phildog

I know, let's dwell on today's effort for a while, I will, but the RFL/BBC Sport still has next week's game down for a 3pm start. Can we have some clarification?

Well well, we got a response right there, no complaints at all, stuck in all the way, praise all round.

The squad listed on here doesn't match the match centre one or the one out on Facebook is what I'm getting at.

In RL match centre Putt was declared in the 21....we can probably pick the 17 anyway.

Why will the forum be obsolete?

Every coach has the same rhetoric, listen to YouTube after match interviews by other coaches....this is a forum where views are expressed and traded, don't tell me to be quiet.

Recently we have a very good record at Odsal, but that record has been gained with a set of Bulldogs on board. The last 2 home games appear to show that they're neither on board, together nor playing with any confidence. Lots if talk will go around...we're a strong group, the lads feel it, we've had a good week in training etc, lines that trip off any coach's tongue but I'm not feeling any change in the air, I'll bet than even Kev can't 'smell' it.

That is so.

Only Hooley really KTF, Putt to a fair degree, Moustapha not, Hill looked just our sort in the bit I saw. For various reasons, 1 in particular I suppose, we've never had great success down the DR route and even 'seadon-long loans' haven't been great, I think McGowan was the only one who has really fitted the heading.

Even calling some Dons players has-beens put in complete context ours. Who can see the complete overhaul actually happening, it hasn't happened since 2016! Our named 21 was immediately down to 18 as clearly Putt wasn't going to be considered as he wasn't there, Mitsias must have failed HIA following a training accident, Leaky, who knows? That only leaves the Gibbons' and Greg Johnson, if they're even still at the club, at least Chitakunye still turns up at games and sits in the dugout. From a point 12 games out when I gave my opinion of where we were and what, on that form, we could achieve, we have dive-bombed and clung on. Dewsbury and Whitehaven aside, and a POSSIBLE demise of either Swinton (always a curate's egg) or Barrow leaves us, without vast change, up against it already.

Ward, fired up, made good ground, might have been better if he had been involved in near line moves. Buchanan another who carried on taking it in even when our number was up. JBurton/Butterworth, both stuck to their tasks.

Lots of points raised; ageing squad, hasn't been addressed over last couple of seasons, brought in Cooper, younger but still no kiddie. Several obviously staying around in 2025 as there are 3 testimomials. 2025 could be worse without new, capable blood. Recruitment ongoing; we'll need to free up some cash from losing a number of current players to use their money, who goes? Clearly several must. Mokko; is he the man? Lingard thought so, often said Mokko was the main man behind recent success, have players got past being coached or kicked off against new stuff? Is there any new stuff, as we've clearly been sussed. Halfbacks; struggling to create anything, today 2nd half Woods was camped out wide short stand side most of the half. Are they not creating because of their inability or inability of the men around them. Forever running out wide today into dead-ends whilst Ward, ready to eat razor wire today, was ignored in every move in Donny's 10 whilst Pauli, Matagi etc were fed at pace and when running direct. Plenty to suck on, but we're facing a pasting next week otherwise.

Two words; absolute rubbish. Two more; no change. Two more; same moves. Two more; producing nothing. Any advance?

Assume you're doing like you did last year, holding the last few games' results back to hit us with at the end of season ....

Must be a HW thing BSJ.

BSJ, that depends on the squad you have, we don't even know who's still at the club and who isn't! We see 21 names in the squad, we almost know who WON'T play and also wonder about those who aren't on the list!

Ha ha....

We move forward to a very important game, which could decide whether we're still 8 or better on Sunday teatime. What do we need to do to take the points?

It's basically a 3 game finish, we need to win both home games which will leave us decent, win at Shoddysal, really upset them and we'll think it a good season.

SIAB....Unless it's us winning by 20 or 30!

Just a comparison regarding our attacking and defensive record; we've scored 364, an average of 17 points a game (only 1 team, Dewsbury have scored less). Our defensive record of 459 conceded is 20 points a game, so basically we're losing every game 17-20, only 3 points a match. Perhaps we should take heart from the fact that EVERY club below us has a far greater points against column. So basically if we could have scored 4 points more in every game....

I have to say that as much as I agree with those backing Josh Woods, I don't think we've had as much out of him as he threw at us in a couple of games against us for Newcastle. However, that could also be down to the different type of game we play which doesn't have the free runners for him to either play off or to play to. He's won us games to a) put us in contention for the playoffs last time and b) to keep us away from being basement this time. He's done as well as we required in either circumstance, I'd be happier if he stayed than left.

Robbie immediately passed his HIA, said he'll be available, Leaky will complete his before next week. We'd have won yesterday with Leaky in, I have no doubt. That's not bringing down Oli, who never lets us down but by the same token never has chance to solidify his game being a bit part player, how much longer he'll be happy playing that role, I wouldn't like to think. A complete rethink on attack required for next week.

Agree, if we had another game plan we might catch teams off guard. With our remaining games and central funding in the melting pot there's a need now to stay at least in the league position we are. That means at least beating Doncaster and we need a different approach. Someone mentioned stood-still forwards, yet the one who does run on to the ball is now apparently no longer in the coach's plans (we know who). Agree also about kickers not playing our field along with 5th tackle kicking being too deep preventing a challenge and often being aimless.

Nobody was bad but nobody had a blinder either, in fact you could say that about either side. Must go for packmen today; Putt, for a DR man he gave everything on our cause. Flynn, smallest forward who gave ours a lift and a few of theirs a powerful sit down. Manu, went hunting with intent yesterday.