Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Fri Dec 13, 2024 5:28 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

We already have our fair share of 6/10 players. Infact, I think we have more than most clubs.

Other than Ashton, Thewlis, Williams, Harrison, Walker and Fitzgibbon I'd say the rest are all pretty average and can be much improved on.

Unfortunately it appears that the club have spent a huge chunk of the cap on improving Dufty's new deal when we seemingly have a immensely talented fullback waiting in the wings already. Another poor indictment of the recent recruitment at the club.

Hopefully things will improve with the end of King's contract. I don't mind a huge chunk going to Dufty as he is box office (and we would be up in arms if he left to our rivals), but King is absolutely not box office.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Fri Dec 13, 2024 5:57 pm  

just_browny wrote:

If you think Dufty is 'pretty average' - as well as, presumably, Currie, Vaughan, Yates and King - I can probably leave it there.

So Dufty can’t be improved on? For every good game he has, he’ll have a brain fart and drop a ball or be nowhere positionally. He’s in a different universe to someone like Bevan French, say.

Vaughan who has been questioned by Burgess? He makes guards but he’s 34, he’s always suspended. I’d much rather we had signed Luke Thompson.

Currie? One good season in about ten. If you’re happy with that then guess you don’t have very high standards.

I forgot about Yates so I’ll give you that one. I like him.

What has Tony King done since he resigned? He’s been average at best. Again, Wardle twice the player he is.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Fri Dec 13, 2024 6:20 pm  

Dufty adds an X Factor for us and it was correct to extend his contract for now, but Cai Taylor-Wray will be introduced to that role gradually when opportunities occur so that he will displace Dufty towards the end of Dufty`s contract.

CTW and Aaron Lindop need to be used to cover absences to our current regular first teamers and Lindop should replace Tai at the end of this season when Tai`s contract expires and I expect Lindop to get a lot of game time in 2025.

The Alfie Johnson recruitment intrigues me. Whilst he won`t count on our Salary Cap in 2025, I don`t expect him to get a 1st team opportunity before CTW or Lindop.

Lindop can cover the Centre/Wing positions, and CTW can play Fullback/Wing and both need as many games in the first team that we can accommodate, for suspensions, Injuries and loss-of-form etc.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Fri Dec 13, 2024 6:51 pm  

Boss Hog wrote:

Dufty adds an X Factor for us and it was correct to extend his contract for now, but Cai Taylor-Wray will be introduced to that role gradually when opportunities occur so that he will displace Dufty towards the end of Dufty`s contract.

CTW and Aaron Lindop need to be used to cover absences to our current regular first teamers and Lindop should replace Tai at the end of this season when Tai`s contract expires and I expect Lindop to get a lot of game time in 2025.

The Alfie Johnson recruitment intrigues me. Whilst he won`t count on our Salary Cap in 2025, I don`t expect him to get a 1st team opportunity before CTW or Lindop.

Lindop can cover the Centre/Wing positions, and CTW can play Fullback/Wing and both need as many games in the first team that we can accommodate, for suspensions, Injuries and loss-of-form etc.

Thewlis seems to think Johnson is in for a spot on the wing in a recent interview.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Fri Dec 13, 2024 9:09 pm  

karetaker wrote:

Thewlis seems to think Johnson is in for a spot on the wing in a recent interview.

I read it as he was competition, which given he is a winger is hardly surprising. But given Thewlis’s extension and Matty Ashton’s contract barring injury he is unlikely to get a sniff.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Fri Dec 13, 2024 9:11 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

So Dufty can’t be improved on? For every good game he has, he’ll have a brain fart and drop a ball or be nowhere positionally. He’s in a different universe to someone like Bevan French, say.

Vaughan who has been questioned by Burgess? He makes guards but he’s 34, he’s always suspended. I’d much rather we had signed Luke Thompson.

Currie? One good season in about ten. If you’re happy with that then guess you don’t have very high standards.

I forgot about Yates so I’ll give you that one. I like him.

What has Tony King done since he resigned? He’s been average at best. Again, Wardle twice the player he is.

Is this you playing Devil’s Advocate or are you being serious?