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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 4 2018, 09:33 AM (637 Views) | |
| Onward | Jun 4 2018, 09:33 AM Post #1 |
Squad Player
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Apparantly you can get 33 to 1 on Saints winning prem next season.Think I will keep my £1 in my pocket and reconsider the season after. Glos are 20 to 1 after their recruiting. Could be the team to watch next season I guess all goes quiet now until August. Cant see any WOW signings to keep us engaged so wish all corresppondents here a very enjoyable Summer |
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| flanker | Jun 4 2018, 02:46 PM Post #2 |
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Chronic announcing one signing - young full back. |
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| happyclapper | Jun 4 2018, 02:47 PM Post #3 |
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I think realistically, it's going to be between Sarries and Exeter again. I don't think anyone else has got the players or depth to mount a season long challenge. I'd be tempted to put money on Saints finishing top 4 though, no idea what the odds are though. I'm still expecting a couple of big signings this summer... |
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| big mac returns | Jun 4 2018, 05:29 PM Post #4 |
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into the senior academy though new signings i reckon all comes down to if they can use the horne money etc. and if anyone is actually available. |
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| Bedford Saint | Jun 4 2018, 09:08 PM Post #5 |
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Ive lost track, did we ever spend the Picamoles money ??? and what happened to the £1m stumped up by the shareholders to boost the squad - I am presuming that most went on Biggar, so that should leave loads leftover. The big winger cant cost as much as North. Myler, Fodes, North, Brookes, Day, Groom would all have commanded decent money. Some of the players from the academy - Grayson, Mitchell will be on low salaries. |
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| Wibble | Jun 5 2018, 09:26 AM Post #6 |
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The problem we had(have) is that ticket sales have not been all that good. We built the new stand as we were almost always at full capacity and had no room for growth. Unfortunately the quality of the rugby went down and costs went up. Leaving us with a big hole in our finances. Added to that the costs to get rid of people like mallinder and Robson and we probably dont have any left over. Personally I am not worried about this either. We have had terrible value from our Marquee signings anyway. The players that do best for us have usually been either local or lesser known foreign players. For this season we just need to consolidate, get back to winning most of our home games and start to rebuild team spirit. Do that and the fans will return at the levels we need. Once Boyd has had time to asses what we need this year he can look at adding a little more quality in the right positions. And hopefully the club can get back in the black. |
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| Wibble | Jun 5 2018, 10:03 AM Post #7 |
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Just to add, I believe we are well under the cap right now but as much as I like new signings I want them to be the right players for us to improve. We seem to have plugged most of the gaps so unless a world class 8 becomes available I wont be too worried. |
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| big mac returns | Jun 5 2018, 01:11 PM Post #8 |
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You would imagine moneywise there still is some due to Horne etc North/myler leaving probably just about covers biggars salary, he's rumoured to be on 600k Taqule won't be cheap, I imagine many clubs were after him. I'm getting a little bit excited about him. Man is aflame for the tahs!!! You would imagine the salary has reduced, however that was probably needed to make it sustainable. The club can't afford to lose a million every year. |
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| Hood56 | Jun 5 2018, 07:51 PM Post #9 |
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Is bigger really with 600k a year!? He's good sure but I feel that could be better spent than on a player who won't be playing the whole season |
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| Wibble | Jun 5 2018, 08:08 PM Post #10 |
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All depends on results i guess. There are a finite number of top class 10s. Personally i think its a risk but if he sets our backs alight we will all think it worth it. I guess the only comparisons are Farrell, Ford and the like. |
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| happyclapper | Jun 6 2018, 12:34 AM Post #11 |
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Personally I rate Biggar. Not sure I like his attitude on the field but I think he is a class player. His tactical knowledge, kicking accuracy, defence, ability under a high ball, passing are all top drawer. I'd say he's in the top 5 10s globally so definitely worth it. |
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| big mac returns | Jun 6 2018, 09:02 PM Post #12 |
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agree, hes up there as one of the best tens in world rugby |
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| happyclapper | Jun 6 2018, 09:38 PM Post #13 |
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We should mark this occasion Mac!
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| Wibble | Jun 7 2018, 09:08 AM Post #14 |
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Hopefully if Biggar is away with wales a lot it will also give plenty of game time to young Grayson. |
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| big mac returns | Jun 8 2018, 10:40 AM Post #15 |
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you have to imagine thats going to be the case, perfect opportunity for young grayson. he does look a player!! but still very green. we look very light at ten imo, an injury and we are struggling, however, similar to the scrum half position i wouldnt want to see a misc player come in and take away that opportunity to develop a real star. would love to see us go with a back line as below in some of the european games; mitchell grayson collins hutch dingwell sleightholme Mallinder |
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| happyclapper | Jun 8 2018, 11:16 AM Post #16 |
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I can't see that back line happening in the ECC Mac. I think we'll target ECC and LV (or whatever it is called) next season, knowing those are our only realistic chance of silverware. I can see us maybe using that back line in the LV. But with ECC also giving us guaranteed EC and the league being very competitive for top 6, we have to be strong. I can also see Boyd wanting to try and build some momentum. I hope that most weeks we put out our best team but with some sensible rotation, i.e. play Mitchell from start every 3rd game etc, if it's possible. |
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| big mac returns | Jun 8 2018, 12:50 PM Post #17 |
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depends who we draw in the ecc, that backline should be more then enough for a few of the teams behind a decent pack. seeing as Clermont as also in it this year and we draw them every year odds on us being drawn v them!!!!!?????? I would go the same way sarries went with rotation, virtually 2 on 2 off etc |
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| Wibble | Jun 8 2018, 02:09 PM Post #18 |
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I think having two 10s is fine. Its not ideal as we all saw this season BUT if injury does hit we have Francis and Mallinder who can fit in at 10 if needed. We dont want to spend money on more wandies players. Rotation is the key here. Not as a way to ignore form and remove competition for places but as a way to say to our reserve players, look you will get a chance to prove yourself . And also to say to our first teamers, you wont get played into the ground. Let them battle it out over the season to start in the cup games, not over who gets most wet on a friday night up in Trafford. |
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| flanker | Jun 8 2018, 04:38 PM Post #19 |
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That should buy you a decent property in Jimmy's End shouldn't it? |
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| danjsaints | Jun 10 2018, 05:35 PM Post #20 |
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There are decent properties in Jimmy's End?
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| Onward | Jun 11 2018, 08:25 AM Post #21 |
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Boyd has been making some interesting comments recently one of which is the likely no more big signings until after the World Cup. This is being read as a couple of AB's for the season after next. So just maybe our No8 situation will be sorted by signing Kieran Reed? |
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| danjsaints | Jun 30 2018, 05:56 PM Post #22 |
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Seen that Bath are letting James Wilson go, though it looks like it's not a popular decision. Always rated him as a quality squad player and seemingly a thoroughly decent chap. Would we want to see him back here as injury cover? https://www.rugbypass.com/news/james-wilson-not-getting-new-contract-bath |
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| flanker | Jun 30 2018, 07:37 PM Post #23 |
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I thought James Wilson was a good player. Covered a lot of positions and worked hard. Has he been off form if they're letting him go? |
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| Wibble | Jun 30 2018, 11:09 PM Post #24 |
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When i saw him for bath he played as good as always. I would have him back. Good player and versatile |
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| big mac returns | Jul 3 2018, 02:16 PM Post #25 |
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he was solid enough and is a good player, struggled with injuries. but for me not outstanding. a good player to have in the squad. however i woldnt want him back. we have done the right thing and reduced the size of the squad. players like wilson just create blockages for the younger lads. would rather have a couple of young specialists then a jack of all trades journeyman , cant believe they gave nafi another deal. what a waste of money, have no sympathy for their salary pressures when they are handing contracts out to players who are not good enough. |
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| Wibble | Jul 3 2018, 03:54 PM Post #26 |
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Mac... i fully expect Nafi to have the season of his life and win prem player of the year now just to annoy you. I hope he was cheep. |
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| happyclapper | Jul 3 2018, 05:47 PM Post #27 |
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Agree with Mac re Wilson. I never thought he was the saviour others did when he was here. He's had a couple of decent games in a below average Bath side. Not reason to get him back. I expect, therefore, to see him running out at FG next season... Re Nafi, it's hard. He's been in an under-performing team since he's arrived. He was good enough to get 20 caps for The Crusaders, so there must be something there. I've seen some good stuff but he has been very inconsistent. What we don't know is if the inconsistency is him, or all the other average players around him. As long as he's not costing a fortune and putting in the effort in training, he deserves a shot in a performing team. Also, with Horne gone, we don't want to get rid of all the babies with the bath-water, we need some players with prem experience. |
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| big mac returns | Jul 4 2018, 12:30 PM Post #28 |
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i just cant see why we need him, we have four wingers plus academy, Taqule Kellaway collins pisi and ace. then at 13, where for me hes not good enough, we have luther, symons, hutchinson, dingwell. for me if nafi is getting a game we have issues. |
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| happyclapper | Jul 4 2018, 01:25 PM Post #29 |
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Ace is a FB. So only 4 wingers. With Nafi and Ace who can cover. Some of those 13s will be covering 12 as well, so if you lump all the centres together, and assuming Harry is now an FB and Francis is a 12, we have Luther, Symons, Hutch, Ding, Strachan, Nafi and Francis. So Nafi gives us good coverage at both 13 and wing. And as I said, I don't think we can judge him as he's been in a crap team and has played well at times. I think Mac, it may be time to wipe the slate clean with Nafi (and maybe Ace as well) and give them a fresh start under new management. |
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| big mac returns | Jul 4 2018, 02:19 PM Post #30 |
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When u have such basic flaws in you skill set at their age its unlikely that we will see mass improvement. for me ace is decent in attack however a real liabilty in defence. too many games were lost purely down to errors from him. however i will give him a pass as hes not first choice and we need cover etc. with nafi, we have plenty of players in the roles he is covering. for me his defence isnt good enough for in any a 13 regardless. plus none of our wingers are internationals, we should'nt need more then 4 and its not like his attack is so superb.......... 12: francis, symons strachan tupai 13: luther, dingwell hutch wing: taqule kellerway collins pisi (plus ace can cover, & Furbank, Emery, worley, sleightholme) we should'nt need more! I'm sure he trains well and is a decent lad, just saying to me this is a waste of money and a potential blocker for the likes of dingwell. |
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9:47 AM Jul 11