personally, and this goes against what most on here think but I don't think we need "brick sh*t houses" or a physical presence. The teams with brick outhouses in this league, namely Gloucester and Trinity are both struggling near the bottom so for me it isn't the answer. Rob Scott makes me laugh, if any fan had said that about the players he'd have railed off about too high expectations etc. etc.
For me and this is going to be controversial, I think he and Paul need to take their share of the blame too. Scott and Hurst where questioned on another thread and I think the poster had a valid point. Not changing them that would be insane, but at the same time think changing the entire team would be equally insane which is what a few of you are talking about. Here's some of the reasons to my mind what is contributing to our lack of form:
1) Tactics. S&H insist on playing long ball from 1st to last minute. Last season and the early part of this we mixed it up a bit, played passing football when we could and if that wasn't working went long. All we do now is play long and even poor sides like Redditch and Gloucester are coping with it. So it's no surpirise that a half decent side like Worcester won at a bit of a canter, once they sussed all we do is hit it long it was far too easy for them.
2) If we are to play long ball why do S&H insist on playing DD. I'm not knocking Danny's overall contribution but he wins <50% of headers, I'd say considerably less.
3) Their signings: they got them right at the start of the season, Murphy and Jelly have both slotted into the side and have been consistent performers, but the rest:
Nyoni, looked good at the back but can't help thinknig it was inevitable he'd go back to Wednesday after been kicked about in centre mid for 90 mins, far too young for that role and shows what a great job Church Sleath etc. do.
Korantang, looked physically lacking last year and hasn't improved and has been bullied off the ball in every game I've seen. Waste of time he's not up to the rough and tumble of this league.
Josh Burge and John Williams, both anonymous and moved on quickly, although to be fair this quick decision was the correct one.
And the worst of the lot Rory Coleman, been a waste of a place ever since he arrived and the team has virtually played with 10 men for the last 2 games against Redditch and Worcester. Needs to be sent back to Scunny asap.
I think S&H are still a long way short of the finished article and have much to learn, I'm not proposing getting rid but highlighting some of their shortcomings. In the same way the players are taking a slating from management and fans and they have got us to 5th ffs. They're young like the managers and have much to learn but IMO if we stick with them next year or maybe the year after they'll be good enough to win this league and hold their own in the league above.
Just trying to open some proper debate instead of just saying "get some big lads in, that'll sort it". If it was that easy everyone would get big lads in...
Edit: I stand by some of my points from last night but was still a bit angry when I made them. In the cold light of day to be fair to Worcester they where just more streetwise than us, knowing when to go down, what sort of niggly fouls they could get away with and how they could influence the ref. Not the sort of team/performance I'd like to watch week in week out and still don't like their fans either.
