Leicester Tigers 2016/17 thread.

[Welly]

First topic message reminder :

2016/17:
Director of Rugby: Richard Cockerill
Head Coach: Aaron Mauger
Assistant Backs Coach: Geordan Murphy
Assistant Forward Coach: Richard Blaze
Defence and Scrum Half Coach: Scott Hansen
Head of Rugby Operations: Ged Glynn
Team manager: Matt Cornwall

2016/17 Senior Squad: (Confirmed So Far) (Blue = EQP)
Hookers: Bateman, McGuigan, Thacker, Youngs
Props: Ayerza, Balmain, Brugnara Cilliers, Cole, Genge, Mulipola, Rizzo
Locks: Barrow, Fitzgerald, Kitchener, Slater
Back Row: Croft, Fonua, Hamilton McCaffrey, O'Connor, Williams
Scrum Half: Harrison, Kitto, Youngs
Fly Half: Burns, Williams
Centre: Catchpole, Roberts, Smith, Toomua, Tuilagi
Back 3: Betham, Brady, Pieterson, Tait, Thompstone, Veainu
Squad number: 37, EQP: 24, Academy products: 8

Transfers
IN: (7)
McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons), Cilliers (Montpelier), Genge (Bristol), Hamilton (Agen), Toomua (ACT Brumbies). JP Pieterson (Sharks), Brady (Sale)

OUT: (12)
Ghiraldini (Toulouse), Pasquali (Treviso), De Chaves (London Irish), Crane (Bristol), Pearce (Sale), Bell (London Irish), Baikeinuku (retirement), De Villiers (Retirement), Benjamin (retirement), Morris (N/A), Camacho (N/A), Goneva (Newcastle Falcons)

Not Sure: (No official confirmation of leaving or Staying) 3
Aguero, Sio Loamanu,

Rumours:
Harry Wells (Bedford) Lock/6

2016/17 Development Squad: (15)
Bryant, Evans, Hills, Lewis, Mahoney, Maksymiw, J.Olowofela, R. Olowofela, Owen, Simmons, Thacker, Tuilagi, White, Worth, Yawayawa

Transfer
IN: (7)
Lewis, Mahoney, J.Olowofela, R. Olowofela, Simmons, White, Yawayawa

OUT: 11
Odogwu (sale), Beckett (Glous), Povoas (Coventry), Tresidder (Rotherham Titans), Douglas, Farnworth, Galletly, Hogan, Murrin, Nairn, Priestley-Nangle.


Academy
Academy Head Coach/forwards Coach: Brett Deacon
Academy Backs Coach: Anthony Allen

[eirebilly]

Jaysus lads, we left the door open for yiz by beating Glasgow, tighten up te feck.

[formerly known as Sam]

Did you not see our other two away games in Europe? We were just as  .

Get Williams off he looks lost and get Hamilton on. He can reliably tackle everything and knows the French game.

[Welly]

Get
Youngs off for Thacker
Williams off for Hamilton
Youngs off for Harrison
Smith or brady off for Roberts.

[nathan]

No Leicester are awful.

Both are awful, just can't work out which one is worse

[formerly known as Sam]

I'd keep Smith on Welly. One of our best defenders and has been very solid for us at a time we're all at Sea.

[nathan]

"Don't make stupid noises when I'm talking"

Someone have a Frak word with this ref, trying his hardest to do a Nigel Owens impression

[formerly known as Sam]

Evans goes down because Racing go back. Bit unlucky there. In the AP that doesn't get given.

[formerly known as Sam]

Racing proceed to take three attempts at tackling the next Tigers maul with nothing given.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

It was the ref your honour

[nathan]

It was the ref your honour

Wonderful input.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

Better input than the Leicester team methinks.

[eirebilly]

Keep warning them ref, I am sure they will listen to ye...

[nathan]

Better input than the Leicester team methinks.

In your opinion maybe, but to everyone else in the world you are a simple muppet

[Welly]

FFS these officials are crap.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

Wow. Over reaction or what. Leicester are awful blame the ref if you want but don't be such a sore loser...

[eirebilly]

That looked a try to me...

[formerly known as Sam]

FFS these officials are crap.

Shocking decision over shocking decision. The WRU should be appalled that these muppets are officiating at this level.

Lucky it's not a close game or one of these blunders might be costly.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

Ha ha. This is like the keystone cops

[Welly]

Ha ha. This is like the keystone cops

Who is this guy?

[nathan]

That looked a try to me...

Pretty clear to me, first shot showed he was over the line, 3rd one showed he clearly grounded it.

