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another mouse wheel fed to keep the page going

A canny player from what I’ve seen of him on the 7s circuit and no doubt he will add some flair!!

I would question signing another winger / centre unless he’s going to be used to cover for the internationals 🤷🏻‍♂️

Still need to strengthen at 9, 10, 15 and possibly 8 of Chick is going to be a regular England player and Fearns keeps struggling with injury.

Signings are done sbb79.

Quote:

sbb79
A canny player from what I’ve seen of him on the 7s circuit and no doubt he will add some flair!!
I would question signing another winger / centre unless he’s going to be used to cover for the internationals 🤷🏻‍♂️

Still need to strengthen at 9, 10, 15 and possibly 8 of Chick is going to be a regular England player and Fearns keeps struggling with injury.

Do you really think we need to strengthen all those?

We've signed 2 fly halfs this summer, with another England U20 in our senor academy. We've promoted 2 very talented 9's to the senior academy and have signed highly rated Josh Barton from the championship.

At 15, we have Penny and Stephens for 15 and old man Tait. Stevenson and Wakecoke can both cover if needed.

At 8 we have Marshall, Chick, Fearns, Graham, Van Der Walt after his injury and im pretty sure Freddie Lockwood can cover there.

What more do you want??



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:07:12:36:42 by GeordieFalcon.

Quote:

GeordieFalcon
At 15, we have Penny and Stephens for 15 and old man Tait. Stevenson and Wakecoke can both cover if needed.

Interesting one, could Stevenson make this move and surprise us like Penny did? Stephens looks like a winger out and out to me, but prepared to be proved wrong hopefully.

In short “yes”.

2 (a position we look strong in) , 8, 9, 10 & 15 are the spine of any team, without quality in those positions you will struggle.

Do we have players that can “cover” or “have potential” in those positions - yes, but do we have much quality in those positions?? I see journeyman, injury prone and inexperience players in those positions.

Would any of the players you have mentioned feature in the top 10 in the Premiership in their positions?? Maybe one or two??

It sounds really harsh but the reality is we are going to struggle to compete for a top half of the table spot. Happy to proven wrong.

I understand the salary cap / club finances but I would have personally looked at strengthening one of those positions rather than bring in another wing centre (although I can’t imagine he’s going to be on a particularly high wage).

We've got 4 senior 9s, a plethora of players who can play 8&15 and our main signing of the summer is a 10.

Understand your angle but we shouldn't be stockpiling players and currently have more than enough on the books with a ton of ability.

This signing is us taking a punt on someone who could have something a bit different and seems a low risk/high reward move.

I'm interested to know who people consider to be journeymen in the current squad, particularly at the positions mentioned by sbb79 above? I'm not sure we have any, though I appreciate a couple could be forced into that category

Are any of those 9s top quality players?? Yes they can do a job but none of them are great.

So, talk to me about Tian Schoeman?? A journey man South African who blew his knee out at Bath, having only played 5 games for them. If he was that good a player would he have only gone to Bath / Falcons?? Again, hope his knee recovers to full fitness and he proves me wrong and that he’s the next Johnny Wilkinson. I will keep my fingers crossed.

I’m not talking about stockpiling players, in fact, I would trim the squad down so that we could afford better players and fill the gaps with the academy players Falcons are so good at producing. Cut out the dead wood in the middle. It’s a high risk strategy but with no relegation this season what has the club got to lose?? I understand players have contracts that need to be adhered to obviously.

I like the new signing, I’ve seen him play 7s and I hope he smashes it for us…………..but he needs the ball in his hands first!!

Would he have gone to Bath ? Butch James did at his best and just look at their current and recent players , there's probably not many wouldn't go really. They might have had a poor season but have have some excellent players and always do.

Butch James, wow, blast from the past - Bath were challenging for silverware back then + the money not surprised he went.

Tian Schoeman & Bath are in a relegation dog fight.

Like I said, I hope we have an amazing season and rugby blossoms in the North East but personally, I’m worried about next season.

Maybe you need to go and glory support one of the top teams. Saracens always do well you should try them....

What's with the hostility to him?

He's said we should use our finances more wisely. That's his opinion, he's entitled to it.

He's explained his reasoning. He's not wrong, he's not right. Neither are the rest of you.

It’s that sort of witty banter that stopped me going to KP after 15 years.

I still support Falcons from afar but I’m realistic in what they can achieve.

Looking forward to an interesting season.

Quote:

sbb79
Butch James, wow, blast from the past - Bath were challenging for silverware back then + the money not surprised he went.
Tian Schoeman & Bath are in a relegation dog fight.

Like I said, I hope we have an amazing season and rugby blossoms in the North East but personally, I’m worried about next season.

Schroeder has went the opposite way? and when Schoeman signed for Bath he maybe though having the likes of Faletau ,Underhill , Ewels , Obano ,Stuart and Dunn in of him with Spencer flinging him the ball might have gave him the chance to get Redpath ,Joseph ,Watson , Cokanasiga and co going.

Just seemed a very strange comment to me and not hostile at all , maybe didn't work out but to try to put him down for signing for Bath is nonsense really.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:07:22:02:05 by steve1888.

Quote:

sbb79
I still support Falcons from afar but I’m realistic in what they can achieve.

In that case you don't belong on here. We've all gone bomb-happy over the last few weeks, tipping them to win the title. You need to start drinking what we're drinking mate, which I suspect Semore has spiked with something good.

Quote:

WilkosLeftPeg
What's with the hostility to him?
He's said we should use our finances more wisely. That's his opinion, he's entitled to it.

