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Post by kilop on Feb 25, 2018 11:30:03 GMT
Sa'u MOM for me, although there were at least 5 players who really stood out last night. I thought it was a very SOLID performance, we played to our strengths, big forward pack. We seem to have enough good forwards for two teams plenty of strength in depth. Trouble is, are we losing that flair factor. Thought Lui was a bit quiet. Also noticed that Lui was first receiver to Littlejohn on outside as to when Dobson played it was always Dobson passing to Lui out wide. It has changed round, not sure it's working as good. time will tell also early days for Littlejohn. liked what Iv'e seen of him up to now. Not sure about the littleJohn bit |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 13:02:55 GMT
I thought it was a very SOLID performance, we played to our strengths, big forward pack. We seem to have enough good forwards for two teams plenty of strength in depth. Trouble is, are we losing that flair factor. Thought Lui was a bit quiet. Also noticed that Lui was first receiver to Littlejohn on outside as to when Dobson played it was always Dobson passing to Lui out wide. It has changed round, not sure it's working as good. time will tell also early days for Littlejohn. liked what Iv'e seen of him up to now. Not sure about the littleJohn bit Littlejohn is settling in,I hope our masses give him a chance,and not judge him after such a short time. 1 mistake in his kicking does not make him a bad player. I believe he will prove to be a good team man and will hopefully forge a partnership with RL and GOB. He has a decent defence and seems to want to get involved in the hard work. Good luck to him in our shirt. |
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Post by dixon13 on Feb 25, 2018 13:40:52 GMT
"Gareth O’Brien – The Salford Red Devils fullback is worth his weight in gold, as he produced a brilliant attacking display to terrorise the Hull KR defence. He crossed for one try and assisted another two, with six goals to his name too. Is an England call-up nearing?"
nothingbutleague.com/2018/02/24/super-league-match-report-3/
I found this interesting because I never put SRD players, even on form, in the England mix until they sign for another club of course. Hard to prove because O'Brien plays at one of the positions most strongly covered for the national side, maybe when Cas sign him we'll get a proper view. I don't think the bar is set very high at this time to be selected for England or Gt Britain.Even as bad as we are at international level I don't think a good game against a very ordinary Hull KR qualifies as a stepping stone.In fact I don't think Obrien was our man of the match on Friday. |
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Post by prestwichred on Feb 25, 2018 21:08:04 GMT
GOB for England, has April fools come early ?
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Post by kreuzbergred on Feb 25, 2018 22:40:51 GMT
]Pity we can't play two fullbacks Evalds for his better defence and backing up in the right place at the right time and O'Brien for his attacking play, linking up a setting players up. As for O'Brien for England, lets get real, to small, defence not top notch, not fast enough. But got the football brains for it'[/quote]
There was a moment in the Second half where Evalds thought we were playing with two Full backs, He and O'Brien went for the Same Ball. Although The Highlights I watched may make them look closer than they were ??
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2018 8:27:50 GMT
GOB was extremely good on Friday, think though a good 5 or 6 of the team were also worthy of a MOM nod. He will never get anywhere near an international call up at full back unless he discovers he is Welsh, Scottish or Irish, there are a few ahead of him in the pecking order internationally and frankly I'd be surprised is Bennet even knew his name.
The moment kreuzbergred alludes to where GOB and Evalds both went for the same ball shows the failings in both players, it happened right in front of me and you could see neither of the opened their mouth to scream my ball, to be fair Evalds is a more natural FB and I'd have thought he would have taken the lead in collecting it.
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Post by devilsadvocate on Feb 26, 2018 11:41:15 GMT
I thought we put this to bed last season.Evalds is by far the better fullback.GOB has his moments.Ultimately he is back at fullback because we have to little depth in the three quarters.Fullbacks are a special breed and a natural for the position.GOB is probably in all honesty not quite good enough to nail down any position but he is willing and sometimes inspired and good to have in the squad.The real worry is that he is on the face of it our only kicker.
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Post by kilop on Feb 26, 2018 12:27:18 GMT
I thought we put this to bed last season.Evalds is by far the better fullback.GOB has his moments.Ultimately he is back at fullback because we have to little depth in the three quarters.Fullbacks are a special breed and a natural for the position.GOB is probably in all honesty not quite good enough to nail down any position but he is willing and sometimes inspired and good to have in the squad.The real worry is that he is on the face of it our only kicker. We definitely didn't put this to bed as its not true. Evalds is a better running back but GOB offers a far more effective pivot to our attack. GOB all day of the week for me. |
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Post by dixon13 on Feb 26, 2018 13:59:50 GMT
I thought we put this to bed last season.Evalds is by far the better fullback.GOB has his moments.Ultimately he is back at fullback because we have to little depth in the three quarters.Fullbacks are a special breed and a natural for the position.GOB is probably in all honesty not quite good enough to nail down any position but he is willing and sometimes inspired and good to have in the squad.The real worry is that he is on the face of it our only kicker. I agree with you. With a few on here GOB still gets an A plus for the drop goal that is now history.I will put it like this if we had the the great seventies back line minus a full back and it comes down to Evalds or Obrien then Obrien is the drinks waiter I think if push come to shove Watson thinks the same because last season when he had to make the decision he picked Evalds This season we are that thread bare he as no choice.The great Brian Clough once said all managers have favourites the one's that have to many end up getting the sack. |
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Post by bonitared on Feb 26, 2018 15:11:18 GMT
I agree about the seventies because we had Ken Gill and as Paul Charlton proved, a running full back was what we needed.
