Newcastle Falcons 2015 / 2016

First topic message reminder :

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: John Wells
Forwards Coach: Micky Ward
Defence Coach: John Wells
Attack Coach: Dave Walder
Lineout Coach: Scott Macleod
Skills Coach: Mark Laycock

Current Squad (A= Academy):
Forwards
Props:
TH - Taione Vea, Jon Welsh, Scott Wilson, Paddy Ryan, Andrew Foster
LH - Ben Harris, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry, Alex Rogers, Sam Lockwood, Adam Brocklebank (A)

Hookers: Scott Lawson, Ben Sowrey, Kyle Cooper
David Nelson (A), Santiago Socino (A)

Second Rows: Callum Green, Mauritz Botha, Will Witty, Sean Robinson , Evan Olmstead, Nick Civetta, Glen Youngs, Andrew Davidson
Harry Snowdon (A), Josh Williams (A), Max Davies (A),

Back Row: Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Nili Latu, Mark Wilson, Dan Temm, Joshua Chisanga, Harrison Orr, Opeti Fonua, Tyrone Holmes
Joe Craggs (A), Calum Chick (A), Sebastian Ferreira (A), Simon Uzokwe (A)

Backs
SH's: Sonatane Tukulua, Micky Young, Sam Egerton
Dan Taylor (A),  Ruaridh Dawson (A)

Fh's: Tom Catterick, Mike Delaney, Joel Hodgson  
Craig Willis (A), Brett Connon (A)

Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Adam Powell, Chris Harris,
Adam Redman centre (A), Tom Penny (A)

Wing: Sinoti Sinoti, Marcus Watson, Zac Kibirige, Veriniki Goneva,
Dan Marshall (A)

FB's: Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley
Ed Coulson (A)

Signings for Next Season:
Niki Goneva - Wing (Leicester)
Sam Lockwood - LH Prop (Jersey)
Sam Egerton - SH (7's / Quins)
Harrison Orr - Back Row (Ealing)
Joel Hodgson - 9, 10, 15 (Leeds)
Ben Sowrey - Hooker (Worcester)
Evan Olmstead - Lock (London Scottish)
Opeti Fonua - Back Rower
Nick Civetta - Lock forward
Andrew Davidson (Academy) - Lock Forward
Kyle Cooper - Hooker
Tyrone Holmes - 6/7 - Glasgow

Yeah that's my thoughts Sgt.

Lockwood, Chissanga and now Orr - all very physical players. Big carrirs and big defenders. That's what we need.

And hopefully some fast pace from the base with Egerton.

Im being optimistic Sgt, but why not. Lets hope they are what we hope they are.

Hodgson is back!

Never seen that one coming. Cracking little player if we can get him going.

Yeah ive literally seen that.

Ah I'm just not convinced AT ALL. What does he add that :

9 - Tukulua, Egerton, Dawson , (Young) doesn't
10 - Delayney, Catterick, Willis and young Connon doesn't.

And we don't have a good record of players coming back....Brookes and Young are hardly success stories.

Out of all the signings this is the one I'm not happy about.

I knew Hodgson was talking too us.

He's a better 10 than Catterick , Wils and Cannon are.

Ah I don't know GF, he's such a talent at 10. I'd rate him higher than Delany tbh apart from goal kicking. I was gutted when he left.

He hasn't shown me that at Saints or Leeds.

Just feels like hes been away to a bigger club and is coming back with his tail between his legs.

Not impressed.

He was used as a scrum half at Saints, he's not a scrum half.

He's failed at Leeds, agree there.

He'll be very cheap and he's very talented, just needs direction.

We shall see.

Ill judge him on his performances.

The one issue with Hodgson coming in is we're obviously sticking with Delany.

At least the other signings have me optimistic now.

That Orr and Chisanga look like real aggressive heavy duty carriers. We are in dire need of that.
And that scrum half seems to play at a much higher pace than Young.

