Yorkshire Carnegie
Great Expectations Part 1
Cometh the Hour.....
By TopTyke
July 15 2012
Leeds Carnegie fans are used to riding the rollercoaster of fortune. Some seasons we are up (in the premiership) and in others we are down in the Championship. In the past we have almost always bounced back immediately after relegation and became something of a yo-yo club. Last season all that changed……
Having committed a substantial sum of money to the acquisition of players for Back and Key the club found that there was little return on the investment in terms of league position. The club’s main backer has decided that the rugby union side needs to be financially self-sufficient and that has meant that we did not bounce back last season. In my opinion last season had all the bounce of a dead cat. We finished the season mid-table and that was largely down to the loanees from our neighbours over the hill.
Pre-season recruitment has been frugal to put it mildly. We are short of props and lack cover at 10. Newcastle, with its AP squad largely intact, has been relegated at a late hour. These facts go a considerable way to tempering our expectations for the coming campaign. Last season was a steep learning curve for Diccon Edwards. We look forward to seeing just how much he has actually learnt from that experience. This season the players that he has at his disposal are all his men and as such we can reasonably expect them to play for him with a degree of passion and commitment.
The addition of a dedicated forwards coach will be a big plus for the team, particularly as Dave Baldwin already has a good reputation as both a player and a coach. Edwards has already expressed his liking for the new setup (including Chris Gibson as DoR) which will enable him to focus on coaching the players.
What of the players themselves? We have a nucleus of young players who have the potential to go far in the game. It was only right that Diccon picked one of them, Jacob Rowan, as team captain for the coming season. Jacob showed last season that he has the skills to lead the side to better things. He will be pushed all the way for the 7 shirt by Chris Walker who was another young player to catch the eye whenever he donned the shirt. There are also the players who signed on last season, such as McColl, Hemingway and Burrows who now find themselves “veterans” after the close season departures. All 3 showed glimpses of their potential and they could have a much bigger impact this time around. Of the new signings Ben Hooper has the pedigree to become a legend – his scrimmaging may well be crucial. Calum Green has Tigers on his CV & the lads from Donny and Pirates will want to make their mark.
My expectations then are that we will be a competitive team. Our defence will improve and our finishing will sharpen. I expect the perceived gaps in the squad to be filled with loanees. Can we win the Championship? We can but it is unlikely. What I expect is what I hoped for last season – progress within the regular season leading to a play-off place. After that anything is possible as we saw with London Welsh last time. Great expectations? Not really. Progress? Hopefully.
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15/07/2012 21:06
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:08:05:09:19:35 by Wildwillie .
I wasn't born in Yorkshire but I got here as soon as I could
Good Lad!
Miserati - and Proud to be!
My guess is that we will finish 4th but lose in the play-off semi.
I wasn't born in Yorkshire but I got here as soon as I could
But what do I know, I support Leeds
As you said it DE’s team now and his selection this time round so he will have to except their performance and has no one else to blame should they not show the legionary Leeds fighting sprit.
The page has now been turned and last years problems must be put behind us so I’m sure we will all get behind the 2012\13 team.
BTW
How did Shakespeare get in on this thread?
for me, after two seasons of poor leadership and infighting in the dressing room, i'm looking forward to a return to the qualities that took leeds to the top table and won us the cup.
we might not have the experience and/or budget to be in the premiership next season, but we sure as hell can go out there and show some pride.
Top bloke, Dicko.
Miserati - and Proud to be!
I hope we can recapture some of Stuart Lancaster's flair for welding together a group of players who then exceed our expectations. There is general agreement that we need to strengthen the props and 10 but I would rather see a steady building of squad than trying for too much too soon.
For whatever reason Joe did not always deliver last season and it would be unfair to even think of giving Joe Barker the backup 10 (?) the nod over him. I cannot believe that there are no other 10s out there that could be approached, even short term. Staunton? Socino?
Miserati - and Proud to be!
I am hearing more positivity this year and very good things about Dave Baldwin is doing a good job. Our issue last year was that the divisions meant that we, as a squad, weren't pulling together as one, this year needs to be different.
Re fly-halves, I believe Joe is capable of being the best 10 in the league (well, behind Gopperth) and a strong squad and good service from 9 will help. There are not too many top drawer 10's out there, Staunton is leaving rugby and apparently going into teaching and I believe Socino was homesick and wanted to go home.
This year will be tough, no doubt about it, but we need to rebuild from first principals. Last year was an abject failure as was the season prior, this year will be consolidation and next year will be the push....providing finances are in place.
probably our most exciting signing is big Keef and we dont even know if he will play...
if the front 5 hold their own we will see a different jo ford espicially if he has some power in the centre
dont underestimate the influence baldwin will have-he knows his stuff and understands the prerequisites of forward play
I am optimistic about next season and if by the end of it we have a confident, competetive team made up of Leeds players I will be happy.
Ever the optimist, I dont see any reason why we shouldn't finish in the top 4 but progression is the key target for me.
Miserati - and Proud to be!
