Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

[os99]

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/L ... z2Mc97jsSW

[hugh78]

Interesting about Owen Williams...my speculation is Bowden did not impress as a 10 and will fight for 12 next season (he and Allen are good horses for different courses), Flood will either leave for bigger bucks or perhaps move to 12 when his contract is up in 14 months time, we will see how Ryan Lamb goes,(he could become the backup 10 for the next few years), with a view to Owen coming through and taking Floods place. Simples

[sapajo]

Interesting about Owen Williams...my speculation is Bowden did not impress as a 10 and will fight for 12 next season (he and Allen are good horses for different courses), Flood will either leave for bigger bucks or perhaps move to 12 when his contract is up in 14 months time, we will see how Ryan Lamb goes,(he could become the backup 10 for the next few years), with a view to Owen coming through and taking Floods place. Simples

Exciting times ahead really looking forward to next season

[hugh78]

Well said Sapajo - there's a risk we might end up with a really strong, youthful and creative set of backs at this rate! Feel the positivity!

[fleabane]

Why is everyone so eager to have England's best 10 playing at 12?

[sapajo]

Why is everyone so eager to have England's best 10 playing at 12?

I am not eager, that said, change is inevitable so Tigers are thankfully planning for the future.

[GS]

I'm struggling to see the message(s) here. We've not been able to keep the England 10 and a much heralded prospect under the same roof so we go and get another 2 to replace the 1 that's leaving. Bowden hasn't shone at 10 because of his kicking but is now starting to look a useful 12. Unfortunately he will suffer the same as 12T as Allen is the preferred option at 12.

Are we preparing for Flood's departure or are we engineering it? I still don't get the Lamb signing as he appears to be Cipriani Light to me - can do it but flakey. OK as a replacement for Staunton so long as he doesn't mind all the training and waiting for the internationals to get a game.

[tigerburnie]

I am only guessing as we don't know who is and isn't leaving just yet,officially. But the likes of Lamb know who is here and who they are competing with, they know if they want international recognition they are in the right place. It is up to them to show what they can do and pushing our exisiting players will make both them and the team stronger,those who don't make the grade may find another channel to try again elsewhere.To maintain a large pool of competative players is a difficult task and there are very few who are managing to do it consistently, we are fortunate that our Board seem to have that skill, as our consistent results show.Always in the top 6 in the premiership, always in the top 2 for last 8 years,better than any other rugby team in any league,anywhere.Better than Man U or Chelsea or Arsenal. We have a very good squad,which after the Lions exposure for some of them, has the potential to be another great team.

[tigerburnie]

A bit more evidence of what a great club Tigers are and that young players come here and learn.They might not "make the grade" for us just yet, but are full of praise for our players and our methods.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21699985

[TTRITH]

There you go Georgey boy, you can be replaced.

Will leave us with 3 options at fly - half, Lamb replacing the outgoing Ford as 2nd choice (or perhaps finally replacing the hole left when Staunton left us, i.e reliable kicker) and Williams replacing the option of Cornwall as 3rd choice and bench option for when Floody is off warming the bench for England.

Leaves us with the following:

13. Manu Tuilagi/Matt Smith/Andy Forsyth
12. Anthony Allen/Dan Bowden/Andy Symons
10. Toby Flood/Ryan Lamb/Owen Williams

I'm happy!

[PM76]

IMO Flood, Lamb and Williams is close to the perfect combination of 10s. An international class first choice, an experienced reliable (ish) back-up who has his own incentives to improve but also won't be too far off the pace in the big games and a young, classy third choice who can develop. Bowden and Mele are excellent back-ups to those three in a crisis. Does anyone know about Cornwell’s contract for next year, he was signed partly as a 10 but I don’t think he’ll see much game-time there next year. Is he staying as a centre? I’d like to see him stay as, like Brett Deacon, he understands the culture and will never let the club down.

Watson would be a quality signing IMO, he certainly has the potential to be an excellent player. I do think another back three option is required if Hamilton and Lewington are off. Tigers are probably one winger/ FB heavy at the minute but Tait, Morris, Benjamin, Goneva, Thompstone & Watson/ an other, with Purdy coming through and hopefully Smurph available on at least a part time basis would be about right.

The Barclay one is odd as it was denied by Cohen but there is something very Tigersesque about him not revealing his destination, unless he is going to a French club who aren’t allowed to reveal their signings before a certain date but there are normally lots of rumours about French sides’ dealings.

The squad is shaping up fairly well for next year.

