Chapel House Motor Company Limited Advertising Banner
Page 3 of 12 FirstFirst 1234567 ... LastLast
Results 51 to 75 of 281

Thread: Matty Smith ?

  1. #51
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk paulscnthorpe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    St Helens
    Age
    40
    Posts
    8,592
    Rep Power
    31

    Default

    Least disruptive is Richardson to scrum half, wilkin goes there and it completely changes our game of Wilkin at first receiver

  2. #52
    In The South Stand 49er's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    4,222
    Rep Power
    15

    Default

    This quote made after the game, so obviously knew that Smith has a possible long term injury.

    Kieron added: "Danny Richardson did well. He hasn't been far away. Only a fool tries to hold something back and I'm not a fool. If he makes the team better we will filter him through and make sure it is the right.

    This is now the time KC. if he does not work out I think 'us' fans will at least credit KC for trying him.
    Humans are more concerned with having than being.

  3. #53
    Starting A Programme Collection
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Widnes UNFORTUNATELY
    Posts
    901
    Rep Power
    18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stephen07 View Post
    Some will. Some will say that since he sees him every day in training he should have known whether he was ready or not. I still think we will see Wilkin personally.
    He has to be bold and pick Richardson for at least a run of three-four games if not more. Wigan have done it with Williams as have Leeds with Lilley wasn't it.

  4. #54
    Starting A Programme Collection
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    St Helens
    Posts
    886
    Rep Power
    20

    Default

    I feel like Cunningham still doesn't trust Fages sufficiently to throw in another youngster at half.

    A leopard never changes its spots and Cunningham's risk averseness all but guarantees that an unexciting steady old pro gets thrown in at 7, whether it's Wilkin or Lee.

  5. #55
    In The West Stand Dux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Liverpool
    Posts
    5,572
    Rep Power
    27

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Saint View Post
    I feel like Cunningham still doesn't trust Fages sufficiently to throw in another youngster at half.

    A leopard never changes its spots and Cunningham's risk averseness all but guarantees that an unexciting steady old pro gets thrown in at 7, whether it's Wilkin or Lee.
    As much as it makes me want to throw a weird grown man's tantrum, I suspect you're right.

  6. #56
    Starting A Programme Collection
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Widnes UNFORTUNATELY
    Posts
    901
    Rep Power
    18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stephen07 View Post
    I agree. That's what I would do. I was talking about how some fans will react if Richardson plays and it doesn't work out. I would give him a go but as I say I don't think he will. Especially if he sees Lee as an option at 7.
    Young players must despair when they are in the Saints Academy especially backs.

  7. #57
    Learning All The Songs
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    1,906
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Kieron has been quoted as saying it was a NINJA tackle? (not sure what this is)

    I was in the west stand and did not see it myself, was it bad and does the offending players get banned if found guilty?

  8. #58
    Moderator Div's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Sintellins
    Posts
    11,911
    Rep Power
    32

    Default

    Seriously if Wilkin is picked in the halves again I want a refund on my season ticket!

  9. #59
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk Belgian Saint's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    11,178
    Rep Power
    32

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 49er View Post
    This quote made after the game, so obviously knew that Smith has a possible long term injury.

    Kieron added: "Danny Richardson did well. He hasn't been far away. Only a fool tries to hold something back and I'm not a fool. If he makes the team better we will filter him through and make sure it is the right.

    This is now the time KC. if he does not work out I think 'us' fans will at least credit KC for trying him.
    We can hardly compalin if he doesn't work out after the complaining we have done about KC not giving youth a chance. Sorry to hear about Matty Smith but I hope Richardson can fill in.

  10. #60
    Learning All The Songs
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    1,340
    Rep Power
    14

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Div View Post
    Seriously if Wilkin is picked in the halves again I want a refund on my season ticket!
    What about Thomas Lee esq?

  11. #61
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk STIDDY's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Kingdom of Wigoon
    Posts
    8,872
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rommel View Post
    Kieron has been quoted as saying it was a NINJA tackle? (not sure what this is)
    Tackling upper body then unbalancing the player by wrapping (trapping) legs around opponent as they are going to ground. Not sure if it was Ablett or JJB of Leeds tried the technique but the disciplinary outlawed it.

  12. #62
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk Scouse Don's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Blatherings on That Saints podcast.Back home in St.Helens and in the South stand for service
    Posts
    8,685
    Rep Power
    30

    Default

    Awful news about Matty Smith and I hope he can make a quick recovery.KC still has a clean sheet with me and we have to hope he will stick the kid in and leave him to develop.Far better than reverting to type and making JW the whipping boy.
    Learned comment from The Don

  13. #63
    In The South Stand Tez the Saint's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    3,502
    Rep Power
    21

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by paulscnthorpe View Post
    Least disruptive is Richardson to scrum half, wilkin goes there and it completely changes our game of Wilkin at first receiver
    I think we need to show a bit of perspective here and think this through.