Really hope a new 12 is on the cards, Socino has been dross! His defence and distribution last week was schoolboy standard.

I actually don't mind him. He's a packet cannon ball. If he can get form again that's fine. Hard carrier and solid tackler.

But we must have creativity at 9 and 10 to make up for his lack of it.

And I'm not convinced on Harris at 13 either, though nor do I think Goneva is the answer there.

Either give Venditti a shot there or have a look at Penny.

Dean confuses me so much. He'll give a player a few games then they disappear for a long time. ie WIll Witty. Why is he just shotgunned back to Blaydon after making the 1st team and playing for the England U20? Especially with the injury crisis we had at lock when Mark Wilson was having to play in there???

ANd I'm fed up with Wells as coach.

I think Wilson at lock is accommodate Welch who's bang average.

Socino has been a big disappointment this season, 12 is an issue.

I always thought that Hodgson might end up in 7s. He's a terrific little player to watch, it just always felt that in the modern game he needs a dominant pack and very particular game plan to suit him. Not sure many sides are willing to base their side around one player like that anymore though, I wouldn't expect Deano too either tbh...

Has it been stated whether he's coming back as a 9 or 10?

Couldn't agree more about Welch. He's not good enough for this level let alone to be captain.

Next season he should struggle to get a game really when we have:

6's - Wilson, Orr
7's - Latu, Wilson can play 7,
8's - Chisanga, Hogg, Orr,

Craggs and Chick coming through who look prospects.

Not sure whats happened to Temm.

Looks about right GF.

I'd be very happy with 2 big carriers at 6/8, Wilson being one obviously. Welch is a real 100% type player and he's improved this season, I just think he comes up a little short. Latu is the first player in the team sheet and would be great supplemented with 1 or 2 big hitters.

I see the naming of Hodgson has been negative on the unoffy.

And apparently not well taken at the forum when Dean announced it.

Rob Hawkins confirmed as retired.

Well we were thrashed in the A league semi final.

Apparently Clever was non existent. Tuilagi a waste of time and Socino was very poor.

Half the squad needs to be cleared out. Put our faith in the academy lads over journey men / past it foreingers!

Scottish international centre being lined up.... can't say much more.

Richie Vernon?

I bloody hope not!

Well Scott is going to Gloucester, Taylor is at Saracens. I think Bennett is still contracted at Glasgow........that down't leave anyone of real quality.

Maybe its Scott Hastings...

I see Ben Sowrey is confirmed aswell.

According to Wuss fans he has potential but is a work in progress.

Isnt Nelson and Socino the same? So why bring him in when we should have been bringing in a real quality experienced hooker.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I bloody hope not!

Well Scott is going to Gloucester, Taylor is at Saracens. I think Bennett is still contracted at Glasgow........that down't leave anyone of real quality.

Leaves Vernon pretty much.

Welly wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I bloody hope not!

Well Scott is going to Gloucester, Taylor is at Saracens. I think Bennett is still contracted at Glasgow........that down't leave anyone of real quality.

Leaves Vernon pretty much.

Alex Grove?

Yeah ....no thanks to Ritchie Vernon.

LondonTiger wrote:

Welly wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I bloody hope not!

Well Scott is going to Gloucester, Taylor is at Saracens. I think Bennett is still contracted at Glasgow........that down't leave anyone of real quality.

Leaves Vernon pretty much.

Alex Grove?

Actually could be.

Why did wuss loan him out?

From a Wuss fan on the unoffy:

Believe me, in Ben Sowrey you have signed someone with the potential to be a superstar. True, he's not there yet - for one thing he needs to work on his throwing in - but when you see his ball carrying skills and his work rate you will stop asking why. You just need to give him the game time that we (Wuss) couldn't

Welly wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Welly wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I bloody hope not!

Well Scott is going to Gloucester, Taylor is at Saracens. I think Bennett is still contracted at Glasgow........that down't leave anyone of real quality.

