Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:42 am  

knocker norton wrote:

Which is why a 'backup' half back is the most important piece of business we do in the off season.

Think you are been harsh on O'Meley as well.

Wasnt knocking the bloke, just a fact he did miss quite a few games.

[Mild Rover]

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:56 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Tansey
Sharpe
Berro
Yeaman
Briscoe
Horne
Long
Hame
Houghton
Shrek
Tickle
Fitz
Whiting

Washbrook (Hk)
Radford (Pr)
Moa (Pr)
Manu (Sr)

Looks a good side imo.

It's a decent 17, but the squad needs 2 more players - at a minimum, even if Dowes/Prescott sign.

In case of injuries - you have Lynne, Turner and Jack Briscoe for the backs. No real cover for your halves. If your props are O'Meley, Radford (will be missing early season probably), Moa and ED/PP, you are relying on cover from players who played in the backrow this year - you are well stocked there at least. If Berrigan moves to centre you've only got Houghton as a natural 9.

Ideally you'd want a half-cum-hooker in the Tommy Leuleuai mould, both Dowes and Prescott and a utility back. You need the half, I suspect realistically you'll have to choose between the extra prop and extra back - with Whiting being a primarily a back or backrow forward dependent on this.

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:01 am  

I can see why people think we will really struggle next season, It seems we are relying on Horne and Long to stay fit, but even if they did to be honest I'm not sure we will do well if they do, Horne was poor most games he played in my opinion only the first 20 of Wigan away stands out for me, and although he offered a bit of direction Longs kicking game was erratic, and he didn't take the line on as often as he did for Saints, this is what he was known for. Top 6 with our sqaud would be a very good season.

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:02 am  

Mild Rover wrote:

It's a decent 17, but the squad needs 2 more players - at a minimum, even if Dowes/Prescott sign.

In case of injuries - you have Lynne, Turner and Jack Briscoe for the backs. No real cover for your halves. If your props are O'Meley, Radford (will be missing early season probably), Moa and ED/PP, you are relying on cover from players who played in the backrow this year - you are well stocked there at least. If Berrigan moves to centre you've only got Houghton as a natural 9.

Ideally you'd want a half-cum-hooker in the Tommy Leuleuai mould, both Dowes and Prescott and a utility back. You need the half, I suspect realistically you'll have to choose between the extra prop and extra back - with Whiting being a primarily a back or backrow forward dependent on this.

The squad will hopefully have two more signings, a prop and half back plus we have Turner, Lyne and Nicklas for the backs and Burnett, Kent and Cunningham for the forwards. We also have players like Whiting/Berro/Turner that can be moved around depending on the style we want to play.

We do need two more signings and should we get them then I would be reasonably happy. Hall and Calderwood have been replaced so just have to replace Yak and possibly Dowes.

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:03 am  

jordanp wrote:

I can see why people think we will really struggle next season, It seems we are relying on Horne and Long to stay fit, but even if they did to be honest I'm not sure we will do well if they do, Horne was poor most games he played in my opinion only the first 20 of Wigan away stands out for me, and although he offered a bit of direction Longs kicking game was erratic, and he didn't take the line on as often as he did for Saints, this is what he was known for. Top 6 with our sqaud would be a very good season.

Horne played very well until he got injured, back to back motms at home early in the season along with his Wigan display.

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:04 am  

VerbalKint wrote:

How many times do you think we will start with that side? probably be able to count in on one hand like this season, Long another year older, even more prone to injuries, how many games did Fitz and Shrek miss?? plenty. On paper agree that looks a half decent side, but we all know it wont happen. Where already look like were going to be missing Radders for the start of the season, so that team is blown out the water straight away.

We won't know until the season starts but a new prop would solve the Radford issue even though he has said he will be fit for the first game.

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:05 am  

Superbowl Scott wrote:

Do you think we'll get better than 6th with only 1 signing ? Hame at prop is a massive worry, any prop with any sort of movement he grabs at fresh air. Yeaman hasnt done anything for the last couple of years. We all know deep down that Horne and Long will play half a season max. I dont even wanna mention Radford and Washbrook.

I don't know who will get injured and who won't, we can only guess. With a halfback coming in then we would have cover for Horne/Long plus Nicklas and the likes of Washy/Berro/Turner.

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:06 am  

Rupert Pupkin wrote:

You might scrape a few more games out of Long and Horne this season. As it stands now with the squad you have, I really think you will struggle to make the top 8.

You probably though you would finish higher than us last season and would not lose both derby games in SL but you would have been wrong.

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:08 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Tansey; Can be a game breaker for either side, too inconsistent and a liability on and off the pitch
Sharpe; Looks to be a good signing, but until he's put some time on the pitch in our team I'm as yet undecided
Berro; Will go well if we keep him at centre and don't go moving him from one position to another
Yeaman; Last chance saloon for me, too inconsistent and certainly not a team player
Briscoe; Say no more
Horne; Way, way past his best. Injuries and illness have taken their toll, should be cover at best (no room for sentimentality in professional sport - well not in successful teams anyway
Long; Signed 5 years too late, nothing more than a panic buy and will be lucky to start more than 1/2 of our games next season. Will have the odd great game, but only when he's up for it i.e. St Helens
Hame; Had his best games for us last season out wide in the second row, too volatile to be in the front row, especially with a poor/non-existant tackling technique, would rather have Dowes there to be honest
Houghton; Class act, but will need spelling, we looked well off the pace last season when Danny wasn't on the pitch and I fear any replacement/stand in (Washbrook) will make us look even more laborious than we were
Shrek; Top man
Tickle; Had a great season, more again please
Fitz; Again a top class player, although I would like to see him at loose man and show a bit of leadership as he did last year rather than lost somewhere in the second row
Whiting; Great utility player and a massive servant to this club, just not convinced that loose is the best use of his obvious talents

Washbrook (Hk); I like Danny Washbrook, but I think he has suffered as many of our youngsters tend to do over the last few seasons as he is pushed from one position to another. personally i would prefer to see him given an extended run at loose rather than trying to fit him in as a back up hooker
Radford (Pr); Been a good servant, but like Yak, it was time to say thanks and adios
Moa (Pr); One project that has worked, but needs to be given longer on the field, fitness is still a worry
Manu (Sr); No disagreement from me on this, I've always felt he was better suited to coming on later as a strike player

The backbone of the side looks good, but a couple of injuries in key positions will see us revert to the type of rugby we've been forced to watch over the last 4 seasons.

Re: Transfers, rumours - version 701! : Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:21 am  

PAUL M wrote:

You probably though you would finish higher than us last season

and would not lose both derby games in SL but you would have been wrong.

Erm........ we did

I never expected that like.