Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
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Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
Castro is a Tigers legend but i think this season he has gone backwards rapidly, i am a season ticket holder and have been to all home games this year, for me Castro has lost his competitive edge, whenever he has been introduced this season he has become a burden on the team, the scrum weakens considerably and he is none exsistent around the park, this may be down to age or his mind being on other things (Toulon). I know it is difficult to replace a world class player like Cole but Castro is a shadow of his former self. It was painful watching him in the six nations, he was destroyed by everyone of his opponents and seemed completeley off the pace. Even against Bath yesterday his tackle on Louw for the last try was awful.
For me Castro is getting into the match day squad on name alone, i dont feel that he even deserves a spot on the bench at the moment, Castro will always be one of my favourite players but i feel Cockers should allow him go to Toulon, free up his wages and invest it in the future of the Tigers.
For me Castro is getting into the match day squad on name alone, i dont feel that he even deserves a spot on the bench at the moment, Castro will always be one of my favourite players but i feel Cockers should allow him go to Toulon, free up his wages and invest it in the future of the Tigers.
Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
He's clearly off form.
None of us doubt his commitment but is he fit?
He seems to have slimmed down - perhaps intentionally to make him more mobile but his scrummaging seems to have become a shadow of what it was a couple of years ago.
None of us doubt his commitment but is he fit?
He seems to have slimmed down - perhaps intentionally to make him more mobile but his scrummaging seems to have become a shadow of what it was a couple of years ago.
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Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
\baz1664 wrote:Even against Bath yesterday his tackle on Louw for the last try was awful.
Whilst I agree with some of what you've said - and we'll both be facing the firing squad at sunrise - That was Hawkins who tried to take Louw too high. You can see Castro in the background as Louw goes over the line, he was working hard to get to Louw from a wider position as cover to be fair, but then he'd only been on for 6 mins or so.
I don't think Cockers is stopping him going anywhere, as long as Toulon pay what was, I believe, the fee agreed.
I love Castro too and he'll always be a Leicester Tigers Icon and Legend, indeed he already is, but it would be good long term business right at this moment in time, as others have said before, his diagnosis with coeliac disease may well be affecting him more than we can ever know.
If (when) he does go to Toulon and IF, and it's a BIG IF, he then starts putting in performances of a higher calibre than we've seen of late - more like the Castro of old - then we'd be able to question whether or not it was mental application and/or a divide between him and Tigers/Coaches.
Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
Cockers doesn't pick anyone who's not fit & ready to play a full match! You could be called upon in the first minute. Castro must be performing in training although he has publicly stated that he is disappointed with the lack of game time at the Tigers.
While he is still a Tiger support him
While he is still a Tiger support him
Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
I still think many underestimate what an impact his coeliac-type problems would have on his play. He has been struggling for a while, and he was diagnosed early on with this....I have seen no improvement in his play since.
Leicester Tigers 1995-
Nottingham 1995-2000
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Nottingham 1995-2000
Swansea (Whites) 1988-95
A game played on grass in the open air by teams of XV.
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Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
I recall Castro coming off the bench and making a massive contribution against Treviso when Dan Cole was having a few problems. Also been a few other occasions when Castro has made a difference. Perhaps some are correct and he isn't as good or motivated as in the past for one reason or another but when he is on it he is a top quality prop!
Cheery chappy
Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
Castries still comfortably the second best tight head we have and one of the best in the prem.i do think injuries age fitness etc has taken it toll on him but still a grt 25 minute bench man. I thought he was excellent in most of the six nations games and showed he still had the legs then for more. Is his heart still in it though after the club have let him down?
Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
Sorry, but do you know something we don't? How exactly has the club let him down?Mat wrote:Is his heart still in it though after the club have let him down?
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Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
Makes no sense....you yourself say he's the second best TH we have and a great 25 min man....how then have the club let him down based on your opinion? the club have given him what you claim he's good for....with the odd exception of less than 25 mins off the bench.Mat wrote:Castries still comfortably the second best tight head we have and one of the best in the prem.i do think injuries age fitness etc has taken it toll on him but still a grt 25 minute bench man. I thought he was excellent in most of the six nations games and showed he still had the legs then for more. Is his heart still in it though after the club have let him down?
Even allowing for a little 'lost in translation' some of his rants have not exactly been doing any favours.
Top man, and a Tigers legend, but I don't believe the club have let him down, they've picked on current form (Dan Cole better at the moment) and Castro appears - and I say that guardedly as I have no proof - to have taken exception to it.
Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
He does have a problem in that he's competing with Dan Cole who looks set to be the outstanding tight head of his era. I suspect that if he played for any other nation team than England this would have been recognized by the press.
None of us doubt that Castro has been a great player and is young enough to be so again.
Not sure the coeliac thing is the cause. Certainly it's something that may have left him tired for a while but most people, assuming they stick to a gluten free diet, soon pick up.
I can't imagine that Tigers don't have access to appropriate nutritional advice.
Certainly a pain for an Italian restauranteur.
None of us doubt that Castro has been a great player and is young enough to be so again.
Not sure the coeliac thing is the cause. Certainly it's something that may have left him tired for a while but most people, assuming they stick to a gluten free diet, soon pick up.
I can't imagine that Tigers don't have access to appropriate nutritional advice.
Certainly a pain for an Italian restauranteur.
Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
Castro is certainly good enough to be in the 1st team. I believe his current dip in form is down to motivation specifically a lack of it. He has decided that he wants to move to Toulon because he is unhappy with his lot at Tigers and whilst his body is still playing for Tigers his mind and his future is in Toulon and that is the real issue.
Without hope we are nothing, keep the faith, a Tiger for eternity
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Re: Castro - Good enough to be in the 1st Team?
no after 50 mins he jogs also he dosent tackle he dosent wrap his arms round. i think we should let him we will get a transfer fee.