Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:52 pm  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/20466061 I hope we'll be set for a decent season...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/20466061 I hope we'll be set for a decent season...

Re: Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:13 pm  

I just don't know personally. I'm honestly a little worried. I don't think we can count on other teams slipping backwards.
I see his point about us being better prepared in terms of training facilities. It was mentioned quite a bit last year how they didn't have a firm base and resorted to hiring pitches and even training on local fields when they needed to.
It's also important to remember I guess that whilst we don't have McShane, and only seemingly have Brown coming into the team, having O'Carroll back will be a boost. Hopefully one year on the team will hit the ground running.
There is a lingering doubt though that this year will be a struggle like last year.
I'm definitely nowhere near as excited about this season as I was last year. Hopefully that will change the nearer we get to the season.

Re: Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:30 pm  

Thought we had a gym under the North Stand but I understand pitch and had no facilities to train.Thought Dundalk Road pitches be ok but suppose not in severe weather.The team was virtually patched up and now hopefully gel and know each other better.Do think need a few signings but hopefully youngsters on dual at Workington will help them develop.Then when injuries occur they come back as better players.

Re: Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:12 pm  

Who are your signings for next year?
Also which players left the club?

Re: Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Tue Nov 27, 2012 3:31 am  

Kevin Brown new signing and got rid of several rubbish players.I think Phil Joseph added and a few of our youngsters will be stepping up and going on dual registration too.

Re: Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Tue Nov 27, 2012 12:12 pm  

I think we're being purposefully conservative in terms of signing players. The club are probably disappointed with the levels of support last season (the reason for this probably under investment in the playing squad creating something of a vicious circle). Hence the new CEO and upping of prices, trialing Friday night games etc. We're going to be using this season to take stock of where we are and how we can build better.

I'm not hugely disappointed if this is the case. I'd rather us build in a sustainable way than for Steve O'Connor to pump more of his own money in to draw more supporters in, that's the sort of logic that put us into administration.

To be quite frank there are some people who don't appreciate how lucky we are (not here mainly looking at the Trust board). A few years ago we didn't have a club to speak of, now we're in Super League. That's massive. Of course we'd all enjoy to be putting a better team on the pitch but not at risk of putting the club in financial trouble again.

Re: Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Tue Nov 27, 2012 12:22 pm  

Mixed from me at the minute, on one hand im glad we've kept a settled squad overall, it must be the first time in god knows how many years we've done that. On the other side of the coin our squad appears to be a little weaker in depth than it was last year. I'm sure Kevin Brown will be a good signing given we didn't really have a settled stand off at any point last season.

Still need another 2 players coming in for me, second row and centre, once we have them ill be looking forward to 2013.

For what its worth if Phil Joseph stays fit I think he'll be a decent squad player for us, he's got a lot more size than Haggerty for example and is very strong.

Re: Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Tue Nov 27, 2012 2:32 pm  

Joseph appeared to start the season well for Bradford then faded and found it difficult to get a bench place. Doubtful he's a SL quality player.
To climb the league your pack needs better than him.

Re: Widnes: Denis Betts says Vikings will be prepared : Fri Nov 30, 2012 8:09 pm  

We're pretty loved if we have six season ending injuries again.