Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:30 am  

We signed Obst, Phelps and Gleeson because our squad building for 2011 relied upon:
Long not getting injured (again)
Tansey not getting drunk before a match (again), and
Berrigan staying
It was obvious to most on here that that was a very flawed plan.
Phelps on a 1 year deal helped 2011 and did no long term damage. We were bloody lucky to get Obst (the alternative was a season of Washy at HB) and Gleeson was a gamble worth taking (we won our next 5 games I think, having made a woeful start).
We need a right centre, a winger (or some pretty rapid development from Sharp / Lynn) and a backrower. Why wouldn't we challenge the top 4 then?

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:52 am  

I'm slightly dubious as to whether we can finish in the top 4 next year....if you look at Wigan, Warrington and Saints, they have a number of game changers and organisers who know each others games inside out as they have played alongside each other for some time....even Leeds have this and that's one of the reasons why they have reached both finals this year.....
I think we are building a squad which will hopefully challenge in the next 2/3 years but I believe it does take some time for players to instinctively know each others games, especially in crunch games where we have failed miserably in recent times.

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:54 am  

Tongan Mafia wrote:

Lets be honest though if they cannot get a solid centre to come to the club for next season then I would be very concerned.

I'd be disappointed but not concerned. Turner really developed last season and could do so again under Gentle. Plus we have Whiting so not completely devoid of options. Better than a panic buy if we can't get the right type of player.

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:16 pm  

I'll use a Peter Sharp quote!!

Regarding signing a centre, IMHO "best to keep our powder dry"
until a better quality of player becomes available.

Maybe the likes of Ben Crooks could have a good pre-season
under the new regime,and make a challenge for a first team spot.

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:21 pm  

We need a quality centre and SR !! Otherwise, Gentle & Co. are going to have to have an absolutely huge impact for us to trouble the top 4 this season.

AP must know that he has impressed the fans in many ways and in a very short space of time but in order to really re-engage the fans as a whole, he needs to show us some serious intent in the way of signings.

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:34 pm  

thehullwhitestar wrote:

We need a quality centre and SR !! Otherwise, Gentle & Co. are going to have to have an absolutely huge impact for us to trouble the top 4 this season.

AP must know that he has impressed the fans in many ways and in a very short space of time but in order to really re-engage the fans as a whole, he needs to show us some serious intent in the way of signings.

I agree but it's not that simple, though, i assume. A lot of the serious recruitment is done during the season rather than the off-season, so they are working with what's left unless you factor in transfer fees.

I'm trying to be realistic and i expect good/solid signings rather than marquee. Then I might get a pleasant suprise to quote the big man.

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:36 pm  

thehullwhitestar wrote:

We need a quality centre and SR !! Otherwise, Gentle & Co. are going to have to have an absolutely huge impact for us to trouble the top 4 this season.

AP must know that he has impressed the fans in many ways and in a very short space of time but in order to really re-engage the fans as a whole, he needs to show us some serious intent in the way of signings.

I agree. If we go into another season with a centre and wing partnership of Turner & Whiting expect more of the same and when a team decides to attack our right side the likely outcome will be a try.

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:38 pm  

Suzie wrote:

I agree. If we go into another season with a centre and wing partnership of Turner & Whiting expect more of the same and when a team decides to attack our right side the likely outcome will be a try.

Even if we don't get a centre, which I am confident we will, then I can see Sharp playing on the wing. Was ridiculous to drop him in the first place IMO.

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:38 pm  

jimmyfivebellies wrote: I remember many wanting the club to sign Moore from Batley before Wakefield signed him.Looks like we did the right thing in not going for him http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/928817 ... e/?ref=twt Reading the article,did the words Agar and Thorman bring a shudder to anyone else?

jimmyfivebellies wrote: I remember many wanting the club to sign Moore from Batley before Wakefield signed him.Looks like we did the right thing in not going for him http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/928817 ... e/?ref=twt Reading the article,did the words Agar and Thorman bring a shudder to anyone else?

Re: More Rumours!! : Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:47 pm  

Phil O'Stein wrote:

I agree but it's not that simple, though, i assume. A lot of the serious recruitment is done during the season rather than the off-season, so they are working with what's left unless you factor in transfer fees.

I'm trying to be realistic and i expect good/solid signings rather than marquee. Then I might get a pleasant suprise to quote the big man.

But AP has already said that transfer fees are not going to be a problem. Therefore, the player pool is bigger than it would be for most clubs even though, as you say, it's a bit late in the day.