The Reality;
Danny Craven is a massive loss, bigger than most thought.
Matty Smith can't play behind a beaten pack (most half backs can't) at his age.
Recruitment quality has been poor, if the quality is to get better we need to rip up that carpet and get grass back.
Players who have had knee reconstructions should be swerved, unless it was over 5 years ago.
Paulie xx
The i-pitch is going nowhere, it's marketed for all types of events. "More than a sports stadium" according to the website.
I have read with interest the comments after the Batley result. Much as you would expect, with the usual calls to sack Finnigan, sack Finney and the Board are out of their depth; and the usual insults aimed at those who disagree with these calls.
The real question is where do we go from here and what plans are in place to turn the season around; and what ambitions do the Board have for next season and beyond.
I left the ground when Batley made it 28 - 0. I could only see it getting worse, with players seeming to show little interest, missing tackles, showing nothing when we had the ball and losing it easily with basic errors. The game reminds me of games when Endacott was in charge; the team looked beaten from the off. I am not really sure whether it is worth travelling 100 miles to the game, if this is what we are going to see at other games this season and I have supported and followed Widnes for about 60 years.
Yes we had injuries, but most of the team had been in the squad at games this year. Other than Craven, who else could have made any difference to the result? Maybe we under-estimated Batley, after all they managed a draw with Featherstone not long ago. Maybe we have to accept that at least for this season, we are no good enough for a play-off spot and are a bottom half team at best.
In my view, whilst I disagree with some on the “specialist” role of the modern day props, I think we are wasting Baker at prop and he offers more as loose forward or second row; we are totally lacking at half-back and I am not sure that Craven’s return will improve things on its own; and yes, we need to bring in forwards who can manage to run into a brick wall for 20 minute spells, break tackles and off-load the ball and if that is a “specialist” role, then fine.
Fans will clap and cheer when the team plays well and have the right to show their dissatisfaction by booing, when the team is not performing. I don’t agree with fans shouting abuse at individual players, usually from a distance behind other fans, or anonymously on line, but that is the nature of the modern world and society and a reflection on the way people are brought up.
I have not played the game, but have watched it for 60 years, so do feel that I can offer a comment. Maybe those who claim to have played the game and claim some superiority on here, should divulge some details of their playing career to justify their claims. Maybe Finnegan is not good enough and does not have the ability or experience to change things around. Maybe Finney has failed as Chief Executive, given jobs to his mates (who?) and brought in players who were “cheap” and not good enough. Maybe the Board need to step down to allow someone with business experience to step in, with our thanks for their invaluable help in saving the club from oblivion, but where are these people queuing to step in? Maybe a group of posters on here with their self-proclaimed expert knowledge and experience of the game should form their own consortium to take over the club and promise success and SL in no time!
I will probably come back to watch Widnes after I get over the disappointment of the Batley performance, as well as other results this year. I am too old to change now and to be honest, perhaps we are just a mid-table club, as we have been for most of our history, but as a fan you do expect to see players show some commitment in a game and give their all on the pitch.
Perhaps it is time for Finnigan, Finney and the Board to address the disappointing performances this season and last and what plans they have for this season and the future.
I have read with interest the comments after the Batley result. Much as you would expect, with the usual calls to sack Finnigan, sack Finney and the Board are out of their depth; and the usual insults aimed at those who disagree with these calls.
The real question is where do we go from here and what plans are in place to turn the season around; and what ambitions do the Board have for next season and beyond.
I left the ground when Batley made it 28 - 0. I could only see it getting worse, with players seeming to show little interest, missing tackles, showing nothing when we had the ball and losing it easily with basic errors. The game reminds me of games when Endacott was in charge; the team looked beaten from the off. I am not really sure whether it is worth travelling 100 miles to the game, if this is what we are going to see at other games this season and I have supported and followed Widnes for about 60 years.
Yes we had injuries, but most of the team had been in the squad at games this year. Other than Craven, who else could have made any difference to the result? Maybe we under-estimated Batley, after all they managed a draw with Featherstone not long ago. Maybe we have to accept that at least for this season, we are no good enough for a play-off spot and are a bottom half team at best.
In my view, whilst I disagree with some on the “specialist” role of the modern day props, I think we are wasting Baker at prop and he offers more as loose forward or second row; we are totally lacking at half-back and I am not sure that Craven’s return will improve things on its own; and yes, we need to bring in forwards who can manage to run into a brick wall for 20 minute spells, break tackles and off-load the ball and if that is a “specialist” role, then fine.
Fans will clap and cheer when the team plays well and have the right to show their dissatisfaction by booing, when the team is not performing. I don’t agree with fans shouting abuse at individual players, usually from a distance behind other fans, or anonymously on line, but that is the nature of the modern world and society and a reflection on the way people are brought up.
I have not played the game, but have watched it for 60 years, so do feel that I can offer a comment. Maybe those who claim to have played the game and claim some superiority on here, should divulge some details of their playing career to justify their claims. Maybe Finnegan is not good enough and does not have the ability or experience to change things around. Maybe Finney has failed as Chief Executive, given jobs to his mates (who?) and brought in players who were “cheap” and not good enough. Maybe the Board need to step down to allow someone with business experience to step in, with our thanks for their invaluable help in saving the club from oblivion, but where are these people queuing to step in? Maybe a group of posters on here with their self-proclaimed expert knowledge and experience of the game should form their own consortium to take over the club and promise success and SL in no time!
