Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

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SilebyTiger
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by SilebyTiger »

Saw the Halfpenny one on twitter the other day. Would love it to come true especially with the gap in the cap caused by Geordie's potential retirement/Castro's departure. Ok we'd lose him during the 6N/Autumn but he'd give us a massive boost in Europe. Could work in tandem with Tait (one at FB other on the wing) and of course the extra kicking option which may solve the issue of losing a fly-half, Bowden as main back up then if Floody got injured providing Mele also came in.

Am I getting too excited?
tigerburnie
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by tigerburnie »

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... -to-Toulon

Martins gone then,well sort of........
"If you want entertainment, go to the theatre," says Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill. "Rugby players play the game to win.15/1/21.
FrontRowUnionMember
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by FrontRowUnionMember »

With Castro going, I hope we convince Brookes to stay. Good young English prop with lots of promise. Rather him than Staibano to be fair, 22 year old current England Saxon as opposed to an occasional Italian international who will be 30 soon, though do I understand the theory of an experienced prop to cover such a key position. Balmain I'm certain will step up into the mix, well, already has to some extent. Balmain and Brookes as Cole's understudy can only be good news for Tigers and England long term. Personally I'd rather see a LH signed as opposed to a TH, because we have seen Mulipola able cover both sides very well and we have only two LH specialists, versus three tight head specialists plus Mulipola for both. Maybe Henry Thomas if Brookes does go, once Sale go down he should be available.

It appears Chuter may be about to hang up his boots, but Youngs has overtaken him, and Hawkins is a more than solid backup. When Stevens has played, he has not looked out of place, so I'd be happy to see us promote from within. Brookes, again, is worth keeping as he has also played hooker at Premiership level, so gives that extra cover if needed.

Deacon's England days appear behind him, so injury aside will be a banker to start most games. de Chaves looks a swap for Andrew, though if their is room in the budget, maybe try to keep him for the longer term. Liking Kitchener and Slater as backup for Deacon and Parling, not many clubs have that level of depth.

In the back row, I'd like to see two out and out players for each position, plus maybe a utility or two for depth. I can't see Jooste getting an extension, or Thorpe for that matter. Our two blind sides are class, but at openside I think we place too much work on Salvi, so another genuine seven is key. Poff has been linked, and would be a good signing. Armitage would be even better possibly, but no doubt more expensive, and snapped up by England. At eight, Waldrom and Crane are solid, but I'd like to see a younger explosive option brought into the mix as well as a utility option. Could be Noone, could be Gibson depending on finances, could be Deacon as a solid squad man, so any two from those three.

Youngs is the main man, but Young has so far failed to live up to his Falcon's promise, maybe due to lack of consistant gametime. Mele seems to be on his way, a good option at 9 and 10. Harrison is rock solid as a backup during International period.

The tricky ten spot. Ford is going, so we have two options here, sign an out and out ten who will be happy to play second fiddle and get limited gametime, or look to add a couple of players able to play ten and elsewhere. Personally, I'd go for the latter, versatility would mean more gametime for the players in question, and better use of the salary cap. Myler has been linked as a ten, but would be limited. Using Mele and Bowden who are talented tens in their own right whilst not being specialists.

I think our midfield requires no tinkering, or at least less of a priority than elsewhere. We have some good quality in there, just promote a couple of youngsters for depth. Cornwell to stay as a squad man. Same can be said of the wing, with Scotty Hamilton going, we already have plenty of quality to choose from.

With the legend that is GM retiring, we have to look to who will take over. Tait has been getting the nod of late, so the evolution has begun. Halfpenny is pretty good, but the one player I'd like to see is Rob Miller once Sale are relegated. He started at Newcastle (yes, another one) as a ten, so would be another option at flyhalf if required, but has played mainly at Sale as a 15, or part time winger of late due to his pace. Theoretically having Mele, Bowden and Miller on the bench would cover every backline position whilst all being more than capable at ten.

1. Ayerza, Mulipola, Stankovich
2. Youngs, Hawkins, Stevens
3. Cole, Brookes, Balmain, Staibano?
4. Deacon, Slater, Andrew?
5. Parling, Kitchener, de Chaves
6. Croft, Mafi, Gibson/Deacon?
7. Salvi, Poff/Armitage
8. Waldrom, Crane, Noone/Deacon?
9. Youngs, Mele, Harrison
10. Flood, Bowden
11. Benjamin, Thompstone, Lewington
12. Allen, Cornwell, Symons
13. Tuilagi, Smith, Forsyth
14. Morris, Goneva
15. Tait, Miller

That looks like a pretty damn good squad to me. Pretty realistic too I think.
Incomings - Staibano, de Chaves, Poff/Armitage, Gibson?, Mele and Miller.
Outgoings - Castro, Chuter, Jooste, Thorpe, Young, Ford, Hamilton and Murphy.

