: Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:27 am  

im delaying my judgement until our signings are announced

: Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:16 am  

Got to say that I don't see what the fuss is with Nash, he looks a decent player but unfortunately not SL class. I would suspect he will get snapped up by a bigger Championship team and do very well.
As for the rest I hope White gets a season injury free and provesto be the classy winger he is. Alker I havent seen to much off to be fair and Walton seems to have not done himself any favours with his antics and joins an ever growing list of good young players who have shot themselves in the foot with the off field expolits.

As everyone else is saying we need to recuit wisely as for the me with Noble in charge the Crusaders will be a different proposition next year and we could very easily be proping up the league.

: Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:04 pm  

surely white was worth another season?

: Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:54 pm  

Wilshere thing might still be a throwback to Floridagate ? that's the only surprise as I thought we'd try to hang onto him .
White was no fault of his own but to come back from a season long injury , how long did it take for Fitzpatrick to recover?
Nash showed promise but again had injury issues .
Walton, thought he was doing OK but has been commented on as a discipline issue ?
Alker Junior . not seen enough of him to comment .
The cupboard is bare we're having to cut our squad accordingly, every signing has to to count now more than ever !

: Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:41 pm  

middleman wrote:

every signing has to to count now more than ever !

Its not just the new players, everyone employed in the playing department has a responsability to give everything they have week in week out, off season is the time to allow the broken bodies to recover for next season.
This wont happen if the players dont look after themselves in the off season, im sure Hay has given them a off season training plan to keep them in shape add to that a few "extra" sessions between now and the begining of pre-season training im sure they will physically be able to go to the next level.

Its them "extras" that make all the differnce come season time imo

: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:09 pm  

Considering the players that have gone I feel we will need at the very least replacements to cover the following positions:-

Fullback (Need a good fullback as Fitzy is less than average since the injury)
2 x Wingers (Quality winger to play every week, one to challenge McGillvray for the other wing spot)
Centre (Competition or back up for Talau and Henry)
Utility Halfback (If Jeremy Smith moves to hooker, as cover for Ratchford & Matty Smith)
Prop (To replace Stapleton)
Second Row (To replace Parker who I'd move to prop)
Hooker (Possibly move Jeremy Smith to Hooker Interchange)

And possibly another goal kicker as cover for Ratchford.

Would anyone disagree with that?

: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:21 pm  

Fitzy & Sibbett staying then?

: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:22 pm  

Early Bath wrote:

Fitzy & Sibbett staying then?

I assume so because both players are still in contract and I wouldn't imagine the club have the money for golden handshakes in this climate.

: Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:17 pm  

My main worry is that one of the main criteria for franchise is to have a competing squad. Now we're getting rid of a large core of players. So I presume we'll be getting enough cover for these. We then need a bedding in period for them. If its true we are going to spend even less on the squad than this season how are we going to find a quality of player needed to move on and upwards? Are we looking at another season of crap perfomances by an inadequate squad? Therefore meaning a bottom 2 finish. Couple this with what is the fiasco of the it'll be starting to get built next month stadium. It wouldn't suprise me if the board have started money saving measures to get ready for a SL exit. Let's face it if we were going to get the stadium the board would be going all out to dig deep into their pockets. To ensure we have the best quality team we can, inwhich to gain momentum for entering the new age of salfords new stadium and the increase of crowds expected. Crowds who will want to watch a competetive team otherwise those expected thousands will very quickly disappear.

Fingers crossed the club will come good. I have my doubts

: Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:22 am  

its been reported in oz press that your looking at Brad Morrin to replace stapleton. http://thebulldogs.com.au/sportal.php?p ... yer&id=668

its been reported in oz press that your looking at Brad Morrin to replace stapleton. http://thebulldogs.com.au/sportal.php?p ... yer&id=668