Can we reach the play offs?

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Big Dai
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by Big Dai »

Simply put NO!

Sarries Saints Bath and Quins my top four. Saints to win it. Exeter fifth and us sixth.

We just ain't the best team around any more.
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Bill W (2)
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by Bill W (2) »

Big Dai wrote:Simply put NO!

Sarries Saints Bath and Quins my top four. Saints to win it. Exeter fifth and us sixth.

We just ain't the best team around any more.
Oh ye of litte faith!!

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kpj tiger
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by kpj tiger »

Big Dai wrote:Simply put NO!

Sarries Saints Bath and Quins my top four. Saints to win it. Exeter fifth and us sixth.

We just ain't the best team around any more.
Are you joking?? The team that played today was nowhere near our first choice team

Team today 1st Choice
15 Mathew Tait 15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris 14 Niall Morris/Gonzalo Comacho
13 Vereniki Goneva 13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Matt Smith 12 Anthony Allen
11 Miles Benjamin 11 Miles Benjamin/Vereniki Goneva
10 Ryan Lamb 10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs 9 Ben Youngs
1 Boris Stankovich 1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Neil Briggs 2 Tom Youngs
3 Fraser Balmain 3 Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater 4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener 5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson 6 Tom Croft
7 Pablo Matera 7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane (c) 8 Jordan Crane

Replacements Replacements
16 Tom Youngs 16 Rob Hawkins
17 Marcos Ayerza 17 Logovii Mulipola
18 Jérôme Schuster 18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian De Chaves 19 Graham Kitchener
20 Thomas Waldrom 20 Thomas Waldrom/Pablo Matera
21 David Mélé 21 David Mele
22 Terrence Hepetema 22 Owen Williams
23 Adam Thompstone 23 Gonzalo Comacho
baz1664
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by baz1664 »

The Tigers best 15 can match any team on there day, unfortunately we don’t have the strength in depth anymore especially in the back line, to lose your two first choice centres is going to effect any team but this is not an excuse for today’s performance. Ben Youngs, Ryan Lamb are not stepping up and managing an inexperienced backline, Youngs is going backwards rapidly, surely its time to give Mele a run in the team alongside Flood or Williams.
TigerLad
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by TigerLad »

Upon reflection I don't think we're in the worst position. Our upcoming fixtures are very winnable and should leave us in a good position. I do still maintain that we have the best team in the league, compare our 23 to the other teams and we stand out. While Northampton and Sarries have good players we have players on a different level, George North is probably the only exception to that. Manu, Cole, the Youngs brothers, Parling and Croft (if he returns) are all players that would get into any team in the country. Saracens and Northampton don't have players like that. Saracens should finish top now, while their team is strong enough to win the league I wonder if they can dominate top teams in the playoffs. Let's not forget, we used to thrash Wasps and yet they would still go on to beat us in the finals. I would back our first choice team to beat anyone home or away and because of that I don't think we should panic just yet, if we are in the same position come March/April then I would start to feel worried.
Tigerbeat
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by Tigerbeat »

kpj tiger wrote:
Big Dai wrote:Simply put NO!

Sarries Saints Bath and Quins my top four. Saints to win it. Exeter fifth and us sixth.

We just ain't the best team around any more.
Are you joking?? The team that played today was nowhere near our first choice team

Team today 1st Choice
15 Mathew Tait 15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris 14 Niall Morris/Gonzalo Comacho
13 Vereniki Goneva 13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Matt Smith 12 Anthony Allen
11 Miles Benjamin 11 Miles Benjamin/Vereniki Goneva
10 Ryan Lamb 10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs 9 Ben Youngs
1 Boris Stankovich 1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Neil Briggs 2 Tom Youngs
3 Fraser Balmain 3 Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater 4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener 5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson 6 Tom Croft
7 Pablo Matera 7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane (c) 8 Jordan Crane

Replacements Replacements
16 Tom Youngs 16 Rob Hawkins
17 Marcos Ayerza 17 Logovii Mulipola
18 Jérôme Schuster 18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian De Chaves 19 Graham Kitchener
20 Thomas Waldrom 20 Thomas Waldrom/Pablo Matera
21 David Mélé 21 David Mele
22 Terrence Hepetema 22 Owen Williams
23 Adam Thompstone 23 Gonzalo Comacho
No Steve Mafi!!
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sapajo
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by sapajo »

Tigerbeat wrote:
kpj tiger wrote:
Big Dai wrote:Simply put NO!

Sarries Saints Bath and Quins my top four. Saints to win it. Exeter fifth and us sixth.

