Re: Kyle Amor... : Thu Aug 15, 2013 11:43 am  

Father Ted wrote:

Amor is good enough for this Saints pack.
If you want to improve your set of forwards you need to sign better players than Amor.

I do agree with this post.

It is becoming increasingly depressing where some supporters have set the bar in terms of acceptable players. The current list should frighten most people who want to see saints succeed.

Kyle Amour
Antony Kafusi
Stewart Howarth
Jarrod Sammut
Brett Kearney
Marc Sneyd
Gareth O'Brien
Tommy Lee

That list of players in most cases wont improve the current Saints squad and in some positions will actually take us back. I am not saying that any one on that list isnt a good player in their own right, but there is a reason most are not playing for a top club.
If we want to progress we need a better calibre of player than these.

Re: Kyle Amor... : Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:13 pm  

St. Etrigan wrote:

I do agree with this post.

It is becoming increasingly depressing where some supporters have set the bar in terms of acceptable players. The current list should frighten most people who want to see saints succeed.

Kyle Amour
Antony Kafusi
Stewart Howarth
Jarrod Sammut
Brett Kearney
Marc Sneyd
Gareth O'Brien
Tommy Lee

That list of players in most cases wont improve the current Saints squad and in some positions will actually take us back. I am not saying that any one on that list isnt a good player in their own right, but there is a reason most are not playing for a top club.
If we want to progress we need a better calibre of player than these.

I agree with aiming high but there also needs to be some realism , even if McManus sold the club to Bill Gates he would still have a salary cap and have to deal with the fact that the NRL and Union can offer more because of that.

I think your being harsh on a couple of he players above too

For starters Kaufusi is a decent prop who has plenty NRL experience and is an improvement on what we have , plus he's only 28

Re: Kyle Amor... : Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:24 pm  

St. Etrigan wrote:

I do agree with this post.

It is becoming increasingly depressing where some supporters have set the bar in terms of acceptable players. The current list should frighten most people who want to see saints succeed.

Kyle Amour
Antony Kafusi
Stewart Howarth
Jarrod Sammut
Brett Kearney
Marc Sneyd
Gareth O'Brien
Tommy Lee

That list of players in most cases wont improve the current Saints squad and in some positions will actually take us back. I am not saying that any one on that list isnt a good player in their own right, but there is a reason most are not playing for a top club.
If we want to progress we need a better calibre of player than these.

I think you're being a little harsh, for instance, not many want to retain Howarth nor sign Tommy Lee, that's just a rumour. You're also not considering that the SC has a tighter grip than it used to, so peoples' wishes/expectations are tailored to meet that.

Besides, a quick flick through my memory bank and I can think of the following players who've signed for saints from other clubs and won trophies -
Julian O'Neill, Paul Davidson, Chris Smith, Barry Ward, Ade Gardner, Dom Feunauti, Adam Fogerty, Paul Atcheson & Ricky Bibey - not the most salubrious list of stars.

Re: Kyle Amor... : Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:33 pm  

This isnt a go at the club by any means. It is mostly supporter driven the names that are being discussed as possibles for the club. It seems, at times, that any player who is available now has a champion to sign him for Saints.
I feel/hope that the club has more ambition and a better strategy than this and will highlight positions where we need improvement and get the best player that they can.

Because you mentioned it when you look at Kafusi you may see a 28 yr old who has NRL experience. I see a poor mans Puletua on a straight comparison right now, or Peaea from Hull but nowhere near as consistent. I would even need convincing that he is the best prop on Londons books.
That is not the player we need to fill a hole. I would rather identify a championship player who we can take on loan till the right player comes available.

From that list the only one I have a doubt in my own mind about is Sammut. he obviously is an unknown quantity that can produce attacking play out of nothing. But his defence is such an easy target for oposing teams that in my mind makes him undesirable at Saints

Re: Kyle Amor... : Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:42 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

I think you're being a little harsh, for instance, not many want to retain Howarth nor sign Tommy Lee, that's just a rumour. You're also not considering that the SC has a tighter grip than it used to, so peoples' wishes/expectations are tailored to meet that.

Besides, a quick flick through my memory bank and I can think of the following players who've signed for saints from other clubs and won trophies -
Julian O'Neill, Paul Davidson, Chris Smith, Barry Ward, Ade Gardner, Dom Feunauti, Adam Fogerty, Paul Atcheson & Ricky Bibey - not the most salubrious list of stars.

there are way too many for my liking, there are a multitude of threads on most of the players mentioned. It is the ease in which people accept this calibre of player as soon as any link with Saints becomes apparent.
In my opinion the bar has been set too low - this may be because of the season we are having - it may be that it is so long since we won anything that now anything is acceptable.
We rip the back out of other teams and their signings but seem to accept the same level at our own club.

For me that isnt something that I cannot speak out about.

As for your list of players who have won medals with Saints - I dont remember getting excited about any of those either and only 2 actually proved to be of the calibre of player we should have signed.

Re: Kyle Amor... : Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:05 pm  

St. Etrigan wrote:

there are way too many for my liking, there are a multitude of threads on most of the players mentioned. It is the ease in which people accept this calibre of player as soon as any link with Saints becomes apparent.
In my opinion the bar has been set too low - this may be because of the season we are having - it may be that it is so long since we won anything that now anything is acceptable.
We rip the back out of other teams and their signings but seem to accept the same level at our own club.

For me that isnt something that I cannot speak out about.

As for your list of players who have won medals with Saints - I dont remember getting excited about any of those either and only 2 actually proved to be of the calibre of player we should have signed.

As you say, a lot of what's mentioned is fan/message board driven, rather than what the board is actually after.

I think what's driving the "grab any available player" posts is that we see our squad having not just a few weakness, but one or two gaping holes - halfbacks (only one of which we've filled) and props (following the poor signings of Laffranchi and Perry and the departure of Graham).

From the list you'd mentioned, I fancy Kafusi, he's looke dgood in a (very) beaten team the last few times I've seen him. I also think getting hold of Sneyd would be a great call, a decent half now, but very young and lots of potential to improve - just like when we picked up Long and Martyn.

Sammut is a bit airy fairy, but the current lack of any dynamic option at 6 is cause for him to excite some supporters.

The rest carry little merit imo.

Re: Kyle Amor... : Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:41 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

From the list you'd mentioned, I fancy Kafusi, he's looke dgood in a (very) beaten team the last few times I've seen him. I also think getting hold of Sneyd would be a great call, a decent half now, but very young and lots of potential to improve - just like when we picked up Long and Martyn.

Sammut is a bit airy fairy, but the current lack of any dynamic option at 6 is cause for him to excite some supporters.

The rest carry little merit imo.

I have already mentioned Kafusi and Sammut so no point going over that again.

Sneyd would be a good shout if we hade a decent 6 and 7 ahead of him to bring in and work with and realise his potential in 12-24 months. Not as an immediate starter to fill one of those slots - IMO that is a recipe for disaster, that also would be my reason for not signing O'Brien, and he is 6 months ahead of Sneyd, in the playng for us stakes, but no better or worse a player than Sneyd.

Re: Kyle Amor... : Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:18 pm  

In all seriousness Amor has had yet again another top year and is a player we can build a pack round at Wakey.

I'd be more than happy for him to keep being overlooked by opposition fans and clubs. But Amor is a very good prop and would be knocking on the GB door easily at a more desireable club.