Leicester Tigers 2016/17 Squad/Transfers/Contract thread 2

[BFG]

Sarries don't have that many local lads. Farrell is Northern so doesn't count, so is Wigglesworth. Unless by local you mean young players that have come through the academy? In that case, we have plenty. Perhaps you could tell me all of Saracens local lads?

Just a gander at Academy graudates in their first team squad.

Nathan Earle (5 apps)
Will Fraser (77)
Matt Hankin (17)
Maro Itoje (57)
Ben Spencer (60)
Scott Spurling (16)
Nick Tompkins (35)
Jackson Wray (148)
Owen Farrell (133) - Yes, you could argue he did a lot of training in RL, but he made his debut at 17 for them.
Jamie George (154)
Alex Goode (210)
George Kruis (126)

Compared to ours

George Catchpole (15)
Dan Cole (166)
Tom Croft (168)
Will Evans (16)
Sam Harrison (116)
Harry Thacker (44)
Manu Tuilagi (93)
Harry Wells (12)
Ben Youngs (192)
Tom Youngs (120)
George Worth (7)

Saracens 12 (1038 apps) against Tigers 11 (949)

This information is as up to date as the respective websites allow. This also doesn't include any development lads who have played in the first team, except for George Worth.

So very similar then and even more so if you exclude OF who is rather shoehorned into the list. I'm surprised that there isn't a big difference as, like others, I don't think this is something Tigers have been good at over recent years as shoe size seems to count for a lot, nearly as much as a player's surname.

You are not wrong h's dad, many names at Leicester that have not necessarily lived up to the standard!
I think what is interesting about those lists is that Sarries is very much of the moment whereas the class in that Tigers list is very much in the past.
In the forwards, a notoriously difficult area to identify youth to develop into high class level long term Sarries list clearly has an edge in that area.
I'd place Tom Croft at the top of the list in class in that Tigers forwards list, 31 years old, Cole and OTY are both 29.
Not what you would consider old but given the rigours of modern rugby I do wonder how long a player can go through the mill as much as some of those names above have!
On the Sarries list George, Itoje and Kruis are equally of that class with more to possibly come and are 26, 22 and 26 respectively.
Add in the odd successful big money buy and a gulf is created.
You can buy in talent and need to spend wisely but you can't so easily buy in the heartbeat of a team.
I get the impression the heartbeat of the Tigers is on a downward curve whilst the Sarries have been on an upward one.

[ABClub]

Evening all, been a viewer of the forum for a while, lingering in the darkness! Thought I'd finally post. With lots of transfer rumours flying around everywhere and Tigers linked to plenty of them as always this thread seemed a good place to start.

What would people actually consider our shopping list and most important areas to address in the playing staff? Given that the overall quality in the squad is good I want the club to keep them together. Certain positions need an upgrade in quality to compete in Europe and the play-offs though. As always it needs to be done on a tighter budget than most our rivals, that in mind I'd like to see:

- The cap from last seasons departed 8s (Crane, Fonua & Pearce) used to sign a quality 8 - Josh Strauss would be perfect there

- The cap from Rizzo, Balmain and Brugnara leaving used to sign a new prop. I'd like to see a young talent targeted on either side to allow Logo to concentrate on one position. Rapava-Ruskin would be fantastic but half the league are circling.

- With O'Connor out of contract a decision needs to be made on the balance of the back row. If someone like Strauss came in at 8 I'd happily see BOC stay, covering 8 and 7 with Evans starting more. Equally an experienced 7 to rotate and mentor Evans would work well.

- Keep the 4 front line locks we have but use them as locks. Use Fitzgerald on the flank less, rotate all 4 to keep them fresh. Some want changes to the locks but I'd prefer we invested in signings elsewhere and rotated those 4 to keep them fresh.

- In the backs, use the cap from Taity leaving (possibly Brady too) to sign an experienced and calm headed FB to rotate with Worth. That would leave us 4 quality wing options, TV able to cover FB if needed and Catchpole coming through.

[strawclearer]

Welcome ABClub - wouldn't disagree with most of your comments!

[trendylfj]

Right - retreating to my bunker again but I would do the following:
Out
Kitto - believe Harrison is a far better bet - back up would be Ben White, liked the look of him when he made his debut against Quins
Rizzo - already said he is off
Balmain - not good enough
Catchpole - still a fringe player
Roberts - ditto
Smith - great servant but past his best
Tuilagi - after giving him time to see if he can get back to where he was (end of Jan)
Tate - unless he stayed for a large salary drop as I believe he is on quite a high wedge
Croft - might give him a one year contract if fit.

In
Would be looking to sign as many of these as possible. Don't know who is available but they are my personal young favourites in their positions or are one of the best in the world.
Forwards:-
Heaslip - out of contract at the end of the season and has already indicated he is looking to move.
Lood de Jager - 6' 9" and close to 20 st
Adam Coleman - 6' 9" and just over 19st (if we got both then I would also let one of our forward go as well - not sure who)
Allan Alaalatoa - great prospect and a big lad - nearly 20st prop

A pack containing these 4 plus our lot would not get moved as we have been this season -

Backs:-
Reece Hodge - good all round back who is an excellent centre/full back who can also play FH
Rohan Janse van Rensburg - scoring a lot of tries in SA rugby and is still only 22. Specialist No 12.
would probably need another scrum half if Kitto goes

Know this is pie in the sky but I like my pies/pasties - now gonna need them in my bunker - byeeeeeeeeeeee

[RagingBull]

I like Catchpole and Roberts, both have shown to be good depth players.

Catchpole finish v Sarries was very good.

You will always need fringe players regardless of the squad and they should be cheapish esp since Catchpole is a Tigers supporter.

[jgriffin]

I like Catchpole and Roberts, both have shown to be good depth players.

Catchpole finish v Sarries was very good.

You will always need fringe players regardless of the squad and they should be cheapish esp since Catchpole is a Tigers supporter.

That's commonsense, not fanboi fantasy. TBH if there is a clearout of local or loyal and good players I'd reconsider ST and think of supporting Lichfield.

[BFG]

Zander Fagerson
Eben Etzebeth
Jonny Gray
David Denton
Owen Farrell
Sorted!

[Cagey Tiger]

Zander Fagerson
Eben Etzebeth
Jonny Gray
David Denton
Owen Farrell
Sorted!

And a partridge in a pear tree (no relation to MrPartridge).

[joeybside]

Sarries Academy

"This is a 3/4 year plan to enhance your development whilst at the same time, engrain the culture of our establishment within you"

Tigers Academy

"We are the Tigers you lot should be fortunate that you are here"

[jgriffin]

Sarries Academy

"This is a 3/4 year plan to enhance your development whilst at the same time, engrain the culture of our establishment within you"

Tigers Academy

"We are the Tigers you lot should be fortunate that you are here"

Grossly unfair, inaccurate and I assume you are actually SaracensUltras.

[RagingBull]

It's not unfair.

Our academy budget is pretty damn small compared to the majority of the league

[Southerntiger]

Sarries Academy

"This is a 3/4 year plan to enhance your development whilst at the same time, engrain the culture of our establishment within you"

Tigers Academy

"We are the Tigers you lot should be fortunate that you are here"

Grossly unfair, inaccurate and I assume you are actually SaracensUltras.

Jgriffin, your blinkered views would be very well suited to putting on a blazer and going to the Vice Presidents lunch at Lichfield every other Saturday. I'm sure they need a few more white middle class blokes to slow down decision making and whinge at any progress

It's the professional game, money talks and so does good decision making - Tigers lack it on and off the pitch. We need a clear out and fresh blood.

[JackFlashJonny]

Sarries Academy

"This is a 3/4 year plan to enhance your development whilst at the same time, engrain the culture of our establishment within you"

Tigers Academy

"We are the Tigers you lot should be fortunate that you are here"

This is spot on from what I have heard especially the last part

Sad but true...

[sam16111986]

Zander Fagerson
Eben Etzebeth
Jonny Gray
David Denton
Owen Farrell
Sorted!

Not sure signing those players would help address the areas of weakness in the team. Etzebeth aside, though the cost of bringing him in would probably mean we signed nobody else (neither Toulon nor Sarries were able to convince him to move north). Ferguson is young and raw and would be expensive, if we're spending on another TH WP Nel is out of contract at Edinburgh.

Denton is a waste is space in the AP as shown by his thoroughly mediocre displays for Bath. There are three Scottish backrow internationals out of contract in the summer who I'd much rather us sign.

Strauss the 30yo experienced 8 from Glasgow, big beard goes with his big work rate and big carries.

Bradbury 23yo 6/8 at Edinburgh, very physical and mobile player (played for Scotland sevens at 6 foot 4 and pusing 18 stone, per Wiki) I would imagine they'll be desperate to keep him north of Hadrians Wall given his abilities.

Hardie the openside who became Scottish just in time for the RWC. Niggly, aggressive and physical type of flanker. 53 games for the Highlanders including the title before coming north.

So send our negotiating team north of the border for a quick raid. Failing that I think Jono Ross at Stade is out of contract this summer. Our backrow desperately needs some new blood.

[BFG]

Zander Fagerson
Eben Etzebeth
Jonny Gray
David Denton
Owen Farrell
Sorted!

Not sure signing those players would help address the areas of weakness in the team. Etzebeth aside, though the cost of bringing him in would probably mean we signed nobody else (neither Toulon nor Sarries were able to convince him to move north). Ferguson is young and raw and would be expensive, if we're spending on another TH WP Nel is out of contract at Edinburgh.

Denton is a waste is space in the AP as shown by his thoroughly mediocre displays for Bath. There are three Scottish backrow internationals out of contract in the summer who I'd much rather us sign.

Strauss the 30yo experienced 8 from Glasgow, big beard goes with his big work rate and big carries.

Bradbury 23yo 6/8 at Edinburgh, very physical and mobile player (played for Scotland sevens at 6 foot 4 and pusing 18 stone, per Wiki) I would imagine they'll be desperate to keep him north of Hadrians Wall given his abilities.

Hardie the openside who became Scottish just in time for the RWC. Niggly, aggressive and physical type of flanker. 53 games for the Highlanders including the title before coming north.

So send our negotiating team north of the border for a quick raid. Failing that I think Jono Ross at Stade is out of contract this summer. Our backrow desperately needs some new blood.

You are not sure, I am!
These names are examples really, likely they would be unavailable or expensive but hypothetically looking forward the quality of the squad needs improving with a certain type of player IMO.
Leicester need what those players possess, just my opinion.
The one's you name are good but are they really of the type required to improve us and are they actually good enough?
Picture this if you can...
Genge
Thacker
Fagerson
Etzebeth
Gray
Williams
Evans
Denton
Youngs
Farrell
Thompstone
Toomua
Tuilagi
JPP
Tait

McGuigan/Youngs
Ayerza/Mulipola
Cole/Cilliers
Barrow/Slater
McCaffery/O'Connor
Harrison
Burns/Williams

Not forgetting the young back row Hamilton.