We just ain't the best team around any more.
Are you joking?? The team that played today was nowhere near our first choice team

Team today 1st Choice
15 Mathew Tait 15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris 14 Niall Morris/Gonzalo Comacho
13 Vereniki Goneva 13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Matt Smith 12 Anthony Allen
11 Miles Benjamin 11 Miles Benjamin/Vereniki Goneva
10 Ryan Lamb 10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs 9 Ben Youngs
1 Boris Stankovich 1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Neil Briggs 2 Tom Youngs
3 Fraser Balmain 3 Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater 4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener 5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson 6 Tom Croft
7 Pablo Matera 7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane (c) 8 Jordan Crane

Replacements Replacements
16 Tom Youngs 16 Rob Hawkins
17 Marcos Ayerza 17 Logovii Mulipola
18 Jérôme Schuster 18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian De Chaves 19 Graham Kitchener
20 Thomas Waldrom 20 Thomas Waldrom/Pablo Matera
21 David Mélé 21 David Mele
22 Terrence Hepetema 22 Owen Williams
23 Adam Thompstone 23 Gonzalo Comacho
No Steve Mafi!!
So long since we last saw him in action
Without hope we are nothing, keep the faith, a Tiger for eternity
Big Dai
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by Big Dai »

kpj tiger wrote:
Big Dai wrote:Simply put NO!

Sarries Saints Bath and Quins my top four. Saints to win it. Exeter fifth and us sixth.

We just ain't the best team around any more.
Are you joking?? The team that played today was nowhere near our first choice team
My melancholy is nothing to do with the capability of our "best" team. I'm sure this is as good as any. It is everything to do with enforced changes and a lack of continuity. we will perforce bring players in and out of the side. we have many returning from injury and another period of change to be forced on us by the 6 nations. Disruption on disruption. Other teams are playing better rugby with better sides and have been less disrupted. This I feel (or fear?) will be a telling factor this year
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The Boy Dave
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by The Boy Dave »

The Tigers best 15 can match any team on there day, unfortunately we don’t have the strength in depth anymore especially in the back line, to lose your two first choice centres is going to effect any team
Sarries were without their two first choice centres in Brad Barritt and Joel Tomkins yesterday.
and no matter what anyone may suggest the plastic pitch is definitely an advantage
My lad loves playing on rubber crumb pitches, they suit quick feet, fast acceleration and direct play. You need to be much more switched on when playing on artificial surfaces, the surfaces relentless pace and need for quick decision making can totally bamboozle some players.
Cheery chappy
Big Dai
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by Big Dai »

[/quote]
My lad loves playing on rubber crumb pitches, they suit quick feet, fast acceleration and direct play. You need to be much more switched on when playing on artificial surfaces, the surfaces relentless pace and need for quick decision making can totally bamboozle some players.[/quote]

Especially dull Tigers forwards coached in the art of up the jumper rugby!
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smalldell
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by smalldell »

It's by its nature a difficult question. Can we win the next two games...well yes, but if we have no Flood and Lamb plays against Bath then I think we will lose. He lacks everything a 10 needs...mainly a brain....

I just think the long term injuries:-

AA
Parling
Croft
Tualigi

Mean we cannot put a sustained period together. By the time AA; Parling and Tualigi get back I fear our real chances could be over (Croft is out for the season).

We are one key injury away from meltdown. Just think is one of the following get injured long term:-

Flood
Kitchener
T. Youngs
Salvi (Don't even think about it)

How would we cope....we wont.

It's just one of those seasons so I say enjoy it....
Bowden Tiger
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by Bowden Tiger »

I have no doubt at all that we will be in the playoffs, and I am confident that we will again be in the final.

Remember, this is Leicester Tigers, and within this club there is something other clubs don't seem to have.......... Belief!
Tomvarndell
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by Tomvarndell »

Yes, just may have to travel now although Sarries would move their home tie so it would probably mean two visits to Twickers....
CitizenSmiff
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by CitizenSmiff »

Our injury crisis was always going to whack us over the head at some point and yesterday was that critical mass. Players like Lamb, Briggs and in my opinion Thompstone aren't good enough to be Tigers but we need them to make up the numbers when we've got so many Lions to fit in under the cap. It's not Cockers' faul most of those Lions got crocked before the season really got going, although I would say the man needs the concept of substitutions explained to him from time to time.
Maidman
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Re: Can we reach the play offs?

Post by Maidman »

I'm quite tempted to get a bit gloomy about things, but I don't think there is any need just yet.

The next two games could see quite a change. If we are able to win both of our next two games, and if Saints are able to do the same (i.e. they beat Bath and Quins), then we could get into 3rd spot, which wouldn't be too bad at all.

Getting higher than third may prove more tricky than we can manage, but a win at Franklins Gardens would help, and is doable.

I seem to recall a number of home games last year, after which I came away from Welford Road thnking that we didn't look like a Premiership winning side (remember the defeat to Saracens at Welford Road in February?).

It would have made us all feel a lot better had the result not been quite so harsh yesterday, but our season is far from over, and I think we'll make the play offs, and the final. Of course we will, we're Tigers!
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