New 10???

[physiodan]

Now we have established that we cannot a-Ford George where do we go. Does Bowden become our new 2nd choice 10 as demonstrated by the likely LV cup role or do we sign another player. If so do we go old or new or take the risk with a player who hasn't fulfilled elsewhere.

New: Botica - with Evans signing a new deal there surely he will not be happy playing second fiddle all season where as at Leicester he will get a run during the internationals.

Old: Wilko, Gopperth, Mcloed

Risk: Cooper, Cipriani

Or do we look for a new 12/13?
Ma'a Nonu would be nice.

[Loob19]

I think it suggested in the paper that Bowden would be coming into the 10 shirt behind Flood, and who can blame the club for that. Ford cannot expect us to develop him when he has agreed to leave at the end of the season. Third choice 10 for the rest of the season for me.

I think we need somebody who could, possibly, push Toby hard, maybe somebody young who will develop a dynamic game, afterall we do not want to go backwards do we?

I have to say, whilst George Ford may have alot of potential, he has not shown too much of it this season, there have been numerous young players with potential that haven't fullfilled it so it seems a risky move for whoever signs him.

[longlivethecrumbie]

My only concern with Bowden is that I don't recall him kicking while playing in the Prem. Would that possibly mean YBY taking on kicking duties again? Or would we need to look elsewhere within the team for someone to kick the extras/penalties?

[os99]

My only concern with Bowden is that I don't recall him kicking while playing in the Prem. Would that possibly mean YBY taking on kicking duties again? Or would we need to look elsewhere within the team for someone to kick the extras/penalties?

He didn't often kick because London Irish had Homer, but his goal kicking can't be any worse than Ford's was!

[Chobbsy]

[quote="physiodan"]Now we have established that we cannot a-Ford George where do we go. Does Bowden become our new 2nd choice 10 as demonstrated by the likely LV cup role or do we sign another player. If so do we go old or new or take the risk with a player who hasn't fulfilled elsewhere.

New: Botica - with Evans signing a new deal there surely he will not be happy playing second fiddle all season where as at Leicester he will get a run during the internationals.

Old: Wilko, Gopperth, Mcloed

Risk: Cooper, Cipriani

Or do we look for a new 12/13?
Ma'a Nonu would be nice.[/quote]

If George is off to Bath we can have Stephen Donald as a straight swap, Luke McCallister would be nice also

[voice of the crumbie]

12trees............I'll get my coat

[Tiger Chris]

I'd be happy with Stephen myler after all saints got to the h cup final with him at 10

[Will S]

Tigers are in a good position in that we can offer a replacement 10 good game time with Toby Flood always being involved in the England set up. We have a choice now to either get a steady Staunton type player who is always happy to play second fiddle or go for a punt and try to develop someone who can challenge Toby. I would always go for the latter. I have thought about this, and I know I will get ripped to bits, but if Sale do go down then Cips might not be a bad option. My reasons are:

- Still fairly young having only just turned 25
- Has all the tools to be a top class 10 if we can sort his attitude and defence. Defence is the easiest thing to fix (he is not exactly small) and if any environment can do this then it is the Tigers environment. I would be very clear that we wouldn't hide him in defence and that we would have Manu running at him in training until he sorted himself out. Also think his attitude might adjust at Oval Park. Bringing him as the clear understudy to Toby might also humble him a bit.
- We could probably get him relatively cheap on a one year deal.
- He plays a similar game to Flood on the gain line so his style would fit in well which is not the case up at Sale who always play better when their 10 stand deep.
- He is a reliable kicker which is something we absolutely need.
- He would be good to have on the bench as he covers a few positions and also is more of a game changer if we need to bring him on to try and turn a game.
- He might see Tigers as the perfect home. Playing behind a Tigers pack would give him lots of front foot ball. Having players like Youngs and Manu running off him would suit his game and having Allen outside him would help him organise in defence.

Again, I know he has some obvious flaws but these can be fixed. We must remember that when on form he has ripped apart Premiership, Super 15 and International defences so he does have something special. It is just a question whether we can harness this and now at 25 whether he has grown up a bit.

[BJ.]

Ford cannot expect us to develop him when he has agreed to leave at the end of the season.

Will someone please show me in black and white where George Ford has said himself he is leaving Leicester at the end of the season. All we currently have are rumours and unsubstantiated claims from various sections of the press.

[sapajo]

Ford cannot expect us to develop him when he has agreed to leave at the end of the season.

Will someone please show me in black and white where George Ford has said himself he is leaving Leicester at the end of the season. All we currently have are rumours and unsubstantiated claims from various sections of the press.

Conversely please show me in black and white where GF has said that he is not leaving?

[WiggoTiger]

Read this....http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/G ... story.html

[BJ.]

Thank you Wiggo. Something concrete at last.

[longlivethecrumbie]

Thank you Wiggo. Something concrete at last.

Sorry BJ, but that link has been published at least twice in the George Ford to Bath article: http://forum.leicestertigers.com/viewto ... a&start=30

[physiodan]

Thank you Wiggo. Something concrete at last.

Sorry BJ, but that link has been published at least twice in the George Ford to Bath article: http://forum.leicestertigers.com/viewto ... a&start=30

Thats why I chose not to reference it here as this is a topic on who we would like to see brought in, not vent frustrations of the George Ford situation.

[h's dad]

Thank you Wiggo. Something concrete at last.

Sorry BJ, but that link has been published at least twice in the George Ford to Bath article: http://forum.leicestertigers.com/viewto ... a&start=30

Reads to me as a fair bit of "He is expected", "Tigers are believed", and "I understand" without any attributed quotes.

I simply can't see that a move at this time would be good for him - especially not if the only real issue is playing time.