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Albion tenterhooks


Well it makes me smile!

By Gelbel
November 20 2014

So another Friday night and another match under the floodlights - personally I love them but when Yorkshire Carnegie lose it doesn't half make for a miserable weekend. So there's been a few of those lately.

Something will be very much amiss if a much needed league win does not come against our opposition on Friday night. Plymouth Albion are very much rooted at the bottom of the table with no wins and only two losing bonus points.

I wonder how simple it is to fix most of the things that are going wrong? I'd like to see us keep hold of the ball more and not kick it away. But when we do have hold of it, we seem incapable of keeping it: there are too many penalties, errors and poor decisions being made that ends with us handling the ball over to the opposition. And I can't understand the amount of knock-ons we're giving away; certainly compared to the teams we're playing. What are our opposition doing or using that we're not? Or is it a sign of over-trying or lost confidence? I tell you what was lack of confidence; hearing the Three Counties commentator say that Leonard did not want to take the penalty to take the losing bonus point at Bedford. It's just as well he did as from listening to the (anti-Yorkshire bias) I doubt we'd scored a try - if there was time.

We don't seem to have that edge from last season that saw small opportunities converted into points of some description. I know the story of the hare and the tortoise sees the slow tortoise win over the fast hare but it doesn't work like that in the rugby world. We've lost a lot of pace around the centre channel and it's taking its toll - the speedsters are getting the ball too late (as it's taking too long to get to them and, as such, they are not in the right positions when they do) and they are getting smothered by the opposition. And neither do we have the ability to mix it up and change the game plan when it's not working or the throw it to Buzz option draws a blank.

But on a brighter note we have been getting some better spells of possession and been getting into more threatening positions, so against a side struggling to defend there's every chance we'll start to score points.

I don't think there is much choice around the match-day team with the injuries we have so I think keep unchanged from last week or mix it up slightly by putting Leonard on the bench, Georgiou in at fly-half and start Goss on the wing.

Yorkshire Carnegie should win this. Should…it might be painful and I’ll be on tenterhooks all night. But, and it’s a big but, if those seemingly simple things get fixed and the big match we are owed is delivered it could be quite a big win. However any win will do.

Now here's something that might deliver the required rocket up the proverbial - I'm off to the Ladies Night on Saturday. Win and those topless-waiters get one hug and slobber off me; lose and it's two...at least!

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Albion tenterhooks
Discussion started by TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged), 20/11/2014 08:06
TykesRugby.co.uk
TykesRugby.co.uk
20/11/2014 08:06
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:11:30:09:36:16 by Gelbel.

MESSAGES->author
Competitive Dad
20/11/2014 11:08
I hear what you are saying but Christian Georgiou is not, and has not been a fly half.

Bobba
Bobba
20/11/2014 12:05
The hare and the tortoise. Well the tortoise that is Leeds has definitely had a gammy leg and has been limping away through the season so far. Lets hope it has got considerably better in the last week.
My prediction. A thumping great win. The supporters deserve one!

MESSAGES->author
JDH
20/11/2014 12:53
Flyhalf or not CG still plays there

ellishicks
ellishicks
20/11/2014 15:19
I think you've nailed it Gel.
There's a touch of the last chance saloon here. We need to win and win well - with no disrespect for Plym who are also trying to turn their season around.
Forget injuries, this isn't far from our best team now.

There's a whole replacement front row not in the squad. Charlie's return gives us some ball carrying alternative. And it's good to see the kids on the bench who'll be looking to impress.
It's time for Lucky Lucock to step up and show that he is an able replacement for Fred. I've said before I'd rather see Jonah on the wing so that he can sneak in and get turn-over ball. Remember turnover ball? It would be good to get some and hold on to it..
This really is a must-win game (and it's only November!)

Selby Kev
Selby Kev
20/11/2014 17:46
Thanks Gel...as Elli says...a touch of desperation in the air.No excuses...has to be clinical and ruthless...5 points...20 point margin....no leaks.

MESSAGES->author
leemingtyke
20/11/2014 20:14
Completely agree with Competitive Dad about CG.

He is being forced to cover Fly Half, to the possible detriment of his own career I might add, because the Leeds management were negligent enough to let our other 10 go.

I agree with the use of the 'must win' rhetoric for this game. If we don't then some serious questions will have to be asked.

So there will be some pressure on their shoulders tomorrow night and that can do funny things - if you let it.

I think we'll win, but by 10 or less.

Bran
Bran
21/11/2014 09:24
Less than 10 thats if we manage a victory. Forecast is for rain. Time for the forwards to grow a pair an carry the ball for 80 minutes.

MESSAGES->author
Wildwillie
21/11/2014 17:08
Bran - could you get some snaps of the forwards "growing a pair" for the mb please?

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