But we don’t have that luxury.
Forget that drop goal which rightly gives him hero status for this generation of fans.
The question isn’t whether GOB or Evalds is the better full back but which one is more effective for this team .
It’s not even close.
Gareth O’Brien is a tremendous footballer and is tons better for the team. I’m glad that we can keep Evalds reasonably happy by finding a spot for him in the team. He certainly knows his way to the line and is a tremendous asset but,for this team,GOB has to be at 1.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2018 15:53:12 GMT
I agree about the seventies because we had Ken Gill and as Paul Charlton proved, a running full back was what we needed. But we don’t have that luxury. Forget that drop goal which rightly gives him hero status for this generation of fans. The question isn’t whether GOB or Evalds is the better full back but which one is more effective for this team . It’s not even close. Gareth O’Brien is a tremendous footballer and is tons better for the team. I’m glad that we can keep Evalds reasonably happy by finding a spot for him in the team. He certainly knows his way to the line and is a tremendous asset but,for this team,GOB has to be at 1. Agreed - it’s all relative to the team set up and other players that are available. Currently GOB is vital to the team and fits in with the game plan. In another team with a proper scrum half, ball playing loose and some offloading forwards then yes Evalds would probably be first choice but it’s all relative. We won, GOB had a hand in at least three trys and Evalds scored twice so I’m not sure why it is an issue at the moment? |
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Post by buxtonred60 on Feb 26, 2018 20:44:17 GMT
GOB. Is not a fullback.
Like people say GOB, saved us , lets end the hero status now.
If we had a goal kicker and could cover our problem out wide, Evalds would be fullback, and GOB. would not be in the team for me.
If you watch GOB when playing at fullback and watch other fullbacks you will see the difference in defence alone, he does not cover and patrol the back line , like fullbacks should. Also does not seem to communicate with his back line, hence the mix up with Evalds last week.
Evalds to me can read the game better in defence when playing at fullback, and can also join in attack even better than GOB does at the moment, all though playing on the wing this season he has not had much chance.
But im sure if someone checked his stats for last season when playing at fullback he made plenty of meters, and had a hand in plenty of tries and scored a few also.
But i am quite sure the debate will go on for as long as both are in the squad. For and against each player.
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Post by redunderthebed on Feb 26, 2018 22:02:55 GMT
I agree about the seventies because we had Ken Gill and as Paul Charlton proved, a running full back was what we needed. But we don’t have that luxury. Forget that drop goal which rightly gives him hero status for this generation of fans. The question isn’t whether GOB or Evalds is the better full back but which one is more effective for this team . It’s not even close. Gareth O’Brien is a tremendous footballer and is tons better for the team. I’m glad that we can keep Evalds reasonably happy by finding a spot for him in the team. He certainly knows his way to the line and is a tremendous asset but,for this team,GOB has to be at 1. Agreed - it’s all relative to the team set up and other players that are available. Currently GOB is vital to the team and fits in with the game plan. In another team with a proper scrum half, ball playing loose and some offloading forwards then yes Evalds would probably be first choice but it’s all relative. We won, GOB had a hand in at least three trys and Evalds scored twice so I’m not sure why it is an issue at the moment? I don’t understand the issue either. It feels that some people can’t accept that they are both fine players. It’s like it’s only ok to like one or the other, especially if Evalds is your preference. Evalds is a better defensive full back, a deceptive runner who is also a good winger. GOB is a better passer and kicker and provides more attacking options than Evalds and can also play Half Back. Evalds can join the line and pass but he isn’t as good at it as GOB and Evalds has no kicking game so without GOB it reduces our options. Neither are particularly good at returning the ball from kicks but Evalds is stronger. GOB is better under the high ball than most give him credit for. You are pretty much guaranteed a drop a game off each of them. The mix up on Friday was equally both fault. We were at our best last season with GOB at fullback. Later in the season after his injury he wasn’t in as good form and Evalds got the nod a few times in his place but he was only regular at full back when GOB wasn’t fit. I don’t know how anyone can argue Evalds would be Watson’s first choice FB as he hardly ever has been. I do think Watson would have started Evalds at full back at the start of this season but only because he didn’t think (rightly in my opinion) that Littlejohn was quite ready and would have played GOB there as he showed in the friendlies and against Wigan. Johnson’s performance in that game got him subbed, Evalds moved to the wing, GOB to FB and Littlejohn to HB and we looked better. Watson has stuck with that like most modern coaches Watson thinks a primarily defensive full back is a waste. The defensive line should let fewer people through for the FB to tackle. Watson loves maximising his pivots. That’s why he loves Flanagan so much and why last year at times early season we had GOB, Lui, Dobson, Tomkins, Brinning and Flash on the pitch at the same time (and he tried it with Lee and Tomkins the year before). Evalds can do it but not as well as GOB. So Gaz remains first choice. For now The other thing Watson does is play the ones in form so if he feels Gaz isn’t cutting it, he’ll make the change. Look at how Flash can’t get back in the team. Watson is a massive fan of Flanagan and (as I said) loves the extra pivot but McCarthy, Weller and JJ are playing so well that he can’t drop one. Look at how Lui upped his game to keep T Carney out last year, how Evalds and Bibby are keeping Johnson out of the team. So to cut a long story short. I think the argument is settled. They are both quality players with slightly different strengths and Watson will do his best to use them both but will prioritise what works best for the team not for either player. And, by the way, I don’t know one person who thinks GOB should be in the team because of that drop goal. It was my favourite individual Salford moment since Scott Naylor, with only one boot on, rounded Gary Connolly to go in under the posts an secure the CC game in 1996 but it means nothing about who should be in next weeks team |
