Silly Season Transfer Rumours 17/18

First topic message reminder :

New season, new thread.

Welly wrote: How many tackels where dominant tackles though? or how many lost 2/3 metres?

I don't know I'm not Opta. He was excellent and a key figure in us holding on for the victory I remember that.

I have not noticed Evans losing ground in tackles this season. In fact I have commented about how physical he has been, helped by always looking to move forward rather than wait for ball carriers. He applies this in attack as well. Too many of our larger players are so immobile that their bulk is wasted.

Anyone else surprised by Dai Young's extension? He did well to bring them back to life, which was made easier by a rather big cheque book, but I thought they should have won something under him by now. I'm surprised to see him still tipped as a future Wales coach given his lack of silverware with Wasps.

mikey_dragon wrote:Anyone else surprised by Dai Young's extension? He did well to bring them back to life, which was made easier by a rather big cheque book, but I thought they should have won something under him by now. I'm surprised to see him still tipped as a future Wales coach given his lack of silverware with Wasps.

Young man!

HHmm rumblings on the falcons forum that Sinotti AND Goneva may be off in the summer with Sinotti possibly going to Bristol.

That would be a big blow if it was true...but id have faith Dean would be able to find suitable replacements. Goneva would be missed more his end product is much higher.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Anyone else surprised by Dai Young's extension? He did well to bring them back to life, which was made easier by a rather big cheque book, but I thought they should have won something under him by now. I'm surprised to see him still tipped as a future Wales coach given his lack of silverware with Wasps.

Young man!

Yet more quick wit from PhilBB's little pet.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Anyone else surprised by Dai Young's extension? He did well to bring them back to life, which was made easier by a rather big cheque book, but I thought they should have won something under him by now. I'm surprised to see him still tipped as a future Wales coach given his lack of silverware with Wasps.

Young man!

Yet more quick wit from PhilBB's little pet.

Hugs.

Matt O’Connor sacked heard it was going to happen after the chiefs smashing.

Dom Barrow rumoured to want a mid-season move after a training bust-up as well.

I hope the former is true (MOC) and the later hyperbole (Barrow).

On MOC - he has been hindered by injuries (as ever at Tigers...) and no forwards coach but the results have been rubbish and the performances worse. Add to that the nature of his management rubbing many up the wrong way and it's unsurprising.

On Barrow - he would be a big loss. Not an unrecoverable one but a big loss. His discipline in terms of petty penalties rather than losing his cool is a significant issue but he is physical in attack and defence. A few fans saying that with the cap we could get in a big 'Boks type' second row but truth his that top class locks are hard to come by. A physical young English lock with lots of potential is a big name in the squad IF well managed, coached and partnered.

I had heard rumours that there was some discontent between MOC and the board over the refusal of MOC to appoint a forwards coach he wanted sole control.

Barrow would be a loss. Ideally you want two enforcer style locks and two lineout technicians with a development option. Swapping Fitzgerald for Spencer in the summer would have given us that nice balance but losing Barrow would mean we were once again out looking for second row weight to throw around.

Apparently Giteau signing for Ulster.

Fluxy wrote:Apparently Giteau signing for Ulster.

As well as Sopooaga and Donald?

Jeez!

Banahan finally and officially confirmed to Glos next year.

Fluxy wrote:Apparently Giteau signing for Ulster.

Crikey. The Kingspan fast becoming the mercenary's retirement home of choice.


Happy new year brothers.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I had heard rumours that there was some discontent between MOC and the board over the refusal of MOC to appoint a forwards coach he wanted sole control.

Barrow would be a loss. Ideally you want two enforcer style locks and two lineout technicians with a development option. Swapping Fitzgerald for Spencer in the summer would have given us that nice balance but losing Barrow would mean we were once again out looking for second row weight to throw around.

Eggchasers podcast mentioned a team meeting this morning. They have no idea who is calling it, or what is up for discussion.

