Hopefully the message will be loud and clear now with a new boss looking to 2023. 'Shape up or ship out'.
It should be ship out hopefully JK will be watching the recordings so far this season and has already decided who is going.
Hoping it's a very, very short retain list
It is ok to say that we should get rid of most of the current squad, but where are all these replacements coming from, who are likely to be better than what we have?
Perhaps Kear can instil confidence in the squad that is clearly lacking. I am sure that they have all been around long enough to understand the basics of the game and, you never know, Kear may get better performances in the coming games from the squad and individual players.
I would rather we aimed to have a bigger squad next year, with some additional “quality” signings, like Amor, added to the squad, not necessarily as replacements.
Even Nzougbou may well be a surprise and like a new signing, if (a big if!), he can get in a few games before the end of the season. Presumably Kear saw something in him when he signed for Bradford.
So my approach, would be for Kear to say to all players, that they have the remaining games this season to prove to him that you are worth a new contract. If not, they will be released.
I can’t see any being offered SL contracts or full time contracts with other Championship clubs, other than possibly Farnworth and Lawton, both of whom I hope we can retain. I understand that Craven, Owens, Lyons and Johnson (?) are the only players contracted for 2023, so others will be playing for a new contract. I hope we can retain Doro, who has been consistent this season.
Interesting times ahead. Let’s hope we are not having the same conversation this time next year about culling the squad.
Part of the problem with these mass culls is that, ultimately, when you're on a budget, you have to sign some players simply to make up the numbers. And that's where we're at now, after last year's mass cull; with a significant number of players who probably aren't good enough. We might just end up swapping like for like. Again.
Part of the problem with these mass culls is that, ultimately, when you're on a budget, you have to sign some players simply to make up the numbers. And that's where we're at now, after last year's mass cull; with a significant number of players who probably aren't good enough. We might just end up swapping like for like. Again.
The big difference now is we have a coach who will know which players are worth signing be it a squad member or a starting 17.
Part of the problem with these mass culls is that, ultimately, when you're on a budget, you have to sign some players simply to make up the numbers. And that's where we're at now, after last year's mass cull; with a significant number of players who probably aren't good enough. We might just end up swapping like for like. Again.
The big difference now is we have a coach who will know which players are worth signing be it a squad member or a starting 17.
A new coach still constrained by budget though. So, still not easy to achieve a complete makeover.
Got to hope that a significant proportion of the current squad can step up their performances in the second half of the season under Kear’s coaching and show form of a level that will see a better league position next year. Good recruitment is imperative but it’s not very likely we are going to replace the majority of the squad.
Agree with Frank about the players being given an opportunity to impress despite their previous poor efforts.The new coach comes in and starts with a clean slate and the players should be afforded the same luxury as well.
For some reason we seem to have picked up a loser mentality. For a club and town like Widnes with its rich history, and in the Championship at least, comparatively large crowds paying £22 a head it is simply unacceptable.
Saying would you do better is irrelevant. These players have selected rugby as a paid occupation, they are representing a town and are being paid to do so. It's not amateur rugby where the social side and turning up is acceptable.
They need it spelling out to them by someone that it's now an embarrassment.
Well said Dan. It’s the people who oppose what you’ve said who are part of the problem.
How much more of this will people take? Widnes could sit bottom of league 1 and some lickspittles would be just happy to have a nice day out in Workington.
For some reason we seem to have picked up a loser mentality. For a club and town like Widnes with its rich history, and in the Championship at least, comparatively large crowds paying £22 a head it is simply unacceptable.
Saying would you do better is irrelevant. These players have selected rugby as a paid occupation, they are representing a town and are being paid to do so. It's not amateur rugby where the social side and turning up is acceptable.
They need it spelling out to them by someone that it's now an embarrassment.
Well said Dan. It’s the people who oppose what you’ve said who are part of the problem.
How much more of this will people take? Widnes could sit bottom of league 1 and some lickspittles would be just happy to have a nice day out in Workington.
At last someone else realises the big picture.
I am really hoping that we turn it round and the players find some form, I believe we will let 5-6 players go at seasons end. If Amor is coming in with maybe another big prop and we retain our other props then a halfback , 2 centres and some hard working backrows we should be able to make a competitive squad
Absolutely Winny, amazing how some folks still want to reward failure, mind blowing
I am really hoping that we turn it round and the players find some form, I believe we will let 5-6 players go at seasons end. If Amor is coming in with maybe another big prop and we retain our other props then a halfback , 2 centres and some hard working backrows we should be able to make a competitive squad
Which props? Widnes don’t have any decent props. The best one is Farnworth and he’s average at best (for this league).
The pack is weak as piss. The more forwards the club can get rid of the better. People are too soft with their ideas of retention. The likes of Lawton, Doro, Tilleke, Hulme, Bent, etc should be playing North West Counties. That is not a dig at these lads, some of them will run their blood to water for the shirt; and I commend them for that. But professional sport is ruthless. They should be thanked for their efforts and released to pursue avenues elsewhere.
I think a lot of people have been watching rubbish for years and wouldn’t recognise a decent player if they sidestepped them in Morrisons.
@winny-ingram Seems that Kear doesn’t agree that Hulme is NW Counties standard, having picked him for the Welsh squad. Did he take Nzougbou to Bradford too?
Far from accepting the position that the Club is in, I think all of the posters have criticised the performances of the players this year and last year and no doubt previous years. I don’t think anyone is happy to watch a losing team, particularly one where players themselves seem to have a losing mentality. Hasn’t Kear been brought in to turn this around this season, with the current squad and improve the squad and performances next year?
Everyone has an opinion on individual players, but the Club will be paying Kear to get the best out of the current squad and identifying those who should be retained and any potential targets for 2023. It is too simplistic to demand that the current squad be scrapped and bring in a new squad in 2023. I would guess that a few of your NW County standard players will be in the 2023 squad!
Just like Spelly with Swinton, there will be fans who will follow Widnes whichever league they are in. Why insult Spelly and other hardened fans who have and will follow Widnes through thick and thin, as lickspittles?
Reading your post, I suspect that you will no doubt be building up a lexicon of Yorkshire linked epithets to throw out on here in the coming months.
