Page 2 of 3
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 5:57 am
by Ymx
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 5:54 am
Ymx wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 5:46 am
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 4:11 am
Agreed that Ennor is much better, and a fairly journeyman-looking Highlanders midfield is likely to be shown up, providing Goodhue finds just a bit of form.
For me, Goodhue at present is killing the move. He’s backing himself but then not breaking through.
But he’s not breaking the tackles as he used to.
The solution to Jack Goodhue's form slump is staring us all in the face. He needs a change of scenery to freshen up, and a move north to play alongside his brother at the Blues is the obvious fix.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:05 am
by FujiKiwi
Only half kidding.
Are some of Goodhue's problems to do with him playing 2nd Five rather than centre? I seem to remember the latter is where most of his career has been up until this year?
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:25 am
by Carter's Choice
Are people high on meth? This has arguably been Goodhue's best season. He's been superb.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:34 am
by FujiKiwi
Yeah. A bit of drama about nothing. I think he’s had a couple of sub par games in a row.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:35 am
by Carter's Choice
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:34 am
Yeah. A bit of drama about nothing. I think he’s had a couple of sub par games in a row.
Yeah fair call, but his earlier form was brilliant. He's without a doubt the form 12 of the comp, and was also pre-covid lockdown.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:40 am
by FujiKiwi
We’ve taken his comparatively ordinary performances in the past couple of games as the opportunity for some banter and also as a talking point for what the ABs would do if he was out of form or unavailable in some way. Ennor seems the obvious next choice if Laumape were still injured. Some might advocate for Rieko.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:47 am
by Gumboot
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:40 am
We’ve taken his comparatively ordinary performances in the past couple of games as the opportunity for some banter and also as a talking point for what the ABs would do if he was out of form or unavailable in some way. Ennor seems the obvious next choice if Laumape were still injured. Some might advocate for Rieko.
Yeah, I'd take Ioane before Ennor.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:48 pm
by Ymx
Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:35 am
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:34 am
Yeah. A bit of drama about nothing. I think he’s had a couple of sub par games in a row.
Yeah fair call, but his earlier form was brilliant. He's without a doubt the form 12 of the comp, and was also pre-covid lockdown.
His post covid form has been average, certainly not to his previous heights, I’d suggest.
Like I say often killing attacking moves.
Lumpy has been the post covid form centre.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:32 pm
by Monkey Magic
Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:47 am
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:40 am
We’ve taken his comparatively ordinary performances in the past couple of games as the opportunity for some banter and also as a talking point for what the ABs would do if he was out of form or unavailable in some way. Ennor seems the obvious next choice if Laumape were still injured. Some might advocate for Rieko.
Yeah, I'd take Ioane before Ennor.
ALB surely
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:18 pm
by Gumboot
Monkey Magic wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:32 pm
Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:47 am
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:40 am
We’ve taken his comparatively ordinary performances in the past couple of games as the opportunity for some banter and also as a talking point for what the ABs would do if he was out of form or unavailable in some way. Ennor seems the obvious next choice if Laumape were still injured. Some might advocate for Rieko.
Yeah, I'd take Ioane before Ennor.
ALB surely
He'd be at 12.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 11:49 pm
by Kiwias
Ymx wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:48 pm
Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:35 am
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:34 am
Yeah. A bit of drama about nothing. I think he’s had a couple of sub par games in a row.
Yeah fair call, but his earlier form was brilliant. He's without a doubt the form 12 of the comp, and was also pre-covid lockdown.
His post covid form has been average, certainly not to his previous heights, I’d suggest.
Like I say often killing attacking moves.
Lumpy has been the post covid form centre.
Lumpy is a second five and yes, he is in great form but I would not write Goodhue off so easily.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:18 am
by FujiKiwi
Goodhue will come back into form sooner rather than later. It’s such as asset to the ABs that both he and ALB can play 12 or 13 if necessary.
Players like Ioane and Laumape who are more specialized can fit in around them.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:41 am
by Carter's Choice
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:18 am
Goodhue will come back into form sooner rather than later. It’s such as asset to the ABs that both he and ALB can play 12 or 13 if necessary.
