Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 8:29 am  

Fallon wrote:

I think it unlikely the club will be able to tackle both 6 and 7 as well as rebuilding the back row in this off season. I would expect a decent game controlling 6 to partner Myler with Tui being moved on or phased out.

McClelland looks useful but is not at the level we need right now. A full season out on loan at a decent level will do him much better than the odd game for us.

I'm not a fan of Myler even at 7, but the priority is a 6. McLelland has a nice all-round skill-set which could mature nicely, but he is a little underdone for first team yet, I agree. There is still the remainder of this season and a full off-season though before 2020, and I reckon he'll be thereabouts. You'd want him in the Leeds squad at the very least to cover for injuries.
Back row... Merrin, Ward, Smith, Sutcliffe (bulked up), Trout coming through... we could maybe use one more good signing there but we're not too shabby, at least in theory.
I'm convinced if Sutcliffe does have a future at Leeds (and he may not), it has to be at second row now. He has the height, some pace and some skills - he needs to improve his physicality and just be given that clarity. He isn't a six, a one or a centre, and we have Merrin, Ward or Smith who are all candidates for loose already.
Either that or let him go.
Watkins might also need to transition to second row if he's lost his pace permanently, and he and the club need to be realistic.
Hurrell and Newman look like our best two starting centres right now, and we have a couple of good academy prospects coming through for injury/form cover in 2020.
Long story short: one more prop, one more second row, and a very good six for me.
I'd much rather we went for quality rather than quantity, and had faith in our youth. We need to ship out a load of salary cap on underperforming senior players and give ourselves some headroom to secure those that will be the future of the club.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 9:56 am  

I'd pretty much agree with what you are saying here.

There needs to be a frank discussion with certain players on who is staying to bring on the next gen and who need to be thanked and moved out. Leeds haven't done right by certain players but "side before self" now needs to take priority.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 1:49 pm  

Ive watched the games back mclellend played in im sorry but this lad is no where near sl standered he goes missing on the pitch a lot we need half backs quick

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 3:27 pm  

Mclelland up to now unfortunately has shown nothing to suggest he’s ready. For that you’d have to be seeing him make a real impact on the 19s and he’s simply far from that as well. That said, I’d give him a run as the kicking game and game management certainly can’t get any worse.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 5:59 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I'm not a fan of Myler even at 7, but the priority is a 6. McLelland has a nice all-round skill-set which could mature nicely, but he is a little underdone for first team yet, I agree. There is still the remainder of this season and a full off-season though before 2020, and I reckon he'll be thereabouts. You'd want him in the Leeds squad at the very least to cover for injuries.
Back row... Merrin, Ward, Smith, Sutcliffe (bulked up), Trout coming through... we could maybe use one more good signing there but we're not too shabby, at least in theory.
I'm convinced if Sutcliffe does have a future at Leeds (and he may not), it has to be at second row now. He has the height, some pace and some skills - he needs to improve his physicality and just be given that clarity. He isn't a six, a one or a centre, and we have Merrin, Ward or Smith who are all candidates for loose already.
Either that or let him go.
Watkins might also need to transition to second row if he's lost his pace permanently, and he and the club need to be realistic.
Hurrell and Newman look like our best two starting centres right now, and we have a couple of good academy prospects coming through for injury/form cover in 2020.
Long story short: one more prop, one more second row, and a very good six for me.
I'd much rather we went for quality rather than quantity, and had faith in our youth. We need to ship out a load of salary cap on underperforming senior players and give ourselves some headroom to secure those that will be the future of the club.

Agree with a lot of that.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 6:03 pm  

In terms of the back row, I do think it needs a lot of work.

Ferres and JJB are off contract and neither should be renewed. Ablett hasn't played yet and unless something miraculous happens I think he and the club should come to an agreement to not have him on the playing roster next season.

Smith looks promising but is not at the required standard. Trout also looks promising but is highly unlikely to be a starter next season. Sutty is a great player to have at the club because he can cover so many positions when needed but again is not a starting back row. Donaldson is a graffter but yet again is not a starting backrower.

That only leaves ward who is quality when on the pitch but rarely is and Merrin who on a 4 year as a marquee with a good pedigree and warrants a period of transition but that is fast running out.

So for me, if we stick with what we have, our backrow next season would be Merrin at 13, ward when fit in 2nd row and one of a number of not top quality players we have with one or two of the not good enough to even make the 13 players on the bench. Hardly inspiring.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 6:52 pm  

Shows how poorly we have recruited in recent years. It wont be easy or quick to fix that

[Frosties.]

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 7:03 pm  

With the rumoured Ablett retiring and the constant injuries to Crosby, I would deregister Crosby for this year and get him back to full fitness for 2020. Ablett won’t be on cap because he hasn’t played a game this year I believe? With JJB, Ablett and Ferres off the cap possibly next season that’s a huge amount of cash IMO.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 9:08 pm  

Has to be plenty of cash to spend Frosties. Could make some serious signings

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue May 28, 2019 9:14 pm  

Trebor1 wrote:

Has to be plenty of cash to spend Frosties. Could make some serious signings

Another starting prop and second row for me, six (Maloney...?), and then I’d be happy to run with what we have for 2020. I would much rather we bring in some real quality around a young and developing team; they need role models and inspiration. I would get rid of any player who wasn’t training and playing with the required attitude, and bring the culture tightly together. Get it tied up before the closed season and then work danglers off.