Eccles Interview & Additions : Tue Jan 24, 2023 3:19 pm  

Interesting interview with Mike Eccles in RugbyLeagueHub.com for their Long Reads section. Admits starting the season with the current squad size is "a risk" and regards further recruitment " Unfortunately that's going to take a bit of time, particularly if we're bringing them from overseas, which is where we're looking".
We seem to be pinning our hopes on signing a clutch of players from NRL train-on squads that don't make the grade over there. Unless the club has already identified targets and had initial conversations, I'm not sure I see it panning out too well.

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Tue Jan 24, 2023 6:22 pm  

That’s not great. I can see why we aren’t focussing on players from the heartlands but I’m surprised there aren’t one or two who fancy the challenge as for Aussies surely London would be the number one destination for second stringers who fancy a couple of years in the Northern Hemisphere funded by playing rugby and whatever. If we can’t get them in over the closed season we are in some strife. On the plus side our staring 13 looks competitive (mid table) but really not enough players, no incomings on the back room staff, sponsors?, shirts? We’ve had a ‘challenging’ off season again it’s fair to say.

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Wed Jan 25, 2023 4:59 am  

BigTime wrote:

We’ve had a ‘challenging’ off season again it’s fair to say.

I'm done with this acceptance of current situations front and back of house.

They've employed more monkeys, paying peanuts to attract them and as such, we're right royally buggered again. All that's been missing rhia year is the owner demanding we grab a reluctant mate to a game with no atmosphere and demand they like it......it's pathetic and Hughes should just hurry up and love off

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:39 am  

BigTime wrote:

That’s not great. I can see why we aren’t focussing on players from the heartlands but I’m surprised there aren’t one or two who fancy the challenge as for Aussies surely London would be the number one destination for second stringers who fancy a couple of years in the Northern Hemisphere funded by playing rugby and whatever.

I think this is it, a model of a core of London/Southern players with overseas additions seems to be the only realistic approach for the club currently and one that has potential if executed well. That's contingent however on doing solid planning and business in advance to identify overseas additions and really sell the opportunity from a personal and professional standpoint. I understand Eccles' point about players being 'a fit' for the club and it sounds as though we have turned some prospective signings down because they didn't meet our requirements, but I'm intrigued to know what the criteria for 'fit' is. We appear to be waiting on availability of lower grade players in the hope of finding somebody who might be a good addition, as opposed to really driving a quality recruitment search.
It's just all very frustrating and familiar. We had the rare chance off the backend of a home World Cup, to have a detailed look at prospective signings and make some early moves. Maybe that did happen and nothing worked out, which is fair enough, but just having a decent starting 13 might not even see us through the first month of fixtures, let alone to the backend of September.

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Wed Jan 25, 2023 2:22 pm  

Knocker_White wrote:

I think this is it, a model of a core of London/Southern players with overseas additions seems to be the only realistic approach for the club currently and one that has potential if executed well. That's contingent however on doing solid planning and business in advance to identify overseas additions and really sell the opportunity from a personal and professional standpoint. I understand Eccles' point about players being 'a fit' for the club and it sounds as though we have turned some prospective signings down because they didn't meet our requirements, but I'm intrigued to know what the criteria for 'fit' is. We appear to be waiting on availability of lower grade players in the hope of finding somebody who might be a good addition, as opposed to really driving a quality recruitment search.
It's just all very frustrating and familiar. We had the rare chance off the backend of a home World Cup, to have a detailed look at prospective signings and make some early moves. Maybe that did happen and nothing worked out, which is fair enough, but just having a decent starting 13 might not even see us through the first month of fixtures, let alone to the backend of September.

Very true, had we retained the likes of Palumbo, Tuliati and Siti maybe things wouldn't look quite so stretched. I can understand not bringing in players who won't 'fit' but our squad is paper thin.
The only consolation I take is that we were in a similar situation last season when it proved after a few games the Skolars ( and a few others) players weren't up to the mark, we made some additions during the season and have kept a ( hopefully ) decent 13.
Suppose come early Feb we'll see.

