Squad

Very early in the season i posted some doubts about the size of our squad, I understood the thinking behind it but had serious doubts about a squad with so many players of similar ability, or to be more precise how to keep them all happy, All the rotating and swapping seemed to work well at the start and seemed to be doing the intended job, Then as injuries started to bite it seemed to fall apart somewhat and generally seems to have failed just when it was needed most.
Myself i would prefer to have a couple of real quality signings rather than a huge squad "Just my opinion" For what it's worth I don't think 2 average players make 1 good one, and 2 good players don't make a great one, I hope next year we are going to go more for quality than quantity, IMO it hasn't worked this season , and i know that quality players don't grow on tree's but we need to get a Sam Tomkin's from somewhere, To go forward we need to win things ( and we still might ) We have class players in many positions but we are short of that magic maker we require, hopefully KD will be on the case.

We had the magic maker, but let him go to Wire. I think Brough is close to that, but niggles have slowed him down. Hopefully he is now fully fit and ready to guide Fartown through the play-offs. Then he can show that he is just as good as Brett. If there were lots of quality players available to sign then you would have a point, but it's not that easy, so in my opinion the club have done the right thing. Lots of young and hungry players have been signed, some will not make it and drift away others are already showing they are quality and have been given long term contracts. I believe that competition for places is vital, we have that, but like you say sometimes due to injuries or loss of form we lack the magic.

matt01 wrote:

We had the magic maker, but let him go to Wire. I think Brough is close to that, but niggles have slowed him down. Hopefully he is now fully fit and ready to guide Fartown through the play-offs. Then he can show that he is just as good as Brett. If there were lots of quality players available to sign then you would have a point, but it's not that easy, so in my opinion the club have done the right thing. Lots of young and hungry players have been signed, some will not make it and drift away others are already showing they are quality and have been given long term contracts. I believe that competition for places is vital, we have that, but like you say sometimes due to injuries or loss of form we lack the magic.

Yes letting Hodgson go was a massive mistake, but too late to worry about now, Brough i am a huge fan of, he has shown in a few games his capabilities, he has a eye for a gap at times but it's his kicking that is his greatest asset, I f you can keep a pack running from their own 22 he is doing our forwards a massive favor.
I'm not against strong competition for places , but it can go too far sometimes, When you are playing people out of position all over the park that is not competition for places and some players ( A Raleigh for eg ) have not really been given a fair crack, On top of that signing players on 5 year contracts hardly fits in with players fighting for places. I know they are all young players ,and i'm not against the long contracts, I'm just saying that it flies in the face of competition.
My point is that IMO the huge squad experiment ( if that's what it was ) has not been a total success, I would be happy to see a few of our average players go and us find another Hogson from somewhere, There are players out there and they will come if the money is right, but you can't lash out on stars if you are paying a squad the size of ours i suppose.

To be a very top FB in today's game,you have got to be able to join the line outside the halves and make the pass to the outside backs.It's vitally important against the better sides with the well organised defences.This is what Hodgson did so well.He had a weakness to his game though,they all do.

Grix is a fine player,so much of what he does is very very good.

About the halves,if the player is arcing on the outside of a lead runner they need to give him the ball.I realise they have got to mix things up but it's not been getting wide enough for mine lately.They also need the decoys running good angles for them admittedly.On the other hand so much of the rest of the skills on display by the halves has been top class.

All imo of course.

Today's the day when hopefully it will start to come right.

COYG