Cardiff Blues Playing Squad 2015-2016

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Looking light at centre and lock

Agree Selgwent, those 2 positions in particular, have concerns at hooker as well.

Plenty of names in the squad, but a lot are untested and a few last year simply did not look good enough, quantity but not quality?

Nice not to have too many big names in the squad,gives a chance for the development players to come through.
We do need power at lock and yes we need a Henson type player at centre.
I feel that finishing 8th in the Guinness Pro12 and a quarter-final spot in the challenge cup would be a job well done.
Don't expect miracles,but at least winning at home should be the priority.

Hoping Miles Normandale comes more to the fore at lock this season, few times I have seen him i have been quite impressed so here is hoping. Agree Phill think need to be realistic in terms of what is achieved this season, and if set piece and defence improves can get higher up the league.

We can develop players for ever we don’t have a lot of experience especially during the world cup call ups and six nations if we have a couple injuries we will struggle even more so than last season. We will be bottom again of the welsh regions and maybe even under the the Italian sides just can’t see the blues doing anything next season hope I’m proved wrong but can’t see it

Hope the rumours are true a lock and prop after the world cup .

Need to cull a few of the squad not really up tp it

Call me old fashioned but why do we need 5 scrum halves, 5 no 10's, 8 wingers and 10 props ?
With the self imposed salary cap its even more important that we seek value from the squad we have. I reckon you could you prune 7 or 8 of these guys and not notice the difference. The money you'd save could then be spent on 1 or 2 from the top drawer.

I have no idea what some of the young inexperienced players are earning, but certainly get your point.

The size of that squad is a little deceptive.

We seem to have a policy of listing guys that I suppose youd call "Senior academy players" with the full squad.

In reality a fair few of that large squad probably arent on full deals and wont really be considered as contenders for the first team next season.

That said, there are a couple of players there who seem unlikely to see much rugby and arent all that young. I do wonder why they're still with us.

Fair few of those boys will be Ponty or Blue and Blacks players rather more than Blues squad players so some reinforcements at second row and possibly at 10 before and after the world cup would be required.

Quote:

southcoast5
Call me old fashioned but why do we need 5 scrum halves, 5 no 10's, 8 wingers and 10 props ?
With the self imposed salary cap its even more important that we seek value from the squad we have. I reckon you could you prune 7 or 8 of these guys and not notice the difference. The money you'd save could then be spent on 1 or 2 from the top drawer.

Have we ever stuck to the self imposed salary cap?

Suggestion from the board appears to be "don't expect more signings" so post RWC we will see. However, don't hold your breath.

Quote:

Beard from Tad Cymru

Quote:

southcoast5
Call me old fashioned but why do we need 5 scrum halves, 5 no 10's, 8 wingers and 10 props ?
With the self imposed salary cap its even more important that we seek value from the squad we have. I reckon you could you prune 7 or 8 of these guys and not notice the difference. The money you'd save could then be spent on 1 or 2 from the top drawer.

Have we ever stuck to the self imposed salary cap?

I don't know if we have stuck with the cap but in my experience if the Chairman of a public company says something in the public arena then it has to be right or else he's in breach of his fiduciary duties.

We kept to cap for 18 months.. It is a voluntary thing mind set by PRW with the express purpose of forcing Roger Lewis's hand By showing that with help from WRU on player release & the fees for that things would (did) get very bad...

___________________________________________________________

Soldier: This is the worst part. The calm before the battle
Fry: And then the battle is not so bad?
Soldier: Oh, right. I forgot about the battle

Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot

Neil I think you're right but if PT isn't working within the cap any longer then he must say so.

Will try & put some meat on the bones of structure at next meeting
But, it should be noted that the salary only applied to the 'Euro squad' part of the squad and so isn't a total spend
Last accounts show a net salary spend of just shy of £4.7m That would include all staff of company.

___________________________________________________________

Soldier: This is the worst part. The calm before the battle
Fry: And then the battle is not so bad?
Soldier: Oh, right. I forgot about the battle

Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot

It's never straightforward is it ?

I think its likely the cap will be either increased or scrapped.

From the meeting last week, the message seemed to be that we'd like to sign some players but the ones we need just aren't available at the moment.

Quote:

southcoast5
It's never straightforward is it ?

Well, we supporters always need something to fret about init!

