Newcastle Falcons - 2019 to 2020 Championship - Closed

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

Current Squad:
Forwards
Props:
LH - Sam Lockwood, Adam Brocklebank, Trevor Davison,
Conrad Cade (Senior Academy), Phil Brantingham (Senior Academy)
TH - Rodney Ah You, Logo Mulipola, Mark Tampin, Mike Daniels,
Oscar Caudle  TH(Senior Academy & Tynedale)

Hookers: Kyle Cooper, George McGuigan, Jamie Blamire, Charlie Maddison

Second Rows: Sean Robinson, Darren Barry, Toby Salmon, Greg Peterson,
Will Montgomery (Senior Academy), Freddie Lockwood (Senior Academy), Bailey Ransom (Senior Academy)

Back Row:
6&7's: Mark Wilson, Will Welch, Gary Graham, Jon Hardie,
Guy Graham (Senior Academy), Rob Farrar (Senior Academy), Josh Basham (Senior Academy), Harry Hill (Senior Academy),
8: Philip van der Walt, Nemani Negusa, Calum Chick,
Tom Marshall (Senior Academy), Charlie Richards (Senior Academy & Tynedale)

Backs
SH's: Micky Young, Sam Stuart
Callum Pascoe (Senior Academy & Tynedale), Cameron Nordi Kelemeti (Senior Academy), James Elliott (Senior Academy)

Fh's: Joel Hodgson, Toby Flood, Brett Connon, Tim Swiel, Joel Matavesi
Will Haydon Wood (Senior Academy & Tynedale)

Centres: Matias Orlandi, Gareth Owen, Ben Stevenson, George Wacokecoke,
Charlie Wilson (Senior Academy - At Durham UNi)), Chidera Obonna (Senior Academy)

Wing: Sinoti Sinoti , Adam Radwan, Cooper Vuna
Morgan Passman (Senior Academy),

FB's: Alex Tait, Tom Arscott,

Players unconfirmed:
Seb De Chaves - Only has a one year deal
Jon Welsh - Injuries mean he hasnt played for nearly 2 years.
Connor Collett - has he signed permanently for Doncaster

Lt

He was moved to head coach this season. Dean loves to rotate his coaches.

Dont know how it all works

I notice the Falcons website does not list an attack coach so would assume Walder still runs the attack, perhaps in conjunction with the skills coach.

Maybe he is spread too thin?

Did make me chuckle to see Tim Payne as strength and conditioning coach. Conditioning never seemed a strong point of his as a player.

Yeah I dont like Tim Payne in that role LT. But then coaching is very different to playing and maybe he is a good coach.

Concerns now...
Calum Green Linked with Tigers
Calum Chick linked with Tigers and Saints
Glen Young linked with Quins
Will Witty as good as confirmed to Exeter on a 3 year deal.

3 locks (2 key ones) going?? 1 talented back rower.

Leaves us with Cavubati (who I don't rate) young Davidson (who I rate highly) And Montgommery an academy lad who is being lauded by the academy coaching staff. EDIT - And Sean Robinson (who is permanently injured)

Whats going on?

Sinoti Sinoti has signed an extension. Though I makes no difference with the total lack of ball he's getting at the moment!

Is Robinson still around?

Yeah but permanently injured. And hes our best lock (I rate him over Green)

GeordieFalcon wrote:Yeah I dont like Tim Payne in that role LT. But then coaching is very different to playing and maybe he is a good coach.

I know nothing of Payne as a S&C coach but players in all sports are often better at coaching things that came unnaturally to them.

Neil Back was a notorious example of this. I've heard from a few that have been coached by Back that he really struggled to understand why people couldn't 'just do things' that came to him as easily as walking.

Julian White was meant to offer almost no explanation when young props asked him scrummaging advice as well, "just set low enough that the loosehead has no leverage then drive his face into his left knee".

Probably made more difficult by the fact that Julian White was supposed to be ridiculously strong. Hands like feet mind. There's a reason that he's not got a coaching job anywhere.

Team for Toulon tonight.

15 Tom Arscott
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Chris Harris
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Toby Flood (captain)
9 Sonatane Takulua

1 Adam Brocklebank
2 George McGuigan
3 Trevor Davison
4 Will Witty
5 Glen Young
6 Ryan Burrows
7 Gary Graham
8 Nemani Nagusa

Replacements

16 Santiago Socino
17 Sami Mavinga
18 David Wilson
19 Tevita Cavubati
20 Callum Chick
21 Michael Young
22 Brett Connon
23 Zach Kibirige

On a side note...

Scotland call ups for Hardie, Graham and Harris, and England call for Wilson.

Just what we want when we're 4 points adrift at the bottom.

So...

It appears our playing budget for this season was reduced by £1m to £4m this season.