    Whether he keeps Wilkin at 13 or moves him to 7, he has to keep him at first receiver anyway. There is no way you ask Fages or Richardson to take the team around the field and expect to win games against good sides. Fages showed yesterday why he didn't play consistently last year; he's still not composed enough and blew three potential tries. He's energetic and young so I can see why fans get behind him but he needs to be managed through games. That's why we signed Smith. Richardson hasn't played a Super League game yet, he's 20 years old but that fact still remains. I've watched him consistently over the last three years or so and he's got the ability but it's a huge step up. I'm all for him playing a few games here and there but asking to start the season at 7 and take first receiver is a big ask.

    I'd have no issue with him starting Wilkin at 7, fans will no doubt use it against him because the kids can do no wrong at Saints at the minute but Wilkin is a better 7 than Richardson at this stage. You either start Wilkin at 7 alongside Fages or you start Wilkin at 13, play him centrally and have Fages and Richardson play off him. Whichever he goes with is the a fair option but Wilkin takes first receiver either way and that's right thing to do.
    Steve Prescott MBE (1973-2013)
    V

  14. #64
    Learning All The Songs
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    off dunriding lane
    Posts
    1,877
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Scouse Don View Post
    Awful news about Matty Smith and I hope he can make a quick recovery.KC still has a clean sheet with me and we have to hope he will stick the kid in and leave him to develop.Far better than reverting to type and making JW the whipping boy.
    Its quite simple , your number 7 gets injured so you put in the understudy with very little disruption to the rest
    of the team , will he do that ? I doubt it !

  15. #65
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk STIDDY's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Kingdom of Wigoon
    Posts
    8,872
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by french and conlon View Post
    Its quite simple , your number 7 gets injured so you put in the understudy with very little disruption to the rest
    of the team , will he do that ? I doubt it !
    Exactly, in the short term Richardson needs to be given his chance and be in the 1st 17 with adjustment, I think its already been mentioned and suggested in attack run with 3 halves, Wilkin with Fages and Richardson either side of him. Without Richardson we could possibly have an erratic kicking game. Hopefully we will see Fages/Richardson starting next week, until we know the extent of Matty's injury its not panic stations yet.

  16. #66
    WARNING! PIE EATER!

    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    5,801
    Rep Power
    20

    Default

    Sad news about Smith, I never like to see any player injured. Best wishes for a speedy return to fitness.

  17. #67
    Got A Season Ticket
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Born Eccleston, now Handforth
    Posts
    332
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Wilkin is nit and will never be a half back. His decision making and execution isn't good enough. I would rather sacrifice the season and let Richardson and Fage play together and learn than keep banging our collective head on the wall of Wilkin in the halves.

  18. #68
    In The South Stand Paul Newlove's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    3,655
    Rep Power
    21

    Default

    This is almost a risk free chance to play Richardson, nobody is being rested, nobody's being dropped and nobody should criticise Kc for doing so. I will be disappointed to see anything else.

  19. #69
    Banned
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Refugee from the fascist state of RLFans
    Posts
    5,853
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    I hope he has a speedy & complete recovery. I was against his signing but, now he's here, want him to set the competition alight - albeit with a bit of an enforced delay now.

    I think it's a decent idea to play Richardson/Fages at half, with Wilkin in at 13 to help with the game-control aspect until Richardson finds his feet (as long as Capt Coffee doesn't keep hoofing the ball on the third tackle)

  20. #70
    In The West Stand Dux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Liverpool
    Posts
    5,572
    Rep Power
    27

    Default

    Wilkin is very experienced, but after being tortured by hours of watching him ham-fist his way through the job of guiding us around the park I feel it has been well and truly established beyond all doubt that he is not a half back. I'm quite happy to say, on the basis of 60 mins evidence, that Richardson is a better half back than Wilkin. Because he is a half back. If it were up to me, I'd have Richardson in the side and commanding the play (as he does in the youth team) through the early rounds. Let him make mistakes and learn from them, and let Wilkin mentor him on the pitch, but for the love of God let the job of playing half-back be done by a half-back. If it transpires that Richardson can't tackle, then fair enough, that would be a problem, but I don't think he should be left out because of a fear of giving him responsibility.

    Aside from wanting to see a young half back get a chance, I'd also like to see Wilkin get an extended run in the back row, where I think he still has plenty to contribute.

  21. #71
    In The South Stand
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    near leigh
    Posts
    3,057
    Rep Power
    18

    Default

    I wanted Smith back at Saints, I never wanted him to leave and I was looking forward to seeing us playing with 2 half backs again because I also like Fages now that Matty is injured I want to see the best alternative , a Richardson who I have watched a good few times and who ran the academy final winning team and Fages who I want to begiven the chance that he deserves 2 young good rugby league players give them the chance , I studied long and hard before deciding to renew my season ticket and if Wilkin goes back to Scrum half then I will be annoyed I have watched Saints with Wilkin at scrum half and it has not been a pleasure watching them.

