Safe and looking forward
By Leipziger
May 6 2014
The Falcons have finally secured Premiership status for 2014/15, far later than they might have done, three early-season wins ensuring that fifteen consecutive league defeats did not cause an immediate return to the Championship.
Next season starts here for the Falcons and on Saturday they have a big opportunity to increase season ticket sales with a big performance and, hopefully, only a second home league win of the season.
For supporters, attention will turn to the make-up of next year's squad. So far, the signings of Calum Green, Ruki Tipuna and Juan Pablo Socino from Championship sides have been announced, and Lee Smith, Sinoti Sinoti and Gonzalo Tiesi will stay having been added during the season.
Perhaps it is not a surprise that this recruitment is heavily slanted towards the backline, who have on the whole not performed this on too many occasions this season. Whether that is down to personnel, coaching or the game-plan is uncertain. The forwards have done their bit on the whole, but too often possession has been wasted. It is to be hoped that a more positive mindset will be encouraged next season. We have seen in recent games that this is more likely to bring results than the negative play employed consistently up to the middle of March.
So where do we need to recruit further? A new head coach, or a new backs/attack coach if John Wells is promoted to the number two position, will surely be added. On the pitch, it might depend on who is still to leave. It would sadly not be a massive surprise if Grant Shiells and/or Joel Hodgson left despite both getting a bit more game time recently, and if they were to go, then another decent prop might be useful. Socino may be back-up to Rory Clegg and Phil Godman if Hodgson leaves – it is unlikely that a top-class ten will be recruited, I'd have thought.
Further back, Ryan Shortland is out of contract and that would leave us a winger light, particularly with Tom Catterick suffering injury problems more often than is ideal. Another back three player might be useful anyway to compete with Catterick and Alex Tait for the number 15 shirt and in case Smith does not take to rugby union as the management will hope.
Second row probably needs bolstering following the retirement of Carlo del Fava. One or both of Harry Spencer and Ian Nagle might fill this hole, indeed Nagle has turned down a contract with Munster so he will be in the market for a new club.
Other than those, I think the squad looks decent on the whole. We have a lot of talent in the back row, indeed enough to almost fill two teams, and if Jamie Helleur can stay fit then the centres look strong too with Adam Powell and Tiesi also available. Hooker and scrum-half are also well-set – on the former, one would hope that George McGuigan will get a few more starts early in 2014/15.
Perhaps the most important thing is for the management to start trusting the talent they have available, rather than us playing within ourselves – we have been saved by Worcester this season, it would be foolish to rely on the same happening next year, but I'm sure nobody will be doing that.
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The pack has done ok...but i think we've seriously missed a big carrier in the back row. Taulava is the perfect "type" that we need...but at 31 and very injury prone this season is he the answer? We shall see.
Im pretty sure Nagel will sign, and i have a feeling they will sign young lock Spencer aswell, who has shown some skill in the brief minutes hes had on the pitch.
Shiels would have to be replaced...if he is not re-signed likewise i really hope Joel is.
Socino is a good signing, Green adds some oomph and i can even see him playing 6 quite a bit.
I would like us to keep Shortland. Whilst not the best hes a good back up. Add in the burgeoning talents of Brown, Kibirige, Hammersley, Penny etc etc and i think you'll see improvements next season.
Heard some very negative reports about that aspect of his game...but very promising reports about his work around the park and at the breakdown?
I would hope that Dean Richards and John Wells of all people would be able to tell if a prop is good enough or not.
Do you think he is to replace Montanella and that we keep Shiells?
Vickers, Shiells, Fry as our 3 LH's for next year?
Quote:OotsideCentre
add Fry, Hawkins and Tualava to the new additions and there maybe the beginnings of some hope for next year
Cheers, I knew I'd missed some but just typed this quickly at lunchtime today to get the site up and running again. Signings not so heavily slanted towards the backs then!
If Welsh do get promoted, our games against them should be special.