By The Analyst
August 12 2002

The Falcons were a creation of the new age of rugby, a pro rugby franchise built by Sir John Hall (since departed) on the foundations of an Amalgamation of the two historic amateur clubs in the area, Gosforth and Northern. Initial attempts to run the club alongside the massive Newcastle United seem to have been abandoned due to lack of cross-code acceptance, but gates are on the up and ambitious plans are on the board for the ground, with work ongoing right now. The Premiership was won with a ready-made side bought in at no little expense Wasps being looted of much of their top echelon of players, and heavy recruitment from the Scottish national team.

This has been unwinding for some time now, alongside the exciting development of a new generation of players at the Falcons academy, featuring some exciting and pacy backs in particular.

Last term they started brightly, but faded as injury and inexperience took its toll. Most of the original Scots plus the iconic Samoans Tuigamala and Lam were by now bit-part players due to age, and their replacements were not
Quite ready for the harder months of the season when conditions were heavier. They faded badly in the second half, being chopping blocks in some
games while retaining the ability to win with style occasionally. This kept them safe from the danger zone, but meant they lost out on a Heineken spot.

Off the pitch they courted controversy with a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign that went down like a lead balloon, and ended up looking less than squeaky-clean in a tiff with the whole of the city of Gloucester.

TRANSFERS

The Kingston Park faithful are thoroughly disgruntled with the club's approach here, not to say mystified and alarmed. Maybe there are still
rabbits to be produced from Mr Andrew's hat, but the fans are worried in case most of the salary money saved on the retiring Lam, Tuigamala and the
departing trio of Scots veterans, Weir, Armstrong and Graham, may to be destined to defray the cost of Squeaky's new five-year contract. McClure and
Mower are also transfer listed, although no takers as yet.

IN comes James Grindall from Leicester to compete for the 9 shirt with Hall Charlton, an
unknown islander from Manchester by the name of Soakai Otuvaka, Johnny Wilkinson's big brother, already part of the training staff, and the flying
hairstyle from Saints "Sideshow Bob" Joe Shaw (bless!).

In addition there will be promotions from the academy. Supporters are worried by the apparent imbalance and fear a dearth of experience may leave them vulnerable. It doesn’t look too bright from here, but it is easy to forget that in people like Grimes, Vyvyan, Brotherstone, Hurter, Arnold, Taione, Devonshire, Walder, Johnny Wilkinson, Stephenson, Noon etc there still lies a lot of talent

MANAGEMENT

A year ago this would have been seen as a major strength, with Rob Andrew widely perceived as an England coach-in -waiting. Since then he has been
showing the strain, managing to antagonise other clubs players, management and supporters on a regular, indeed almost cavalier basis not to mention being seen as an orchestrator of a whispering campaign against the current
England management team.

There is a feeling of frustration with Bates, his chief sidekick, although hope rests in the arrival of Andrew Blades as forward coach, who is fresh from 2 years with the Brumbies and the Aussie age-group set-up. The owner, Mr Thompson, seems committed enough to put his hand in his pocket for new ground facilities, though a few more on the gate would be welcome, even after improving attendance last term.

PROSPECTS

Part of me says there is a lot of talent there, but on the whole, I fear for their scrum this year. Like Scotland, they have two agile but light locks, so may do well at the lineout, but they have been regularly marched around the
field by bigger older packs, and battered in the midfield confrontations. Taione is a force of nature, but not a winner of dirty ball, someone who can miss a tackle or wipe the ball carrier out just as easily.

I have a feeling that unless they get off to a fast start when the grounds are dry, they will be in a dogfight for the three bottom spots and to avoid the drop.

Unless there is some more transfer activity to come, things could go pear-shaped.