Originally Posted by
AucklandRover
Champs, I get frustrated by players like Armstrong, Rothwell and Holtby who flit in and out of games, or go from one good match to one poor one.
At least Gallagher puts the effort in consistently and doesn't hide.
I think we have really missed Evans too. He looked so sharp and dominant in that Bristol game. It's been very frustrating to have both Williams and Bell out at the same time, as well, because the defence has had to be improvised.
For next season, we need to keep Nyambe, Lenihan, Travis, Rankin-Costello, Davenport, Gallagher and Brereton in the squad, with Evans as captain, for his experience, and build the team around them. I think we just have to persevere with SG and BB, and hope they come good. Perhaps Butterworth will come in and make a difference. Then there are people like Wharton, Fisher and Buckley. Chapman remains a complete mystery to me. Will we ever find out the true story there?
It is just good fortune in the Championship, now, if you get hold of an experienced player who transforms the squad. I suspect the most likely source is Scotland, but we have seen that people like Murphy, Guthrie, Rodwell and Whittingham don't usually work out.
Downing has done well, and certainly puts the effort in, but he obviously doesn't quite have the ability to control a game any more.
The other question: will Dack move on?
I suspect he will still be with us when the next season starts, because of the injury, but for how long?
Players to leave?
Walton, Leutwiler, Tosin, Williams, Mulgrew, Bennett, Hart, Johnson, Smallwood, Rothwell, Chapman, Downing, Holtby, Graham, Samuel, (Bell?).
They won't all go, obviously, but you see where I'm coming from. I put Bell in brackets, because he's another mystery.
Armstrong? Your guess is as good as mine!