  22. #72
    Got A Season Ticket
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Born Eccleston, now Handforth
    Posts
    332
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dux View Post
    Wilkin is very experienced, but after being tortured by hours of watching him ham-fist his way through the job of guiding us around the park I feel it has been well and truly established beyond all doubt that he is not a half back. I'm quite happy to say, on the basis of 60 mins evidence, that Richardson is a better half back than Wilkin. Because he is a half back. If it were up to me, I'd have Richardson in the side and commanding the play (as he does in the youth team) through the early rounds. Let him make mistakes and learn from them, and let Wilkin mentor him on the pitch, but for the love of God let the job of playing half-back be done by a half-back. If it transpires that Richardson can't tackle, then fair enough, that would be a problem, but I don't think he should be left out because of a fear of giving him responsibility.

    Aside from wanting to see a young half back get a chance, I'd also like to see Wilkin get an extended run in the back row, where I think he still has plenty to contribute.
    Spot on! Invest in the future!

  23. #73
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Macclesfield
    Age
    46
    Posts
    8,427
    Rep Power
    33

    Default

    I would agree that starting the season with Fages and Richardson would indeed mean that we were not at 100% effectiveness, and I would agree that right now as a tandem they probably aren't ready to lead a team around to a tip-top level.

    However, give them 10 games together and I think they either prove themselves worthwhile or prove that their time has not yet arrived. As another poster said, it is a great chance to give Richardson the 7 shirt and give him some games. Nobody is being dropped, nobody is having their ego or their pride harmed, it is a simple promotion of the No.2 scrum half into the team to cover for the injury of the No.1 scrum half.

    We have enough quality in the team to win enough games to keep ourselves in the conversation. If this were August and we were fighting for a Top 2 place and maybe had a Cup Final coming up then I would see the logic in not throwing the lad under a bus so to speak. But for the opening 6-10 games, when we can lose a few and not be unduly harmed by it, I say give him the shirt and roll with it. Better to be in a situation later in the year where we know we can throw Richardson in if we need to, having already giving him a run out now.

  24. #74
    Learning All The Songs
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    1,993
    Rep Power
    18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gray77 View Post
    I would agree that starting the season with Fages and Richardson would indeed mean that we were not at 100% effectiveness, and I would agree that right now as a tandem they probably aren't ready to lead a team around to a tip-top level.

    However, give them 10 games together and I think they either prove themselves worthwhile or prove that their time has not yet arrived. As another poster said, it is a great chance to give Richardson the 7 shirt and give him some games. Nobody is being dropped, nobody is having their ego or their pride harmed, it is a simple promotion of the No.2 scrum half into the team to cover for the injury of the No.1 scrum half.

    We have enough quality in the team to win enough games to keep ourselves in the conversation. If this were August and we were fighting for a Top 2 place and maybe had a Cup Final coming up then I would see the logic in not throwing the lad under a bus so to speak. But for the opening 6-10 games, when we can lose a few and not be unduly harmed by it, I say give him the shirt and roll with it. Better to be in a situation later in the year where we know we can throw Richardson in if we need to, having already giving him a run out now.
    Absolutely !
    Throwing Richardson in during the Super 8's would be a huge gamble, let the kid make mistakes and learn now at the start of the year. There's enough other experienced players out there to help the lad along and take some pressure off him if needs be.

  25. #75
    In The South Stand Tez the Saint's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    3,502
    Rep Power
    21

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stephen07 View Post
    Genuine question. If Leeds can throw in Lilley, and Catalans can throw in Albert, and Wigan threw in Williams a year or two ago and Shorrocks last year and Warrington threw in Patton last year, why can we not throw Richardson in? Is he inferior to all of these players?
    My personal opinion is that he probably is yeah but he's clearly got talent so I'm not too concerned with that. Lilley played a lot with Burrow last year who's vastly experienced, Pattern has played alongside Gidley, Briers and Sandow, Shorrocks has played with Smith and a bit off the bench, Williams similar, Albert with Carney and Myler so could play off more experienced players until they found their feet. They were all brought in gradually which is what you want with halves. Theo Fages is in the same boat as the players you've just mentioned so it's difficult to pair them together. I wanted to see Richardson brought in slowly this year alongside Smith so he could play off him. Alongside Fages it's going to be difficult for him because Fages is at a similar stagqe, albeit further along.

    As I said though, if you want to play Richardson you just have to split the field a bit. Wilkin's main strength now is his ability to take the ball to the line and engage defenders so by that logic you have Fages covering the left and Richardson the right either side of him. The question mark over that is do you want to sacrifice a forward? We've got a bit enough pack to do that.

    Asking Richardson to take control at 1st receiver after never playing a SL game is a big ask though and in the game now it's rarely done. I personally would have Wilkin centrally, Fages left, Richardson right but I wouldn't be disappointed if we saw Wilkin at 7 in round 1. Richardson will play this year, you've got to do in the right way though.
    Steve Prescott MBE (1973-2013)
    V

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •