George Fords Departure - Why ?
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Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
Pity GF didn't let us know sooner; we could have offered a straight swap for AJ McGinty!
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Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
By the way, I'm not suggesting that Dan Lancaster won't turn out to be good enough. He might well turn out to be a worldbeater for all we know and there will still be plenty of opportunities for him to get some game time if we sign another fly-half.
It's just that I find some of the suggestions other than signing a quality fly-half on here to be absolutely baffling. I read someone say that we should sign an international lock instead of a Ford replacement. I'm sorry, but I don't that as being the difference maker, nor do I look at Wells, Snyman, Green, Martin, Henderson, Chessum etc. and think that it's an absolute necessity that we improve upon them.
It's just that I find some of the suggestions other than signing a quality fly-half on here to be absolutely baffling. I read someone say that we should sign an international lock instead of a Ford replacement. I'm sorry, but I don't that as being the difference maker, nor do I look at Wells, Snyman, Green, Martin, Henderson, Chessum etc. and think that it's an absolute necessity that we improve upon them.
Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
Sterling work as always RB,folk do get very romantic about 10s for some reasonRagingBull wrote: ↑Thu Nov 18, 2021 2:52 pm Tigers won't sit on anything now I feel back when it was the rugby committee maybe.
It's Borthwick's ship nothing so far has suggested he wants nothing but the best and sometimes what's best for the team might not be the best player.
Look at some of the 10's that have played in the champions cup final the past 5/6 years
Ihaia West
Ntamack (came from the academy)
Joe Simmonds (Academy)
Russell
Farrell (Academy)
Sexton (Academy)
Lambie
Lopez
Carter
Only really Russell and Carter would be classed as world class 10 signings.
Lambie wasn't even an out and out 10
West wasn't even starting in super rugby before he signed for La Rochelle
Sexton, Farrell, Simmonds and Ntamack all from the academies who have been brought up to play a certain way to suit their team.
"Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" Heyneke Meyer
Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
Rowntree, Cockerell, Garforth,
Johnson Kay
Back Moody
Corry
Who were the tens? Fat bloke called Andy and a chopsy scouser?
......there was this fellow called Stransky for a time.
Made the odd drop goal count.....apparently.
Johnson Kay
Back Moody
Corry
Who were the tens? Fat bloke called Andy and a chopsy scouser?
......there was this fellow called Stransky for a time.
Made the odd drop goal count.....apparently.
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Poet laureate of the "One Eyed Turk".
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Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
Crazy how much props have evolved since then. You don't see props like Darren Garforth, Jason Leonard, Gareth Chilcott, Julian White etc. anymore.
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Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
I also recall many of our points being kicked by a certain Tim Stimpson, who played full-back, and I can't recall who our 10 (fly-half) was when Tim was kicking all those points.
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Same birthplace as Oz, but not quite as lippy!
Same birthplace as Oz, but not quite as lippy!
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Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
I agree with Big Dai's thinking. When we had a decent pack then successes; when we spent big £'s on the non-eq backs we went downhill.
Now we have a decent pack must we go for the priciest off the shelf journeyman?
Now we have a decent pack must we go for the priciest off the shelf journeyman?
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Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
In fairness behind that pack in 2002 Austin Healey was world class IMO - or at least had unique abilities that set him apart from others.
Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
I guess, to put my sensible head on, with the cap reducing, there is very little room for really big name, big salary players unless they can fall under the marquee label. I mentioned before that I cannot see how, for example, Sale will maintain a balanced squad with a £5million budget and a chunk over 20% of that spent already on Manu and George. Bearing in mind that a decent front row can cost another 20% and you suddenly have about £3 million to pay anotehr 10 first team players, 8 subs and all of the ncessary back up and support.
Not saying that we will not look to sign an known quantity but the future has to be in either bargain finds (we have a few of them) or development from within.
Not saying that we will not look to sign an known quantity but the future has to be in either bargain finds (we have a few of them) or development from within.
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Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
You hate to big him up, but without him our back to back European Success would of been unlikely.DeadlyDunc wrote: ↑Thu Nov 18, 2021 3:51 pm In fairness behind that pack in 2002 Austin Healey was world class IMO - or at least had unique abilities that set him apart from others.
To win is not as important as playing with style!
Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
I dont get any of the negative feelings towards GF.
As I see it he
* pretty much kept us up 2 seasons ago
* didnt sulk over the covid salary cuts and stayed
* Has seen out his contract
* has always given his all
the reasons for going are clear - its not financial, it's his home, it's where his business is and it's where his wife's business is.
Its a short life and an even shorter career. he has known he was going pretty much all season and it hasn't affected his form and I'm sure it wont for the rest of the season too.
Final point on this from me
* we have an excellent coaching and recruitment set up now - i trust them to make the right call for the club in spending our marquee money next season.
BTW - everyone has a right to their opinion - I'm not questioning that, just making my point...
As I see it he
* pretty much kept us up 2 seasons ago
* didnt sulk over the covid salary cuts and stayed
* Has seen out his contract
* has always given his all
the reasons for going are clear - its not financial, it's his home, it's where his business is and it's where his wife's business is.
Its a short life and an even shorter career. he has known he was going pretty much all season and it hasn't affected his form and I'm sure it wont for the rest of the season too.
Final point on this from me
* we have an excellent coaching and recruitment set up now - i trust them to make the right call for the club in spending our marquee money next season.
BTW - everyone has a right to their opinion - I'm not questioning that, just making my point...
Less is more....
Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
Best wishes to George. Its been a pleasure watching him in a Tigers shirt. Shame he is going but its a job and numerous people move for work and personal reasons. He's earned his salary and stuck to his contract. Cant fault him.
I'm not cynical just experienced
Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
final final word
* whats the betting that now with farrell out potentially for the 6N that he gets the call up and EJ injures him?
* whats the betting that now with farrell out potentially for the 6N that he gets the call up and EJ injures him?
Less is more....
Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
No issue with Ford at all. In fact his commitment to the club over the last few years has been superb and I understand why he made the call that he has. Manu's departure annoyed me, George's has not and I really hope that the fans make the rest of his last season with us a memorable one for all the right reasons.
It is a time to be excited about who will take the spot at 10 going forward and help the club evolve even more rather than me annoyed about a man making a decision for his family and his quality of life.
For what it is worth, I suspect that Ford is as annoyed as most of us about the way it was handled and it cannot have been his intention to this all to kick off on a quiet day in the week when it was always going to hit the headlines quickly. I suspect he too would rather he had more say in how the situation was managed and presented rather than all parties having to make hasty statements because someone could not keep their mouth shut.
It is a time to be excited about who will take the spot at 10 going forward and help the club evolve even more rather than me annoyed about a man making a decision for his family and his quality of life.
For what it is worth, I suspect that Ford is as annoyed as most of us about the way it was handled and it cannot have been his intention to this all to kick off on a quiet day in the week when it was always going to hit the headlines quickly. I suspect he too would rather he had more say in how the situation was managed and presented rather than all parties having to make hasty statements because someone could not keep their mouth shut.
Re: George Fords Departure - Why ?
Including a very long effort at Nottingham!WirralExile wrote: ↑Thu Nov 18, 2021 3:34 pmI also recall many of our points being kicked by a certain Tim Stimpson, who played full-back, and I can't recall who our 10 (fly-half) was when Tim was kicking all those points.
Exile Wigstonite living in Wales.
Poet laureate of the "One Eyed Turk".
Bar stool philosopher in the "Wilted Daffodil"
Poet laureate of the "One Eyed Turk".
Bar stool philosopher in the "Wilted Daffodil"