Northampton Saints
Chris Gleadell's Thoughts from the Chron 5th Feb
By Chris Gleadell
February 6 2009
Not so much down to earth with a bump at the Stoop but maybe more a reminder that at times we look like we still have a long way to go in the rebuilding programme. To sum up last weekend’s performance at Quins in one word the best I could come up with was dire. Unlike other away games this season where we have manfully competed but been edged out, on Saturday we were never in it from the off.
A BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE
In a nutshell it was the worst performance I have seen from a Saints side since the relegation season. Not only did we look lack lustre throughout but half the guys looked like they had just met each other for the first time on the morning of the game. Whether we missed the players away with their respective international sides is debatable but it plainly was not all down to that single factor as some of the remaining players looked shadows of their usual selves. Talking to other supporters after the game the consensus of opinion was not only how poor we were but how disappointed they were in the performance, words I have not heard in a long, long time.
I do not intend to dwell on it too much though, there was not after all much content to dwell on, but if one swallow does not make a summer then one bad game does not make a bad side. The squad certainly knows they are far better than the display that they put in on Saturday both as a team and individuals and although it will probably be analyzed to the nth degree it has to be forgotten in some respects and filed under ‘a bad day at the office'. If it is not before long we will all start thinking the doom-mongers (and have they not had a field day this week?) have some substance in their end of the Saints world is nigh mantra.
With no game this week due to the start of the Six Nations the squad have two weeks to get their heads down, regroup and focus on Saracens visit to the Gardens on the 14th of February. The team have a few things to prove to the supporters after last weekend and the Fezheads might just reap the whirlwind.
What price another St Valentines Day massacre?
FAREWELL CARLOS
The surprise of the week was of course the news that Carlos Spencer had cleared out his locker and left the club. I have said it a few times in this column in the past but I just don't want to see a winning team I want to be entertained on a Saturday afternoon too and as a master of the entertainers craft in Carlos there was none better.
Sure not everything came off but then he was never scared of trying the unexpected to swing a game, sometimes however he did turn games but being the fickle types we are we only remember the try scorer not the sleight of hand, change of direction or deft kick that set the score up. In my mind he was key to that charge up the league in the second half of the season that secured Heineken rugby in 2006. He put in some displays at flyhalf of which I am sure we will never see the likes again in the gold, black and green.
He will probably be best remembered in a Saints shirt for the overhead kick and collect in the drubbing of Saracens that nearly resulted in the try of the century for Ben Cohen but there are also a whole host of crossfield kicks that went in the ‘wrong' direction and feinted moves that sent whole defences the opposite way that will live long in the memory.
He may have been here through one of the darkest periods for the club but there was always, but always, a bit of sunshine in Carlos's play.
This week it was announced that he has signed for Gloucester till the end of next season. I am of course sad to see him go and it will be odd to see him in a cherry and white shirt but he leaves owing us nothing. He stuck with the club through the relegation period when there were probably much bigger offers on the table but with him not getting game time at the Saints perhaps for both parties an amicable parting of the ways now is best for both camps.
Despite him going to a Guinness Premiership rival like most of us I wish him all the best and will still look forward to seeing him play. Let's hope he goes with a little bit of the Saints still in his heart.
THE FUTURE AT 10?
The move of Carlos to Gloucester does leave us in a bit of a conundrum for the No.10 berth though. On paper we have just two flyhalve's with top flight experience, Stephen Myler, the current incumbent but still learning his trade and Barry ‘the boot' Everitt, a solid dependable player if there ever was one but nearing the end of his career. Should we lose either of these to injury then we would be up that proverbial creek with out a paddle especially when you factor in Guinness A League games.
Therefore you would hope the space in the wage cap now available through Carlos's departure - and I would imagine that is still quite sizable - will be used to dip into the No.10 market. There has been talk around the message boards this week of the signing of someone purely as a backup to Steve Myler. In my mind we need to aim higher. If there is to be competition for places across the squad, and there is in just about every position then flyhalf should be no different.
Maybe with that in mind we should then be signing a player of equal, if not slightly better, skill and potential as Steve Myler and let them both fight it out for the shirt? Not suggesting Stephen is that way inclined but a guaranteed start does neither the club nor the player any favours long term especially if the player has international ambitions.
Dave Walder of Wasps or the Carlos deposed Ryan Lamb at Gloucester are a couple of players who fit the bill or maybe our links with South Africa will unearth the next Nass Botha playing for Blue Bulls 3rd XV. Whoever the choice might be let's see a true battle royal for that shirt as we do throughout the team. In time that can only be good for the Saints.