[Darc Tiger]

Maybe Williams has an eye on the future if Flood leaves in a year or 2. A nice little slot at a top club could open for him. Scarlets seem to rate him quite highly.

If we can add Watson and Barclay too, then we have done some fantastic business in my opinion. Edit: Not to mention Halfpenny! (Greedy)

[chipnchase]

Suprised to see Andy Forsyth mentioned in there as rumours suggest he's ebing released at the end of the season.

[kpj tiger]

Although I will be by no means disappointed if we sign Owen Williams I would have rather we waited an extra year and gone after Ryan Mills from Gloucester

[FrontRowUnionMember]

Not quite sure I understand the possible signing of Williams. I thought with Flood frontline, and then Lamb replacing Ford as out and out backup then Bowden also an option, we were about level with where we're at this year in terms of depth. If anything, with Mele possibly/probably coming in place of Mickey Young, we would have an extra option. Williams, regardless of ability, seems almost overloading our options. I would assume if we have signed Williams, then Cornwell will likely make way, not much point using up cap space on a 4th choice ten/5th choice centre. Symons and/or Forsyth can or will step up to understudy Allen, Bowden, Tuilagi and Smith. amybe room in the cap for him in a clubman/mentor/community coach role?

The one that does open up a few questions is Lewington, I figured with Murphy and Hamilton potentially retiring/leaving, he would step up to the main squad this summer. Benjamin coming back from injury, gives us three out and out wingers with Thompstone and Goneva, plus Morris as a wing/15. Lewington would have given us the extra wing/15cover, with Tait our onoly other option at the back. If Lewington does go along with Murphy/Hamilton, we will only have 5 back three players left. Does this lend some credibility to another wing/fullback in Watson being linked this week? Would make more sense then.

We seem to be spending a bit on tens without having adressed our lack of competition/cover for our only out and out 7 in Salvi. I had hoped Barclay would be snapped up. Cohen's interview posted a few pages back would suggest not, but then Barclay not committing to who he will be playing for could potentially lead to some optimism it could be us based on how we conduct our announcements of signings. Barclay along with Gibson, that would be some pehnomenal back row power combined with Mafi, Croft, Salvi, Waldrom and Crane. Two players for each position plus one extra. For that, Jooste, Thorpe and maybe even Noone and Deacon would have to be released? Maybe room in the cap for one to stay at a push, either Deacon in a clubman/mentor/community coach role, or Noone as a project at 8, one with some real athleticism to carry at pace and exploit broken field. Alex Gray from Irish has also been linked, but again, with him not being a 7 I fail to see the necessity, other than if we use him instead of Noone as the up and coming 8.

The only other contentious are is front row. Boris seems to be unavailable as often as he is available. So, with Harris potentially off, I think we could do with another Loose head, a specialist. Max Lahiff at Irish is coming out of contract, so could be one to look at, good age, got potential and already gaining experience in top flight rugby, wouldn't have thought he'd be too expensive either. With Castro looking increasingly likely to go, tight head needs looking at. I would assume Balmain will continue his ascension, and step up to the squad, and then it remains to be seen if brookes will stay or go. Personally I hope he stays to show and realise some of the potential he first displayed at Falcons at a young age. Already a Saxon, still only 22, that would give us Englands premier No.3, and two bright English prospects both barely into their twenties. Staibano has been linked, but prefer to keep Brookes and pick up a LH, unless their is room for both, using Staibano as a steady hand to help the younger lads when Cole is away, as Castro was on a pretty big wedge. Briggs, I can take or leave, basically a straight swap for Chuter. I'd rather have seen Stevens used, but then he has had games this year when youngs has been away, nothing to say that won't continue next season, and do Briggs and Hawkins have more than a contract for next year at Tigers? Maybe next year Stevens will be the one staying, and one of those on the fringes.

Ayerza, Mulipola, Boris, Cole, Balmain, Brookes plus Lahiff and/or Staibano.
Youngs, Hawkins, Briggs and Stevens.
Deacon, Parling, Slater, Kitchener and de Chaves.
Croft, Mafi, Gibson, Salvi, Waldrom, Crane plus Barclay and Deacon/Noone/Gray.
Youngs, Mele and Harrison.
Flood, Lamb and Williams.
Allen, Bowden, Tuilagi, Smith, Symons and Forsyth.
Benjamin, Thompstone, Goneva, Lewington?
Tait, Morris plus Watson.

That's be a pretty damn great squad. Quality and depth.
Not sure it's feasable though.