I agree kingsheathlad, we are now 18 points behind 8th position after todays shocking result.
From here on in its all about wins. Either that or Mr Maggs might decide to rotate the squad with a view of preparing for the play offs.
I wait to read reports of todays performace, I expect it won't be good reading though, having said that must say a well done to Brad Hunt for scoring a hat trick.
Just got back from Nottingham match - awful! I'll write something more detailed tomorrow when I've calmed down but that was embarrassingly bad today (with some exceptions).
In the spirit of modern 'management speak' (which I hate) I'm going to start with the positives from yesterday.
1. We have struggled badly in the scrum this season and the loss of Nathan Williams and Terry Sigley has basically changed us from being one of the strongest scrummaging units in the Championship to one of the weakest. Yesterday, at least for about an hour, the set piece creaked and groaned and although never achieving parity with Nottingham at least we were not shunted back and destroyed as we have been in previous matches. I thought all 8 forwards and the 2 props in particular worked really hard in the scrum.
2. Some individuals need a mention (I know it's a team game but baloney to that - they deserve to be named). Pennycook was outstanding for 80 minutes despite what must have been the increasing depression about the scoreline, worked tirelessly in defence and attack and was a class act throughout. Sanderson also had one of his best games in my opinion with strong work in the set pieces, in defence and he even made some good carries in the loose.
3. Hunt (I've always said we had 2 dangerous wingers in him and Robinson) finished superbly the 3 chances he got. One of them was a poor pass which he picked off his toes, managed to stay upright, and finished off brilliantly.
4. A few others played well for short periods
5. The players showed appreciation for the (suffering, embarassed) travelling supporters.
6. That's it
Now the negatives.
1. That was probably the worst defensive display I've ever seen since I started watching Moseley (on and off) since 1976.
2. the back line (especially through the centre) was completely porous with non-existent tackling. I don't think I've ever seen so many missed tackles in a match. I'm sure the coaches will watch the videos of the match. They can count up how many were missed - I ran out of fingers and toes!
3. The defensive alignment was appalling. We made the Nottingham threequarters (and they are certainly a very good side) look like the All Blacks or the Barbarians on a good day.
4. I'd like to know how many turnovers we gave them (again I lost count). Our ball retention was simply awful. Some of the body positions going in to contact seemed far too upright to me.
5. The passing was slow, laboured and inaccurate when our backs did get moving.
I'm going to stop now because I'm depressing myself.
Let's be realistic for a moment. Although I'm very sorry to say it it looks like we are definitely heading for a bottom four finish now (I don't care about putting positive spins on it anymore).
We need to start resting some of our key players for matches so they are fresh for the playoffs. We need to start rotating players. We need to give the De La Harpe/Thomas combination a try at halfback for a couple of games to see if it works! We need to start focussing on certain games we can win as we need to take 4 plus points into the playoffs. We need a prop or two to stabalise our scrum (I've no idea where they will come from and I'm sure that money is the main issue) but we are desperate.
OK. That's it . I've got it all off my chest. Start at the beginning again if you want to finish with positives.
I'll see you next Saturday. One or two things for the coaches and players to sort out this week!
Brian Dicks just about summed it up for me. Apart from Brad Hunts 3 tries and a couple of never say die performances "no matter what the score is" from, mainly, the forwards, it was a game to be forgotten. The optimism I expressed in my last posting makes me feel a little naive now. Even Golden Boot Ollie was as off form as I have ever seen him. The players did at least acknowledge the traveling fans at the end of the game but the only comments they made were apologies for a very poor performance. Can't make it next Sat. but that might be a bonus as the last match I missed was the bristol game!!! I'll be there at Esher the following week though. If we don't win that one? (Imagine how J.I. will gloat if they put one over on us. Doesn't bear thinking about). Come on you Mooooose.
Brian Dicks just about summed it up for me. Apart from Brad Hunts 3 tries and a couple of never say die performances "no matter what the score is" from, mainly, the forwards, it was a game to be forgotten. The optimism I expressed in my last posting makes me feel a little naive now. Even Golden Boot Ollie was as off form as I have ever seen him.
(Imagine how J.I. will gloat if they put one over on us. Doesn't bear thinking about).