First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 12:45 pm  

This is a real tricky one.Just made a list of top of my head then I was thinking what about so and so and again what about so and so.Heres my original 17 off top of my head.When everyone's fit I don't envy FC

Kearney
Kear
Henry
Purtell
Foster
Gaskell
Gale
Carvell
Le Strange
Scruton
Ferguson
Winterstein
Bateman

Sammut
Sidlow
Nas
Diskin

No doubt everyone's will be different

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 12:51 pm  

Pasted from other thread:

Kearney
Kear
Blythe
Henry
Foster
Sammut/Gaskell
Gale
Scruton
Heath
Nas
Bateman
Ferguson
Addy

Diskin
Carvell
Sidlow
Winterstein

This leaves one of Sammut or Gaskell knocking on the door along with Purtell, George, Olbison, Donaldson, Walker, Evans, Roberts, Wood, Mellor, O' Brien and Conroy.

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:00 pm  

I never even thought about Matty Blythe

Think the squad is looking pretty decent

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:02 pm  

Assuming everybody was fit (which is unlikely to happen I admit) I would go with:

Kearney
Kear
Purtell
Gaskell
Foster (gk)
Sammutt
Gale
Scruton
L'Estrange
Manuokofoa
Ferguson
Bateman
Addy

Interchange: Carvell, Sidlow, Diskin, Blythe.

Harsh on some to miss out but that would give us plenty of options for reshuffles either due to injury or lack of form. For the tougher games I would put Evans or Winterstein in for Gaskell and Blythe or Henry into the centres but that is just me.

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:06 pm  

Fullback: Kearney, Foster, Kear, Gaskell
Wings: Kear, Foster, George, Henry, Purtell, Wood
Centres: Blythe, Henry, Purtell, Winterstein, Gaskell, Wood
Stand Off: Sammut, Gaskell, Addy, Henry (?)
Scrum Half: Gale, Sammut, Addy, Gaskell
Props: Nas, Scruton, Carvell, Sidlow, Evans, Walker (?)
Hooker: Heath, Disko, O'Brien, Conroy
Second Row: Bateman, Ferguson, Winterstein, Olbison, Walker, Addy, Donaldson, Roberts, Mellor, Evans
Loose: Bateman, Addy, Donaldson, Ferguson, Winterstein, Walker

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:35 pm  

I still shudder at the thought of Gaskell in the centre. While to me he's very reminiscent of Leon in the way he moves and plays, I fear his defence won't be up to scratch out wide.

I'd happily play him there in a friendly to see it for myself, but defending close to our line with Sammut, him and Foster out on an edge gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:44 pm  

At the moment from who's nailed on and in the form I believe they can play, I'd pick;

Kearney
Foster (George)
Henry (George)
Blythe
Kear
Gaskell
Sammut
Scruton
L'Estrange
Carvell
Ferguson
Bateman
Donaldson

Diskin (O'Brien)
Winterstein (hmmm)
Sidlow
Manuokafoa

For me the top 3 to 'improve' (for want of a better word) are Diskin, Purtell and Olbison. Add that extra few percent and there pushing behind the team. My back-up of George is purely on when he's good! (back in 2012)

A few changes means to the above means we do lack a goal kicker though.

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:57 pm  

FWIW:
Kearney
Kear
Henry
Blythe
Foster
Gaskell
Sammutt
Scruton
L'Estrange
Carvell
Ferguson
Bateman
Addy

Diskin
Manuokafoa
Donaldson
Sidlow

[Winslade's Offload]

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 2:41 pm  

Do you know if Evans is definitely with you next year ? I have not seen anything on the Wolves website, nor heard anything on the grapevine.

Re: First Choice 17 For 2014 : Tue Oct 29, 2013 3:08 pm  

Winslade's Offload wrote:

Do you know if Evans is definitely with you next year ? I have not seen anything on the Wolves website, nor heard anything on the grapevine.

It's been in the local paper quite a bit; when the story has been about Evans himself and when the story is about Cummins and his plans and prep for the off-season.

The Bulls reporter in the T&A usually doesn't deal in wild speculation and often talks of the on-going negotiations between the clubs.

I'd expect it to go ahead anyway.