Results over the past several seasons would seem to indicate that you're badly mistaken. Still, given how 'uninterested' our players are at the moment and our 'lazy' second row I guess we should consider ourselves fortunate not to be bottom of the table with a huge negative points difference.

Problem is, 2 of the 4 pivots haven't trained all week.(McDonnell & Holdsworth), is there any wonder our attack is flat,and has no cohesion?- and yet these 2 are in the 19 man squad.

Don't waste your time Kosh. Let's just join the negative outlook club on this forum. Even if we were top they'd find something to moan about. And before they come back with a smart answer, I'll agree we're not where we want to be but unlike some I have faith in our club to get things right.

I'm not sure it's negativity more like concern based on the reality of any number of 'winnable' away games over the last few seasons.

No Holdsworth or McDonnell today

I admire your optimism, but fans are rightly in my opinion, questioning, the facts, that we haven't seen any improvement on the previous season.

Well forums are about opinions and I accept that others will have differing ones to mine, and that others will agree with me.
I'd sooner be optimistic than pessimistic (whether its misplaced optimism is another matter).

Very true . The "Rose tinted" brigade will tell us different though .
Off the pitch improvements may have been made . On it slightly down on last season IMO .
A very big 10 days coming up for our playoff aspirations . 3 games we can win,but will we?
Hearing that Holdsworth and McDonnell may be out today . Holdsworth`s health is starting to become a concern.

Crap if true.

Indeed. Would put Horne to FB if he weren't our best available HB. Whiting to FB, halves = Horne +? Heremaia? All unravelling. Is Crookes back yet?

smailes on twitter says they are both major doubts at the moment but not definately out

IF as it appears, two of our pivots haven't trained all week, why have them in the 19 man squad?

PG said last week after the Huddersfield game, Holdsworth hadn't trained all week, if the pivots don't train & practice during the gameweek, then are selected to play,that's why our attack looks drab.

What on Earth is wrong with Holdsworth?

Holdsworth is OUT.

Wonder if anyone not in the 19 travelled down to London?

Is Nicklas due to play for York this weekend? Or Jamie Shaul?

If Shannon and DJ are out then I'd expect something like:

Briscoe
Crookes
Arundel
Crooks
Lineham
Horne
Heremaia
Lynch
Houghton
O'Meley
Galea
Tickle
Westerman

Watts
Bowden
Whiting
Johnson

Should still have enough, and it solves the problem of how to fit our three wingers into the same team for one week at least!

Would like to have seen Shaul given a chance with McDonnell out. I've only even him in the pre season friendlies but I thth he looked rather good.
I'd rather Holdsworth was left out today if he isn't 100% as we need him fit for the Easter period. And as much as need struggle in attack to cross the try line, today be all about the forwards rather than the fancy expansive play.

Jesus...why dont they get him sorted out properly if its his headaches again....so,no playmaker AGAIN.

I'd play whiting at 6 with horney. Someone solid who can organise who will take the right options. Heremaia worries me there greatly. Not a day for expansive rugby and whichever team makes less mistakes will win, therefore put whiting there and heremaia can give houghton a rest after last week!

Don't think you will be far off with that selection

Holdsworth is in a pub with FC fans in London.

He has fully recovered from the bug last week.

Question was asked to Gentle on radio, about loaning a HB,
"We'll go,with what we've got" his reply.

I'd ask Saints about Gaskell.

Picture tweeted by Craig Murdoch - looks like the game will be something of a lottery

What the hell is he going in a pub?????????

How the hell can they call that on...its a bloody lake.

He's eating in the pub, McDonnell out as well, according to James Smailes.

Why isn't Shaul in the squad??