Why can't Smith tackle?

[GeoffN]

I despair,
the attempt at a tackle was pap no argument.
the complete slagging is also pap.

lets all try opening our eyes (both of them)
and watch a full game.
Lets try it with an open mind - no preconceptions.
try not be biased and try it.

there are plenty of players under performing not just the one or two that many on here seem to constantly pick out.

I still see the common denominator being Nobby.

I watched it with an open unbiased mind, see my analysis in the "plus and minus" thread. I genuinely hoped that Smith was getting better, on the evidence of the Hull game, and I stll hope he does, but we can't afford to carry a passenger such as he was last night.

I'm not caling for any player to be sacked, but some clearly need a spell in the reserves until such time as they get some form or fitness.

Same goes for Nobby; I just want him to get his act together, especially as regards team selection and tactics.

He's proved time and time again that he has his own unshakeable ideas about our best 17, despite all the evidence to the contrary, and he'll only change that 17 when forced by injuries or suspensions. Just as last season Joel wouldn't have played without the injury to Lockers, Ainscough wouldn't have played last night had either Mathers or Richards been available.

[ancientnloyal]

Why can't Smith tackle?

Coz he is shite

I like your minimalistic approach to this argument.

[sheepdip]

I seem to remember that at the fans forum back last summer, Leneghan stated that he had been advised that Smith was potentially a far better player than Dobson, hence why he was signed. Surely all the baggage that came with him, drink, mental health difficulties etc were taken into account. A bad signing, bad judgment and a mistake, not up to the job.

It's up to him to prove us wrong, for the sake of our season.

NOBLE OUT

[gillysmyhero]

Briers cant tackle. But is never named a scapegoat for a loss.

Our fans on the other hand like to pick on someone or blame an individual for a loss, its a team game, blame the team but more importantly blame the coach for the defensive pattern that he sets out.

Bailey covers for Smith in defense, he wasnt playing, we loose. Yet Bailey is also a scape goat when we loose at times, just goes to show how important he is to the team.

Shawn Long cant tackle yet hes helped by a great defensive pattern and his team mates.

Blaming individuals for a loss is all great if were watching just 1 person but were watching a team. Hell Carmont was way out of position when Westerman scored and that was the try that really killed us right near halftime but of course hes blameless.

Its the defensive pattern when the ball is whipped outwide and the teams that do that, and have done that in the past, we have always lost to. Saints anybody??.

So its ok to single out Mathers.

[DaveO]

Briers cant tackle. But is never named a scapegoat for a loss.

Our fans on the other hand like to pick on someone or blame an individual for a loss, its a team game, blame the team but more importantly blame the coach for the defensive pattern that he sets out.

Bailey covers for Smith in defense, he wasnt playing, we loose.

What went wrong v Wakey then? Bailey was playing but Smith got run at in the centre position and was exposed the same way as he was v Cas. Smith was at fault for one if not two tries.

We still lost.

Yet Bailey is also a scape goat when we loose at times, just goes to show how important he is to the team.

Shawn Long cant tackle yet hes helped by a great defensive pattern and his team mates.

Long can tackle better than Smith from what I have seen so far of Smith. Long isn't going to flatten a forward but he is unlikely to assist him over the line either.

Dave

[pedro]

Both Briers and Long go round the legs as they know they will get hammered up high.

[gillysmyhero]

Briers cant tackle. But is never named a scapegoat for a loss.

Our fans on the other hand like to pick on someone or blame an individual for a loss, its a team game, blame the team but more importantly blame the coach for the defensive pattern that he sets out.

Bailey covers for Smith in defense, he wasnt playing, we loose. Yet Bailey is also a scape goat when we loose at times, just goes to show how important he is to the team.

Shawn Long cant tackle yet hes helped by a great defensive pattern and his team mates.

Blaming individuals for a loss is all great if were watching just 1 person but were watching a team. Hell Carmont was way out of position when Westerman scored and that was the try that really killed us right near halftime but of course hes blameless.

Its the defensive pattern when the ball is whipped outwide and the teams that do that, and have done that in the past, we have always lost to. Saints anybody??.

So its ok to single out Mathers.

Briers,Long and smith all have one thing in common and that is rumours surrounding alleged wild social lives.

There careers will go down with the words "could have done better"

Smith was poor all round last night and as ive said is not doing himself any favours with the "piss ed" tag around his neck

I would put smiths lack of effort probably down to his poor fitness levels rather than his ability

Yes your probably right about Smith,Long & Briers. I would say that Fitness & ability go hand in hand because if your not fit you cant play to the best of your ability IMO.If his life style is such that he will never be totaly fit it is a big problem for him & us.

[cpwigan]

Both Briers and Long go round the legs as they know they will get hammered up high.

I would have to disagree mate. Long goes high if anything.

People may not like it but Long has got far better over the years. He's no easy touch. The weakness he does off is that he tries to cut down time and space which is good but he does it by over reading and sometimes going early out of the line.

Briers has problems because he is physically weak due to his off field activitis. Bit like Smith.

[pedro]

when the arc and try and beat him he sweeps them round the legs not play tick and pass

[exile in Tiger country]

Briers cant tackle. But is never named a scapegoat for a loss.

Our fans on the other hand like to pick on someone or blame an individual for a loss, its a team game, blame the team but more importantly blame the coach for the defensive pattern that he sets out.

Bailey covers for Smith in defense, he wasnt playing, we loose. Yet Bailey is also a scape goat when we loose at times, just goes to show how important he is to the team.

Shawn Long cant tackle yet hes helped by a great defensive pattern and his team mates.

Blaming individuals for a loss is all great if were watching just 1 person but were watching a team. Hell Carmont was way out of position when Westerman scored and that was the try that really killed us right near halftime but of course hes blameless.

Its the defensive pattern when the ball is whipped outwide and the teams that do that, and have done that in the past, we have always lost to. Saints anybody??.

A very good pooint. Having just seen the replays on the Superleague show, the try that Smith was mainly criticised for, it looked to me as if Smith was hung out to dry by his team mates, His technique was poor, trying to go for the fending arm, however, no one in cherry & white made any effort to assist him. He was left to deal with a charging second row forward on his own.