knockersbumpMKII wrote:To a degree that's already happened this year has it not?
yet another contract handed out to an underperforming bit player that has a strong relationship with the coach should be heavily scrutinised, it smacks of doing a mate a favour. After all it was with Gentle and Mcrea that were accused on here at least of having handed out overly expensive deals to players with close ties to them (on the back of zero evidence mind) despite the micro managing of the owner.
Given the current climate of scraping to save money and the underperformance of Yeaman over the last 2 seasons a contract given to a player whose position we have ample (And better) cover for whom is close friends with the coach should be looked at in detail do you not agree?
The first thing to say is, what close relationship? What have you seen to suggest this, or are you basing it on both players having been at Hull for a while? I've played rugby with some lads for years and we aren't close mates.
You're saying nothing new once again, we know you don't like him, and I imagine most fans (including me) agree with you that he has underperformed and isn't a starting centre anymore. Radford & Motu have realised this also, they've signed two backs, & it's been hinted that Yeaman could be a back row option. That's for me is enough to go on to suggest they don't see him at starting left centre in 2016.
Also, he hasn't been given an extension yet. It's getting pretty late in the day, most clubs have their squads almost complete. If he was a priority, he'd have been given a deal months ago. That tells me that the club are looking at other options to use the cap space that would give him a new offer.
Should the club not find a use for this cap space, if they've explored other possibilities, but nothing better is currently available, I'd have no problem with Yeaman being retained as a squad player. Due to the factors I've stated above, he blatantly isn't being thought about as a starter anymore and it'll certainly be a reduced deal.
Also, for all you or I know, he's a good influence around the club too. Looking at next years squad, we have a very young set of backs, maybe having that older head around (who's been a model professional for 15 years) would be beneficial? I'm not suggesting he'd be taking Logan to one side and teaching him how to put his winger away, but rather relaying his experience (in finals, playing for GB etc) and being that role model for the younger lads on how to be professional.