Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Fri Dec 01, 2023 8:48 am  

Smiffy27 wrote:

I'd be gobsmacked if anyone ever was given an assurance that they will always be picked. It doesn't happen.

Probably if your intention is to keep swapping me in and out to keep us both happy I’ll go somewhere where I’m first choice (subject to form).
Seems a reasonable stance to me.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Fri Dec 01, 2023 10:21 am  

I like Danny Walker but i think it was worrying how Daz Clark was brought back onto the field during
closing stages of games towards the back end of our season seemingly to steady a ship that was floundering.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Fri Dec 01, 2023 10:22 am  

Captain Hook wrote:

Probably if your intention is to keep swapping me in and out to keep us both happy I’ll go somewhere where I’m first choice (subject to form).
Seems a reasonable stance to me.

I'd agree with your assumption particularly for pivotal players at the top of their game's

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Fri Dec 01, 2023 10:45 am  

ninearches wrote:

I like Danny Walker but i think it was worrying how Daz Clark was brought back onto the field during
closing stages of games towards the back end of our season seemingly to steady a ship that was floundering.

Darryl Clarke, at the peak of his game, was a superb player with devastating runs from dummy half when he got quick play the balls against retiring defences, he was also solid defensively. Walker does not have those skills but does have decent distribution and can kick. We will see in 2024.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:20 am  

There were plenty of times last season when I thought we were desperately in need of Clark returning to the field. I guess Powell will certainly be able to steady the ship should Walker look like running it aground.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:14 pm  

I like Danny Walker but feel he can improve his distribution from dummy half. Sometimes it is a bit slow when he seems to put his hands on the ball, look at where he is passing, check the ball and then pass not always into the bread basket of the receiving player. It just seems a bit slow and ponderous and not one fluid movement. Perhaps a lesson from Kevin Ellis on how to pass might help.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:50 pm  

Bit surprised at some of the comments on Danny Walker. In my eyes, his distribution is far better than Clark’s who can be slow and ponderous in his passing. Am sure he will go well at Saints but we have had the best of him expect Walker to push on especially after his England debut.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sat Dec 02, 2023 4:13 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

The key word here is "apparently"

The apparently keeps the suggestion within the rumour topic.

I heard this rumour right at the start of Sandow’s arrival he wanted an assurance that he would play in any final as to complete his signature.
When he first arrived he was obviously unfit or injured, and wasn’t sidelined for recovery.

Didn’t he play in both finals injured and or hastily returned from injury? That had me wondering if that absurd ‘assurance’ was actually true!?
Although that isn’t proof of an ‘assurance’ that he always plays, it certainly doesn’t write it off.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Sat Dec 02, 2023 6:52 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

The apparently keeps the suggestion within the rumour topic.

I heard this rumour right at the start of Sandow’s arrival he wanted an assurance that he would play in any final as to complete his signature.
When he first arrived he was obviously unfit or injured, and wasn’t sidelined for recovery.

Didn’t he play in both finals injured and or hastily returned from injury? That had me wondering if that absurd ‘assurance’ was actually true!?
Although that isn’t proof of an ‘assurance’ that he always plays, it certainly doesn’t write it off.

I can't remember him being injured in the run up to the Cup final? He was still in form at that point (having played a big part in the semi and influential in the first half of the CC final). He was obviously not fit for the Grand Final that year, but I assume Smith would have played him anyway as he's an x-factor player, and we needed something / anything to break the deadlock in a typical Old Trafford slogathon. An 'early 2016 Sandow' might have made a difference, who knows? Ultimately, that was the game that began the rot and the downfall. Smith should have stepped aside, and we should have had a mass clear out with a plan to build from the ground up again. Hindsight is easy though.

Re: Recruitment rumours and links : Mon Dec 04, 2023 8:59 am  

Captain Hook wrote:

If only life were that simple.

It was that simple. Clark's first choice was to stay here but Saints offered him a better deal and Wire wouldn't match it - same thing happened with Hill.