In a nutshell it was the worst performance I have seen from a Saints side since the relegation season. Not only did we look lack lustre throughout but half the guys looked like they had just met each other for the first time on the morning of the game. Whether we missed the players away with their respective international sides is debatable but it plainly was not all down to that single factor as some of the remaining players looked shadows of their usual selves. Talking to other supporters after the game the consensus of opinion was not only how poor we were but how disappointed they were in the performance, words I have not heard in a long, long time.
I do not intend to dwell on it too much though, there was not after all much content to dwell on, but if one swallow does not make a summer then one bad game does not make a bad side. The squad certainly knows they are far better than the display that they put in on Saturday both as a team and individuals and although it will probably be analyzed to the nth degree it has to be forgotten in some respects and filed under ‘a bad day at the office'. If it is not before long we will all start thinking the doom-mongers (and have they not had a field day this week?) have some substance in their end of the Saints world is nigh mantra.
With no game this week due to the start of the Six Nations the squad have two weeks to get their heads down, regroup and focus on Saracens visit to the Gardens on the 14th of February. The team have a few things to prove to the supporters after last weekend and the Fezheads might just reap the whirlwind.
What price another St Valentines Day massacre?
FAREWELL CARLOS
The surprise of the week was of course the news that Carlos Spencer had cleared out his locker and left the club. I have said it a few times in this column in the past but I just don't want to see a winning team I want to be entertained on a Saturday afternoon too and as a master of the entertainers craft in Carlos there was none better.
Sure not everything came off but then he was never scared of trying the unexpected to swing a game, sometimes however he did turn games but being the fickle types we are we only remember the try scorer not the sleight of hand, change of direction or deft kick that set the score up. In my mind he was key to that charge up the league in the second half of the season that secured Heineken rugby in 2006. He put in some displays at flyhalf of which I am sure we will never see the likes again in the gold, black and green.
He will probably be best remembered in a Saints shirt for the overhead kick and collect in the drubbing of Saracens that nearly resulted in the try of the century for Ben Cohen but there are also a whole host of crossfield kicks that went in the ‘wrong' direction and feinted moves that sent whole defences the opposite way that will live long in the memory.
He may have been here through one of the darkest periods for the club but there was always, but always, a bit of sunshine in Carlos's play.
This week it was announced that he has signed for Gloucester till the end of next season. I am of course sad to see him go and it will be odd to see him in a cherry and white shirt but he leaves owing us nothing. He stuck with the club through the relegation period when there were probably much bigger offers on the table but with him not getting game time at the Saints perhaps for both parties an amicable parting of the ways now is best for both camps.
Despite him going to a Guinness Premiership rival like most of us I wish him all the best and will still look forward to seeing him play. Let's hope he goes with a little bit of the Saints still in his heart.
THE FUTURE AT 10?
The move of Carlos to Gloucester does leave us in a bit of a conundrum for the No.10 berth though. On paper we have just two flyhalve's with top flight experience, Stephen Myler, the current incumbent but still learning his trade and Barry ‘the boot' Everitt, a solid dependable player if there ever was one but nearing the end of his career. Should we lose either of these to injury then we would be up that proverbial creek with out a paddle especially when you factor in Guinness A League games.
Therefore you would hope the space in the wage cap now available through Carlos's departure - and I would imagine that is still quite sizable - will be used to dip into the No.10 market. There has been talk around the message boards this week of the signing of someone purely as a backup to Steve Myler. In my mind we need to aim higher. If there is to be competition for places across the squad, and there is in just about every position then flyhalf should be no different.
Maybe with that in mind we should then be signing a player of equal, if not slightly better, skill and potential as Steve Myler and let them both fight it out for the shirt? Not suggesting Stephen is that way inclined but a guaranteed start does neither the club nor the player any favours long term especially if the player has international ambitions.
Dave Walder of Wasps or the Carlos deposed Ryan Lamb at Gloucester are a couple of players who fit the bill or maybe our links with South Africa will unearth the next Nass Botha playing for Blue Bulls 3rd XV. Whoever the choice might be let's see a true battle royal for that shirt as we do throughout the team. In time that can only be good for the Saints.
