Re: Signings 2020 : Sat Jun 08, 2019 6:42 pm  

bullinenemyland wrote:

I've been told Bulls are interested in Connor Robinson from York for next season. Don't know how true that is but I'd have thought he'd have stuck it out at York if James Ford stays on.

I was sat next to his family at the home game with York last year. We had come close to signing him pre season, but he decided to stick with York.

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 12:35 pm  

Based on current 2019 squad and in reflection of the current lack of form/under performance, I think the squad needs a major overhaul. Here's where I would start...

1 BRANDON PICKERSGILL - Needed more time at FB but has lost all confidence and looks a shadow of young talent that was emerging - Needs a fresh start/loan elsewehere
2 ETHAN RYAN - On wing he's one I'd love to keep; at FB he's not a loss - Re-sign if not already going to HKR
3 JAKE WEBSTER - Pretty solid and has given squad much needed experience - Another 1yr deal if body can hold up
4 ASHLEY GIBSON - Not good enough - Release
5 JY HITCHCOX - Missed through injury - Keep
6 JOE KEYES - Missed through injury - Keep
7
8 LIAM KIRK - Steady progress, worth keeping hold of - Keep
9 MATTY WILDIE - Has had a decent season so far, very consistent - Keep
10 STEVE CROSSLEY - Not been good enough for me, never lands on hands/knees so results in being super slow at play of the ball - Thanks but Release
11 MATTY GARSIDE - Not good enough - Release
12 ELLIOT MINCHELLA - Looks to be lacking confidence/form. Put a lot of that down to current tactics - Keep
13 MIKEY WOOD - Steady progress, defence looks more solid when on field, worth keeping hold of - Keep
14 JORDAN LILLEY - Already announced staying - Keep
15 CALLUM BUSTIN - Lacking fitness and form, but still has time on side and lots of potential - Keep
16 JAMES GREEN - Been one of the better forwards this year when fit - Keep
17 ROSS PELTIER - Doesn't take a step backwards - Keep
18 SAM HALLAS - Not good enough - Release
19 JON MAGRIN - Not good enough - Release
20
21 GEORGE FLANAGAN - Bradford through and through but found out this year - Release
22 DALTON GRANT - Not good enough - Release
23 GEORGE MILTON - Who??? - Release
24 DAVID FOGGIN-JOHNSON - Has done ok but positioning in defence is awful. Not good enough - Keep purely as back up
25 CONNOR FARRELL - Didn't like him at first but he's grown on me. Still lacks size and too greedy with ball but worth another year - Keep
26 ROSS OAKES - Has made a fair bit of progress this year - Keep
27 ROWAN MILNES - Still young and has shown some good prospect but no where near finished article - Keep
28 EVAN HODGSON - Prospect worth keeping to see how develops - Keep
29 MATTHEW STORTON - Been solid for first full season. Must try and tie down to long term contract if not too late - Keep
30
31 RHYS EVANS - Another missed through injury, worth another year - Keep
32 COLTON ROCHE - If can regain some kind of form worth another year - Keep

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 12:51 pm  

I got as far as your decision to release Crossley and stopped reading.

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:00 pm  

According to that Show me the money bloke thats on the radio with Mick, all contracts (both retentions and releases) have now been sorted at the Bulls. He also confirmed that new arrivals have been signed and sorted. Its just a matter of the club announcing everything.
Not too sure what the hold up is, but they will have their reasons.
Wouldn't disagree with much of the above.

[Bullseye]

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:17 pm  

bullinenemyland wrote:

Based on current 2019 squad and in reflection of the current lack of form/under performance, I think the squad needs a major overhaul. Here's where I would start...

I'd agree with pretty much all that apart from Crossley. I'd keep him. He's been out of form in recent weeks (who hasn't) but apart from that he's been really solid and makes more metres than any other prop.

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:48 pm  

Sedgebull wrote:

According to that Show me the money bloke thats on the radio with Mick, all contracts (both retentions and releases) have now been sorted at the Bulls. He also confirmed that new arrivals have been signed and sorted. Its just a matter of the club announcing everything.
Not too sure what the hold up is, but they will have their reasons.
Wouldn't disagree with much of the above.

That might explain the downturn in form if we are releasing a large number of players at end of season.

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:54 pm  

Sedgebull wrote:

According to that Show me the money bloke thats on the radio with Mick, all contracts (both retentions and releases) have now been sorted at the Bulls. He also confirmed that new arrivals have been signed and sorted. Its just a matter of the club announcing everything.
Not too sure what the hold up is, but they will have their reasons.
Wouldn't disagree with much of the above.

Maybe clubs don't want it announcing while they have something to play for still this year

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 2:46 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

I'd agree with pretty much all that apart from Crossley. I'd keep him. He's been out of form in recent weeks (who hasn't) but apart from that he's been really solid and makes more metres than any other prop.

He's been out of form for most of the season. I get he has come back from off season surgery and is PT so that can't have helped his recovery, but I just don't think he's doing enough to help a team which looks slow and lethargic in both attack and defence.

Yes he might get an extra couple of metres per drive (I've looked for stats but can't see any for Championship so it cannot be verified by us mere mortals) but watch him when the tackle is completed. He loses the battle pretty much every time ending up on his back (rather than elbows and knees) and being a bigger guy this means the play of the ball is far too slow. It allows the opposition defense time to get set and it detracts from any good that he's done in the drive.

Prop forwards are evolving especially with the introduction of fewer subs. He might do long minutes but are they helping us when he is as slow as he is. He's been a great servant to the game but we need forwards who are more mobile, athletic and enthusiastic to speed up the play.

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 2:48 pm  

Nothus wrote:

I got as far as your decision to release Crossley and stopped reading.

See my previous post for reasons why I'd not offer him a new contract. You may disagree but I think it sets the tone for our slow and lethargic play which needs to change.

Re: Signings 2020 : Mon Jun 17, 2019 3:08 pm  

bullinenemyland wrote:

See my previous post for reasons why I'd not offer him a new contract. You may disagree but I think it sets the tone for our slow and lethargic play which needs to change.

Crossley has carried our entire pack for pretty much the whole season. It's a shame nobody takes stats in this division but I'd wager his metres made dwarf any other prop on our books.
If I'm honest I think he's being overworked, which may explain why he's dropping off tackles and losing collisions more and more - the guy is probably knackered.

If you release him then who replaces him? Too easy to just list those that you'd let go but not suggest who comes in in their place.