Sport Today

by **Geff Fost** » Sun, 28 Jul 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>However, the amazing thing is this. The bubble has burst, Wigan are
>shite, squad is ***etc, but as I write, the Pies are still top of
>the league. One slip up by Saints and they will win it, no trouble.

>How good, then, are the rest of us ?

Very poor and if we don't manage to get some test matches against the
Aussies in the very near future it's going to get poorer.

Geff

-------------------------------------------------
Geff Foster |"The Zone

St. Helens, Merseyside | of it's own"
-------------------------------------------------

by **John Lancaste** » Sun, 28 Jul 1996 04:00:00

Ok, I was wrong in my prediction of defeat against 'Fax, but only
just.

The team just doesn't look like Wigan anymore, does it, and what with
the rumours regarding Edwards it certainly seems that players are thin
on the ground at the moment. Feels strange to be watching the pies on
the box and hoping they lose each week, knowing that there is a very
realistic chance of it happening.

Plus, more importantly, did you see all those empty spaces last night.
I wonder were all the fans have gone. The pies will have to sort out
some pre match entertainment pretty quickly.

However, the amazing thing is this. The bubble has burst, Wigan are
shite, squad is ***etc, but as I write, the Pies are still top of
the league. One slip up by Saints and they will win it, no trouble.

How good, then, are the rest of us ?

John
John Lancaster
St Helens

by **Stev** » Mon, 29 Jul 1996 04:00:00

writes

Quote:

>Ok, I was wrong in my prediction of defeat against 'Fax, but only
>just.

>The team just doesn't look like Wigan anymore, does it, and what with
>the rumours regarding Edwards it certainly seems that players are thin
>on the ground at the moment. Feels strange to be watching the pies on
>the box and hoping they lose each week, knowing that there is a very
>realistic chance of it happening.

>Plus, more importantly, did you see all those empty spaces last night.
>I wonder were all the fans have gone. The pies will have to sort out
>some pre match entertainment pretty quickly.

>However, the amazing thing is this. The bubble has burst, Wigan are
>shite, squad is ***etc, but as I write, the Pies are still top of
>the league. One slip up by Saints and they will win it, no trouble.

>How good, then, are the rest of us ?

>John
>John Lancaster
>St Helens

Come on, on paper Wigan's backs compare to anyone's, even some of the
aussies: Radlinsky, Connoly, Robinson, Tuingamala and Paul, they have
the talent in the backs, just a little light up front, attitude is
perhaps what they lack. They don't seem prepared to get their hands
dirty, they don't seem to like the pressure.

If London had a bit more depth in the squad we would be close to top,
Bradford currently look like the best team in SL and Warrington are not
that far off the leaders.

Sl is in its first year, are standards improving are gates getting
bigger, is more money coming into the game? is the trend up or down?

--
Steve

by **Vibrating Bum-Faced Goa** » Mon, 29 Jul 1996 04:00:00

: >How good, then, are the rest of us ?

: If London had a bit more depth in the squad we would be close to top,
: Bradford currently look like the best team in SL and Warrington are not
: that far off the leaders.

: Sl is in its first year, are standards improving are gates getting
: bigger, is more money coming into the game? is the trend up or down?

I suspect Geff will disagree with me on this one but I think standards on
the whole are going up. It's true that they've fallen off a little towards
the end of the season but I think something that we all have to bear in
mind is that by the end of September the top sides will have played almost
2 years consecutive football. The only breaks have been 1 month between
Centenary season and Super League (for those who had a cup run) and about
2 months between 94/95 and Centenary season. Expecting more out of the
players than they've already given is perhaps a little too much.

After the 6 month break that these guys are going to get, I look forward
to next season with some anticipation.

by **Geff Fost** » Tue, 30 Jul 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

><SNIP Wigan bubble bursting>

>: >How good, then, are the rest of us ?

>: If London had a bit more depth in the squad we would be close to top,
>: Bradford currently look like the best team in SL and Warrington are not
>: that far off the leaders.

>: Sl is in its first year, are standards improving are gates getting
>: bigger, is more money coming into the game? is the trend up or down?

>I suspect Geff will disagree with me on this one but I think standards on
>the whole are going up. It's true that they've fallen off a little towards
>the end of the season but I think something that we all have to bear in
>mind is that by the end of September the top sides will have played almost
>2 years consecutive football. The only breaks have been 1 month between
>Centenary season and Super League (for those who had a cup run) and about
>2 months between 94/95 and Centenary season. Expecting more out of the
>players than they've already given is perhaps a little too much.

