Newcastle Falcons 2013/2014

First topic message reminder :

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: Peter Russell (Leaving at the end of the season)
Forwards Coach: John Wells
Defence Coach: Graham Steadman
 
Current Squad: Underlined are new signings coming in the summer 2014
 
Forwards
Props: Grant Shiels, Oliver Tomasczyk, Keiron Brookes, Scott Wilson, Jeff Hallam, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry
Hookers: Matt Thompson, Scott Lawson, George McGuigan, David Nelson, Rob Hawkins
Second Rows:Scott MacLeod, Sean Tomes, Frasier McKensie, Dom Barrow, Callum Green  
Back Row:Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Richard Mayhew, Andy Saull, Mark Wilson, Chris York, Ben Morris, Semisi Taulava

Backs
SH's: Chris Pilrgrim (Signed for Leeds), Warren Fury, Mike Blair, Andy Davies, Ruki Tipuna
Fh's: Joel Hodgson, Rory Clegg, Phil Godman, Craig Willis 
Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Jamie Helleur, James Fitzpatrick (Signed for Leeds), Alex Crocket, Adam Powell, Danny Barnes, Gonzalo Tiesi, Chris Harris  
Wing: Ryan Shortland, Noah Cato, Zac Kibirige, Sinoti Sinoti, Sean Brown, Tom Penny, Lee Smith
FB's: Tom Catterick, Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

Out of contract Summer 2014:
Grant Shiells  
Oliver Tomaszczyk  
Gary Strain
Sean Tomes  
Ian Nagle (Trial till end of season)
Harry Spencer (Trial till end of season)
Chris York
Warren Fury  
Joel Hodgson  
Alex Crockett  
Ryan Shortland

Falcon's team for Leicester:

15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Adam Powell, 12 James Fitzpatrick, 11 Tom Catterick, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Warren Fury, 1 Franck Montanella, 2 Rob Vickers, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Carlo del Fava, 5 Dominic Barrow, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (c), 8 Chris York

Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Gary Strain, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Sean Tomes, 20 Andy Saull, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Alex Crockett

We'll see in three weeks if Jimmy is in the 10 or the 22 jersey.

Perhaps it's true that the best league is the one your team plays in. Because I see the Rabo as a higher standard than the Prem.

The "being bothered to play your best players" thing is a it of a myth.

Combination of normal squad rotation that you get in all leagues (esp France) and the fact (esp in Ireland's case) that the players are contracted to and controled by the unions.

Anyway. Many appologies for dragging your team thread far off topic.

And best of luck in the league. Hope you stay up at the expense of...... I dunno maybe Sale or Worcester.

Don't agree with any of that JLB but good luck for the season.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Don't agree with any of that JLB but good luck for the season.

you too mate.
apart from the bit about the rabo being the best which is my opinion, the rest is true.

Especially the bit about me being sorry for dragging your thread off topic.

Good luck v Leicester. Don't hurt Niall Morris if he's playing.

Sounds like we got a bit of a raw deal at Welford Rd.

Lot of talk of us not quite being able to match Tigers (expected, esp with the weakend line up), but Rose was supposed to have been awful. No big surprises I guess, he's perhaps the worst ref I've ever seen.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Sounds like we got a bit of a raw deal at Welford Rd.

Lot of talk of us not quite being able to match Tigers (expected, esp with the weakend line up), but Rose was supposed to have been awful. No big surprises I guess, he's perhaps the worst ref I've ever seen.

The vast majority of the crowd would disagree, though they are biased.

Rose lacked some consistency in decision making but this affected both sides. There were no major calls made that affected Falcons in any way. Falcons I am afraid were shockingly bad. Tigers were average at best, but Alex Tait was the only Falcons player to offer anything to the game.

Falcons lost so heavily because Rob Vickers had the worst display of lineout throwing i have ever seen, while James Fitzpatrick dropped every pass thrown to him it seemed, and appeared content to spend the match rough-housing Flood off the ball.

The spirit and fight I would have expected from a Richards/Wells team was just not present. Which was saddening. The female falcons fan behind me summed it up on the 10 minute mark, when Clegg kicked the ball away for the umpteenth time - "we are only here to try and limit the damage"

That's odd I've always considered Rose one of the better referees.

Jen, Gopperth may well be offering more at Leinster because he is in a system that suits him more behind a pack of internationals. Certainly in a Newcastle shirt he seemed to consider passing only if running himself or kicking were not an option.

The general Falcons reaction is we played ok but just lacked quality, no suprise as it's was far from our full side. I see Deano's thinking as we were never going to get anything and we have bigger fish to fry.

"Falcons lost so heavily because Rob Vickers had the worst display of lineout throwing i have ever seen, while James Fitzpatrick dropped every pass thrown to him it seemed, and appeared content to spend the match rough-housing Flood off the ball."

Vickers is 3rd choice hooker and Fitzy hasn't had a sniff for a long time. They're both poor players and it shows we need to improve in areas.

formerly known as Sam wrote:That's odd I've always considered Rose one of the better referees.

Jen, Gopperth may well be offering more at Leinster because he is in a system that suits him more behind a pack of internationals. Certainly in a Newcastle shirt he seemed to consider passing only if running himself or kicking were not an option.

