Post by redunderthebed on Jan 26, 2020 23:42:17 GMT
Well the 2020 season is about to begin. It’s a long time since I’ve gone into a season feeling as confident about our chances as this. Not predicting any silverware but also not feeling ‘as long as we finish at least 2nd bottom’
For full disclosure the other seasons that came close were 1998 and 2007 neither of which really went to plan! But this year feels different. Great as Greg’s teams were to watch it always felt like he was winging it a bit. Rhino was more thorough but his tactics were limited. Watson is so thorough and has shown he can adapt his tactics to get the best out of his teams. The squad is stronger than last years but i think we are lacking the X factor that Hastings and Jones have. And we are heavily dependent on Brown staying fit.
So to the opening game. I have been feeling surprisingly confident. Saints might be overly focussed on the world club challenge. Watson is quite good at getting revenge (2nd play off game at Wigan) once he’s sussed what we need. We know more what to expect from them as they’ve had fewer personnel changes than us. We’ve been close to beating them last year and another time in recent years. And a new coach. Unknown impact at this stage, he’s coached Tonga well and I can’t see him changing too much but will they have embedded whatever changes he has brought in?
But the closer we get the more doubtful I’m getting. They are St Helens Well deserved champions by a record level. We haven’t won there since 1648 or something. The Salford pessimist is definitely kicking in.
So who knows?
Team wise we’ve had a few threads about the strongest team and we have a number of options. The wing and second row decisions feel the most uncertain to me. Plus whether we go for 4 forwards on the bench or have a hooker/half back to provide cover
For all the attention that Thompson and the back line get, the key for me is Walmsley. We need to be not too far behind when he goes off after the first 20 and far enough ahead when he comes back on for the last 20. We tore them apart last year between his spells and still lost. And our strongest parts of the GF were when he was off the pitch.
Whatever the options, I can’t wait
For full disclosure the other seasons that came close were 1998 and 2007 neither of which really went to plan! But this year feels different. Great as Greg’s teams were to watch it always felt like he was winging it a bit. Rhino was more thorough but his tactics were limited. Watson is so thorough and has shown he can adapt his tactics to get the best out of his teams. The squad is stronger than last years but i think we are lacking the X factor that Hastings and Jones have. And we are heavily dependent on Brown staying fit.
So to the opening game. I have been feeling surprisingly confident. Saints might be overly focussed on the world club challenge. Watson is quite good at getting revenge (2nd play off game at Wigan) once he’s sussed what we need. We know more what to expect from them as they’ve had fewer personnel changes than us. We’ve been close to beating them last year and another time in recent years. And a new coach. Unknown impact at this stage, he’s coached Tonga well and I can’t see him changing too much but will they have embedded whatever changes he has brought in?
But the closer we get the more doubtful I’m getting. They are St Helens Well deserved champions by a record level. We haven’t won there since 1648 or something. The Salford pessimist is definitely kicking in.
So who knows?
Team wise we’ve had a few threads about the strongest team and we have a number of options. The wing and second row decisions feel the most uncertain to me. Plus whether we go for 4 forwards on the bench or have a hooker/half back to provide cover
For all the attention that Thompson and the back line get, the key for me is Walmsley. We need to be not too far behind when he goes off after the first 20 and far enough ahead when he comes back on for the last 20. We tore them apart last year between his spells and still lost. And our strongest parts of the GF were when he was off the pitch.
Whatever the options, I can’t wait
