Re: Who could we take to SL? : Thu Apr 08, 2010 11:44 pm  

For me, no one in the Widnes side could hack it in SL.

For Leigh, Only Chris Hill has an outside chance. The rest of our squad have no chance.

The gap is far too big in my opinion, but the 3 year gap of non promotion will have an obvious affect.

No doubting that Widnes have potential SL players, but to make the step up after 3 seasons in our division will do them no good.

Just my opinion of course, but you can probably count on one hand the amount of players who could make the step up in Champ and C1.

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Thu Apr 08, 2010 11:59 pm  

I think everyone seems to be in agreement. The young ones haven't done a lot wrong and if they improve further in the next 18 months then no reason why most of them shouldn't be given an opportunity. The only player I think I would disagree with is Matt Gardner, he doesn't take a lot of credit, but I think he's done really well for us and maybe worth a shot - if we get there. Jim Gannon is another I give a go to - if he wants to carry on that is. He seems to keep himself in really good nick and as things stand, doesn't look like he's on the way down as yet.

The only younger players that would be at risk would be Scott Yates and Mathew Strong -they are not that young anymore and haven't yet established themselves as top Championship players, never mind SL players. I think both Yates and Strong would be 24 by then, but 18 months is a long time and if I was either of them, I'd still believe there is enough time to show what I could do.

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:36 am  

Snowy wrote:

For me, no one in the Widnes side could hack it in SL.

For Leigh, Only Chris Hill has an outside chance. The rest of our squad have no chance.

The gap is far too big in my opinion, but the 3 year gap of non promotion will have an obvious affect.

No doubting that Widnes have potential SL players, but to make the step up after 3 seasons in our division will do them no good.

Just my opinion of course, but you can probably count on one hand the amount of players who could make the step up in Champ and C1.

To say noone could hack it is a bit harsh. Unless by hack it you mean stand out or be a star. If you look at the Cas and Hull KR teams they still have players who played in their promotion years, so it would be prudent to think some would still be able to make the step up.

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Fri Apr 09, 2010 7:18 am  

Pepe wrote:

1. James Ford – Yes (as a Centre)
2. Dean Gaskell - No
3. Richard Varkulis - possible
4. Toa Kohe Love - No (too old)
5. Paddy Flynn – Yes
6. Anthony Thackeray Yes (if only his kicking game was better he’d be a top SO)
7. James Webster No (too old)
8. Steve Pickersgill – Yes (Injuries permitting)
9. Mark Smith – Yes (with another good quality hooker)
10. Jim Gannon – No (Unfortunately will probably miss out due to age)
11. Lee Doran Possibly (as a squad player)
12. Dave Allen – Yes (He’s done well since his return. He’ll get even better imo)
13. Chris Gerrard – Don’t know (I’m not too sure where he even fits in now never mind SL)
14. Thomas Coyle – Yes (a handy squad player)
15. Shayne Grady - Yes
16. Gareth Haggerty - Yes (Injuries permitting)
17. Ben Kavanagh – Yes (Has a good step for a big lad. This is dangerous close to the line. A bit like Sam Burgess)
18. Scott Yates – No (I don’t think he’ll make it as a FB and there doesn’t seem to be any other option for him, unfortunately)
19. Matt Gardner No (has improved but I just can’t see it tbh)
21. Matt Strong – Possibly (He’s done no wrong but could do with getting bigger and more game time)
22. Dean Thompson – Yes (has shown real promise very quickly)
23. Dave Houghton – Yes (Getting better with every game)
24. Danny Hulme – Possibly (far too early to say, but the signs are good) 80)
25. Anthony Mullally – Don’t know

That leaves us my definates:
1. New Signing
2. New signing
3. James Ford
4. Shayne Grady
5. Paddy Flynn
6. Anthony Thackeray
7. New Signing (we need to make this the star signing and must be a good tactical kicker)
8. New signing
9. Mark Smith
10 Gareth Haggerty
11 Dave Allen
12 Ben Kavanagh
13 New sighing

Squad:
New signing - top quality hooker to spell, or be spelled by Smith.
New signing - another experienced prop
Thomas Coyle
Steve Pickersgill
Dean Thompson
Dave Houghton
Danny Hulme


That’s a minimum of 6 new signings but, we may actually need 8 or 9. Coming from a £300,000 squad to a £1.6 million squad, we may need more than 6 to compete, and PC may have to be a bit more ruthless than me. Obviously some of the possibles could be kept to fill out the squad.

I agree with most of what you say but i think Matt Gardner deserves a chance.He has played well for us this year.Some of our yougsters could be even better in 2yrs time.Ste Tyrer and joel tomkins where not outstanding for us in the championship and are doing good in superleague now.Richard Myler was good and did not think he become a top notch player.So shows if got better players around you, and fulltime it would make a difference.

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:13 am  

Thackeray and maybe Haggis...

I'd hope we'd do a similar thing to Hull KR and faze out almost all of our NL player over 2-3 years max..

I'd also HATE to see us take any player to SL based on sentimental reasons.. If a player is not good enough - and lets face it if they haven't secured a move to a SL club in the 5years we've been in the lower league that is a fair indication they aren't upto SL standard

Nes

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:38 am  

OFFTHECUFF wrote:

I agree with most of what you say but i think Matt Gardner deserves a chance.He has played well for us this year.Some of our yougsters could be even better in 2yrs time.Ste Tyrer and Sam tomkins where not outstanding for us in the championship and are doing good in superleague now.Richard Myler was good and did not think he become a top notch player.So shows if got better players around you, and fulltime it would make a difference.

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:05 pm  

OOPS i meant joel tomkins the secondrower.Not the scrumhalf.

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:55 pm  

I always thought Gardner was most confident under the high balls out of Flynn,Ford and any other players who have played winger/full back over this season's games.

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Sat Apr 10, 2010 4:00 pm  

At Leigh Hill, Bibey, Lulu, Nash and the 4 DC lads. Would also take Higson, Meekin and Ridyard as possibles.

Re: Who could we take to SL? : Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:15 pm  

SuperLeague????

Ford - as a centre
Flynn - wing
Thackeray - halfback
Pickersgill - bench frontrow
Smith - bench 9
Allen - squad player
Grady - squad player
Hulme - squad player

Doesn't make good reading does it?

Gaskell - nowhere near good enough
Varkulis - nowhere near good enough
Kohe Love - too old
Webster -not good enough, too old, too slow, too predictable
Gannon - too old
Doran - nowhere near good enough
Gerrard - nowhere near good enough
Coyle - not good enough, overweight and not suited to top level
Haggerty - nowhere near good enough, lazy
Kavanagh - not good enough, lazy
Yates - nowhere near good enough
Gardner - nowhere near good enough
Strong - nowhere near good enough
Thompson - not gonna be good enough
Houghton - not gonna be good enough, no athleticism
Mullally - no idea whats happened to him

Did I say not good reading? I mean bl00dy frightening!