>After the 6 month break that these guys are going to get, I look forward
>to next season with some anticipation.

I agree and disagree :) I agree that some clubs are making a huge effort to
improve their playing standards, however if Bradford, Saints, Wigan etc. keep
picking up 20 odd points worth of freebies a season then it's a waste of time.

Whats the point in *** the players for a tough match against whoever when
next week the players know they don't have to get into top gear for the visit
of Oldham at home.

At this moment I feel the top sides only have to work hard in 20% of their games,
if we can get this figure up to say 65% then we are laughing.

Even then though we won't be able to judge how competetive the league is until
we can get an Australian test side on the paddock opposing us.

Lindsay has got to pull his finger out on this one and maybe swallow some pride.

Geff

Quote:

-------------------------------------------------
Geff Foster |"The Zone

St. Helens, Merseyside | of it's own"
-------------------------------------------------

by **Vibrating Bum-Faced Goa** » Wed, 31 Jul 1996 04:00:00

: >
: >I suspect Geff will disagree with me on this one but I think standards on
: >the whole are going up. It's true that they've fallen off a little towards
: >the end of the season but I think something that we all have to bear in
: >mind is that by the end of September the top sides will have played almost
: >2 years consecutive football. The only breaks have been 1 month between
: >Centenary season and Super League (for those who had a cup run) and about
: >2 months between 94/95 and Centenary season. Expecting more out of the
: >players than they've already given is perhaps a little too much.
: >
: >After the 6 month break that these guys are going to get, I look forward
: >to next season with some anticipation.

: I agree and disagree :) I agree that some clubs are making a huge effort to

I knew you'd be ***y difficult. :)

: improve their playing standards, however if Bradford, Saints, Wigan etc. keep
: picking up 20 odd points worth of freebies a season then it's a waste of time.

: Whats the point in *** the players for a tough match against whoever when
: next week the players know they don't have to get into top gear for the visit
: of Oldham at home.

Yeah. They were really poor on Sunday. In the first 20 mintues they had a
plan, they stuck to it and it worked. It was a negative 'don't let the
opposition score' type plan but they restricted Bradford to 8 points by
throwing everything at them in attack and defence. Unfortunately for them
there was no plan B when Bradford found a way to overcome them.

The players did well at what they were told to do but I'm afraid the blame
for Oldham's current predicament must fall entirely on one pair of
shoulders. Those shoulders belong to the assistant coach of the side you
advocate playing Australia below. :)

: Even then though we won't be able to judge how competetive the league is until
: we can get an Australian test side on the paddock opposing us.

Yep, it would be nice but I think we need two seasons of Super League to
get within competitive distance of Oz over the course of a test series.

: Lindsay has got to pull his finger out on this one and maybe swallow some pride.

I doubt very much it's his decision anymore.

by **Vibrating Bum-Faced Goa** » Wed, 31 Jul 1996 04:00:00

: >: Even then though we won't be able to judge how competetive the league is until
: >: we can get an Australian test side on the paddock opposing us.

: No!

: We need to play the Aussies - NOW!!!

: If it means us getting a good hiding then so be it - at least we'll know where we
: stand and we'll know what needs to be improved.

I'm not arguing against it, I just think we need a few years to be
competitive. That's all.

You are aware you're shouting at yourself at the top of this post aren't
you? :)

by **Stev** » Wed, 31 Jul 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>net.com> writes
>>Not half as much as when I was having a 16 inch flexible camera thrust up
>>my c*** last tuesday in hospital.

>Surely a 3 inch one would have sufficed Geff :)

>Paul
> ww
> |\---/ >

> \____/ --------------------------------------------

Who ever heared of a three inch c**t?
--
Steve

by **Geff Fost** » Wed, 31 Jul 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>net.com> writes
>>Not half as much as when I was having a 16 inch flexible camera thrust up
>>my c*** last tuesday in hospital.

>Surely a 3 inch one would have sufficed Geff :)

Nope, they don't make em that wide :)

-------------------------------------------------
Geff Foster |"The Zone

St. Helens, Merseyside | of it's own"
-------------------------------------------------

by **Stev** » Wed, 31 Jul 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>I agree and disagree :) I agree that some clubs are making a huge effort to
>improve their playing standards, however if Bradford, Saints, Wigan etc. keep
>picking up 20 odd points worth of freebies a season then it's a waste of time.

>Whats the point in *** the players for a tough match against whoever when
>next week the players know they don't have to get into top gear for the visit
>of Oldham at home.