Players like Ioane and Laumape who are more specialized can fit in around them.
I disagree that Goodhue is out form, but that's a subjective argument. However, it does seem to me that he is held to a higher standard than any midfielder we've ever had. Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu had years where their Super Rugby form was only average, but they were never criticised.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:45 am
by FujiKiwi
Right. Ma'a Nonu was never criticized.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:48 am
by Carter's Choice
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:45 am
Right. Ma'a Nonu was never criticized.
He was trolled for looking disinterested at SR level over many seasons, but his place in the AB's was not questioned for the final years of his international career regardless of how little effort he made at SR level.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:50 am
by FujiKiwi
Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:48 am
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:45 am
Right. Ma'a Nonu was never criticized.
He was trolled for looking disinterested at SR level over many seasons, but his place in the AB's was not questioned for the final years of his international career regardless of how little effort he made at SR level.
There was at least one poster—they say that if you say his name three times in front of the mirror he comes back to life—who posted on a daily basis that Nonu should be dropped from the ABs for SBW.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:53 am
by FujiKiwi
But I agree. Goodhue's play at the moment hasn't really degenerated enough, or for long enough, to even be described as a form slump.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:17 pm
by Ymx
One more sleep for me.
Silly am, but plan to watch it.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:50 pm
by Ymx
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:53 am
But I agree. Goodhue's play at the moment hasn't really degenerated enough, or for long enough, to even be described as a form slump.
Hopefully for me, not so much you, he makes fools of our recent analysis
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:38 am
by FujiKiwi
Oh yes boy.
Great pass from Snecky.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:39 am
by Gumboot
Anyone got a decent link please?
Edit: never mind, found one.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:41 am
by FujiKiwi
Ich bein ein Highlander.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:42 am
by FujiKiwi
Sorry, Gumboot. Watching it on TV today.
It’s a doozy so far.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:51 am
by FujiKiwi
Will avoid posting spoilers.
Yesterday all the links showed delayed coverage. Found it very frustrating.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:59 am
by Gumboot
All good, I missed the first try but it's been passable since then.
Er, why are the lights on at the ground? Is electricity free in Christchurch?
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:02 am
by FujiKiwi
Ohhhhh. What a game.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:02 am
by FujiKiwi
Nareki you bloody legend.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:04 am
by Gumboot
Classic 14-point try that.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:05 am
by FujiKiwi
Frizell the new Kaino.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:24 am
by Gumboot
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:05 am
Frizell the new Kaino.
God I hope so. He's really come on in all facets of his game this year.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:02 am
by FujiKiwi
The Highlanders have been valiant but it’s slipping away now.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:20 am
by Jb1981
That should do it. A few minutes to go before Razor can chalk up another title.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:25 am
by FujiKiwi
Great game. Tarnished very slightly by a deserved but unlucky card. Commiserations, Highlanders. Played with so much passion.
Saders deserved winners of the whole thing. Congrats to them.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:30 am
by Gumboot
Yeah, thought the Highlanders got the rough end of quite a few calls today but full credit to the Saders. Such a quality outfit.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:37 am
by Gumboot
The Highlanders at least made a game of it. Didn't help that Aaron Smith had one of his more ropey games with the boot. His most effective kick was the instinctive fly hack into goal that he almost scored from.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:44 am
by FujiKiwi
He was great when he wasn't kicking it.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:47 am
by Gumboot
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:44 am
He was great when he wasn't kicking it.
Yep, he's in great nick. His passing is possibly the best it's ever been, as is his defence.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 6:39 am
by Ymx
Balls. I didn’t set an alarm.
Though pleased with result, and that I didn’t need to suffer the anxiety of being behind most of the match.
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 6:40 am
by Ymx
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:44 am
He was great when he wasn't kicking it.
Too much box kicking ?
Re: Crusaders v Highlanders
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 6:43 am
by FujiKiwi
Ymx wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 6:40 am
FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:44 am
He was great when he wasn't kicking it.
Too much box kicking ?
Not so much as little chip kicks in attacking situations, one of which went out on the full after a quick tap and wasted a penalty.