It also appears we are potentially about to lose a raft of players.

Worcester have tried to get Kyle Copper from us aswell.

What on earth is going on??

GeordieFalcon wrote:So...

It appears our playing budget for this season was reduced by £1m to £4m this season.

It also appears we are potentially about to lose a raft of players.

Worcester have tried to get Kyle Copper from us aswell.

What on earth is going on??

Shouldn't Newcastle have had more money come in with the Champions Cup?

And now Andrew Davidson confirmed to Glasgow....

So if the very strong rumours are to believed...we're losing
Davidson
Green
Witty
Young

All our locks!!

And possibly Calum Chick??

GeordieFalcon wrote:So...

It appears our playing budget for this season was reduced by £1m to £4m this season.

It also appears we are potentially about to lose a raft of players.

Worcester have tried to get Kyle Copper from us aswell.

What on earth is going on??

Worcs are losing Singleton to Sarries and Joe Taufete'e will miss a chunk of the season with Worcs so Cooper would make sense for them.

Apparently McGuigan is on very good money with you so if playing budget has been cut it may be a case of struggling to keep both of them.

Kyle Cooper signs a new 3 year deal...now that IS good news.

GeordieFalcon wrote:So...

It appears our playing budget for this season was reduced by £1m to £4m this season.

What happened to your wealthy owner? You can't be that short in turnover he's topping up your cashflow for a 4 mil wage budget.

Semore Kurdi has been plowing money in, but his money isn't inexhaustible.

We've also wasted a lot of money on players...

Mermoz, DTH, Davy Wilson wont be cheap and has barely played a game, etc etc.

Something is a foot at KP. Its an interesting one and concerning.

I also wonder if they know something we don't about ring fencing.....

Alex Dunbar coming on loan until the end of the season...

We really are becoming a third Scottish region

GeordieFalcon wrote:Alex Dunbar coming on loan until the end of the season...

We really are becoming a third Scottish region

Might as well make it official, I think you could do with some cash as well!

Does the Scottish RFU have money like?

Well given the ongoing occupation of Newcastle, it wouldn't surprise me if they've signed an agreement to get scottish players at discount rates

GeordieFalcon wrote:Alex Dunbar coming on loan until the end of the season...

We really are becoming a third Scottish region

That's a good signing. Great in defence and over the ball, straightens the line well and good experience to add at this point in the season.

Its just the injuries again KC.

Dean signs a lot of players who have genuine talent but have injury issues, with the hope of getting them back to top fitness. He has had some success, but we've had an awful lot of players on the physio table this season (aswell as last) .

Dunbar is EXACTLY what we are looking for and could work great with Johnny Williams (another amazing talent troubled with injuries) but lets see how he goes.

Sam Lockwood and Simon Hammersley contracts renewed.

Newcastle Falcons team to face Sale Sharks (Sunday, 3pm, AJ Bell Stadium)

15 Tom Arscott
14 Zach Kibirige
13 Alex Dunbar - Straight in the side....
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Toby Flood (captain)
9 Michael Young

1 Sami Mavinga
2 Santiago Socino
3 Trevor Davison
4 Andrew Davidson
5 Glen Young
6 Ryan Burrows
7 John Hardie
8 Callum Chick

Replacements
16 Jamie Blamire
17 Adam Brocklebank
18 David Wilson
19 Tevita Cavubati
20 Simon Uzokwe
21 Sam Stuart
22 Brett Connon
23 Vereniki Goneva

STARTING XV:
15.Luke James;
14.Arron Reed,
13.Johnny Leota,
12.Rohan Janse van Rensburg,
11.Paolo Odogwu;
10.Kieran Wilkinson,
9.Will Cliff;

1.Tom Bristow,
2.Curtis Langdon,
3.Joe Jones,
4.Bryn Evans,
5.Andrei Ostrikov,
6.Cameron Neild,
7.Ben Curry (capt.),
8.Sam Moore.

REPLACEMENTS: 16.Rob Webber, 17.Valery Morozov, 18.Alexandru Tarus, 19.Matt Postlethwaite, 20.Josh Beaumont, 21.Matt Sturgess, 22.Tom Roebuck, 23.Denny Solomona.

Any of you guys know how Alex Dunbar got on in his debut for the Falcons on sunday?

Did he make it through the game unscathed?

Not sure mate...haven't seen much bar the highlights.

Saints vs Falcons is a riot of scoring (or optional defence) at the moment.

Really?

Wow by all accounts we were utterly atrocious .

I'm going down to the exeter game in two weeks and I'm starting to dread it.

Trevor Davison signs an extension.

Despite our position we're certainly getting new contracts signed.

