i don't think he's a scapegoat. for 100k i'ld expect him to be dominating matches up front, like ellis will do next season. he should be winning man of the match awards, not drifting through games all too anonimously
this is the price of being an expensive signing, expectations are high. there's still time for him to justify his fee and rep, but he's going to have to produce very soon

5 or 6 games into this season there were quite a few on here bagging briscoe. he's stepped up to the plate big time, westy needs to do the same

I never understand this, it's not his fault.

We could go and pay a million for Ben Cockayne, wouldn't mean he's worth it.

never said it was his fault - merely saying that a player on a big transfer fee is subject to high expectations from the fans. its a fact of life

Why? We paid a bigger fee for Tansey than we did for Jason Smith.

I like Westy, his first 4 or 5 games last season he was a bit poor, and for me people have only remembered those games; even when he's played well. I thought he was one of our better players yesterday, and created 3 or 4 half breaks down our right side which Tickle would never have done.

westy was percieved as being a big name player who was the dominant force in his previous team, so when he comes in on a big fee fans expect him to both dominate up front and play in a similar style to how he he did at cas. i'm not saying he's a waste of space but i am saying he's not yet met expectations. whether thats down to him being played in the wrong position, or down to coaching, or down to him i don't know. thats why in my first post i said we should see how he fits into the jigsaw for next year.

Westerman was barking out orders at all your players in the derby at Manchester with a minute to go. KR immediately scored.

Think he has it in his game to be a good 13. Defensively he's good. But is often just used as a battering ram type 2nd rower.

When he first came to us his defence was poor, and that was one of the main reasons why people didn't want him at 13, but IMO since it's a million times better now than at the end of last season, and he doesn't look out of place defending in the middle.

Just returned from injury probably not even match fit yet

Playing with players who look like they have moved clubs already!

Loads of injuries = major disruption for any team

I think he will come good next season in a team with a set of lads who want to wear our shirt and win

Are you seriously contesting that 9 or 10 years ago (when they were Westerman's age), they were playing in a similar fashion to what they are now?

Just to clarify my position, Westerman is not my 'scapegoat'. I don't remember having commented on him prior to this thread (not certain about that, btw), but chose to comment on this thread because it was solely about him.

Of course he's not 100% to blame for our downturn in form, but he's certainly part of the problem. I see nothing to suggest that he's future captain material, or even a valuable part of our medium term future.

No - and if you'd read my post you would have seriously understood that.

My post talked about where he needed to get to, and the fact that he wasn't there yet. I would imagine that he might well think the same.

He's not a scapegoat for me either, he's just one of many average players within our squad. He offers very little and unless he improves rapidly the £100K paid seems like a waste of money. When we bought him he wasn't even playing regular in Cas's squad, he's a player who people have always talked about having the potential to be one of the best but for me as yet to show it.

Some fans talk about his form last year but it was only in a few games towards the end of the season that he started to pick up his game. The lack of forwards in our squad won't be helping but I still think he should be contributing a bit more.

I thought at the beggining of the season he was playing well, then he got the shoulder injury and he hasnt been the same since. I know injuries dont help but at the start we had a much more settled side. I think he will come good for us.

Some were saying on sat night he's playing with a broken wrist.

But looking at his strapping i doubt it

Westerman did play with a broken wrist on Sat a couple of other players playing through the pain barrier as well Crookes Knee and whiting Knee maybe peaple should lay off these lads who are putting their health and wel being second to play for this club lets get behind the lads for monday ffs

Wait while he gets with his boozing partner in chase ,

Love the negativity towards Chase now that he might be leaving Cas.



It makes me laugh that people think that because Westerman and Chase play for different clubs they don't go out together.

I wouldn't worry if I was cas they have signed two model professionals in Jamie Elllis and Jordan Tansey to replace Chase.

Id be worried if i was you that you are signing all the cas players, look where we are languishing, As for your comment regarding westy and chase, we know what there upto around exscape and other places,

skiing perhaps???

Yes very worried that our club wants to spend some money on the current MOS and have signed one of the worlds best backrowers, it's a terrible position to be in.

Also happy with Arundel and I would doubt that Mcgoldrick will be here next season.

Westerman has been at the club nearly two seasons and hasn't put a foot wrong off the pitch as of yet.

I am very confident that our management and coaching team can handle these players.

id be worried if i was you, seeing as youve sold the current man of steel to us, and you replace him with jamie ellis......that is something to worry about....oh and youve also signed sicknote himself jake webster for next year....start worrying now my freind....

Don't understand these comments. Was the same with Watts. Surely Cas isn't that far away to have aleady been having nights out already??

Simple, Chase will not be bigger at our club than the rest, so in his contract, Adam Pearson will have put in "an out of the door son" clause should he step out of line. AP will not tolerate any cr@p and it will be made perfectly clear to him.

Westerman is good in part and very average in others.... A lot like tickle in his first season with us....
he is a good club player but IMO will never be a international but very solid and steady