Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:43 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I believe that IL is seeing all of the OOC players this week to finalise any new deals or confirm if no new contract is on the table.
Not sure if all outcomes will be revealed in the next week or so but this week is when deals will be confirmed with the players.
Will be interesting to see what happens with TL and Isa. TL has been a great servant but unfortunately for me time for him to hang up his boots. I hope we resign Isa for continuity and to retain some much needed experience.

Clubb is definitely retiring (thankfully I was wrong) and it sounds like Bibby and Powell will sign new contract extensions.

I think there are 2 other players OOC whose future will probably be decided this week.

I think it's the right time for Tommy to retire, with Isa we should try to extend (as you say for continuity) although doesn't his missus play football (ex Man City) and has recently signed for a team in the US.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:56 am  

MattyB wrote:

I think it's the right time for Tommy to retire, with Isa we should try to extend (as you say for continuity) although doesn't his missus play football (ex Man City) and has recently signed for a team in the US.

Although Isa is never going to set the house on fire, the one thing you do get with him is consistency, he is rarely injured and given the luck we have had with injuries, players like him are invaluable. His performances haven't changed as he as got older and he still looks in great condition. With Farrell and Bateman as starting second rowers and players like KPP and Smithies coming through, Isa is probably the type of player to complete our second rowers.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:59 am  

I don't think we would even need to replace Isa if he went, as we have Smithies and KPP to come off the bench in addition to Bateman and Farrell starting. Give them his gametime next season whilst they're being complimented by two of the best back rowers in the league. I agree with letting Leuluai go too but he would need replacing. Field and Smith with only academy lads as backup would be a recipe for disaster.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:08 am  

I don't know why we would need to keep Isa outside of centre cover? But just give Halsall some more gametime when we can and it should be fine.

His defence has started to look shaky in the last few weeks and also doing stupid things which costs the team via suspensions.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:16 am  

Isa is a must keep IMO. It’s hard to put a value on him this season with him having to shift between positions but as an out and out forward he’s a guy you know will set the tone and just doesn’t let you down. His fitness is fantastic and he’s a great example to others. He’s got at least another couple of seasons left in him for me.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:32 am  

Isa has signed a new contract.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:52 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Isa is a must keep IMO. It’s hard to put a value on him this season with him having to shift between positions but as an out and out forward he’s a guy you know will set the tone and just doesn’t let you down. His fitness is fantastic and he’s a great example to others. He’s got at least another couple of seasons left in him for me.

In what role would you have him?

Surely he doesn't get in ahead of Partington, KPP, Smithies, Shorrocks, Farrell and Bateman in the back row/13. So he's 7th choice.

[Pemps]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:55 am  

Wigg'n wrote:

In what role would you have him?

Surely he doesn't get in ahead of Partington, KPP, Smithies, Shorrocks, Farrell and Bateman in the back row/13. So he's 7th choice.

Yet he plays every single week. He's robust, doesn't get injured and covers just about every position in the forwards and centre.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:58 am  

Pemps wrote:

Yet he plays every single week. He's robust, doesn't get injured and covers just about every position in the forwards and centre.

Well the point is that if everyone is fit will he play every week and if so ahead of whom?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 16, 2021 11:20 am  

Wigg'n wrote:

Well the point is that if everyone is fit will he play every week and if so ahead of whom?

We are probably entering a transitional period with Isa.

1 more year seems about right for me.

I don’t really get the “if everyone is fit” line.

If we could guarantee everyone was fit every week we would run with a squad of 17.

Isa represents value, work ethic, toughness and professionalism. He is having less of an impact this year but maybe that’s because he’s having to play out of position but it’s only fair to expect his talents will diminish at his age.

Week in week out he’s a 7 out of 10 rated player. I’d certainly start him ahead of Partington at the moment. I’d probably rotate him with KPP off the bench in this mystical full fit 17 we aspire to. KPP is in a good run of form at the moment but as all youngsters do he will have a dip in form sooner or later.

We have a young pack. We appear to be signing 2 more youngish forwards and losing a leader in Clubb for next season.

Very dangerous to lose experience and leaders all at one go and given Hastings and Leuleui are going too we have to manage that loss of leadership.

He’s certainly worth 1 more year for me.

Even if he isn’t in the fully fit 17 he will still play more games than he misses in 2022.