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Wed Jan 25, 2023 4:11 pm  

RfE wrote:

Very true, had we retained the likes of Palumbo, Tuliati and Siti maybe things wouldn't look quite so stretched. I can understand not bringing in players who won't 'fit' but our squad is paper thin.
The only consolation I take is that we were in a similar situation last season when it proved after a few games the Skolars ( and a few others) players weren't up to the mark, we made some additions during the season and have kept a ( hopefully ) decent 13.
Suppose come early Feb we'll see.

Agreed RFe although whilst all 3 played well at times during the season, none were indispensable unless of course we were unable to get in any replacements. Maybe we got distracted by the WAC and thought we could pick up players no problem so didn’t do our usual searches either way with one week to go the squad is vulnerable to injuries. Additionally no sign of sponsors or shirts which points to more existential problems. All feels a bit chaotic. Really interested to see how we go against Batley. I’m very confident it will be much improved on season opener last year but whether that translates into a win I don’t know. If it does the season takes on a much better feel.

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:40 pm  

This time next week we will excitedly be awaiting the big reveal of who makes the 21 weekend match squad ... or more specifically who of the 22 permanent squad will be missing out on contention for the final 17 match day squad.

The off pitch plans for next Sunday look good. But are there going to be the numbers present to create an atmosphere in the fans village and will the outlets temper their prices to get enough "buyers". Looking at the food list I'm guessing two of the regulars at AFC Wimbledon may be present; the Pizza van and the combined Vegan and Burger stall.

A year late, but I think they are trying the right things and hope it comes off because it has the potential to make a difference. Never have I previously attended a Football match where fans actually treat the food/entertainment as part of the event as happened at Plough Lane last year. But even then 1000's still purposely eat/drink outside the ground. Once past the winter months, there is a great opportunity here for the Broncos. My suspicion is it will be so/so to begin with, the weather playing a big part. What I would say, is getting players there to be interviewed would entice me to get there to listen. In other words something that interests the pure Rugby fan which I think is a high number of the current crowd. The new set-up will be more about getting newbies in and re-visiting. Hard not to return if your young kids want to play, meet the mascots etc again.

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:22 pm  

Smithers99 wrote:

This time next week we will excitedly be awaiting the big reveal of who makes the 21 weekend match squad ... or more specifically who of the 22 permanent squad will be missing out on contention for the final 17 match day squad.

The off pitch plans for next Sunday look good. But are there going to be the numbers present to create an atmosphere in the fans village and will the outlets temper their prices to get enough "buyers". Looking at the food list I'm guessing two of the regulars at AFC Wimbledon may be present; the Pizza van and the combined Vegan and Burger stall.

A year late, but I think they are trying the right things and hope it comes off because it has the potential to make a difference. Never have I previously attended a Football match where fans actually treat the food/entertainment as part of the event as happened at Plough Lane last year. But even then 1000's still purposely eat/drink outside the ground. Once past the winter months, there is a great opportunity here for the Broncos. My suspicion is it will be so/so to begin with, the weather playing a big part. What I would say, is getting players there to be interviewed would entice me to get there to listen. In other words something that interests the pure Rugby fan which I think is a high number of the current crowd. The new set-up will be more about getting newbies in and re-visiting. Hard not to return if your young kids want to play, meet the mascots etc again.

Looking forward to next Sunday although the fact the local station is closed for works on Sunday adds a further half hour to my journey. Here’s hoping we put in a performance.

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Mon Jan 30, 2023 8:09 am  

BigTime wrote:

Looking forward to next Sunday although the fact the local station is closed for works on Sunday adds a further half hour to my journey. Here’s hoping we put in a performance.

Talking of travel woes I hear that the Elizabeth Line ( Eastern end of it) is not running on Sunday.
May affect some of us coming into town from Essex , Kent and suburbs

Re: Eccles Interview & Additions : Mon Jan 30, 2023 8:25 am  

BigTime wrote:

Looking forward to next Sunday although the fact the local station is closed for works on Sunday adds a further half hour to my journey. Here’s hoping we put in a performance.

Which station is closed ? Don't see Wimbledon affected on the SWT map.