Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:36 am  

Lang Park wrote:

As we all know, we were all genuinely enthused and looked forward to the delivery of signings and success as set out in his statements.

The problem is however that the signings that have been made do not live up to what was promised, and so we all feel cheated.

Is this the royal "we" ?
Speak for yourself - I'm very enthused about the new season and everything that has happened/is happening in and around the club. Just because a message board rumours thread suggests Sika Manu is signed and sealed doesn't mean to say that "we" all believed it.

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:44 am  

Not a firework signing but I'd rather have Aspinwall then someone like that Ephrame Lauaki who you got rid of. He's a solid grafter, every team needs 1 or 2 to do a job defensively.

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:48 am  

Staffs FC wrote:

Is this the royal "we" ?
Speak for yourself - I'm very enthused about the new season and everything that has happened/is happening in and around the club. Just because a message board rumours thread suggests Sika Manu is signed and sealed doesn't mean to say that "we" all believed it.

Just looking at the majority of the posters on this thread. If you're happy with this signing then good for you, but the majority of the posters on this thread do not consider Martin Aspinwall to be the kind of signing AP's statements had led them to believe we'd be making.

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:48 am  

the majority of players who sign for us often refer to our passionate support of everything black and white and as one of the reasons that made them sign,i hope neither martin or aspinwall read these threads as their opinions might change-for gods sake give them a chance to pull a shirt on before we rubbish them as many did with westerman

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:50 am  

K-Diddy wrote:

I agree. Lets break the rules of the cap & face a big fine maybe even a points deduction

Have Wire being fined had points deducted??
How naive are some folk, get real, if we really want to be up there with the likes of Wire we need ways around the salary cap, and with AP coming in most of us thought this would happen, but as of yet it dosnt look like it has.

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:05 pm  

Lang Park wrote:

The biggest problem we have had at the club still remains.

Forget about the rights and wrongs of various signings, the big issue as I see it is the communication from the club and the management of expectations.

The statements of strategic intent that AP made when he took over about repositioning the club as a genuine contender and investing in top quality talent were designed to lift the club and its supporters, and set out a grand vision for the future.

As we all know, we were all genuinely enthused and looked forward to the delivery of signings and success as set out in his statements.

The problem is however that the signings that have been made do not live up to what was promised, and so we all feel cheated. Just like when you buy a branded peice of clothing or consumer goods you expect a certain level of performance that you associate with the brand, and if it doesn't live up to the brands promise then you feel robbed, and lose trust in that particular brand.

This is where I have always disagreed with the opinion that Rule was such a great marketer. He built a brand that didn't deliver on what it promised, and for that he lost a great deal of respect and trust from the fans.

AP should have come out and set out his vision for the future, but at the same time outlined a timetable and explained that consolidation was necessary and getting to the top 4, then top 2 would take time, and require a rebuilding process.

If he'd done this there wouldn't be half the negativity on here that there is today.

The risk is that he's raised expectations too far too soon, and his honeymoon period could be over before the seasons even started.

I think anyone with any common sense and knowledge of the game knew that it would take time. You can't just go cancelling contracts left right and centre and make other clubs part with their best players cos we want them to. While Pearson didn't put a timescale on making the club a top 2 team he also didn't say it would be next season. I'd be interested to know who you think we should have signed and who we should have got rid of and by what means. The only 2 questionable signings are both on 12 month contracts,i think some people need a reality check.

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:06 pm  

VerbalKint wrote:

Have Wire being fined had points deducted??
How naive are some folk, get real, if we really want to be up there with the likes of Wire we need ways around the salary cap, and with AP coming in most of us thought this would happen, but as of yet it dosnt look like it has.

Yes cos Warrington went from where they where,to where they are now in one close season.

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:07 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Like signing Lynch.

Money's only good

If you can fit a player under the cap
They want to leave
The club want to sell.

Not much quality available this year.

Leeds signing Moore 3 year deal
Wigan signing Lauaki 3 year deal.

At least ours are only 1 year.

Just shows the lack of availability within the forwards!

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:08 pm  

VerbalKint wrote:

Have Wire being fined had points deducted??
How naive are some folk, get real, if we really want to be up there with the likes of Wire we need ways around the salary cap, and with AP coming in most of us thought this would happen, but as of yet it dosnt look like it has.

A lot of their players were already at the club when Tony Smith took over.

Re: Aspinwall it is. : Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:16 pm  

Don't you all just get the impression there's one more signing to come once a visa is rubber stamped?