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Post by dixon13 on Feb 26, 2018 22:27:27 GMT
Agreed - it’s all relative to the team set up and other players that are available. Currently GOB is vital to the team and fits in with the game plan. In another team with a proper scrum half, ball playing loose and some offloading forwards then yes Evalds would probably be first choice but it’s all relative. We won, GOB had a hand in at least three trys and Evalds scored twice so I’m not sure why it is an issue at the moment? I don’t understand the issue either. It feels that some people can’t accept that they are both fine players. It’s like it’s only ok to like one or the other, especially if Evalds is your preference. Evalds is a better defensive full back, a deceptive runner who is also a good winger. GOB is a better passer and kicker and provides more attacking options than Evalds and can also play Half Back. Evalds can join the line and pass but he isn’t as good at it as GOB and Evalds has no kicking game so without GOB it reduces our options. Neither are particularly good at returning the ball from kicks but Evalds is stronger. GOB is better under the high ball than most give him credit for. You are pretty much guaranteed a drop a game off each of them. The mix up on Friday was equally both fault. We were at our best last season with GOB at fullback. Later in the season after his injury he wasn’t in as good form and Evalds got the nod a few times in his place but he was only regular at full back when GOB wasn’t fit. I don’t know how anyone can argue Evalds would be Watson’s first choice FB as he hardly ever has been. I do think Watson would have started Evalds at full back at the start of this season but only because he didn’t think (rightly in my opinion) that Littlejohn was quite ready and would have played GOB there as he showed in the friendlies and against Wigan. Johnson’s performance in that game got him subbed, Evalds moved to the wing, GOB to FB and Littlejohn to HB and we looked better. Watson has stuck with that like most modern coaches Watson thinks a primarily defensive full back is a waste. The defensive line should let fewer people through for the FB to tackle. Watson loves maximising his pivots. That’s why he loves Flanagan so much and why last year at times early season we had GOB, Lui, Dobson, Tomkins, Brinning and Flash on the pitch at the same time (and he tried it with Lee and Tomkins the year before). Evalds can do it but not as well as GOB. So Gaz remains first choice. For now The other thing Watson does is play the ones in form so if he feels Gaz isn’t cutting it, he’ll make the change. Look at how Flash can’t get back in the team. Watson is a massive fan of Flanagan and (as I said) loves the extra pivot but McCarthy, Weller and JJ are playing so well that he can’t drop one. Look at how Lui upped his game to keep T Carney out last year, how Evalds and Bibby are keeping Johnson out of the team. So to cut a long story short. I think the argument is settled. They are both quality players with slightly different strengths and Watson will do his best to use them both but will prioritise what works best for the team not for either player. And, by the way, I don’t know one person who thinks GOB should be in the team because of that drop goal. It was my favourite individual Salford moment since Scott Naylor, with only one boot on, rounded Gary Connolly to go in under the posts an secure the CC game in 1996 but it means nothing about who should be in next weeks team I think if you spoke to Watson about last season he would tell you Obrien was dropped not hurt if Obrien does not get in at full back that's it.He his not good enough for anywhere else in the back line.Like someone has all ready said its opinions. |
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Post by redunderthebed on Feb 26, 2018 23:08:56 GMT
I think if you spoke to Watson about last season he would tell you Obrien was dropped not hurt if Obrien does not get in at full back that's it.He his not good enough for anywhere else in the back line.Like someone has all ready said its opinions. Yep. I said Watson would only pick players in form. I probably should have repeated that again and said when GOB is fit and on form he’s first choice cos he always has been. Given this argument presumably the you agree that GOB was the better full back for the first 15 to 20 rounds last year when he was first choice when Evalds was fully fit? and given that GOB started at half back a couple of times (or came off the bench to play HB) and started there against Wigan and in pre season friendlies I don’t see Watson agreeing with you that GOB will only get picked at full back. How good was Evalds at centre? I think he’s been at stand off a couple times and not done well either. GOB won’t be picked in the three quarters except in an emergency, likewise Evalds won’t be picked at centre, 6 or 7 except in an emergency. I’m not seeing the proof that either is a significantly better player than the other or that Watson thinks so. Unless you feel that Watson has felt obliged to pick Gaz for some reason despite thinking he has another player who is better? |
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