Rugby Fan wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:I had heard rumours that there was some discontent between MOC and the board over the refusal of MOC to appoint a forwards coach he wanted sole control.

Barrow would be a loss. Ideally you want two enforcer style locks and two lineout technicians with a development option. Swapping Fitzgerald for Spencer in the summer would have given us that nice balance but losing Barrow would mean we were once again out looking for second row weight to throw around.

Eggchasers podcast mentioned a team meeting this morning. They have no idea who is calling it, or what is up for discussion.

They are normally at Oval Park for analysis and de-brief on a Monday anyway so it isn't unlikely they'd all be there to take the news if required. We hired the consultancy company to compile a list of the best coaches available. They came back with a shortlist of three that didn't contain MOC, yet we appointed him anyway. Lessons may be being learnt here.

Well Tigers can keep their mitts off our locks!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well Tigers can keep their mitts off our locks!  

But it's traditional

I read a rumour that Sale was potential destination for Barrow, given the fact that the Sale front five could with serious beefing up it could be a possibility.

Moving from Falcons to Tigers isn't such an attractive prospect at the minute I don't think. There seems to be a lot of inner conflict going on and they aren't exactly flying at the minute.

There seems to be a good vibe around Kingston Park at the minute, I'm not sure many would jump ship for the unknown at Leicester.

I've not heard many Falcons rumours yet tbh, incoming or outgoing.

Said it before - could do with a decent enforcer lock at Quins to supplement Horwell and Merrick.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Moving from Falcons to Tigers isn't such an attractive prospect at the minute I don't think. There seems to be a lot of inner conflict going on and they aren't exactly flying at the minute.

There seems to be a good vibe around Kingston Park at the minute, I'm not sure many would jump ship for the unknown at Leicester.

I've not heard many Falcons rumours yet tbh, incoming or outgoing.

The main 3 rumours I keep hearing are:

Sinotti to Bristol
Goneva leaving
John Wells retiring to become a teacher and Dorian West replacing him..

Hope they're all rubbish

Isn’t there chat that Matt Symons has signed for Quins?

I hate Bristol already and they aren't even in the league yet.

Seems to be a bit of traction with regards to Chris Boyd, current coach of the Hurricanes, coming to Cardiff to coach the blues. Would explain why there has been little talk of Geordan Murphy since he was first linked before Christmas.

Not sure what to make of it all, really. If Boyd does come it's a coup but then I'd wonder if he is lined up for the Wales job and would he be gone in a years time in 2019 for that job? And unless he can be bought out of his canes contract, he'll turn up after the season has started and the last time we had a coach do that he also came from the hurricanes and lasted little over 6 months.

Scottrf wrote:I hate Bristol already and they aren't even in the league yet.

I'm with you there.

gcBlues wrote:Seems to be a bit of traction with regards to Chris Boyd, current coach of the Hurricanes, coming to Cardiff to coach the blues.  Would explain why there has been little talk of Geordan Murphy since he was first linked before Christmas.

Not sure what to make of it all, really.  If Boyd does come it's a coup but then I'd wonder if he is lined up for the Wales job and would he be gone in a years time in 2019 for that job?  And unless he can be bought out of his canes contract, he'll turn up after the season has started and the last time we had a coach do that he also came from the hurricanes and lasted little over 6 months.

Oh well it seems the pie man does come on here and read my posts, seeing as it’s being reported your front 5 is too old. Heck Blues aren’t even replacing Cuthbert and have pulled out of the race for North so that they can prioritise front 5 signings. Boyd would be a hell of a coup and maybe he could bring Dane Coles with him...

Dragons have signed Huw Taylor from Worcester, a signing that doesn't really inspire me.

Josh Bassett to Saints. Would be happy with that.

Bassett to saints, Spencer and Mafi to tigers. According to this weeks rugby pod. They are normally more accurate than the likes of Fissler

which Mafi? Amanaki or Steve?

stnick88 wrote:which Mafi? Amanaki or Steve?