We can't catch a break today

[Geen sport voor watjes]

Great improvement since cockers sacking

[nathan]

Great improvement since cockers sacking

We've been Poopie away from home all season.

I'll give you a tip, you won't last long around here if you don't change your ways

[Geen sport voor watjes]

F..ed if I care

[formerly known as Sam]

How can you call maul when the attempted tackler is on their knees? Gormless ref.

Where's our overload attack gone? It was exceptional last weekend and we aren't evening attempting that tactic tonight.

[nathan]

F..ed if I care

Then piss off now then if you dont care

[eirebilly]

Right get in Tigers.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

F..ed if I care

Then piss off now then if you dont care

Nah..too much fun

[Geen sport voor watjes]

I presume it's still the refs fault

[eirebilly]

When I saw this group announced, no way in hell did I think Munster would go through. Now there is a chance that Munster and Glasgow will go through. Leicester's away form has killed them this season.

[nathan]

F..ed if I care

Then piss off now then if you dont care

Nah..too much fun

You must have very little in your life if that's what you call fun

[nathan]

When I saw this group announced, no way in hell did I think Munster would go through. Now there is a chance that Munster and Glasgow will go through. Leicester's away form has killed them this season.

It's always great when munster and tigers are in the same group, just thought we'd be a bit better than we were this season.

When all the players are fit we have a pretty good squad, just a few gaps to now fill. We need to work on the basics once again though

[Geen sport voor watjes]

F..ed if I care

Then piss off now then if you dont care

Nah..too much fun

You must have very little in your life if that's what you call fun

Must try harder

[Geen sport voor watjes]

A little bit like Leicester

[formerly known as Sam]

Nathan don't feed the trolls.

Billy, you can never rule out Munster. Tigers season is nearly over. If they don't improve in the league and win some away games then they'll be forgetting about the playoffs and concentrating on European qualification.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

Ha ha. Trolls. Leicester were awful. No point blaming the ref. What's trolling about that.

[nathan]

Nathan don't feed the trolls.

Billy, you can never rule out Munster. Tigers season is nearly over. If they don't improve in the league and win some away games then they'll be forgetting about the playoffs and concentrating on European qualification.

As harsh as it's sounds but I want us to not qualify for the play offs, they don't deserve it.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

Oh and getting rid of Cockerill was a mistake

[nathan]

Ha ha. Trolls. Leicester were awful. No point blaming the ref. What's trolling about that.

How you doing mikey?

[formerly known as Sam]

Nathan don't feed the trolls.

Billy, you can never rule out Munster. Tigers season is nearly over. If they don't improve in the league and win some away games then they'll be forgetting about the playoffs and concentrating on European qualification.

As harsh as it's sounds but I want us to not qualify for the play offs, they don't deserve it.

Not only do we not deserve it but currently I have no confidence in us getting anything close to a result away from home in the play offs. It would be another horrific kicking, probably at Sarries.

[Guest]

61 points for, 147 against with a total of -86. Will almost certainly be worse than -100 after next week.

I agree with Austin that this year could have a massive effect on Leicester's future. Some way away from the top end of Europe and not competing domestically will make it much harder, and more expensive, to bring anyone in. With finances stretched to the limit and the club falling behind in terms of off-field facilities, it really wouldn't surprise me if the board look for a moneybags owner to come in. I hope I'm wrong.

[formerly known as Sam]

There is a real concern I agree. Anymore of this crap and we're going to struggle to get big paying sponsors and the best talent to sign on the dotted line.

[Welly]

Although I would like to see squad balance the whole squad needs addressing.

The only player I would have down as must keep are
Genge
Cole (who desperately needs someone to share the load now)
Mike Williams (with the right pack he is great)
Will Evans (mainly on potential)
Toomua (again on potential)
Manu (on potential but contract needs to be lowered).
Veainu

Players who I would also keep but not must holds
Thacker (Not sure he has the size for this stuff but he is very skilful)
McGuigan (I feel has more potential than Thacker to be a top end hooker)
Ayerza (Final year next season could see him retiring very good experiance)
Barrow (I rate him and is young)
Slater (getting better and one of the few leaders currently about)
McCaffrey (always puts in 100%)
Hamilton (one of the few players who did something yesterday)
Harrison (Club man)
Ben Youngs (is he worth the money? He can be world class)
Burns (great on his day)
Thompstone ( A very hard worker)
Betham (Been one of the better players tries hard but lack the players around him)
JPP (I think he has been great just a shame about his injuries)

Everyone else is fair game in my eyes.

