Well them players sound depressing. It is important to keep Fozard, even if find some extra money from WVIPS or VIQI because I believe we had some left from that old system. I would look to keep 80% of the squad, as most are not too bad if coached well. All we need adding is more size in the props department and the odd back rower, centre and a halfback that is robust. I have loved Craven, but I feel not as affective now, and his kicking game was average against Batley. Linking up with a Superleague club that can lend a few forwards and players too. Forber has been decent for us, but a big prop from Superleague would have helped this year. Don't know much about the players above to comment to be honest.
Not as effective now, just assisted for both tries against Batley last Sunday.
Paulie xx
Thought Cravens kicking game was poor yesterday and yeah involved in the tries, but spends more time on the treatment table. So I can see Pascal's take on it because not much use in the stands. 😂 He played okay yesterday but nothing special.
Reilly from Batley has signed. Interesting too see if he thinks his injury is down to the pitch and having second thoughts.
Reilly from Batley has signed. Interesting too see if he thinks his injury is down to the pitch and having second thoughts.
so has he signed or having second thoughts on signing ?
Some good comments on here, most of the rumoured players are championship from similar teams apart from the guy from north wales, but if you recall baker came from there and was impressive in his first season before covid ruined the games
would keep the majority of squad - as all have said fozard would be first, also I think Lawton but mixed views on him
wilde, Grady - yes please
half backs- there is the problem, a season of fit Danny and Tom would be great but can we rely on that ?
Some good comments on here, most of the rumoured players are championship from similar teams apart from the guy from north wales, but if you recall baker came from there and was impressive in his first season before covid ruined the games
would keep the majority of squad - as all have said fozard would be first, also I think Lawton but mixed views on him
wilde, Grady - yes please
half backs- there is the problem, a season of fit Danny and Tom would be great but can we rely on that ?
My thoughts too mate. Craven spends more time in the stands injured and can't afford him and Gilmore out. So that is why thought similar standard player that is robust and younger. A young Thackeray or Dennis Morgan type. 😂
A few props, second rower of Lawton leaving then keep Grady and Wilde. Fozard the biggest priority for me and most fans. I would also like a quality centre added to the squad.
what a load of speculative tripe on here...if we if we if we...you cant make silk purse out of a sows ear...bigging up players from swinton and worse teams than us....this team shouldnt have been destroyed by certain people who want a cheap team..peanuts offered monkeys we will get...fact...
its been mentioned '' theres a team here'' its true and with acoach who knows what he is doing , not just a nice bloke whos a teacher, if kept together with additions would have troubled a lot last year...too many vultures on here picking already on the carcasses of lads who will do thier best come sunday...
I think it's safe to say that this "nice bloke who's just a teacher" has got more of a tune out of these players than his predecessor. NB has done a fine job. There was talk of a relegation battle when he was appointed.
@widiot He has done a fine job, not sure if he wanted the job FT but like you say got far more out of this team than Kear,
Why are we signing crunchie from clubs below us? Barrow fans saying Sam Brooks is rubbish and we are signing him? 🙈 Doesn't bode well if signing crunchie from clubs below us. I could understand if one of the better players though. Oldham gave us Dupree and Ince that where decent. But the other 2 was bang average.
We play in, what's largely, a PT division. Us and Swinton are the only Lancs teams in the League so attracting PT players to travel from Yorks/Cumbria isn't easy unless you pay them top dollar, which we can't/won't. The League above us is FT, attracting players from there is a non-starter, unless they're young lads on loan. So, I'm not sure where else the players will come from. There's only 5 teams above us in our division and 2 are FT, one based in France.
We play in, what's largely, a PT division. Us and Swinton are the only Lancs teams in the League so attracting PT players to travel from Yorks/Cumbria isn't easy unless you pay them top dollar, which we can't/won't. The League above us is FT, attracting players from there is a non-starter, unless they're young lads on loan. So, I'm not sure where else the players will come from. There's only 5 teams above us in our division and 2 are FT, one based in France.
Good points that is what I feel a link up with a Superleague team such as Wigan or Saints for players. I prefer the majority as playing for Widnes, but 3 players on loan or dual would help us stay fresher and some extra quality to help. Forber is a prime example, but the odd prop or a position if injuries mount up. I am not a fan of dual or loans but clubs in the Championship are using it to there advantages.
We play in, what's largely, a PT division. Us and Swinton are the only Lancs teams in the League so attracting PT players to travel from Yorks/Cumbria isn't easy unless you pay them top dollar, which we can't/won't. The League above us is FT, attracting players from there is a non-starter, unless they're young lads on loan. So, I'm not sure where else the players will come from. There's only 5 teams above us in our division and 2 are FT, one based in France.
I agree however, we're releasing a chunk of our squad (who are currently in a play off position) and replacing them with, what looks like, players mostly from teams heading for league 1 or are currently in league 1. I can't see the reasoning behind this other than to cut the cost of the squad.
it will be interesting to see who we let go, as much as those we bring in. As most have agreed, Fozard has probably been one of our most consistent players this year, if not the most consistent, and should be retained, assuming that he wants to stay. Lawton too, although he has been a bit hit and miss throughout his career, but he could be a good player if he brought some consistency to his game.
The common call on here throughout this season, has been the need for a decent half back and a couple of big strong running props, not as replacements, but to add to a small squad. Craven does miss games through injury and he is getting older, but at this level is still a good player.
This current team has shown that it can perform, as has been shown in recent games and earlier in the season, but sadly has thrown in too many shocking performances throughout the season. Whether that is coaching or players just turning off in games, I have no idea.
If the Club does have ambition to at least be in a position to challenge for a place in SL, by being at the top of the Championship, then we need to bring in players that will improve the current squad. If our ambition is to be a mid-table Championship team, then we can bring in players who add nothing to the quality of the squad. Some of the suggested signings on here, would seem to suggest the latter.
Maybe we would be better spending what limited funds we have on the playing squad and just forget about any IMG requirements, such as fancy advertising boards, until we can actually see a chance of SL. Whether clubs like Widnes will ever fit the profile of SL Clubs eg big city clubs and those with a wealthy benefactor, we can only wait and see, but the game will wither away, if clubs like Widnes are cast aside and the so called bigger clubs building up more debt each season, chasing the IMG dream.
Agree with much of what you say Frank, but the job of hiring and firing is more complicated than our Board (or its supporters) who we want etc.
As has been said we draw from a pretty restricted pool and most of our signings will have jobs and family commitments which seriously affect their options. Our fellow Championship clubs, other than the FT hopers, have the same problem as us.
We all know that we want quality players but haven't enough of a budget to fund a full team at that level. So the key players are hopefully signed and the 'fillers' to make up the squad probably have less obvious talents.
Since SL we have tried to continue to play good quality rugby in a division that, by and large, has its base in an old fashioned game of big packs and hard work. Our effort to improve our forward power sadly failed early in the season.
At last we have signed a coach, plus holding on to NB, who seems to know the local game pretty well and has been successful at getting performances from so called average players. Of course he hasn't topped our league and has had poor years too but generally has succeeded. I am sure that Powell or Watson etc would tell you that consistency is hard earned, with or without big money.
If players are offered better deals elsewhere it will be up to them to decide where they want to play and who they want to play for. They may command bigger pay packets as 'stars' with teams looking to rise in the league but they will have to decide what sort of player satisfaction they can look forward to.
Widnes can't offer money that it hasn't got and it would be foolish to do so, unless circumstances change and SL once again beckons. But again getting PT players to seek SL is asking turkeys to vote for Christmas, unless they are at a point in their careers where retirement is their next move.