: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:13 am  

Yes he is a good utility player, but next year we have 2 proper centres and Wheels as back up and a glut of back rowers.

He'll be on decent cash that can be better spent elsewhere.

We need to be ruthless. If he doesn't want a 1 year deal, we should do a Longy.

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:36 am  

Gilly's still a great player and could undoubtedly do a good job for us for a couple more years, but we're up to our eyeballs in quality back rowers and we need to free up some cap space for a couple of props, which is where we are desperately short.

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:37 am  

We say 1 year, he says 2 years, lets call the whole thing off.

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:51 am  

Supreme Sydney2002 wrote:

We say 1 year, he says 2 years, lets call the whole thing off.

quite right!
we are in danger of losing our "dad's army" tag! Very worrying that

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:11 am  

I guess it depends how you veiw Gilly:

A 32 year old utility player? With a new centre on the way, as well as Wheeler, Lomax, Dixon and Ashurst coming through to cover his position options - don't worry.

or

An England International 2nd row? As good a backrow as anyone on our squad on his day - maybe we should be holding on.

End of the day - he'll want the best final contract of his career and we've got alot more cover in his favoured position than we have elsewhere (prop). I think that will be the deciding factor.

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:14 am  

OoOGazOoO wrote:

He's still good enough, give him another contract, a very under rated player is Gilmour.

I agree. He well worth a 2 year deal.

IMO he the best 2nd row at saints and should still be in the England setup.

He is 10 times better than flannery.

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:19 am  

Gilmour is very underated at Saints - you are hard pushed to find games where he has played badly. He always is dangerous and gets through the hard work as well. The problem is that we have waiting in the wings:

Lomax,
Eastmond,
Wheeler,
Frodsham,
Dixon

All of these look like they will make the big time and more. If any one of these youngsters was let go, I am sure there would be a thread about it. Given that all will probably sign up with the club on vastly better terms then what they have at the moment, then it is only logical that we will lose more of the elder heads.

The key is finding balance - who has more left in the tank, what do they offer to the side, and what development/skills can they pass on to the younger players.

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:20 am  

at 32/33 I dont think we should be offering any player a 2 year deal.

The potential for long term injury, loss of form/speed are way higher at that age than a 25/26 year old.

We have done the right thing by offering Gilmour/Long/Gidley a one year deal - they obviously show by refusing it that they are not that confident in themselves of keeping up their current standard for another 12 months and earning another 12 month deal after that.

Invest in the future and keep the club at the top.

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:38 am  

If his possible departure allows us to sign a monster prop, i'll wave him off.
He's a great player but as has been said we've got bucket loads of backrowers, i count:-
tony p, wilkin, clough, flannery, ashurst, and possibly dixon.
Thats without the possibilty of wello and/or pryce moving there in coming seasons to make way for lomax/wheeler etc, etc. And Soliola coming at centre next year, who could move to back row and wheeler/dixon/lomax to centre if we had massive backrow injuries.
I don't think he is underated, most fans know how good he is, but its time for him and the club to get the best deal, and i think that means going our seperate ways. One of the best signings (for the money) in SL, IMO

edit
you can add magennis to the list as well

: Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:38 pm  

FFS Gilmour was 31 last month, not 33 or 34 as some suggest. The best player at the Bulls is 36 soon, age does not count for toffee.

The best two props in the World Petro Civinoceva, and Steve price are 71 yeas old between them . Menzies 35 , and Forshaw played his best rugby at 34.

Gilmour has pace, a fantastic defence, runs the best lines at Saints, and can create his own space with footwork.

IMHO 2 years is not a problem to retain a fantastic utility player.