Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:24 am  

I wouldn't be surprised if Toby King emerges as the best centre at Warrington next season.

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:47 am  

I was speaking about this to a sports psychologist last night who probably knows more about this than anyone on here.

He says that the squad numbers have little bearing on how players perform, especially for senior pros who have been playing for years. Apart from those who want numbers for superstitious reasons, the only people who are bothered about this is young players breaking into the squad and being given a squad number (any number) in the first place.

The thing that set me off was the comment about the confidence boost for Grix and he agreed with me that for someone like Grix, his number is irrelevant.

Looking at 1-13, it does look like our strongest team, so it's a boost now for the players who are in it as they will be thinking that if there are no injuries, they'll be playing the first game. But that's as far it goes and is no different to a manager naming any team a week before the match as the players picked would receive the same boost.

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 10:14 am  

I can see 2 purposes, it makes players identifiable and sells shirts. I can't see any objection

[Uncle Rico]

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 10:39 am  

latchfordbob wrote:

I was speaking about this to a sports psychologist last night who probably knows more about this than anyone on here.

He says that the squad numbers have little bearing on how players perform, especially for senior pros who have been playing for years. Apart from those who want numbers for superstitious reasons, the only people who are bothered about this is young players breaking into the squad and being given a squad number (any number) in the first place.

The thing that set me off was the comment about the confidence boost for Grix and he agreed with me that for someone like Grix, his number is irrelevant.

Looking at 1-13, it does look like our strongest team, so it's a boost now for the players who are in it as they will be thinking that if there are no injuries, they'll be playing the first game. But that's as far it goes and is no different to a manager naming any team a week before the match as the players picked would receive the same boost.

Well as he agreed with you I suppose that's that then.

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 10:47 am  

Uncle Rico wrote:

Well as he agreed with you I suppose that's that then.

There's nothing like getting an expert to backup your argument

[Uncle Rico]

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 10:58 am  

latchfordbob wrote:

There's nothing like getting an expect to backup your argument

Yes, I would imagine that there's nothing quite like it and as he and you both obviously know more than most on here I stand corrected and if Ratchford gets the number 1 shirt in next year's 'Lotto' whilst Russell gets 24 then hey ho

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:54 pm  

Uncle Rico wrote:

Yes, I would imagine that there's nothing quite like it and as he and you both obviously know more than most on here I stand corrected and if Ratchford gets the number 1 shirt in next year's 'Lotto' whilst Russell gets 24 then hey ho

I don't know more but he definitely does.

Your scenario's not going to happen but if it did and Tony Smith said to them both, Stefan, you're my first choice stand off and Matty, you're my first choice full back, then it wouldn't make any difference to their performances.

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:13 pm  

Skin tight shirts don't come cheap, and I'll bet Ben Harrison and Stefan Ratchford wouldn't fit into the same 13 shirt. Same goes for Joel Monaghan and Kevin Penny and a number of other alternatives.

The club don't have new shirts every week, this route would force that more often than not.

Plus, the cynic in my sees the kids getting Sims, Clark, Monaghan etc on their shirt, and the club scooping a couple of quid for a few stickers.

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:49 pm  

I would prefer to believe the players who play about whether the numbers mean anything or not.

Although do agree that it means more to the younger players than the guys who have been playing first team for years.

Re: 2015 Squad Numbers : Wed Dec 10, 2014 10:29 pm  

Anyway, number 25. New signing or someone promoted from the U19's? Where might we need strengthening?