>At this moment I feel the top sides only have to work hard in 20% of their
>games,
>if we can get this figure up to say 65% then we are laughing.

>Even then though we won't be able to judge how competetive the league is until
>we can get an Australian test side on the paddock opposing us.

>Lindsay has got to pull his finger out on this one and maybe swallow some pride.

>Geff

>-------------------------------------------------
>Geff Foster |"The Zone

>St. Helens, Merseyside | of it's own"
>-------------------------------------------------

Yes but remember SL is not a one year event, in reality it is about
culture, it fitness improving is coaching improving is the standard at
colts level improving. Slowly but surely....
--
Steve

by **Geff Fost** » Wed, 31 Jul 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>: >: Even then though we won't be able to judge how competetive the league is until
>: >: we can get an Australian test side on the paddock opposing us.

>: No!

>: We need to play the Aussies - NOW!!!

>: If it means us getting a good hiding then so be it - at least we'll know where we
>: stand and we'll know what needs to be improved.

>I'm not arguing against it, I just think we need a few years to be
>competitive. That's all.

>You are aware you're shouting at yourself at the top of this post aren't
>you? :)

Not half as much as when I was having a 16 inch flexible camera thrust up
my c*** last tuesday in hospital.

Brings new meaning to the word pain <grimace>

Geff

-------------------------------------------------
Geff Foster |"The Zone

St. Helens, Merseyside | of it's own"
-------------------------------------------------

by **Geff Fost** » Wed, 31 Jul 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>: Even then though we won't be able to judge how competetive the league is until
>: we can get an Australian test side on the paddock opposing us.

No!

We need to play the Aussies - NOW!!!

If it means us getting a good hiding then so be it - at least we'll know where we
stand and we'll know what needs to be improved.

If we wait for another 2-3 years, yes we could be in a stronger position but there
is just as good a chance that we won't.

If there are only four teams worth their salt in the league at that time like there is
now our chances of improvement will be severely hampered.

I would rather find out now that we are 5 years behind the Aussies than wait until
some unseen date in the future to have the world come crashing in on us.

Quote:

>Yep, it would be nice but I think we need two seasons of Super League to
>get within competitive distance of Oz over the course of a test series.
>: Lindsay has got to pull his finger out on this one and maybe swallow some pride.

>I doubt very much it's his decision anymore.

You may be right, but I pray your wrong!

Geff

-------------------------------------------------
Geff Foster |"The Zone

St. Helens, Merseyside | of it's own"
-------------------------------------------------

by **Paul McNall** » Wed, 31 Jul 1996 04:00:00

net.com> writes

Quote:

>Not half as much as when I was having a 16 inch flexible camera thrust up
>my c*** last tuesday in hospital.

Surely a 3 inch one would have sufficed Geff :)

Paul
ww
|\---/ >

\____/ --------------------------------------------

by **Vibrating Bum-Faced Goa** » Thu, 01 Aug 1996 04:00:00

<SNIP>

: Yes but remember SL is not a one year event, in reality it is about
: culture, it fitness improving is coaching improving is the standard at
: colts level improving. Slowly but surely....

Exactly! That's exactly why I'm not all that bothered about any perceived
drop in standards in the latter half of this season. It was bound to
happen this season because 24 months of non-stop football was unavoidable
with a switch to summer. No gain without pain and all that... Now that
we've gone through the pain we can stand back and reap the benefits.
Surely but surely they will come with improved playing conditions.

by **Talcu** » Sun, 04 Aug 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

><SNIP>

>: Yes but remember SL is not a one year event, in reality it is about
>: culture, it fitness improving is coaching improving is the standard at
>: colts level improving. Slowly but surely....

>Exactly! That's exactly why I'm not all that bothered about any perceived
>drop in standards in the latter half of this season. It was bound to
>happen this season because 24 months of non-stop football was unavoidable
>with a switch to summer. No gain without pain and all that... Now that
>we've gone through the pain we can stand back and reap the benefits.
>Surely but surely they will come with improved playing conditions.

>--
>/-----------------------------------------------------------------------\
>| Bradford Bulls RLFC | Rugby League Home Page: |
>| Wembley Finalists 1996 | http://www.eimc.brad.ac.uk/~vbfg/ |
>| British Beef - You won't | |
>| get better! | PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGED ADDRESS!!!! |
>\-----------------------------------------------------------------------/

Yeah but you boys just keep getting better
--
Talcum

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