Leaves Vernon pretty much.

Alex Grove?

Actually could be.

Why did wuss loan him out?

Guess Ryan did not rate him. As he has now been released by Wuss and is "only" 28 I suspect he may be looking for a better contract than London Scottish can offer.

Looking at players out of contract
Grove and Vernon seem to be the only that I could. (That have been capped).

Fife hasn't got a contract ATM I think, although more of a winger

Might be worth a punt if hes a decent centre.

Ours currently aren't setting the world alight.

Grove would be a huge step backwards imo.

Well we need something that's for sure.

Powell
Harris
Penny
Socino
Tiesi - Is he staying or leaving
Redman (Academy lad)

Maybe Venditti could move to 13?

I think our issue is more at 12.

13 options in Tiesi, Harris, Goneva and Venditti are quite strong. 12 we have Socino who can't tackle this season and has the distribution is a schoolboy.

Is Calum Green still out of contract for next season?

Yeah but he will be re-signed. He's a keeper!

Calum Green has signed an extention.

Apparently 3 more signings to be announced this week.

Good news on Green.

3 signing is exciting! I'm guessing they're were lined up with relegation to be confirmed. Could be half decent players if so....

Yeah im happy about Green. Hes the type of pack members we need. Good tough solid premiership players.

Yeah they must have been waiting till our safety was confirmed.

I must admit im quite happy with our recruitment so far. All geared towards big fast aggressive carrying and real physicality. Something i think we have missed a bit of.

Whats your thoughts on Furno and Kane Thompson. Would you keep them?

I'd let them both leave GF. Very little game time and expensive I imagine.

How did you hear about the 3 signings?

Yeah that's my opinion as well. Furno is too much like Tom Croft for me...just not physcial enough for lock. And Kane is just injury prone.

We have Witty, Snowdon and Youngs to back up Robinson and Green now.

On the forum, someone has said there are 3 more being announced this week.

Mark Smith confirmed the 3 signings wil be announced this week and a load of contract extensions.

Theres quite a few in the squad that i wouldn't re-sign.

The Tuilagis, Furno, Thompson, Tiesi....in fact i would only renew:

Vickers
Takalua
Kibirige
Watson

Witty too Gloucester is a pretty big rumour with some weight behind it

Yeah ive heard that one Driver....

Id be VERY disappointed if he went. Although he hasn't played much for us this season...only Blaydon so i wonder why?

We have Snowdon and Youngs , which means likely to keep the injury prone Furno and Thompson.

I'v just seen he's followed them on Twitter which is usually the first sign then again Nathan Hughes follows us.

Think we're looking in good stead in most areas. Our back three with Niki, Sinoti and Hammers is as good as any.

Id put Marcus Watson in there as well , I think hes been great.

Seems to be a lot around this one. Why Gloucester though? I know they are losing Elliott Stooke etc.

Driver wrote:I'v just seen he's followed them on Twitter which is usually the first sign then again Nathan Hughes follows us.

Think we're looking in good stead in most areas. Our back three with Niki, Sinoti and Hammers is as good as any.

If you can get Venditti fit and playing as he did for Italy for consecutive 6 Nations prior to injury then your wing stocks would be up there with the best in the league. Add Hammersley at full back and it's a very nice back three. Whilst Alex Tait shouldn't be used on the wing as much as Deano does he is a solid full back for the winter months which is also valuable to a squad.

I was talking with a fellow Tigers fan yesterday about Niki and he made a point that I hadn't heard yet with him moving to you. He might really enjoy playing on the new Kingston Park pitch. It's been no secret with anyone around the Prem that his effectiveness in the middle of the season when the pitches get worse has often plummeted compared to early/late in the season. This season is a good example where he was rested whilst fit for several consecutive games when the weather was at it's worst.

That synthetic pitch could be a very useful tool in keeping him effective throughout the season.