to peacock is certainly there and there little doubt that as he develops his game will improve immensely, saying that he still had a great game last night and we'll need his bulk for next week.

he had his best game for the first team last night, certainly hit his weight in defence and attack, his work rate was good. For me he played his way into next weeks game. We could have two returning in Baily and Lockers ?? Who would you drop??

Joel and Flannagan. Flannagan has done nothing wrong and has done well, but Lockers bring's a little more to the table with both in attack & defence. I just think Joel looks like he needs a rest. Bailey bring a little bit of leadership and experience which (unfortunately), I think we lacked last night.

I agree completely.

It's a tough one if Bailey and Lockers do return then like you I would certainly keep Mossop along with Hansen, for me it's between J Tomkins and Flanagan. Joel was poor last night but we know that when he does turn up and has a good game he has a very good game, as for Flanagan although he played well last night and has the versatility of moving to 9 would the fact that it's only his 4th game mean he was under prepared and would be a little over awed by the occasion, certainly a tough one but it's between those two for me.

Flannagan has not done much wrong and he will be the obvious one to drop out. Joel was very good against Leeds last week, but Lee was outstanding last night. It will/could be a tough choice between the two.

I think Joel was average last week and poor this week. I'm not going to give up on him as a player because I feel, he will only get better with time and experience. However I just feel, the boy could do with a little rest , he missed a couple of tackles tonight and (although the conditions didn't help), I thought his handling was poor, both this week and last.

we wont need to drop 2 because we have already lost one from last nights team in Goulding.

Lee is developing into a really good player and it's great to see.

I agree generally with your post. J.Tomkins is a great player IMO but he does look like he needs a rest.

Good point, (not for Daz obviously), in that case sorry, but Joel your fired!!! (Well rested)

personally i doubt Lockers will be back, therefore it makes a straight swap of Goulding for Bailey.

When Riddell comes off, Bailey to centre, Gleeson to 6, Tommy to 9. Just typing that made my head hurt! haha

Too much switching around for my liking - we looked disorganised at times last night - we need to have a structured attack for the full 80, not wholesale changes at the 20 and 60 minute marks.

i agree, but either McIllorum magically becomes fit, or we purely play Leuluai/flanagan at 9 switching with riddell. Or riddell does 80

Flanagan at 9 by necessity given that Goulding is now not an option from the bench which has resulted in the favoured switcheroo of Gleeson to 6, Tomkins to 7, TL to 9 at the interchange for the last two games when he replaces Riddell. Think Flanagan needs to be accomodated somewhere given his performances over the last two weeks - if Bailey and Lockers are back, Joel must be sacrificed given his liability factor of error / penalties. Our best option in my view - added advantages of a settled half back combination of ST / TL, that is needed to get the best out of both, and a very strong bench of Feka, Fielden, Mossop and Flanagan. We need a strong starting pack, a strong bench and a stable / structured attack if we are going to beat Warrington.

No way Riddell can go 80, Mossop tremendous last night, the future is bright not " garlic bread "

The best way to redeem himself is against the next opposition.

He should play against Warrington, with bailey replacing Goulding on the bench. If lockers is fit it should be a straight swap with him for Flanagen

Not giving up on Joel for a second - but on form I'd go with Flanagan over him for the semi - an added bonus is Mark being the most flexible option for the fourth bench spot in the absence of Goulding, if both Bailey and Lockers return.

That's very true what makes Flanagan a good player to have in the team is the fact that he is able to cover a number of different positions which Joel cant, in the end it's all still a little bit up in the air as to whether Bailey or Lockers play, and if they do great but if they don't then we know we still have the players to do a job for us. It's a real tough decision as to who comes in and who goes out of the team but hopefully Nobby will get it right.

Nobby will get it right, and as usual we are getting stronger at the business end of the season, this time next week !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I said on a gaz hock thread a while ago that hock getting 2yr ban wasn't the end of the world as mossop is going to be just as good or even better.

1st time I seen him I knew he was going to be good player.

If fit, I'd start Bailey and put Mossop on the bench. That way, Bailey can switch to centre when Gleeson goes to 6. I thought Bailey did well in the centres vs Hull KR.

both them lads were totally outstanding, i just hope that they can both carry on were they left off and make there place in the team permanent and yeh we got lads to come back but competition for places is only a good thing for the team. to quote someone else on ere mossop was like a brick house......and them scousers new that lad was on the field...hats off to you!!!!