Yorkshire Carnegie
In the bleak midwinter
By WW
March 3 2015
Normally, by this stage of the season, we know what we can expect in the closing stages in April/May. This season the rollercoaster has come close to being derailed and, as I write, is still floundering in the lower echelons of the Championship. Can it get any worse - i can hear our small bunch of fans asking?
Well of course it can! If we fluke our way into the playoffs we will be in the same position we were in 2 seasons ago. A long fruitless season with players postponing operations to turn out in the playoffs followed by a disrupted pre-season. We have gone backwards in so many ways this season. The way we have played we deserve to be in the bottom four which is where we are. Glimpses of what the lads are capable of have been few and far between and have only served to wonder if only.....
The reasons for the club's recent poor showings this season remain a bit of a mystery. I think we are at the stage where the target of a play-off place should be dropped. The remaining games should be used as preparation for next season. Get the players who can do the business signed up and put this miserable chapter in the club's history behind us.
The re-emergence of the "R" word has led some supporters to believe that this explains the rebranding, i.e. a bid to get to the promised land via a franchise. This is not far-fetched at all but I would much prefer the club to do it on merit, as, I suspect, would the rest of the poor folk who attend our games. A top two finish next season looks a tad optimistic from our current position.
Oh and this week's match? I was at Otley a couple of years ago when the ref stopped the game due to frost and saved us from an even bigger defeat. Bedford were the opponents that day so I am a little nervous about predicting this week's result due to our precarious form. A win would be nice though!
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05/03/2015 06:20
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:03:14:07:42:55 by Wildwillie .
If I had all the money I've spent on drink ..... I'd spend it on drink.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:03:05:09:49:06 by Albert Fishwick.
Is it impossible to reach the play offs ?
Are Wuss, Bristol, LS and Rotherham so good we should not bother trying ?
Can we prepare a team so good it will automatically prosper in the the Premiership before we have even got there ?
This had better be a much improved performance than she experienced as this time she will be driving and won't be chucking red wine down her neck like it's going out of fashion.
[www.yorkshirecarnegie.com]
Quote:oopnorth
Is it impossible to reach the play offs ?
Are Wuss, Bristol, LS and Rotherham so good we should not bother trying ?
No it is possible but the contention is that it is not desirable at the moment for the reasons I mention. All of the teams you mention have spanked us this season. we need more time to prepare.
Where did you get the photo of the new board of directors ?
Quote:Time Trial
It's not midwinter but it feels pretty bleak. It's just been a bizarre season. If the team is going to build for next season I do believe it has to start now. a losing streak will lose fans and confidence for next season
Spot on TT. I have brought along a few "guests" during the season and nearly always we have responded with an embarrassing performance. We are lucky to keep the fans we have, especially as "top four quality" keeps being said by the management ( not Tommy btw) and what we see on the pitch does not reflect that.
If we can string a few good performances together in the remaining matches it will do us no end of good.
Quote:oopnorth
. Don't believe you can turn down the opportunity you want and need, until you think you are ready for it or circumstances are propitious,,,.
Just don't pick players unless they are 100% fit!
Better late than never I suppose, looking forward to it though.
Quote:oopnorth
I agree generally, certainly when recruiting, but how many players during the season in the modern game are 100% fit ?
I think that in the Premiership they reckon on 20% casualties at any time.
We so often hear the excuse " we have a lot of players injured" but it is the nature of the game. Bruises do not heal overnight, and the match-winning turnover specialists put their body on the line so much that injury is inevitable - think of Shrek (Fourie).
Neil Back used the excuse when we got relegated. He said we had bought fewer quality players rather than quantity, but it backfired.
Basically you need three quality players in every position to survive in the Premiership