Quote:

cardiff_steve
12/07/2015 23:28
I think its likely the cap will be either increased or scrapped.

From the meeting last week, the message seemed to be that we'd like to sign some players but the ones we need just aren't available at the moment.

Yep, thought Martyn Ryan was very clear on that, we need players but, they must be the right ones...

___________________________________________________________

Soldier: This is the worst part. The calm before the battle
Fry: And then the battle is not so bad?
Soldier: Oh, right. I forgot about the battle

Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot

Real lack of depth in the back 3, centres and locks. Not great at prop or hooker either.

Some of the young inexperienced players are really going to have to step up this season if we are going to stand a chance of not finishing bottom region.

Will be interesting to see what Wilson can do with the mediocrity he has.

I hear Filise is joining the player drain to Merthyr after the World Cup.

Is a strong rumour, could be him and Matthew Rees there.

Andy Powell already there and David Bishop.

Heard Ian Gough also linked.

Taff yes is going up there

Ian Gough thing was started because of a @#$%& take on twitter by Elliot Ness

___________________________________________________________

Soldier: This is the worst part. The calm before the battle
Fry: And then the battle is not so bad?
Soldier: Oh, right. I forgot about the battle

Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot

That's a no to Ian Gough then?

Nope.... probably....

___________________________________________________________

Soldier: This is the worst part. The calm before the battle
Fry: And then the battle is not so bad?
Soldier: Oh, right. I forgot about the battle

Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot

Quote:

sgorpioncaerdyddrob
Fair few of those boys will be Ponty or Blue and Blacks players rather more than Blues squad players so some reinforcements at second row and possibly at 10 before and after the world cup would be required.

Less than 10 if any, will be playing up the 470 this season, Ponty kept biting that hand that for some odd reason was feeding them, and low and behold it fell off.

An indication of where they will be playing, take a look at size or indeed lack of size of CRFC's playing squad next season.

Quote:

Cardifflose

Quote:

sgorpioncaerdyddrob
Fair few of those boys will be Ponty or Blue and Blacks players rather more than Blues squad players so some reinforcements at second row and possibly at 10 before and after the world cup would be required.

Less than 10 if any, will be playing up the 470 this season, Ponty kept biting that hand that for some odd reason was feeding them, and low and behold it fell off.

An indication of where they will be playing, take a look at size or indeed lack of size of CRFC's playing squad next season.

In last couple of meetings with RH it seemed unlikely that ANY of Cardiff's squad would be making the journey up A470...

I'm hoping that the resolve remains strong

___________________________________________________________

Soldier: This is the worst part. The calm before the battle
Fry: And then the battle is not so bad?
Soldier: Oh, right. I forgot about the battle

Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot

[/quote]In last couple of meetings with RH it seemed unlikely that ANY of Cardiff's squad would be making the journey up A470...

I'm hoping that the resolve remains strong[/quote]

1.Good to hear this
2. Me too

So Ellis Jenkins, Dillon Lewis, Belcher, Garyn Smith, Tom Williams etc. (all currently named on Ponty website playing squad) wont be playing for them at all? Rags instead?

Well, we hope they will play for the 'A' side as management are trying to get fixtures going with other PRW teams & also some Irish & English teams, we shall see....

___________________________________________________________

Soldier: This is the worst part. The calm before the battle
Fry: And then the battle is not so bad?
Soldier: Oh, right. I forgot about the battle

Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot

So basically all those players listed on the Cardiff Blues website for next season will either play for Cardiff Blues or Cardiff Blues "A" (as that is what it is!!!!!) and not Rags or Pointless?

Will that be a series of "friendlies" or some league structure as well as the B&I Cup?

Cam Dolan playing at 6 for USA today. Has he played much at lock ?

Only played once for Northampton Saints first team in 2 seasons, due to injuries and players Northampton had in front of him.

Certainly has the size to play lock, so let's see, but reading reports his natural position is 8.

James Down back at the blues.

Quote:

Nickysbeard
James Down back at the blues.

Better than Dicomidis and Reed but not exactly the nasty 2nd row we need!!!

With the options we have, plenty in the back row, very few in 2nd row, surely Dolan and Hoeata will be our first choice 2nd row pairing next season

winger Tom Williams on a season long loan to Scarlets