I didn't want to put it that bluntly. Plus I have never seen enough of Newcastle to argue that case conclusively.

Ps. Perhaps he doesn't play that well north of a certain point on the map, because he wasn't great v Glasgow.

One of the things he could not replace Jonny W in is his tackling.

Really Sam??? Rose is bloody awful, I've never seen him have a good game.

I watched a Champ game last week and he was out of his depth, made calls and missed things that were completely obvious even to the casual fan.

I'm in no way blaming him for the result, I didn't see the game but I'm just quoting reports and fans at the game views.

I'm happy to have that game out of the way and to move on to games we have to target to win.

Something else to look out for on the highlights once they are put on the AP website then.

Vickers was appallng in the lineout last season. Litterally couldnt hit a barn door. At this level you cant afford your lineout to not function.

Fitzy again is a limited player. He barely played a game last season so not sure why hes getting a few this season? He's not a premiership player...

I would have prefered Deano to go to Leicester with a full strength team...at least see where we are...but i guess hes more focused on the bottom teams.

GF,

the biggest problem was that there seemed to be no experienced players putting in the sorts of performances that will help the kids. Where we did have experience it was players like Fury, Cato, Powell, Crockett - players who have been tried and found wanting at this level with other clubs.

I would like to see Clegg paired with Blair next week. While the lad kicked the ball far too much - this seemed to be the plan given to him - he did also seem a lot more composed than when we saw him in Quins colours.

Gloucester at home on Sunday...what team would you like to see start?

A winning one! Gloucester often struggle at our place, lets hope it continues. Full strength in order, we can def target their scrum.

1. Montella
2. Thompson
3. Tomas
4. Del Fava
5. McKenzie
6. Barrow
7. Welch
8. Hogg

9. Blair
10. Clegg
11. Catterick??
12. Powell
13. Barnes
14. Cato
15. Tait

16. Vickers 17. Brookes 18. Wilson 19. McLeod 20. Fury 21. Godman 22. Hodgson 23. Helleur

I hope Richards is looking at a centre/winger to bring in

Thats pretty much what id go for aswell Sarge...

As you say the glaring spots for me are centre...and yes another winger. I do rate shortland mind...it would be better if he wasnt injured.

I'd drop Vickers from the 23 all togeather, needs to learm to throw or join Tynedale

Sgt_Pooly wrote:A winning one! Gloucester often struggle at our place, lets hope it continues. Full strength in order, we can def target their scrum.

1. Montella
2. Thompson
3. Tomas
4. Del Fava
5. McKenzie
6. Barrow
7. Welch
8. Hogg

9. Blair
10. Clegg
11. Catterick??
12. Powell
13. Barnes
14. Cato
15. Tait

16. Vickers 17. Brookes 18. Wilson 19. McLeod 20. Fury 21. Godman 22. Hodgson 23. Helleur

I hope Richards is looking at a centre/winger to bring in

I would be surprised if you name four backs on the bench. Is Saull injured?

Missed Wilson off, should be 5/3 split with Godman dropping out

Has Vickers throwing actually got worse or is it just not so highlighted in the championship. I was at most of the games last season and it was bad...but this season it seems worse.

How long till Lawson is back? And what about young McGuigan...lets hope they're teaching him how to throw...

Vickers has always been awful at throwing (I don't think our jumpers are that great either tbh).

I thought we'd have hammered it home over the summer but losing 4/4 throws on attacking ball is terrible.

Yeah i thought that would have been priority ....get the lineout sorted as it was pretty shambolic last season...but it would appear absolutely nothing has been done.

It is a major problem as it costs us so much posession.

Lawson was brought in for part of this...so him getting injured isnt ideal...but they should have planned for that.

Maybe we should get one of the props throwing in or Blair, can't do any worse than Vickers

That is certainly an option...wonder if any of them are any good?

7-0 Falcons (Catterick scores)

(1 min)

What a start!

You there Cumbrian? Is it on TV?

Nah I'm listening to it on the BBC radio.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_gloucestershire

Sounds like the backs are getting good penetration.

Can't get radio links where I am unfortunately.

Really hope we win this one, love to be there.

Me too, I'll keep you up dated marra.  

Good lad

Got them under pressure in the scrum.

... and they get penalised! Kickable penalty...

Scored!

10-0

(20 mins gone)

I thought we'd dominate scrum, Knight is poor.

Need to keep it ticking over and get some points on the board, Gloucester backline scares the **** out of me

Penalty to Glos, it's very kickable...

Got it.

10-3

(22 mins)

Aye and me, but by the sounds of it our forwards are on top. Need to keep this going.

Pressure on the Glos line.

Knock on.  

Mauling towards the Glos 22, advantage to Falcons.

2 tries in one game is rather greedy

... Bit of an angle I think...

Got it!

13-3

(About 30 Mins I think)

Howay!!!!!

...Glos penalty...

Missed.  

Gloucester coming into the game a bit more now though.

Gloucester in the corner. Gone to the video ref...

Try given.  

Conversion missed

13-8.

Just about HT.

HT still up will be good, hopefully pack advantage will come into in the 2nd

That is half time

13-8