(This is me being ruthless)

[cakeordeath]

Interested to hear from Leicester fans which type of team you will put out on Saturday. Focus must be switching back to the league but Glasgow is a winnable game, could it be used to build some momentum?

[Welly]

Interested to hear from Leicester fans which type of team you will put out on Saturday. Focus must be switching back to the league but Glasgow is a winnable game, could it be used to build some momentum?

I expect full strength we need to stop this losing run and at home it is a good chance to do it.

We have a 2 week break after this game before the league so I expect us to field our strongest.

[BigGee]

Interested to hear from Leicester fans which type of team you will put out on Saturday. Focus must be switching back to the league but Glasgow is a winnable game, could it be used to build some momentum?

I was about to ask exactly the same question.

It is a slightly odd one, as there is a break in the league coming up anyway, so it may not have any great relevance on the momentum score, you could just as easily use the AWC for that. Racing decided to throw in a few of their young guns and rested some old stagers against you and that certainly seemed to work. It is probably fair to say as well that a few of your players looked like they need a rest.

There is also a proud home record to defend and Mauger's need to try and hold onto his job to factor in.

Glasgow will certainly be up for this game and the chance of qualifying for the first time, but they certainly took a battering yesterday and that may have taken its toll on them.

Difficult one really, blood some kids against the need to win. Glasgow certainly won't be anticipating your guys rolling over.

[formerly known as Sam]

Interested to hear from Leicester fans which type of team you will put out on Saturday. Focus must be switching back to the league but Glasgow is a winnable game, could it be used to build some momentum?

We generally play a lot better at WR than we do away from home. The players will also not fancy the walk through the Crumbie if they take a kicking like that. We've got that many injuries in the backs they'll be none rested there.

I think we need to make some drastic changes to the squad. A lot of the players just aren't aggressive or physical enough. Particularly up front. I'd probably opt to release Fitzgerald and BOC straight off to free up some funds (plus the three propa that are due to go). If Kalamafoni is coming in that's a good start but we'll need more.

The future of Thacker needs sorting once and for all. He was explosive off the bench against Racing but is unlikely to ever be able to shake the size issues if he stays at hooker (doesn't have to be first choice but somebody we can turn to in a scrap). At openside he can rotate with Evans. We need go have a look at the Championship and look to bring in a really nasty hooker with some experience to offer us something else. Bateman is poor at the lineout and props are fairly well stocked even with three going. Should mean we can sign another monster in the second row and another hefty backrow (ideally one who can also cover 7 to interchange with the two young lads).

A utility PI monster for the backline like Rabeni used to be is a must to help the squad out and give us some go forward.

[Welly]

Kalamafoni done deal apparently.

Whilst not sold on this idea but what about Mike Williams playing more at Lock (with an idea of moving him to 6 60 mins in), play Kalamafoni at 6 with another big bad 8.

[formerly known as Sam]

I'd definitely move Mike Williams to the second row and look to bring better balance to the backrow. Extra mobility is needed. Hamilton has looked good this season and I'd use him more often at six.

If we can get hold of two big 8's, Kalamafoni and one other that can't be a bad thing. Though I'd worry about maybe getting in the way of Fred Tuilagi coming through. We could also do with keeping our English numbers up so once again let's have a look down in the Championship.

The attacking tactics need to be sorted out really. In the second half against Wasps we played a brilliant overload attack where we put multiple runners down a channel. It makes it nearly impossible for big players to come out the line and make a dominant hit. It's exactly what we should have done vs Racing and we didn't see it at all. If we're going to play that attacking style then work rate becomes very important and we can't just sign size.

[Welly]

Tuilagi needs to work extremely hard on his fitness still before we even think at Prem game time. A league and maybe the AWC is his limit currently.

Could do with playing a couple season in the championship starting next season.

Alex Reider the Wasps number 8 is rumoured to be off end of season so he could fit in well.

1) Genge
2) Hooker
3) Cole
4) Williams
5) Barrow
6) Kalamafoni/Hamilton
7) Evans
8) Reider

With Kalamafoni/Hamilton/MCCaffrey on the bench and Slater/Kitchener as lock replacement.

[formerly known as Sam]

Reider covers the backrow and is mobile, physical and EQ so would be a great signing for the squad. Agree that Fred needs to go down to the Championship for a season. He's still young but he needs to get much fitter as you say.

With Tait going we should be able to acquire a new 15, ideally someone like Volavola who can also play 10. The offy seems desperate to see Flood come back for a season to cover 10 and 12. If that was a cheap signing I'd be happy with it.

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