I reckon Castro and Murphy must be amongst our top earners, and Chuter and Hamilton would be on a reasonable wage. Of the incomings, only Armitage would likely command a big wage, maybe Poff a decent one as he will likely be sought after. The rest are generally younger potential so more reasonable.
Also, with a transfer fee for Castro, could come in useful.
Not sure who is, or would become, our Marquee player.
sam16111986
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by sam16111986 »

I'd imagine Cole will become the marquee player as he was given a contract reflective of his squad position.
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by TigerLad »

SilebyTiger wrote:Saw the Halfpenny one on twitter the other day. Would love it to come true especially with the gap in the cap caused by Geordie's potential retirement/Castro's departure. Ok we'd lose him during the 6N/Autumn but he'd give us a massive boost in Europe. Could work in tandem with Tait (one at FB other on the wing) and of course the extra kicking option which may solve the issue of losing a fly-half, Bowden as main back up then if Floody got injured providing Mele also came in.

Am I getting too excited?
Halfpenny would be a dream to replace Murphy, Miller would be good also. Halfpenny can also play wing. A team of

15.Tait
14.Halfpenny
13.Tuilagi
12.Allen
11.Goneva
10.Flood
9.Youngs
1.Ayerza
2.Youngs
3.Cole
4.Deacon (C)
5.Parling
6.Croft
7.Salvi
8.Waldrom

16.Hawkins
17.Mulipola
18.Balmain
19.Slater
20.Armitage
21.Mele
22.Bowden
23.Smith

would be great. Very strong team.
kornboy130
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by kornboy130 »

you'd have to imagine Armitage would start ahead of Salvi - though thinking about it it would more be a case of horses for courses.

Fabio Staibano added in.
old one eye
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by old one eye »

Steve Mafi ?
TigerLad
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by TigerLad »

old one eye wrote:Steve Mafi ?
It was a tough decision to choose between Croft and Steve but with a back row of

6.Mafi/Croft
7.Salvi/Armitage
8.Waldrom/Crane

you could choose one from each and still have a world class back row. I think Armitage could also be a very decent 8. When I have watched Toulon he has gone to 8 at scrum time and has been very explosive.
kornboy130
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by kornboy130 »

The Rugby Paper reports today we are very much in the hunt for Rob Miller.

Gloucester and Sale also showing interest.
voice of the crumbie
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by voice of the crumbie »

sam16111986 wrote:I'd imagine Cole will become the marquee player as he was given a contract reflective of his squad position.
I don't believe he can be the marquee player. I thought the rule was that the marquee player couldn't be a current player but had to be a new signing.
Tigers for the premiership and European Cup. Get behind the team and make some noise!!
kpj tiger
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by kpj tiger »

kornboy130 wrote:The Rugby Paper reports today we are very much in the hunt for Rob Miller.

Gloucester and Sale also showing interest.
Sale are showing interest in signing Rob Miller from Sale???
Will S
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by Will S »

Rugby Paper also commented that we have lost out on Myler as he is staying at Saints.
kornboy130
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by kornboy130 »

Apologies - Worcester Warriors (as said in the first post) are interested in signing him.
voice of the crumbie
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by voice of the crumbie »

Will S wrote:Rugby Paper also commented that we have lost out on Myler as he is staying at Saints.
I can't say that I'm disappointed. Hopefully this will make us look further afield and find someone infinitely better. The acid test for me is would any play we bring in be better than the current back ups we have or would he have the potential to quickly surpass them and challenge for a starting place. IMHO the answer to both questions in Myler's case is am firm no.
Tigers for the premiership and European Cup. Get behind the team and make some noise!!
tigerburnie
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Re: Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

Post by tigerburnie »

There's not that many fly halfs around,the only ones who might have an excess is Barf,perhaps we should put a bid in for Heathcote after he showed Ford up.
"If you want entertainment, go to the theatre," says Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill. "Rugby players play the game to win.15/1/21.
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