3/4 more Signings?

[old cas lass]

Cas started last season with 26 'first teamers' and some youngsters.
Nine of those 'first teamers' have left, although only one, Carney would have commanded a place in the top 17 if everyone was fit.
Of the nine, seven have been replaced; Monaghan replaces Carney, Minikin for Channing, Crookes for Gibson, Hampshire for Finn, Mcshane for Moore, Springer for Weeldon and Maher for Crossley.
Leaving a 'first team' squad of 24 with Clare (a winger)and Tansy (utility back) not being replaced so far.

So I would expect two more signings, a winger and a utility back, unless DB considers that Ash Robson is ready to take over the Tansy utility role. And, we do seem to have a glut of centres. so does DP think that either Crookes or Minikin (or both) could fill in on the wing?

Personally think that the squad is going to be stronger in 2016. Have added some strength and height to the backs, Hampshire is more versatile and faster than Finn. Mcshane for Moore and the youth of Maher and Springer add to an already very strong pack.

Decent post Aid.
My worry is the likes of crooks/manikin/robson/maher/springer and even Hampshire are all naïve and still very raw without any experience of SL long term. A couple have dabbled, crooks and springer, robson a couple of games and springer Hampshire a few more games. Just hope they come good, but only time will tell.

[muckymunksy]

Cas started last season with 26 'first teamers' and some youngsters.
Nine of those 'first teamers' have left, although only one, Carney would have commanded a place in the top 17 if everyone was fit.
Of the nine, seven have been replaced; Monaghan replaces Carney, Minikin for Channing, Crookes for Gibson, Hampshire for Finn, Mcshane for Moore, Springer for Weeldon and Maher for Crossley.
Leaving a 'first team' squad of 24 with Clare (a winger)and Tansy (utility back) not being replaced so far.

So I would expect two more signings, a winger and a utility back, unless DB considers that Ash Robson is ready to take over the Tansy utility role. And, we do seem to have a glut of centres. so does DP think that either Crookes or Minikin (or both) could fill in on the wing?

Personally think that the squad is going to be stronger in 2016. Have added some strength and height to the backs, Hampshire is more versatile and faster than Finn. Mcshane for Moore and the youth of Maher and Springer add to an already very strong pack.

I agree with most of that. My area of concern is our props. If Lynch and/or Millington got injured we would be relying on the likes of Boyle to stand in and I don't think that he is good enough, nor do I think that Maher or Springer are ready. They both have potential but we need better at the level we want to be at. We also have Moors to stand in but I think that we need another experienced specialist prop we can rotate and help Lynch (who is not getting any younger)

Lee Jewitt

[Andrew6666]

Cas started last season with 26 'first teamers' and some youngsters.
Nine of those 'first teamers' have left, although only one, Carney would have commanded a place in the top 17 if everyone was fit.
Of the nine, seven have been replaced; Monaghan replaces Carney, Minikin for Channing, Crookes for Gibson, Hampshire for Finn, Mcshane for Moore, Springer for Weeldon and Maher for Crossley.
Leaving a 'first team' squad of 24 with Clare (a winger)and Tansy (utility back) not being replaced so far.

So I would expect two more signings, a winger and a utility back, unless DB considers that Ash Robson is ready to take over the Tansy utility role. And, we do seem to have a glut of centres. so does DP think that either Crookes or Minikin (or both) could fill in on the wing?

Personally think that the squad is going to be stronger in 2016. Have added some strength and height to the backs, Hampshire is more versatile and faster than Finn. Mcshane for Moore and the youth of Maher and Springer add to an already very strong pack.

I agree with most of that. My area of concern is our props. If Lynch and/or Millington got injured we would be relying on the likes of Boyle to stand in and I don't think that he is good enough, nor do I think that Maher or Springer are ready. They both have potential but we need better at the level we want to be at. We also have Moors to stand in but I think that we need another experienced specialist prop we can rotate and help Lynch (who is not getting any younger)

Agree with both posts. Lynch concerns me as I aren't seeing anyone at the moment who will replace his workload and help Millington.

[chesterfieldtiger]

Are we not counting jewitt?

[Aid]

Lynch is two years younger than Jamie Peacock
Lynch, Millington, Jewitt, Boyle, Cook, Moors, Maher, Springer can all play up front.

[orrsome]

Lynch is two years younger than Jamie Peacock
Lynch, Millington, Jewitt, Boyle, Cook, Moors, Maher, Springer can all play up front.

With all due respect to the others mentioned, our effective 2 props are Lynch and Millington. The best teams have props they can rotate during a game without losing effectiveness and when either are off the pitch we become a poorer unit, so I maintain that we still need another specialist prop. Jewitt is the nearest and I hope he comes back all guns blazing but last time I saw him he had lost buckets of weight and was nowhere the size required. Surely we must be looking to bring in a prop with experience and hopefully some aggression too.

[duke street 10]

Lynch is two years younger than Jamie Peacock
Lynch, Millington, Jewitt, Boyle, Cook, Moors, Maher, Springer can all play up front.

With all due respect to the others mentioned, our effective 2 props are Lynch and Millington. The best teams have props they can rotate during a game without losing effectiveness and when either are off the pitch we become a poorer unit, so I maintain that we still need another specialist prop. Jewitt is the nearest and I hope he comes back all guns blazing but last time I saw him he had lost buckets of weight and was nowhere the size required. Surely we must be looking to bring in a prop with experience and hopefully some aggression too.

Regarding Jewitt's weight loss that will be combination of stress/worry over the twins health while they were in hospital and not training regular with the squad i would guess?.

He should be bigger this coming season.

[KB80]

I think both Moors and Cook are pretty good understudies/rotations to Lynch and Millo. Both were very effective at times last year, changing a number of games by coming on and making hard yards for us. Throw Jewitt into the mix too and we have some decent options at prop.

I just want to see us sign 1 established quality player of a decent age now, not overly concerned about where he plays but would just like to see that bit of extra quality somewhere in the team.

[KB80]

Lynch is two years younger than Jamie Peacock
Lynch, Millington, Jewitt, Boyle, Cook, Moors, Maher, Springer can all play up front.

With all due respect to the others mentioned, our effective 2 props are Lynch and Millington. The best teams have props they can rotate during a game without losing effectiveness and when either are off the pitch we become a poorer unit, so I maintain that we still need another specialist prop.

Disagree with that. I thought Cook and Moors were both very effective at times last year, in fact in some games their entrance marked improvements in the effectiveness of our forward unit (partially of course due to them been fresh) and helped to get us on top of our opponents.

[orrsome]

Lynch is two years younger than Jamie Peacock
Lynch, Millington, Jewitt, Boyle, Cook, Moors, Maher, Springer can all play up front.

With all due respect to the others mentioned, our effective 2 props are Lynch and Millington. The best teams have props they can rotate during a game without losing effectiveness and when either are off the pitch we become a poorer unit, so I maintain that we still need another specialist prop.

Disagree with that. I thought Cook and Moors were both very effective at times last year, in fact in some games their entrance marked improvements in the effectiveness of our forward unit (partially of course due to them been fresh) and helped to get us on top of our opponents.

I respect your opinion but I still think that we are a much better team with Lynch and Millington on the pitch. I think we have to agree to disagree.
Doesn't look like we're signing an overseas prop anyway as we have confirmed the signing of Jy Hitchcock - our last quota spot?

[Andrew6666]

I see the trickery in this thread '3/4 signings' means 3 quarters of a signing not 3 or 4 signings - how stupid do I feel