Washy was as ineffective at 6 as Horne was at 7 today. Berrigan needs to play 9 as Houghton offers little IMO.

I know you're trying to minimise disruption but I really think that our only option at 7 is Tansey. If Calders is fit I'd be tempted to shift Hall to 6 with Turner partnering Calders at centre and Whiting to FB. Keep both Washy and Horne away from the halves while Long is out.

We knew that from his efforts at SH in 2007. Horne never has been a leader, even at his best. He's an out-and-out running back and works well alongside a creative SH but is lost without one. Today's HB pairing was doomed to fail and I'm not sure why Agar thought it was worth a try.

Which for me is the worry about Agar, has he learnt anything in his time in charge or is it still going to be same old same old when the influence of Long is not out on the field?

I hope it was just a bad day at the office but it shows alot work is needed on a back up halfback pairing

Blaming Horne is unfair. He did not have a great game but so many times he was left unsupported but the players around him. It's a big season for Horne, if he does not get back to form I can see us signing a SO for next season.

He needs options though and today we gave him none, that said he still needs to make better decision and do things at pace rather than being stood still.

Shadow of his former self, sadly. As much as it pains me to say it, he is weakening our side at the moment. Never looked the same since the neck injury and diabetes problems.

Horne is a total waste of time at 7, as he has proved time after time. Our only option at 7 is Tansey. Berrigan needs to play 9 and we have nobody else who could do the job.

He had a poor season last season, which most put down to him returning from the injury etc...IMO we cannot afford to give him another full season, he should be dropped and other options use, by all means let Horne fight for the shirt, but Craig Hall has been binned on many occasions for less.

I know his main position was centre, I know he has experience in the half,s, but he actually won the Clive Churchill medal at hooker which in my opinion it the position he is most effective at.
You are right in the fact he is versatlie and could cover the halfs, but it still leaves the problem of the 9 shirt and all Houghton appears to do now is scoot out, Houghton not doing much at the minute.
It we move Tansey to play with Turner in the halfs and Berro as 9 I believe this would be a good combination. Whiting to f/back,Hall to centre if Claders back..

Stangely though the best I have seen Horney over the last couple of years is at F/Back, although I do not believe he is even 100% fit!

I've already said it's a huge season for Horne, think he is worth another game or two yet before dropping him. If Long is back in a week or two and Horne is not playing well then I would drop him and bring in Turner in for a go with Long.

Fair point..however if he plays Horne again he must surely put Tansey with him this week, and like you say maybe bring Turner in with Long, this would benefit Turner as he is only a young lad.

Tansey must play 7 next week regardless of who plays 6. I'd have him and Horne together with Whiting at FB, Calderwood on the wing and Hall at centre.

I'm a huge fan of Horne, Paul, but ATM he clearly isn't fit. For that reason alone I believe it would be worth replacing him at least while Long is out. He's also lost weight and pace, and for someone who has always relied on his physical attributes and athleticism for the best parts of his game that's having a huge effect.

Not sure a complete new halfback pairing is the way to go unless Horne is not fit to play? If he isn't fit then try Turner/Tansey but that would be risky.

Could not be any worse than yesterday though could it?

Again can't blame the halves for it all, the forwards were not dominant and the other players were not offering themselves for the halves to utilise.

Looking at the strapping Horne was wearing yesterday and the way he was playing I'd say he's not fit to play now. Sure, he's not so crocked that we can't get him on the field, but there's little point in doing that if he's not going to be effective. It's unfair on him as much as the rest of the side and the fans - he can hardly show whether he's improved on last season when not 100%.

Back in my playing days, I fractured C6. After nearly a year out of the game, I started playing again. When I resumed, my ex-missus used to comment about the lumps & bumps on my face, something that I rarely suffered from before my injury. When I analysed it, I'd completely changed my playing style, I was tackling upstairs instead of round the legs, I also knew that I wasn't running with the ball at anything like my previous pace. Basically, I was subconsciously attempting to protect my neck and it was affecting the way I played the game. It took some time but in the end I knew that I wasn't putting enough in anymore and decided the time had come to hang up my boots.

I hate to say but I seriously think that Rich Horne is still carrying some baggage from what was a very serious injury.

My hubby (an ex-player), has been saying this for a while.

Something that's been at the back of my mind ever since he came back, especially when coupled with the onset of his diabetes. Looking at the way he's playing now I strongly suspect that you're bang on. Hence my comments earlier about him considering retirement.

I agree if he is not fit then he should not play, not fair to him or the team.

He,s lost his confident. and won't get it back

Interesting post that could well have some relevance.

It's chicken and egg IMO, hard to know for certain where that problem comes from. Horne was in the halves most of last season and we had no runners, Long comes in and for the first 2 games we have several straight away. So is it Horne having no options, or perhaps that he doesn't demand them like he should?

It's at least as much a coaching problem though.

Rich Horne has never been or will ever be a leader.

Rich is no doubt still carrying that injury "thought" in his head and his Medical condition is certainly not helping his overall fitness. Drop him is an option and one he maybe needs to help him, but you replace him with who exactly ?

We had the last two season as proof he is no No7 and yet despite that we play the same failed half back pairing of Washy and Horney. This season could well turn out like the last one or so easily, now was it a bad day at the office or are the wheels on the bus already loose ?

The prospect of Longy being missing for at least 50% of the games was always my view and there is no and never has been a back up plan to Longy apart from a return to the tried and failed 2009 gameplan. Longy being injured is not a reason for losing matches and we beware of people using it .

It's strange, but halfbacks normally mature into playmakers as they get older even if they were just known for thier running in earlier days.

Judas Schofield for example, Iestyn Harris, even Longy to some extent.

However it seems that Horney has lost his pace without acquiring any tactical nous at the same time. Every time you see that some old "shoulder drop and step" you just want to put your head in your hands.

I wish it was any other way but the star boy has become the average man.