The rumours are Steve but Amanaki would be more useful.

Zebo -> France (Racing 92)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42629702

Don't think I have seen this yet

Supposedly Sopoaga is to join Wasps for 2018/19. So Cipriani likely to go?

Symmonds to Quins and Charlie Matthews leaving to Bristol

Fluxy wrote:Supposedly Sopoaga is to join Wasps for 2018/19. So Cipriani likely to go?

He is out of contract & wouldn’t blame him if he did. We would still have Gops.

yappysnap wrote:Symmonds to Quins and Charlie Matthews leaving to Bristol

There's some speculation that Matthews could be coming to Glaws. This really is enough, we took PDJ off your hands as an act of friendship, we are not taking another God awful player from you!

Haha I can't believe you guys signed PDJ! Tbf Matthews is pretty solid, a good club player and very good at the lineouts. Just a shame that for such a big lad he has the physicality of a toddler and pulls a face like he needs more fibre in his diet.

Oh and Wasps sign AB Lima Sopoanga on a 2.5 year deal at a reported £500k a season. Has not gone down well in NZ!

HongKongCherry wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Symmonds to Quins and Charlie Matthews leaving to Bristol

There's some speculation that Matthews could be coming to Glaws. This really is enough, we took PDJ off your hands as an act of friendship, we are not taking another God awful player from you!

Ah PDJ - the perennial bench warmer (at best).
Currently with Wasps isn't he?
Not sure you can blame us for him HongKong - He was bad enough at Saints for 3 years and you chaps had him for 3seasons before that. Plenty of time to see what you were getting!

Yappy - is this the Symmonds from Wasps that came from NZ with the intention of getting into the EPS?

I don't think Tigers problem is just a backrow problem though of course they need to sign some players there.

It's the whole pack. Too much focus has been on building a stronger backline.

Only at TH do Tigers have a starting England player in the pack.

Sure Tigers have 3 current England internationals in the backline. 2 developed by themselves but in the past obviously Tigers had great pride in their pack.

Also Tigers mix in the squad in the last few years has gone from mostly English to basically 50% foreign players.

I think one of the biggest problems is actually the failure of the Tigers academy - where is new blood coming from to give some much needed boost to the Tiger's pack?


If you look at the pace setters like Exeter and Saracens, it's their academies which are mixing with canny signings that have IMO made the difference. Oh and of course a focus on the packs.


Leicester need to go back to basics IMO - get the academy working properly again and injecting some pride back into the pack.

John Afoa to Bristol for next season is a 'done deal'

beshocked wrote:I don't think Tigers problem is just a backrow problem though of course they need to sign some players there.
It's the whole pack. Too much focus has been on building a stronger backline.
Only at TH do Tigers have a starting England player in the pack.
Sure Tigers have 3 current England internationals in the backline. 2 developed by themselves but in the past obviously Tigers had great pride in their pack.
Also Tigers mix in the squad in the last few years has gone from mostly English to basically 50% foreign players.
I think one of the biggest problems is actually the failure of the Tigers academy - where is new blood coming from to give some much needed boost to the Tiger's pack?
If you look at the pace setters like Exeter and Saracens, it's their academies which are mixing with canny signings that have IMO made the difference. Oh and of course a focus on the packs.
Leicester need to go back to basics IMO - get the academy working properly again and injecting some pride back into the pack.

Disagree about the whole pack being a problem Genge, TPN, Cole is a hell of a front row when fit even without Genge our scrum has been doing pretty well.

Trouble with the academy in the forwards is how many have gone on to be senior players at other prem clubs? I can list nearly 10 academy players who are regulars in the backs elsewhere but not forwards, Sometimes you do get poor crops in certain positions. That being said the forwards coming up from U18 look promising esp the two locks.

also Mark Bakewell ---> Tigers forwards coach.

