Quote TrevLovesJanice="TrevLovesJanice"It is disappointing to see certain players taking the blame for what is going wrong but I don't think it comes down to individual ability, more a case of how the jigsaw fits together.
I think our halfback combination is a problem, as this is where teams build their attacking moves from. I bet no-one can name a top team from any era who [udidn't[/u have a top class 6+7 partnership ?
Good halfbacks normally have a bit of zip and keep the team ticking over, changing the direction of attack and the methods used, to bring different players and moves into the game. Also these nippy halfbacks support the player in possession and prevent the game degenerating into a case of 1-man rugby.
This lack of movement tends to highlight the work of the forwards and make us look a slow team. No point abusing people like Radford, Cusack etc for this as it is ther job to drive up and that is what they are doing.
We have 2 decent wingers who rarely get a decent pass because the centres haven't had one either. Manu and Tickle likewise are having to live on scraps of possession and rarely see a gap in front of them. It just amazes me that some people are now blaming Calderwood ! We could have Mal Meninga in the centre with Martin Offiah as his winger and they still would struggle with the decent possession we would give them !!
It seems to me that we have enough decent players (despite some of the rants on here), it comes down to what we do with them. It's not any one player's fault, but the middle of the jigsaw that is wrong. When we get near to another team's line we persist with inside balls to props, speculative kicks or Horney trying his usual step.
[uNo need to rant at Thorman or give him personal blame[/u. He obviously isn't a bad player. Similarly Horney can't be blamed as he is a class act (although it amazes me that Thorman seems to be getting the brunt of it)
What I see out there is a team that IS trying (despite what numpties say on blunderside phone-ins), but just needs on-field guidance and leadership.
The bald fact is that we are a team without a midfield, and [uthe halfback partnership isn't working[/u.
We need changes in that department and need a general to lead us (like Coleman or Mackey did).
That doesn't mean we have to lynch the lads who are currently doing their best.
Over to Agar.....'"
But can Agar select the right pieces to fit the jigsaw? We also only have John Sharp (who Agar seems to think is the bees knees) yet us older fans remember Jonny from his days as a player, and since we have seen how he is not really the best at coaching (see his record-and how we collected him from Huddersfield) then ask who is to blame. Personally it is down to the board.....not Jimmy Rule who just is there to fire the bullets that the Hetheringtons load for him ) come on Kath, loosen the purse strings and get us a coach who will be worthy of the Airlie Bird fans. .....grannyfan Cindy