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

Yeah he wasnt the best hooker...but to his credit he has actually played very well since the switch, and been one of our best and most consistant players

But not just that its that fact that he accetped the switch when we were really struggling for LH's even though hes not a prop and that has probably endeared him to the fans.

We've signed 2nd row Harry Spencer, ex Sarries playing part time in France.

Who?

Ah just until the end of the season.

No idea lol, there a video on YouTube of him playing semi-pro.

6ft 6" and 120kg, looks physical and a good line out option at that level. Dean must have spotted something.

Not somewhere we're really weak but he's only in till the end if the season, hope he does well.

How old is he? Semi Pro? That doesnt sound great but then if he's young he might be worth a look.

Does that mean Nagel isnt rated?

25 GF, I don't know whats going on with Nagle, we'll hopefully see him at Gloucester

This constant lack of communication is actually starting to irritate me a little bit.

He's 2m.04cm...6 foot 8. Big lad.

Got that wrong, he is big!

Looks like a giant in the vids.

Rumours that the Sochino deal with Rotherham is as good as done.

He's the Argentinan 12. Only 5'9 but 15st...and the main goal kicker aswell. Could be just the answer at 12 with Sinoti at 13...

Our backs are shaping up nicely for next year

9.Blair
10.Clegg
11.Kirbrige
12.Sochino
13.Sinoti
14.Smith
15.Tait

Sgt_Pooly wrote:We've signed 2nd row Harry Spencer, ex Sarries playing part time in France.

I remember him from the U20s a few years ago. I thought he dropped off the face of the earth!

I'd be very happy with Sochino at 12

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/dean-richards-shares-french-connection-6805578

If hes the size he is listed as, has decent ball skills and has been getting toughened up in the 2nd and 3rd divisions of France he could be one to watch.

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/former-saracen-harry-spencer-newcastle-6805098

It's not a position we're in desperate need of so it's a win/win GF. Hopefully the boy will be a talent and he'll provide competition for Barrow/McKenzie etc.

I still hope we sign Nagle, he a real class act.

I think we'll see Barrow making the 6 shirt his own , Mark Wilson should nail the 8 jersey.

1.Brookes
2.Lawson
3.Wilson
4.Mckenzie
5.Nagle
6.Borrow
7.Saull
8.Wilson

9.Blair
10.Clegg
11.Kirbrige
12.Sochino
13.Sinoti
14.Smith
15.Tait




Not too shabby of a side at all.

That backrow lacks a big carrier for me and Brookes is TH. I don't think Scott Wilson is ready for regular AP starts although he's a real talent.

I see that 'Jazzy' Geoff Cross and Nick 'Butterfingers' De Luca are shaping to leave Edinburgh. Would there be any interest on Tyneside? Cross would do a job for you, in particular.

Cross to Irish is a done deal I believe.

I wouldn't fancy either of those George.

We're well stocked at TH, we have 3 good options in Brookes/Tomas/Wilson. De Luca is a pretty average centre, we've got plenty of those already.

 Sarge...calling them average is being generous.

Wouldnt want De Luca at all thank you very much. Hes no different or better than Powell, Barnes, Crocket, Helluer, Fitzy...

See there is a fans forum next tuesday with deano

Yeah, it will be very interesting to see what comes out of that.

Communication all season has been...lets say.....minimal at best...

Minimal communication? Another practice Richards has brought along from Tigers.

Sam,

Its genuinely irritiating at times...there can be litterally no communication coming out of KP.

Id like to know what the crack with Shiells is for example. Has been out all season with a back problem like rumours suggest...or is he just not rated and possibly on his way to Edinburgh?

Fans have a right to know these little bits of info.

Socino signs on a 2 year deal, barrow & Wilson new deals.

We're getting a 4G pitch and Deano turned down Gloucester apparently.

Ah interesting news...

Sochino looks a cracking player.

But to keep Barrow and Scott Wilson - thats huge in my opinion.

Nice to see Deano turn down Glos...they are an attractive proposition with their new signings...

So for next season its looking interesting...

1 Shiells (Hopefully get him back fit and firing next season)
2 Lawson / McGuigan
3 S.Wilson / Brookes
4 Barrow / McCleod
5 McKensie (See how this big lump from France goes - Spencer)
6 Really want to see a huge beast of a carrier come in at 6
7 Welch / Saull
8 M.Wilson / Hogg

9 Blair
10 Clegg / Hodgson (Please get rid of Godman)
11 Kibirige
12 & 13 Sochino / Powell / Tiesi / Sinoti / Barnes / (Let Crocket go)
14 Shortland / Cato
15 Tait / Catterick (or wing)

Add in Harrison Collins, Ben Morris, Nelson, Penny, Willis, Hammersley, Sean Brown etc etc and things looking a bit better.

Key buys for me....a top 10 would be a nice aquisition...and a monster beast of a 6.

We need something at LH too.

