@vikingfox71 club never ever mentioned paasi but it is common knowledge talks took place and was close .... absolutely comical were led to believe he's not fit enough for the championship but is to start in SL ...I just think we pulled it through money ...which if that is the case how did we put a lucrative (by our standards) deal Infront of dufty unless the club knew there was very little chance he was ever going to sign ..which is possible as wire fans were saying prior to that offer that he was heading back to oz....in some circles their was talk Cesar rouge was offered a big deal before choosing Toulouse..I'd actually love to come on here and just sing praises but I just cannot get my head around our recruitment and strategy when it comes to props ...we're the only club that do it continuously ...going into a game with two props is the equivalent in football of only having one striker ...as in football full backs are defenders but their not centre halves ...as is back rowers not being props ...
@cumbria-viking but then why mention dufty or paasi ? Giving supporters hope that we are able to compete? When in reality it's another season floating
In fairness to the Club, the conversation with these players did take place. Dufty was on marquee money at Wire, do the math. Can't say what happened re; Paasi.
Paulie xx
Farnworth on his way back ?
oldham grass is no longer greener !
Well reading this forum I feel a majority would like 2 decent props to help out Murray and Jay. I have really liked these players but a bit much to expect them to perform every week with fatigue. Stop playing back rowers Alan in the front row please. You let Bibby go with no replacement and Houghton you do not fancy playing so why sign them? Alan has had enough time and this season make or break for him and time to deliver. Watching the highlights Doncaster busted us down the middle so need to sort it. Lyons not the answer at halfback with a running game.
totally agree - AC has signed these players but does not rate them ?
bibby was signed on loan last season and then we signed him for the season, then release him and he is snapped up by salfraud ( no doubt they were in his ear anyway)
so one prop gone and we have Houghton who AC signed this year from NWC - does not feature in the 18
our back row players perform better when played in the back row( clue in their position there)
roberts also not in Sundays 18 ?
@7-vikingnomad bang on regarding back rowers ... particularly Lawton ...how many times have we seen him hit a decent line and isolate an opposing back row or centre on an edge and just trample them ...it's what he's been renowned for in the past ...we're just too stacked in the back row and unfortunately as much as the boss insists on trying putting them at prop it DOES NOT WORK!!!!! Particularly against big packs ..It didn't last season it's already not this ...daft thing is we've probably got the best collection of back rows in the league ...some say well the size difference isn't that big between prop and 2nd row ...it's not about that though...players in any sport are creatures of habit .. their use to running certain lines...being in certain positions offensively and defensively..if you've spent x amount of years doing one thing and then your asked to do another it becomes un natural ...how many times do you hear pundits and ex players exploding the myth theirs very little difference in the centre/wing positions ... although their side by side the roles are quite different same applies to prop n 2nd row ...I'll add this ...our next opponents barrow and coach Crarey......ideal world starts with bullock and walker ....has Richards and emslie on the bench ALL FOUR PROPS.....emslie unavailable Vs hunslet at the weekend.... instantly brought in another prop on loan in Harvey makin....if walker isn't available they generally bring in Ryan brown ...always have 4 ....as do the vast majority...all this stems from is as per every season of late that we have an unbalanced squad ..one that gets fattened by players we have no intention of playing ..it's ridiculous to be heading to game week 8 with only 3 props and one of those the gaffer just does not rate .... WEEK 8 FGS!!!!!!....I'm not here to bash the club in an ideal world I'd just sing praises all day long ...in some aspects the clubs doing unbelievable stuff to improve a matchday experience mainly through Tim ...the engagement now is brilliant...get regular updates through the podcast with James and mike ...and now the forge with mike and Tim ....it's a gigantic improvement and should rightly be applauded ...but like any club your bread and butter is your on field and the weekend just encapsulated where we get it wrong .... abdull dropped for defensive reasons...well hey it happens....two of our best tacklers in JJ and hall were guilty at the weekend for missed tackles . Do they get dropped then ? No ...while yes he may get targeted if you number up around him you counter that ...what was glaringly obvious was his omission had a devastating effect on our offensive capabilities particularly end of set kicks...we were told also it was to add a running threat in Joe ....not even getting into that because he's probably been scapegoated enough...but it's like abdull doesn't have a threat ball in hand ...he has a massive hand off at the line and far better hands and deft kicking ability....it's like we went to Donny to contain rather than attack .... personally think max Roberts got a bum deal aswel...been great so far IMO...went with Sam whose fabulous but clearly wouldn't have been match fit and langtree who probably could have benefitted from a free week or two through his past body troubles ...I realise this is a long rant and fair play if you've got to the end I'm sure your eyes are burning as much as my typing thumb is ...just explaining why I've gone off in one after the weekend...I'm sure as hell not a hater ...I love the club as much as the next man..I'm desperate for us to succeed and sing allelujah from the rooftops..I just believe in being entitled to an opinion without people getting butthurt ...we're doing so well in many areas that have been a disgrace in the past but still IMO falling over the same hurdle ... anyways peace out cheers for reading. Up the pee boiling vikings !
Soz forgot to add this aswel ...our coach in an interview that every other coach could see openly admitted he dropped Abdull because of his defensive deficiencies... Yeah that'll go well when he's back in the team ...a ploy in football that the Liverpool manager whinged about and every team has took advantage of since ...if your even an NCL level coach you'll see that and get any half decent player in your ranks with a decent step to run at him ... broadcasting where your weak is beyond idiotic
Hope Mike Parsons and Flash update us on the next Podcast 2 big props and a fast number 6 from the French league possibly. There season finishes soon so fingers crossed on possibilities. Who is realistic as Owen Farnworth is a local lad and a decent player.
@cumbria-viking Think you’ve summed it up perfectly well here.
The pressure should certainly be on AC this year the squad we have should be good enough yet the coach seems to be making the same mistakes as he did last year and bottom line is that’s not good enough. Hopefully he learns quick as dropping your best attacking threat for no threat is a real clanger. Same with playing back rows as props just doesn’t work…
@cumbria-viking I'd try and get Riley dean as your running half only played a couple at full back for Oldham good player
farnworth new deal at Oldham so there's one gone