I will probably come back to watch Widnes after I get over the disappointment of the Batley performance, as well as other results this year. I am too old to change now and to be honest, perhaps we are just a mid-table club, as we have been for most of our history, but as a fan you do expect to see players show some commitment in a game and give their all on the pitch.
Perhaps it is time for Finnigan, Finney and the Board to address the disappointing performances this season and last and what plans they have for this season and the future.
A very good post.
We are a mid league team to be fair and will remain so for some years I suspect.
I've always wondered what is wrong with Widnes that we can't be a sustainable SL contender.
I think the biggest issue is with the lack of understanding as to where the money is going. I'm not say that there is anything underhanded and suspect it's to do with the fact the a RL club is more expensive to run than a lot of people think.
There may well be a lot of truth in what you say magnus. We can all ponder about the what and the where but until you are in the middle of things you can never be sure.
However, we are where we are and no matter how sorry we feel for ourselves we are in the middle of a season which we have to play through.
I was as disappointed, frustrated and angry as anyone else. I dislike booing but it is simply an outlet for the frustration that fans feel. If they didn't feel something they wouldn't be fans. So that game is over and we plough on to the next.
I too feel that Kenny Baker is wasted at prop. He isn't big enough to make his effort tell by punching holes in a packed forward line so why not put him back into a more flexible role where defences have to re-gig to cover him?
With Brown back this week (hopefully) he could give Fozzy an interchange partner and pose different threats with the ball. We desperately need Smithy and others to use their experience and vary the kicking game to give our backs a chance to run past defenders rather than trying to run through them.
I can remember Billy Thompson's lazy boot catching many defences and it would still work! But remember also Sheens advice to practice it first!!!!!
Most important of all put the tackled player on the floor before you release him. The leg tackler has to be the anchor.
Referees should probably call 'held' and stop the tackle when the player's feet stop moving forward, but they don't! The sloppy tackling allows the opposition a quick ptb and hurts us every time. Every team that has beaten us has employed lying on, slowing down, tactics and maybe we need to repay that.
I have read with interest the comments after the Batley result. Much as you would expect, with the usual calls to sack Finnigan, sack Finney and the Board are out of their depth; and the usual insults aimed at those who disagree with these calls.
The real question is where do we go from here and what plans are in place to turn the season around; and what ambitions do the Board have for next season and beyond.
I left the ground when Batley made it 28 - 0. I could only see it getting worse, with players seeming to show little interest, missing tackles, showing nothing when we had the ball and losing it easily with basic errors. The game reminds me of games when Endacott was in charge; the team looked beaten from the off. I am not really sure whether it is worth travelling 100 miles to the game, if this is what we are going to see at other games this season and I have supported and followed Widnes for about 60 years.
Yes we had injuries, but most of the team had been in the squad at games this year. Other than Craven, who else could have made any difference to the result? Maybe we under-estimated Batley, after all they managed a draw with Featherstone not long ago. Maybe we have to accept that at least for this season, we are no good enough for a play-off spot and are a bottom half team at best.
In my view, whilst I disagree with some on the “specialist” role of the modern day props, I think we are wasting Baker at prop and he offers more as loose forward or second row; we are totally lacking at half-back and I am not sure that Craven’s return will improve things on its own; and yes, we need to bring in forwards who can manage to run into a brick wall for 20 minute spells, break tackles and off-load the ball and if that is a “specialist” role, then fine.
Fans will clap and cheer when the team plays well and have the right to show their dissatisfaction by booing, when the team is not performing. I don’t agree with fans shouting abuse at individual players, usually from a distance behind other fans, or anonymously on line, but that is the nature of the modern world and society and a reflection on the way people are brought up.
I have not played the game, but have watched it for 60 years, so do feel that I can offer a comment. Maybe those who claim to have played the game and claim some superiority on here, should divulge some details of their playing career to justify their claims. Maybe Finnegan is not good enough and does not have the ability or experience to change things around. Maybe Finney has failed as Chief Executive, given jobs to his mates (who?) and brought in players who were “cheap” and not good enough. Maybe the Board need to step down to allow someone with business experience to step in, with our thanks for their invaluable help in saving the club from oblivion, but where are these people queuing to step in? Maybe a group of posters on here with their self-proclaimed expert knowledge and experience of the game should form their own consortium to take over the club and promise success and SL in no time!
I will probably come back to watch Widnes after I get over the disappointment of the Batley performance, as well as other results this year. I am too old to change now and to be honest, perhaps we are just a mid-table club, as we have been for most of our history, but as a fan you do expect to see players show some commitment in a game and give their all on the pitch.
Perhaps it is time for Finnigan, Finney and the Board to address the disappointing performances this season and last and what plans they have for this season and the future.
Jesus Christ Frankie could you not have come up with a condensed version can't be arsed reading that.
Damn this board gives me a Stiffy with excitement. Feeling horney and Finnigan out and Kear in.
Damn this board gives me a Stiffy with excitement. Feeling horney and Finnigan out and Kear in.
You are one 'sick puppy', Monsieur Pascal
Damn this board gives me a Stiffy with excitement. Feeling horney and Finnigan out and Kear in.
You are one 'sick puppy', Monsieur Pascal
Merci do you fancy a Pinkies tour after the game. You will need it after watching Widnes. 😂😂🥖🥖