Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 11:03 am  

Irregs#16 wrote:

Was told 2 announcements, and 1 was due to be someone not named in the press yet. Maybe the Ashworth one was moved forward instead as the other isn't complete yet, or change of mind from club or player

Still 6 hrs to go so fingers crossed.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 11:09 am  

Chris71 wrote:

I know some people will view Bonaires post as just a negative one but if we are to be honest about the points raised, whilst we may not like them there is actually a great degree of truth in his post.

There is a real apathy within the fans base and there has been for some time due to not only the poor performances but also a continuing disconnection between the club and its fans. Granted the arrival of TS brought in some renewed hope before the start of last season but once again the way we end the last quarter of a season has almost evaporated that renewed hope.

I think other than the hardcore base the club are really going to struggle to get fans renewing memberships/passes let alone attract new fans to take up memberships/passes due another bitterly disappointing season and the fact there is no real game breaking player seemingly arriving anytime soon if at all.

Yes some of the signings will improve us but we are also very weak in some areas which isn't and won't help shift passes.

No one can argue Wilf doesn't love the club and dare I say is a stalwart, even he's mentioned he's spoken to a number of fans who aren't missing not going to games which as he said is a concern, he's also been critical of the lack of communication from the club to its fan base for a while. He's also states how other clubs have moved forward too, which has left us even further behind.

Even though I'd said I wouldn't be renewing after another end of season poop show I just can't bring myself not too (whether I go to all the games is a different matter of course) but the club can't just simply rely or hope on fans continuing with blind loyalty.

We as fans understand the club is in a difficult time, its clear more than anything the club needs its fans but it has to start re engaging with them and quickly. The club used to be very good on the media/marketing/communication side of things with the fans but its almost none existent nowadays and at times its feels like the club sees it as a hassle or burden to engage with its fans.

Still hope for better to come but as they say its the hope that kills you.

Vicious circle. Club don't interact then supporters feel alienated and stop supporting. The circle needs to be broken. There is an argument that it is the clubs responsibility to break the circle but all stakeholders have a responsibility in my opinion. I'm not a fan of soccer but take Newcastle United and Manchester City as an example, they've been through some real hard times, but supporters never deserted in numbers and actually tok a pride in supporting their team through the hard times. Look at them now!

The tradition of the club is so marketable and the buzzword at the club currently is "culture" so
I really think that as supporters we need to come together to develop our culture around the ethos of being the FAITHFUL through ANY KIND OF WEATHER. If the support sustains, the finances improve and provide TS / AP with a foundation to build and develop.
#BACKTHEBLACKANDWHITES

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 11:56 am  

Irregs#16 wrote:

Was told 2 announcements, and 1 was due to be someone not named in the press yet. Maybe the Ashworth one was moved forward instead as the other isn't complete yet, or change of mind from club or player

I would have thought the club would hold off the 2 unknown signings( if they have been made) until the kit/season pass launch.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 12:53 pm  

hull2524 wrote:

Trouble with Bonaire he's negative all the time. Of course with us doing crap ATM he's having a field day. If and it's a big if we start doing well he will disappear like he normally does. Noticed on the threads about Taylor and Shaul not a dickiebird from him. Never seems to go to matches yet takes the p.iss out of people that do. Just my opinion of course.

How do you know Bonaire doesn’t go to games?

I can remember been at the Boulevard when I was younger with my grandad.
Surrounded by middle aged men who did nothing but complain/moan etc.
Guess what. They still turned up EVERY week, home and away.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 12:54 pm  

Presume the Tristran Sailor signing now firmly off the table ?

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 12:56 pm  

mwindass wrote:

Talk of Wire signing Justin Olam. They'd need a quota player to leave to accommodate him.

Whispers Saints were looking at Kasiano, he's too much of a luxury player for me. Thought Saints would want to be decreasing the overall age of their squad

If they do sign Olam, I'd wonder if Wrench will get fed up behind Tai, King and Olam. I'd take him for sure

Olam is the epitome of a warrior, all heart and strength, he'll be a great signing if they can pull it off, although I still believe he'd get in a lot of other top NRL sides and I cannot see him being released, he's been a top centre, apart from this year, when his form dipped a bit. I'd love to see us sign that type of player; explosive and strong, he's a version of Mahe x 2 and he gives it all, every game. I'd take a few of the young Wire backs, but I think Wrench is one they'd retain because he is a good young player than has utility value .

