: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:16 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

The 1 thing i will point out re-signing's is to think back to 2006,many screamed for a new signing and GH went out and signed an international centre(toopi) he arrived just in time to witness a dire effort in the cc semi v huddersfield.
He then went on to make his debut and play the rest of season,did he "lift" the team???
Was his introduction a kick up the backside the squad needed??
Also it ended with him being slated at every oppertunity,and GH's sanity being questioned so it prove's that new signing's don't always work mid-season especially when added to a team low on confidence and form.
I know we signed Ali mid 2004 and he turned into a fantastic aqusition but that squad wasn't on a run of poor form or low confidence was it?

Good point well made about Toopi. The thing is with Toopi though he'd been demoted into the reserves for a while before we came in so the warning signs were there, but i get your point. I think they have to chose very carefully but nothing is 100% certain with how signings work out.
Signings or no signings we also are playing poorly as a team and this needs to be addressed.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:20 pm  

well last season we signed the part time french player eric anselme on a tempory contract.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:24 pm  

finglas wrote:

Whether you accept it or not IMO this season is going to be a development season.

The only thing that's going to develop that I can see is the advancing ages and mileage of Peacock, Senior, McGuire, Burrow, Sinfield, Diskin, Buderus, Ali, JJB, Kylie, Kirke and Webb. Then we have Donald and now looking likely Smith, to replace. We don't have a lot to develop in place of these guys (although I do think Ablett will turn into a very good back row forward).
Not a good time to have a gap year.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:38 pm  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

The only thing that's going to develop that I can see is the advancing ages and mileage of Peacock, Senior, McGuire, Burrow, Sinfield, Diskin, Buderus, Ali, JJB, Kylie, Kirke and Webb. Then we have Donald and now looking likely Smith, to replace. We don't have a lot to develop in place of these guys (although I do think Ablett will turn into a very good back row forward).
Not a good time to have a gap year.

Sorry, be development I meant a vpause whilst the club look at where the longer term need is going to be not 2009. As I said with the Eastwood and Lee Smith situations and another 5/6 players OOC the clubs first priority is to see who will be there in 2010 before it signs or makes any commitments to further recruitment. In that way it will be a development year.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:52 pm  

finglas wrote:

Sorry, be development I meant a vpause whilst the club look at where the longer term need is going to be not 2009. As I said with the Eastwood and Lee Smith situations and another 5/6 players OOC the clubs first priority is to see who will be there in 2010 before it signs or makes any commitments to further recruitment. In that way it will be a development year.

You stand still in this sport, you'll get overtaken really quickly and it takes a while to get that momentum back...

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:00 pm  

rpw wrote:

:lol: Donald has played most of his career at Leeds on the left though. Either way your point is laughable.. they can both play either side. Your question was are saints better man for man and who would I take out of their back line... I've given you 2 or 3 examples: Gidley better than Gibson or Smith at centre(i am correct), Gardner better than Hall or BJB on the wing(I am correct). And this is what you come back with

FFS you might aswell compare Leon Pryce to Ryan Hall then
Webb, Donald, Smith, Senior Hall vs
Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Gilmour, Meli
Only Gidley over Smith is a clear cut Saints win, but I'd rather take Smith's potential than the short terminsm of Gidley.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:02 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

So replacing Ellis with Ablett makes the squad/team the same standard - you are being typically obtuse/stubborn as your views have been found out

Didn't we sign another hooker too?
Should any of our younger players have improved in the last year?
Did our coaching and conditioning staff do anything in the off-season?

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:06 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

How can he - if he did that he basically saying his boss hasn't done his job - come on Richie!!

McRae said just that a week ago.
Seems very common in soccer.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:19 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

You stand still in this sport, you'll get overtaken really quickly and it takes a while to get that momentum back...

I agree which is why I assume the club signed Eastwood and Soliola. Unfortunately one has been delayed (possibly) and the other, if true, didn't come off due to an injury from what i can gather. I agree the club will need to get momentum back and it is not where IMO the club wanted to be. I'm not saying it's right or wrong what they are doing but unless a quality player came up and fulfilled a longer term need for the club rather than a 2009 need I do not see the point in signing for the sake of it and affecting the requirements of the club for the next few years.

: Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:26 pm  

DISA wrote:

You actually said we had great squad depth with players like this to come in and cover.

Yes, seen them play, and doubt either of them will play for Leeds first team ever, and certainly not up to covering as of now. We see new players joining the squad for preseason every year, and they go by the wayside. I don't look too much at exceptions, for me, if you are not raising headlines at 17 lets look at the next crop.

We'd better write off the whole reserve acadamy squad now then!!