There will also be a natural swing in the quality of recruits into an academy, especially as clubs are limited to where they can attract young players from (though some clubs play hard and fast with this by having links with public schools in their catchment area). Add in that the recent redrawing of the boundaries reduced Leicester's effective catchment area and there will be an issue with getting quality recruits. Now I admit that the ability to bring academy players through has not been great, and the club have taken steps to address this (though have lost Anthony Allen to the RFU for this season), but in general we have struggled with the quality coming into the academy.

While Tigers did well in the early days of the academy system, prior to that the club did not really develop junior players rather it was the tip of the local pyramid with younger guys developing at the junior clubs. Cockerill, Garforth, Kay, Wells, Back all joined leicester from smaller clubs (or University) in their 20s.

We have at times rather a large number of NEQ players - though pretty sure we have always had at least 15 in each game. Our strongest EQP XV would something look like:

Genge, Youngs, Cole, Kitch, Barrow, Williams, Evans, BOC, Youngs, Ford, May, Manu, Smith, Thompstone, Tait. Now while Toomua, Veainu and Kalamafoni would displace EQP colleagues, the other 12 woudl be deserving a start in our strongest lineup.


We do however have issues in the back 5 of the pack. Kitch has gone downhill since the days he was in England squads ahead of Kruis while Fitzgerald is lightweight. Due to this we too often pick big but useless lumps in the back row. Front row however is good and certainly amongst the best in the league - despite the lineout woes which are a whole pack issue.

Oprah -} White House

George Carlin wrote:Oprah -} White House

Nah, Trump likes his women younger than that.

The power has shifted away from Leicester because rich owners have negated the need to be a well supported, well run club. I don't think they can expect to be a guaranteed top 4 team anymore.

beshocked wrote:I don't think Tigers problem is just a backrow problem though of course they need to sign some players there.

It's the whole pack. Too much focus has been on building a stronger backline.

Only at TH do Tigers have a starting England player in the pack.

Sure Tigers have 3 current England internationals in the backline. 2 developed by themselves but in the past obviously Tigers had great pride in their pack.

Also Tigers mix in the squad in the last few years has gone from mostly English to basically 50% foreign players.

I think one of the biggest problems is actually the failure of the Tigers academy - where is new blood coming from to give some much needed boost to the Tiger's pack?


If you look at the pace setters like Exeter and Saracens, it's their academies which are mixing with canny signings that have IMO made the difference. Oh and of course a focus on the packs.


Leicester need to go back to basics IMO - get the academy working properly again and injecting some pride back into the pack.

The academy went under a major overhaul two or three years back. We are starting t see that bear fruit now but obviously there's a missing generation as such. We have had a tendency to bring that rough one or two players every couple of years which has given us some first team talent but we've not really developed much in the way of squad players bar Smith and Harrison.

As Welly says it's been an average time for pack talent with not a great deal emerging for us to work with. We haven't always invested as heavily in that rougher young players as we should and that is one of my bug bears with MOC and why I wasn't keen for him to return.

Having said that, at the minute we've releases Kitto and promoted from the academy so now all four of our scrum halfs are academy graduates. We've held off signing a big name to be understudy to Ford because we expect Hardwick to oust Joe Ford in the next year or so, based on his display vs Bath in the LV that might be as soon as next summer because the lad is a machine of the kicking tee and plays like someone ten years his senior (reminds me a bit of Farrell but without the temper). So the talent is emerging and we should be able to utilise more.

The forwards are suffering because we lack carrying players in the second row and because our attacking tactics are absolute garbage. Kitch is slowly recovering some degree of form but Fitzgerald has been poor and Barrow has been injured. I'd like to see us give more game time to Wells but that goes back to MOC not being a fan of giving youth a chance.

LT, my understanding is that Allen is with the under 20s to gain experience and is combining it with his Tigers role. At the end of the season he'll be back at Tigers full time and the under 20s will use different coaches for 2018/19.

Banners confirmed to Glaws next season!