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Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 06/02/2009 01:01
ComeOnYouSaints.com
06/02/2009 01:01
06/02/2009 01:01
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Well done Chris, punches not pulled as to our recent woeful performance at "They Stoop to Conquer"
Boring ! because yet again I agree with every word 
You need to take a leaf out of Barnesy's book and write stupid stuff so you get a reaction !
One other name worth considering perhaps is Luke Myring ? 26 years old now playing in Italy I believe. Seemingly only left the club as (ironically) he couldn't get enough 1st team rugby due to Carlos. Played a great game in Narbonne I remember and I think was very highly thought of , especially by Grayson. Any thought ?
Saint til I die
You need to take a leaf out of Barnesy's book and write stupid stuff so you get a reaction !
One other name worth considering perhaps is Luke Myring ? 26 years old now playing in Italy I believe. Seemingly only left the club as (ironically) he couldn't get enough 1st team rugby due to Carlos. Played a great game in Narbonne I remember and I think was very highly thought of , especially by Grayson. Any thought ?
Saint til I die
Kind of agree and disagree with you about the replacement for Carlos Chris.
I fully agree with the competition for all places ethos, however, I feel we need a "proven" f/h to replace Carlos as a priority.
We then can recruit a "competitor" for Smyler more at our leisure.
I fully agree with the competition for all places ethos, however, I feel we need a "proven" f/h to replace Carlos as a priority.
We then can recruit a "competitor" for Smyler more at our leisure.
Dave Walder would fit both those descriptions Duncanm maybe?
Not sure about LM Malc, perhaps out of the limelight too long, but you never know, look at Andy Goode.
Not sure about LM Malc, perhaps out of the limelight too long, but you never know, look at Andy Goode.
His is a name I keep coming back to Chris, although I beleive he's 30 now?
Would like to see someone like that and someone younger to push Smyler but with a bit of (dare I say it?) future planning.
I think I mentioned elsewhere Freddie Michalak & Rory Clegg as a top of the head example.
Would like to see someone like that and someone younger to push Smyler but with a bit of (dare I say it?) future planning.
I think I mentioned elsewhere Freddie Michalak & Rory Clegg as a top of the head example.
Shane Geraghty
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Ah but in the England squad, we could end up losing Geraghty and Smyler at the same time
Fair point... But i still have a feeling.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
You've summed up the Quins debacle admirably, Chris.
However, I wonder that you may miss Los more than I. He was a wonder to watch and, yes, I do remember some of the moves that led to match winning tries (do you remember the cross field kick, at Worcester, to the scrum-cap-wearing Ben Cohen)? But were you also on the Crumblie Terrace earlier this season when a loose pass led to an interception by Toby Flood and bang, our losing bonus point was gone. It was still an honour to see him in our colours though!!!!
However, I wonder that you may miss Los more than I. He was a wonder to watch and, yes, I do remember some of the moves that led to match winning tries (do you remember the cross field kick, at Worcester, to the scrum-cap-wearing Ben Cohen)? But were you also on the Crumblie Terrace earlier this season when a loose pass led to an interception by Toby Flood and bang, our losing bonus point was gone. It was still an honour to see him in our colours though!!!!
I don't blame Carlos for that try, more Dylan for rushin a quick line out to no one meaning Carlos had to force something on the back foot.
Interesting Owen. Is this a hunch that you have, or is it based on something more?
Funny you should mention the Tigers game Wilma I was going to mention it in the Chron as a point in fact. Had the pass not been intercepted and we had scored we probably would have won the game, one point lost but we were in touch of getting four, fair gamble in my eyes.
Had it been pulled off like I said the try scorer would be rememered as the architect of a great victory not that pass. Victory and defeat sometimes hinge on the slimmest of margins, that was one. At the end of the day we lost a bonus but we were oh so close of yet another victory at Pooh Corner.
But then if you want safe safe safe all the time then find a solid dependable flyhalf that goes through the basics but never sets the game alight or tries the unexpected to force the game in a million years. But again like I said in the text I sometimes favour entertainment over a metronome putting points on the board.
Had it been pulled off like I said the try scorer would be rememered as the architect of a great victory not that pass. Victory and defeat sometimes hinge on the slimmest of margins, that was one. At the end of the day we lost a bonus but we were oh so close of yet another victory at Pooh Corner.
But then if you want safe safe safe all the time then find a solid dependable flyhalf that goes through the basics but never sets the game alight or tries the unexpected to force the game in a million years. But again like I said in the text I sometimes favour entertainment over a metronome putting points on the board.
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