He's explained his reasoning. He's not wrong, he's not right. Neither are the rest of you.

Not hostile. Just a bit bemused by the comment after rhe changes this summer.

The falcons have a very limited budget. We have to balance shrewd signings with academy prospects

We have all been critical at times, me more than most, but this summer there's big changes in the coaching which hopefully will be positive and we have signed players who should give us more in areas the fans have been asking for...such as two attack minded 10s, fast attacking 9s with quick service and a few others.

Are they expensive top class Internationals....no. Are they players who could really push on and help us play a better style of rugby....possibly.

That's the risk you have to take when you have a limited budget, and what we have to accept supporting the falcons.

That's not unambitious...thats realism.

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Monkey1

Quote:

sbb79
I still support Falcons from afar but I’m realistic in what they can achieve.

In that case you don't belong on here. We've all gone bomb-happy over the last few weeks, tipping them to win the title. You need to start drinking what we're drinking mate, which I suspect Semore has spiked with something good.

Yes, he spiked it with whiskey and not that imitation you drink.

Quote:

sbb79
Tian Schoeman & Bath are in a relegation dog fight.

I don't actually disagree with many of your comments but the fact is we'll not see anyone else in during the summer in the positions you mentioned because we've brought players in in those positions this summer, I think this is why a few people here are a bit baffled at the original comment.

Note on Tian, he wasn't really in a dog fight, he was injured all season and was up in Newcastle by Feb. Hopefully he can show why Bath signed him in the first place with us.

I wonder how many of these signings were players Richards wanted and how much say Walder had in the process. I’d expect a season or two of him getting the players he wants to play his style etc.

Well thats the question isnt it.

However there are some decent players, even if they arent what Walder wants surely if hes looking for a new style he should be able to get more out of them than we have seen over the last few years.

Agreed.

Quote:

Andy Mac
I wonder how many of these signings were players Richards wanted and how much say Walder had in the process. I’d expect a season or two of him getting the players he wants to play his style etc.

We all know that recruitment is not a spur of the moment, 5 minute job, often planned 18-24 months prior to signing - something Deano had made an art of in terms of meticulous research.

It's also highly likely that succession planning had been going on for many months and possibly years, even if the final decision re timing was more recent. Consequently I have no doubt that both Deano and Dave W had a significant input in the process.

Almost certainly Deano will have allowed Dave W the final decision (if that was required) as he was the future. No doubt Deano liked his own rules whilst in charge (eg announcing leavers etc), but I can't imagine him forcng a player on a new coach after he left?

What CD said.

Seem to remember reading somewhere that Matt Thompson had been taken on to oversee recruitment?

P. S. Interesting to note the recent addition to the board of Newcastle Rugby............

Matt Thompson is I believe a director of Newcastle Rugby, as of June this year. Not sure what to read into this , but does add to the "speculation " re recruitment !

“ We all know that recruitment is not a spur of the moment, 5 minute job, often planned 18-24 months prior to signing”

Do we? I’d imagine it’s somewhere between the 5 minute spur of the moment decision and the utopian 24 months you describe.

You describe a wonderful scenario, CD, but it sounds pretty idealistic and naive to me. Had Richards achieved greater success, would this harmonious transfer of power taken place? I suspect not.

I’m sure/hopeful that there was close alignment in players they wanted to bring in, but this is now Walders ship and he may want to do things differently. Indeed; if he doesn’t then why make the change at all?

Staggering arrogance, Andy Mac, and insulting to call me naive, especially when you admit your view is guesswork (quote, "I'd imagine, sounds idealistic, I suspect, I'm hopeful. ... all your words!)

Sorry, I didn’t realise yours was based on deep insider knowledge.

Not sure how speculation is arrogance whereas, unless you are in the know, you’re putting your guesswork across as fact. And extrapolating it to everyone else! (“As we all know”). Although you also seem to be guessing yourself (“highly likely/almost certainly/I can’t imagine”…all your words!)

Try and remember that it’s possible to hold a differing view without resorting to insults. Makes it a much nicer place.

Quote:

Andy Mac
Sorry, I didn’t realise yours was based on deep insider knowledge.

Well actually it is.... a few years ago I attended a corporate event where Deano spent over an hour elaborating on the detailed recruitment process.

Straight from the horse's mouth, not idle speculation. Equally I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been to such an event - whether they post on this site is a different matter.

So, yes, I do speak with some insider knowledge, in fact I could go into much greater detail. I presume your rejection of my view can equally be backed up by fact?

Not at all, as I said, I’m not in the know, hence spelling it out quite clearly that I was making assumptions. You also made some assumptions (based on your choice of words).

I’m not rejecting your view. I’m just not sure that every transfer gets as much attention as you said. I’m sure they’d love to be able to do that, but “as we all know”, we operate on limited resources. 2 years of research for EVERY player we sign?

My point was that perhaps Walder has a different idea from Richards as to who he wants and how he wants them to play. Nothing more.

Quote:

Andy Mac
. 2 years of research for EVERY player we sign?

Please at least get your facts right..... I clearly said 'typically 18 - 24 months' I never suggested every signing took 24 months.

Anyway, enough said, others can judge if my opinion is fair (which a few already have) - last comment from me on this thread

Don't you just love the summer holidays!

Im on a two day hangover from Saturday ....uuurrggghhhh Never drinking again lol

Quote:

Monkey1
Don't you just love the summer holidays!

I do indeed






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:11:14:52:01 by aidanb.

My idea of hell.


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