Great that we're getting a lot of renewals but the Davison one is pretty typical of where the club go wrong in recruitment sometimes. Davison is 26 and miles from being a Premiership player and I doubt he'll ever be close.

Well hate to say it...but unless ringfencing comes in this year....we're gone.

My pal lives in Jersey though so might do that away trip.

Still a bit of way to go yet GF! Crazy really, some fall from grace. This year everyone has improved (well probably all bar Leicester) and is seemingly spending more cash, I think we've been left behind somewhat.

Either we will beat Worcester next week and give you a helping hand, or lose and drop right into the relegation mire.

A must win game for Wuss but I’ve got a horrible feeling that Tigers will spoil the party.

stub wrote:A must win game for Wuss but I’ve got a horrible feeling that Tigers will spoil the party.

Not this season.

Yeah can't see us spoiling anything for anybody else. Murphy's tactics seem good but the team just seem brainless and unable to do basic things well.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Still a bit of way to go yet GF! Crazy really, some fall from grace. This year everyone has improved (well probably all bar Leicester) and is seemingly spending more cash, I think we've been left behind somewhat.

The problem is sgt we've been utterly woeful. Devoid of any attacking threat and like turn styles in defence. I just don't see us winning any more games.

Im at the game down in Exeter this weekend and i'm absolutely dreading it. The other halfs cousin is a Chiefs season ticket holder so this should be fun if they rack up a cricket score.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Still a bit of way to go yet GF! Crazy really, some fall from grace. This year everyone has improved (well probably all bar Leicester) and is seemingly spending more cash, I think we've been left behind somewhat.

The problem is sgt we've been utterly woeful. Devoid of any attacking threat and like turn styles in defence. I just don't see us winning any more games.

Im at the game down in Exeter this weekend and i'm absolutely dreading it. The other halfs cousin is a Chiefs season ticket holder so this should be fun if they rack up a cricket score.

I can't even bring myself to watch the last few games, it's just depressing me. What was Richards saying when he said the players weren't fit enough????

formerly known as Sam wrote:Yeah can't see us spoiling anything for anybody else. Murphy's tactics seem good but the team just seem brainless and unable to do basic things well.

Wuss weren't exactly great on the weekend, they rely totally on two or three players (Hougard and that 15) and are all a bit pants otherwise.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Still a bit of way to go yet GF! Crazy really, some fall from grace. This year everyone has improved (well probably all bar Leicester) and is seemingly spending more cash, I think we've been left behind somewhat.

The problem is sgt we've been utterly woeful. Devoid of any attacking threat and like turn styles in defence. I just don't see us winning any more games.

Im at the game down in Exeter this weekend and i'm absolutely dreading it. The other halfs cousin is a Chiefs season ticket holder so this should be fun if they rack up a cricket score.

I can't even bring myself to watch the last few games, it's just depressing me. What was Richards saying when he said the players weren't fit enough????

Isn't it sort of Richards job to make sure the players are fit enough??!

Yeah that was a statement a lot of falcons fans noticed Sgt.

Erm I accept we've had insane amounts of injuries...but the players we put out on the field should be in peak fitness...no excuse.

Worcester beat tigers....we're gone.

Not over yet GF - I think you have the better run in with 5 home games including your rivals ... next week will be key.

Yes, next week huge GF. I think Wuss will be happy to get a point from that one. Similar scenario for Wuss at Bristol too.

It’s not anywhere near over.

What's gone wrong this year?

Maine man wrote:What's gone wrong this year?

With my crappy 2 cents I would say
Signing Mulipola on paper was good but he had injury issues and pinning your starting prop hopes on him was a risk that didn't pay off, Tigers could afford to with Genge, Bateman and Cole being options.
Flood as above.
Didn't really replace experienced leaders like Hogg, Vickers and Latu.

Teams might not under estimated Falcons more last season, compared to this.

Too many injuries to a small squad has basically done for us.

Last season we had key players staying fit (rob vickers , latu, Scott Lawson etc) ...this season has been the opposite.

We just cant cope with it.

We have a better run on on paper but I can't see us buying a win at the moment.

Combination of other teams around us improving significantly (Quins, Saints etc have come on leaps) and not enough improvement in the squad I think. I read somewhere that our playing budget had actually went down this season whilst most other clubs are throwing around cash.

Flood has looked 1 season past his best and with no Hodgson to fall back on (very underrated as an attacking force), we've just not scored tries.

Lose the game against Wuss and we're down, win and we have a slim hope. If we lose....get the kids out and see how they go. Drop the players who are leaving and start blooding the side for next season. It's a huge shock to the season but not the end of the world, we'll be back up next season or ring fencing will come in anyway.

I'd like to see us recruit more young English players for next season rather than ageing pro's alongside some Georgian/Romanian props (an area we've really struggled in over the last few years).