Be Realistic - What happens next year? : Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:31 am  

OK - let's face facts.

1. At the looks of it we've no rich backer on the horizon

2. Macca appears to be staying, Lowes may be coming in as No 2.

3. We've signed a few players, Hall, L'Estrange, Kearney (likely)

4. We know a few are off to pastures new - Morrison, Newton and a few more likely to be on the way - Tadulala, Solomona, Jeffries and a few others.

5. Some of the kids are starting to get games.

So what can we hope happens next year?

Jimmy coming in would bring a lift to the place if it is true, while there have been plenty of debates about the conditioning of the players, it's probably a good idea to freshen up this area too, even if you are for Clawson.

Hopefully we will have a season that is not as bad for injuries to key players like we have had with Morrison and Solomona.

No underlying stuff in the background about a player who we are trying to get rid of (Tupou).

The youngsters who have had games will be better for it and we will be able to blood a few more next year if Whitehead and Donaldson can continue to be in or around the 17. Players like Crossley, Crookes and Olbison may be the next players to make a step up?

We are not going to win the league or cup next year - but I would hope that we would comfortably make the 8, and with a bit of luck have a good cup run.

Personally I would accept the above as we currently stand at this point and if we do appear to make progress in this way, I would consider giving Macca another year or two - but the above must happen.

I don't think we can get much lower than we already are - we know we won't make the play-offs and 12th is as low as we are likely to drop.

Roll on next season - staying at Odsal (as we all know the new stadium project won't move), get the kids back in the ground by inviting schools along to games - get them playing bull tag on the pitch at half time and parading around the pitch before kick-off.

Let's get some positivity back in the place and make it look as though we are trying to lift out of the doom and gloom we are currently experiencing!

[Bullseye]

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:10 am  

Can't see us doing any better next year unless the weaknesses in the team and coaching set up are addressed. So far they haven't.

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:12 am  

Here here!

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:12 am  

I've given up trying to guess what is going to happen where the Bulls are concerned. I was really optimistic at the start of this season but it hasn't panned out for lots of reasons already discussed to death.

The new faces will bring lots of change, I hope it's good change because it can't get much poorer. The concern for me is the affect on the crowds. If we don't keep the bulk of the crowds that have been coming in recent years then the recruitment is going to be even less exciting.

My hopes for next year is that some more youth comes through to compete for shirts. From what I've seen on the boards this season, one of few plus points is the young lads getting games and impressing.

I also hope that we make the playoffs but this season has shown that a good team on paper doesn't always come good. I hope McNamara can turn this round otherwise the fans memories of him could be bitter for a long time.

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:35 am  

This year large parts of the squad have underperformed consistently which is likely a combination of fitness, which we've struggled with for a couple of years, confidence, which must be shot long ago and coaching. We look like we've moved to address fitness and coaching and a new season always brings renewed optimism (no matter how misplaced).

If the squad had performed anywhere near it's potential I'd have expected us to be around 5-6th this season which should be achievable next season and must be set as a minimum for us to even consider MacNamara continuing. We must get off to a good start to avoid the downward spiral of this season where we clearly got into a pattern of losing games in spectacular collapses.

I'd want to see the youth development continue at roughly the same pace although I expect Crookes will be involved more so maybe we won't see as many new first teamers.

The one thing i would want to see above all else is under performers dropped regardless of their status at the club.

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:02 am  

The only way i could see the bulls acheiving anything next year is if they have a total clear out of players. keeping a core and making subtle changes for you lot won't help. IMO

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:27 am  

Sibbs Rhinos wrote:

The only way i could see the bulls acheiving anything next year is if they have a total clear out of players. keeping a core and making subtle changes for you lot won't help. IMO

How many teams have shown a dramatic improvement in performance the following year, after a wholesale clearout on the same budget? Given it takes a team a fair while to gel and the most successful teams tend to be those who make only modest personnel changes each year?

And of course having paid God knows what to terminate a load of contracts, which will blow your salary cap out of the water anyway?

Not a practicable option, unfortunately. Looks like we are probably anyway going to head as close to that as IS practicable (Deacon excepted, obviously...)

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:44 am  

Adeybull wrote:

How many teams have shown a dramatic improvement in performance the following year, after a wholesale clearout on the same budget?

Trying to be optimistic, we made quite a significant improvement in 1999 compared to 1998. We made some good signings, Henry Paul, TV, Naylor & Withers (and some fairly poor ones if IIRC), but we also saw young players such as Fielden, Deacon, Pryce & Peacock emerge.

If we do make a couple of good signings and the young players that have been blooded this year blossom we might see a significant improvement. But its a big if.

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:56 am  

Adeybull wrote:

and the most successful teams tend to be those who make only modest personnel changes each year?

LOL

That's only because they ALREADY have a good team in place.

You are sh*t.

Back before leeds came good, they didn't make the grade so they had a clear out, powell went, the experienced players were let go and youth came in.

Substle changes aren't good when your team is terrible.

[Bullseye]

: Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:04 am  

J.I.M wrote:

LOL

That's only because they ALREADY have a good team in place.

You are sh*t.

Back before leeds came good, they didn't make the grade so they had a clear out, powell went, the experienced players were let go and youth came in.

Substle changes aren't good when your team is terrible.

Leeds did bring in some experienced old heads like Glanville and Furner who were a big influence on the kids.

By and large though they brought in the kids en masse. This meant they got tonked a few times in 2000 and 2001/2 but it paid off in the end. That seems to be the plan for us too, however our first team has deteriorated a bit more.

Powell deserves credit for brining those kids through by 2003 Leeds were only a whisker behind the Bulls.