In what way is Watkins "struggling"?

please read my statement again and try not to jump to conclusions



the kid is learning and the only way he is going to learn is by being out there on the pitch

Watkins has the potential to be a stand out centre and IMO will one day grace a representative shirt but… at the moment he is still making rookie mistakes and at times still looks like a reserve player.



He has a ton of enthusiasm and has some nice touches but the question is:



Should he be loaned out to home his skills and round his talents or is a baptism of fire appropriate for this young prodigy?



With the absences of Smith our centre options are limited and, at the moment, needs must but when Smith returns what path should be taken with him?



I believe, at the moment, we are not in a position to have him learning his trade when the costs for mistakes can be relatively expensive. A lad of this talent needs to be weaned gently and slowly to SL standard and not dropped in at the deep end.

I'll ask again, in what way is Watkins "struggling"?

watkins is an outstaning young player.



Remember he only made his debut last season and his overall appearcne total is still minimal.

In the same way the rest of the side is G1, poor ball control, poor option taking in both attack and defence, silly individual errors.



I suggest loaning the entire first team squad out to a Championship side to gain some confidence and replacing them with our all-conquering, confidence filled reserve side.

Now your talking

I see.



Because I've seen the lad, like the rest of the outside backs, starved of quality ball in space. I've seen the lad in and out of the team given no chance to build any form, momentum and confidence and I've seen the lad force a couple of balls and make a couple of errors, just like the rest of the team.



As you say, if his "struggles" merit dropping him and loaning him out to a Championship side then which championship side will be getting Donald, Senior, McGuire, Burrow, Diskin, Kylie, JJB, Ablett, Sinfield, Kirke, Peacock, Ali etc etc?



I am all for scape-goating and there e a a couple of prime candidates to carry the can for recent results but a young talented centre like Watkins should only be in the sights of fekkwitt scapegoaters.

Gareth i totally agree.



I think the main thing here is consistency with selection.



From what i have seen its seems to be one week in for Gibson then one week for Watkins. This seems to be the way regardless of performance.



I seem to remember a similar situation with Smith and Hall last season during which period there were endless debates about which one of those two were the weak link when neither of them could seem to get an consistency due to playing well one week then been mysteriously replaced the week after.



Surely it would be beneficial for all to choose one and give them an extended run.

We should give gibson an extended run.

I would agree with that. He has more experience, and is a more stable player at this stage. Watkins should get a chance on the wing/centre when there is a case to rest someone or an injury crops up.



When smith comes back, depending on when it is we'll see if anyone has staked a claim by that stage

I don't think gibsons done a bad job so far, he's just been solid. But what can he do? it's not like he's getting put into any space or being given one on one opportunities with his opposite number.



You can't just float passes outwide and expect people to sh*t miracles you need to create some indecision in the opposition defence and provide your players with multiple options.



We aren't doing that, but then we aren't getting much opportunity either because most of the time we are bringing the ball out of our own half.