I'm not sure the youngsters will be ready for the step up yet but worth getting in the squad.

That'll be the worst squad in the AP by a distance I think, we certainly need additions.

The 4G pitch is an interesting development, much better than playing on a quagmire.

I've never seen Socino play, what sort of centre is he? Big ball carrying or more like a second stand off?

Sarge im not sure its the worst squad by a distance but its not great..

I think theres a reliance on some of the kids making it big next season.

Cumbrian wrote:The 4G pitch is an interesting development, much better than playing on a quagmire.  

I've never seen Socino play, what sort of centre is he?  Big ball carrying or more like a second stand off?

Small with a nice step and acceleration, more a second stand off. Very accurate from the tee (current top scorer in the Championship). Decent player

There's a decent YouTube clip knocking about Cumbrian.

I've caught him a few times and he's got a good range of skills, very powerful and a big boot. He'll slot in nice at 12, certainly better than anything we have.

12. Socino 13. Powell

Could be a good combo I reckon, both good runners with Socino giving a solid distribution output.

GF, when you look at the teams just above us and the players they're bringing in we could struggle again.

All depends how Bristol settle in (if Worcester go down).

Seen the Worcester fans reaction to Dean Richards comments about them, on the unoffy on their message board.

They spewing fire   

eflonTed (IP Logged) Registered User

Date Joined: Apr, 2007 Location: Droitwich Spa Posts: 3843

[size=13.333333015441895]Re: Dean Richards insults Worcester.... [size=10.666666984558105]new
Quote DR from Newcastle Falcons Fans Forum... 

DR: "Yeah. I think you have to understand it is one of those where you could do a Worcester and throw a lot of money at it, up to and probably, in Worcester's case, over the salary cap, and not have a culture. Sorry, they are probably AT the salary cap [crowd laughs]. 

"For me what I did at Leicester and then at Quins was about building the culture. We didn't spend to the salary cap at all, and it is about creating a culture" 

A CULTURE OF CHEATING AND LYING.


I just actually laughed out load at that bit at the end.[/size][/size]

Yeah there were a few comments that made me laugh. Ive posted on it for them not to take it too serious...

There was nothing insulting in what he said, it must have been took out of context.

DR's comments about Wuss and the salary cap were very strange indeed. You could understand using them as an example if they were above you, but given their dire season, it serves no purpose to make this claim. It is also a claim that appears to be wildly untrue or Wuss have managed to assemble the most expensive team of rejects ever put together! The few Wuss fans I know are spitting feathers over his comments and I have to say it seems very unwise to add any further incentive for them to perform. Wuss have definitely been putting together better performances in recent weeks, so this just may aid them a little bit more...

Interesting comments that Glaws contacted him, albeit there was not context put into when he was spoken to. Our owner has gone on record that DR wasn't approached and wouldn't ever be considered.

Sounds like sour grapes to me HK.

He corrected himself after saying Wuss were over the cap and said "at the cap".

That doesn't surprise me tbh, wuss have brought in loads of players through the season.

It could be sour grapes, but you could also argue he corrected himself to avoid any ramifications of making such a statement. Either way it just seemed a little uncalled for given how dire they've been this year. It'll certainly make your encounter with them that much more spicy!

I meant sour grapes from Gloucester.

The Wuss comment is just massively out of context, he corrected himself immediately, I can't see the issue.

The only comment that got me was he thought Joel Hodgson was 24 and he doesn't seem to rate him at all.

I'm not sure if it would be sour grapes. There has been no indication anyone else has been tapped up, so it would be strange that DR would be the only target.

Didn't he move Gopperth to FB to accommodate Hodgson?

Think it was a way of winning some fans over , didn't matter who we had at 10 in the Champ as our pack smashed everyone.

Its clear that he doesnt rate Hodgson at all. he'll be off to Rotherham in the summer...maybe the idea is a swap...Socino for Hodgson.

Newcastle for Glos

Godawful Godman starts....but so does Zac!!!

Not a bad side....but why is Godman always selected??

Newcastle Falcons:

1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Oliver Tomaszczyk
4 Scott MacLeod
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Will Welch (c)
7 Andy Saull
8 Chris York

9 Mike Blair
10 Phil Godman
11 Zac Kibirige
12 Danny Barnes
13 Gonzalo Tiesi
14 Noah Cato
15 Alex Tait

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Gary Strain, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Sean Tomes, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Lee Smith.

Not a bad side at all , Godmans territorial game isn't that bad and Cato will chase all day. Glaws positioning is horrific.

I can't see that side beating Gloucester at home, there's very little carrying in the pack and the backs miss a straight runner.

Have we played the same backline in successive games this season?

Dont think so mate.

One must this season is a monster carrier somewhere in the pack. Perferably in the back row at 6...Welch, Saull and Wilson is just not heavy enough and dont offer genuine destructive carrying

We miss Tui'fuia and Goppereth so much.