: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:14 pm  

He can go.

We have players in abundance at second row or people who can cover that position. Ashurst and Dixon can play more next year.

He is expendable and will free up cap room.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:18 pm  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

I also seem to remember a few people being a touch dismissive when we signed him.

This is true and something that concerns me these days with regards to many of our fans' attitudes towards signing other superleague players. It seems like to many fans if they play in the superleague but not at Saints they aren't good enough to pull on a redvee.

I seem to remember similar dismissiveness towards Pryce's signing (although this may have had as much to do with something else).

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:20 pm  

Tony Stark wrote:

This is true and something that concerns me these days with regards to many of our fans' attitudes towards signing other superleague players. It seems like to many fans if they play in the superleague but not at Saints they aren't good enough to pull on a redvee.

I seem to remember similar dismissiveness towards Pryce's signing (although this may have had as much to do with something else).

I for one thought paul anderson was too old
I've learnt my lesson

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:23 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

I for one thought paul anderson was too old
I've learnt my lesson

Ditto

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:27 pm  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

Ditto

we had his best 2 yrs IMO, DA thought he could easily do 1 more as well.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:27 pm  

ST_CONROY wrote:

He can go.

We have players in abundance at second row or people who can cover that position. Ashurst and Dixon can play more next year.

He is expendable and will free up cap room.

Fair comment but just to play devils advocate ... its all well and good us freeing loads of cap space but who/what are we freeing it for?

1. We're covered in most positions other than prop.
2. Most of the kids have already negotiated new contracts this year so their salaries should be set for next season.
3. We are already losing, at least one if not two or three of our highest wage earners in Long, Cayless and KC.
4. We are allegedly spending under the cap this year.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:31 pm  

Tony Stark wrote:

Fair comment but just to play devils advocate ... its all well and good us freeing loads of cap space but who/what are we freeing it for?

1. We're covered in most positions other than prop.
2. Most of the kids have already negotiated new contracts this year so their salaries should be set for next season.
3. We are already losing, at least one if not two or three of our highest wage earners in Long, Cayless and KC.
4. We are allegedly spending under the cap this year.

Exactly, there is no point going out of our way to make room on the cap if no-one is available to bring in. We already have a very weak squad, IMO, and letting Gilmour leave will only make it weaker.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:36 pm  

saint billy wrote:

Exactly, there is no point going out of our way to make room on the cap if no-one is available to bring in. We already have a very weak squad, IMO, and letting Gilmour leave will only make it weaker.

I'm not sure i agree that our squad is weak as such, unless you just mean inexperienced. Unfortunately this is something we have to take a chance with, alongside most teams in superleague over the next few years with the rule changes. I think we have made a good headstart in that respect over most others.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:39 pm  

Tony Stark wrote:

Fair comment but just to play devils advocate ... its all well and good us freeing loads of cap space but who/what are we freeing it for?

1. We're covered in most positions other than prop.
2. Most of the kids have already negotiated new contracts this year so their salaries should be set for next season.
3. We are already losing, at least one if not two or three of our highest wage earners in Long, Cayless and KC.
4. We are allegedly spending under the cap this year.

Freeing cap space is just the bonus.

When you look at the player who can play second row we have:

Wilkin
Clough
Puletua
Flannery
Dixon
Ashurst
Magennis?
Soliola

Gilmour is good, but i think easily replaceable. Ashurst, who IMO has been our best young player, should step up and replace Gilly long term with a starting back row next year of Wilkin, Flannery, Clough while intergrating Ashurst and Dixon occasionally.

On the opposite of your point, Why spend money on the cap when it isn't needed?

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:40 pm  

Tony Stark wrote:

I'm not sure i agree that our squad is weak as such, unless you just mean inexperienced. Unfortunately this is something we have to take a chance with, alongside most teams in superleague over the next few years with the rule changes. I think we have made a good headstart in that respect over most others.

before the season started i was very worried about the depth of our squad, but the young'uns have come on better than we could've hoped and filled the void and are challenging the senior players for 1st team places, making them work harder, which is all good