Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 10, 2023 6:06 pm  

Sir Gregory ParsloeP wrote:

And a super league off season, we could yet get a similar intake to last season, Olpherts, Roberts , Hooley and Sangare and flush £300k down the bog.

I wish I had the half full glass that you and Jim drink out of.
To be fair my half empty one is also half full, of Luke warm cat mickey.

Deliberately missing out the two macs who have been our best players.

It’s not optimism, optimism will be if i look at the signings and think were going to go ok, lets see how we look squad wise in December until then none of us know.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 10, 2023 6:11 pm  

christopher wrote:

Deliberately missing out the two macs who have been our best players.

It’s not optimism, optimism will be if i look at the signings and think were going to go ok, lets see how we look squad wise in December until then none of us know.

The Mac’s have been good but my point is we are continuing to make a lot of suspect signings. I hope you are right, but again it’s hope over evidence and experience.

Goudemand and Milnes ain’t going to win us a single match.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 10, 2023 7:02 pm  

Sir Gregory ParsloeP wrote:

And a super league off season, we could yet get a similar intake to last season, Olpherts, Roberts , Hooley and Sangare and flush £300k down the bog.

None of those players you mention were signed to be first choice members of the 17, with the possible exception of Sangare.

We made plenty of average signings fulfilling similar roles during the glory years - the likes of Liam Botham, Simon Worrall, Eric Anselme, Ian Kirke, Mike Coady etc. Every squad needs back up and the occasional project. Don't you realise it is a salary capped sport and most of the money was taken up by Richard Agar's bigger money signings - Austin, Sezer, Tetevano, Bentley, Fusitua etc?

At this point we have to be patient, which is not ideal given the predicament of the first team squad. We should be in line for better quality players for 2024 - we might not get the people we'd ideally want, but what's the good in slagging off the recruitment before it has been completed / announced?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 10, 2023 7:23 pm  

I still live in hope we are going to pull a couple of decent rabbits out the hat by December.
But GH needs to be very careful in this day and age that spending £50/60 to watch a disjointed team that doesn`t entertain let alone win matches.
That those fans will vote with their feet and attendances will tumble
Only then will GH realise he cannot continue to fob us off with signings on the horizon or that this will be another rebuilding year.
I think we have been far too patient and I can see the bubble is about to burst unless someone gets their magic hat on and gives us the signings we need to be successful again very soon.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 10, 2023 7:28 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

None of those players you mention were signed to be first choice members of the 17, with the possible exception of Sangare.

We made plenty of average signings fulfilling similar roles during the glory years - the likes of Liam Botham, Simon Worrall, Eric Anselme, Ian Kirke, Mike Coady etc. Every squad needs back up and the occasional project. Don't you realise it is a salary capped sport and most of the money was taken up by Richard Agar's bigger money signings - Austin, Sezer, Tetevano, Bentley, Fusitua etc?

At this point we have to be patient, which is not ideal given the predicament of the first team squad. We should be in line for better quality players for 2024 - we might not get the people we'd ideally want, but what's the good in slagging off the recruitment before it has been completed / announced?

I get it’s a salary capped sport and agree there is a lot of cap which will be available, so we will make signings and should be able to make some quality ones.
Agree those big earners were not brought in under Smith.
My view and concern is that we’ve got less player quality now than we had when Smith took over, for example Olpherts has the 16 shirt, but you and Christopher have a fair point we don’t know what will happen in next few months.

I’ll leave it here and hope our squad for next year is better than I expect it will be.

Putting my positive hat on, maybe some of the project/ questionable signings made
Come on a lot next year and can genuinely influence a SL game. IF we get 2 real game changers it would make a big difference, fingers crossed

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Aug 10, 2023 7:39 pm  

christopher wrote:

Great to hear another clubs fan’s perspective, so are some Hull fans doing the same as some Leeds fans snd thinking that the club is being run badly and ayers don’t want to go there because they haven’t yet announced signings 7 months before next season starts?

The reality is theres only really Wigan who have announced a load of signings.

I can see it from both sides....

Om one hand, we have had Clifford, Swift, Griffin, Satae all confirmed to be leaving, with rumours of Savelio also, and all we've really had confirmed (though not by the club!) is Tindall from you guys, and Jack Ashworth. That has led to a multitude of rumours as the players leaving have been our top performers this year, so there is an element of panic as the aim for next year is to improve.

However, in the last few years, we have tailed off in the back end of the year. This isn't just the players, it's the fans too. There is too much focus put on who will be playing for you next year, when there is still a season to play for this year. If the fans are downing tools and focusing on next year, then that can impact the atmosphere around the City and the Stadium and can be indirectly affecting the players. This year, Smith has been consistent with his message that signings are made, the club will announce them in time, but let's get in that top 6 this year first!

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Aug 11, 2023 8:04 am  

The difference is that Leeds are now down to one experienced half back, a rookie at fullback and a guy who's learning but probably experiencing a bit of second season syndrome at hooker. Letting Austin go without a replacement effectively told the world this season was done, regardless of the rights and wrongs. Looking at our squad and just the general vibe I wouldn't be surprised if we struggle to win another game all year.

If that's the case, and we continue to utterly lack any kind of entertainment I can see the atmosphere at home games changing from bored to angry quite quickly.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Aug 11, 2023 9:23 am  

With the season pretty much written off, I must admit, I'm not particularly motivated to go to the remaining home games.. all feels very flat.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Aug 11, 2023 10:06 am  

Trebor1 wrote:

With the season pretty much written off, I must admit, I'm not particularly motivated to go to the remaining home games.. all feels very flat.

Being dragged kicking and screaming to the Huddersfield game myself.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Aug 12, 2023 9:36 am  

Arrived in London last night for todays game and the atmosphere in the bar with all the fans reminds me why our game is the best on the planet good luck to Kr and the Leopards.