Anybody else think phil clark tonight seemed to love putting us down on sky

[MA]

Yes he did praise us in the nrc final against whitehaven.He had to we battered them what else was he going to say?.All i was saying like a few others is that he seemed to be a fax fan last night and got on our backs alot.I ended up just wanting to win to shut him up lol.He did our heads in.

I was thinking the same. There was no comment when Fax gang tackled Flynn and pushed him back. I think Clarke saw our incident and immediately thought we had picked him up. replays showed we had done nothing of the sort. When he saw the rules he tried to make out he was just implying on how Widnes were not playing in the spirit of the game re: its not rugby lift.

I think it just depends on how Clarke is feeling on the night. He has praised us plenty in the past.

[Chris B]

Never understood this argument...

Rugby League is first and foremost a territorial game.. you make as much ground as you can in 6 tackles to try and make it to the opposite end of the field. If the defending team thwarts this by moving you back territorially then surely so be it. 

Phil Clarke has consistently been against teams being able to drag players back over large yards but I just don't see the problem.

[Stevie]

I thought on the whole is very complimentary of Widnes!

[John S]

I thought on the whole is very complimentary of Widnes!

Correct--the problem is that there is a minority of fans--although it seems like a majority sometimes on here--who cannot accept any comment that can construed to be critical of their own team. 

Suddenly "He doesnt like us"  "He never says anything nice about us" and this has been almost everyone one SKY, radio and any other media outlet.  Quite frankly its petty and pathetic.  There have been some great things said about us over the years but its just too easy to jump on the so called criticiism.

We have a great club, the right things in place at the moment to get us back to the top but from time to time there will be the odd comment which we might not like but that is life--live with it and move on.

[Pepe Le Pew]

Even me better half was gobsmacked at some of the things he was saying to put us down and big halifax up.Like when we forced a drop out from about a 4 meter tackle.he was trying to say it was the same as dragging a player 90 meters.and he kept at us all night with snipes.our was it just me ?

I wouldn't worry too much about that. He's been banging on about that for years and had a season long argument with Barrie Mac last year. He said the same thing when we played in the NRC final too. Barrie thought the defenders deserved credit for their effort and Phil C just harped on about dragging players for 90 metres. He's talking spanglese. I've never seen that happen and I'm sure it never will.

[Huggybear]

Correct--the problem is that there is a minority of fans--although it seems like a majority sometimes on here--who cannot accept any comment that can construed to be critical of their own team. 

Suddenly "He doesnt like us"  "He never says anything nice about us" and this has been almost everyone one SKY, radio and any other media outlet.  Quite frankly its petty and pathetic.  There have been some great things said about us over the years but its just too easy to jump on the so called criticiism.

We have a great club, the right things in place at the moment to get us back to the top but from time to time there will be the odd comment which we might not like but that is life--live with it and move on.

Some people just love to get on their high horse don't they!

I don't think Phil Clarke has anything against us. I do get the impression that he and TOC don't get along and it might have something to do with that.

[craigies6pack]

Never understood this argument...

Rugby League is first and foremost a territorial game.. you make as much ground as you can in 6 tackles to try and make it to the opposite end of the field. If the defending team thwarts this by moving you back territorially then surely so be it. 

Phil Clarke has consistently been against teams being able to drag players back over large yards but I just don't see the problem.

My thoughts too Chris. I am sure I've heard him say it is great defence when tacklers wrestle players out in touch so where is the difference when they drive players backwards.

Not having a go at Clarkey for being biased as I don't for one minute think he is pro or anti anyone.

[widnes_tiger]

"It's Rugby League not Rugby Lift"    

He came out with this one twice!

that did make me giggle.

but if someone was to be dragged in touch do you think he'd be the same