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 1:16 pm  

hull2524 wrote:

Trouble with Bonaire he's negative all the time. Of course with us doing crap ATM he's having a field day. If and it's a big if we start doing well he will disappear like he normally does. Noticed on the threads about Taylor and Shaul not a dickiebird from him. Never seems to go to matches yet takes the p.iss out of people that do. Just my opinion of course.

You may be right but I think he just says things as he sees them, to be honest, and it's the brutal truths that sometimes we don't like to hear. I have no idea if he attends matches, but I would think he does , given that a llot of what he says is what we witness week in , week out, of late. I have hope that we are just in that awkward stage of balancing the books, then able to kick on without a huge millstone of debt constricting the club's ability to sign good players.
What concerns me more than ever, and it may have always been this way is that the available talent out there, is an ever shrinking list. The game itself is in danger I think, in its present entity, of collapsing.
If we are struggling, with a good fan base and the income streams we generate, there can be little hope for any club that doesn't have a rich backer. Leigh, Rovers, Warrington, Wigan & Saints all do, but would they be able to sustain and improve their clubs without them? Very likely not, so whatever IMG decide to do to grow our game is going to need to be innovative and successful quickly, because the appetite for RL, apart from the hardcore M62 corridor, is just not there. We are essentially a second rate sport and probably better suited to the part time model that was the game before SL. The UK public in general don't view our game as the Australian public do, so following their model is not the blueprint for this game, as there just isn't the interest in the sport to sustain what we have now, without rich benefactors footing the costs and losses.
Sad i think, but true.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 1:49 pm  

GrahamBray wrote:

You may be right but I think he just says things as he sees them, to be honest, and it's the brutal truths that sometimes we don't like to hear. I have no idea if he attends matches, but I would think he does , given that a llot of what he says is what we witness week in , week out, of late. I have hope that we are just in that awkward stage of balancing the books, then able to kick on without a huge millstone of debt constricting the club's ability to sign good players.
What concerns me more than ever, and it may have always been this way is that the available talent out there, is an ever shrinking list. The game itself is in danger I think, in its present entity, of collapsing.
If we are struggling, with a good fan base and the income streams we generate, there can be little hope for any club that doesn't have a rich backer. Leigh, Rovers, Warrington, Wigan & Saints all do, but would they be able to sustain and improve their clubs without them? Very likely not, so whatever IMG decide to do to grow our game is going to need to be innovative and successful quickly, because the appetite for RL, apart from the hardcore M62 corridor, is just not there. We are essentially a second rate sport and probably better suited to the part time model that was the game before SL. The UK public in general don't view our game as the Australian public do, so following their model is not the blueprint for this game, as there just isn't the interest in the sport to sustain what we have now, without rich benefactors footing the costs and losses.
Sad i think, but true.

That may well be true but even as a part time sport , only very few clubs were successful . We were lucky in the late 70’s and early 80’s to have the backing we had, although some very dodgy stuff went on and nearly did for us, I remember a Director losing a briefcase stashed with about £30k , which was a lot back then considering we and Rovers signed players for a then world record fee of about £70k (Evans,Casey, Fairburn) and we tried in vain with several attempts to lure John Woods for over £100k, but then Wigan came in, had as much cash as The Bank Of England and the game was never the same , so either way , full or part time , the clubs with financial clout dominate .
On topic , I would make a play for some like Trndell at The Sharks , or even Matt Moylan , although past his prime he is a step above anything in SL when he’s on his game .

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 3:16 pm  

Rumour over on the Salford forum that Wigan may allow Byrne to leave, to help with cap, as they've a large number of forwards. Would you take him? Getting on for 6ft 4 too

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Oct 06, 2023 3:27 pm  

Salford need to move players on, we should be having a look. Ackers top of the list.