Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jan 12, 2024 10:20 am
I wonder if Tony Smith's strategy is not to always get the most able player, but to get the player that's the best fit for the club...if you sign a player that's brilliant ability wise, but has a bad attitude off the pitch, then they create the wrong culture at the club, set a bad example to young players and the young players struggle to make that transition from being a top academy player to a top super league player. If you get players who might not be the best ability wise, but are model pros, look after themselves, take time to mentor the young players, help to build a positive team spirit rather than a toxic one, this creates a better path for young players and helps them develop when they get into the first team. It might take a while but I think this is what tony Smith is doing...not panicking and bringing in a top player for a short term fix that's divisive, but players that bring about a culture change at the club...and i hope it works