-VIKINGMAN- wrote:So with it coming up to the final quarter of the season who would you release? or who do you think Cullen will let go for next year?
And on the other hand who would you like to see sign? (take into account that its likely to be a reduced cap next year)
For me
Out
Lee Paterson
Michael Ostick
Danny Mills
Matt Strong
Jim Gannon (harsh but needed IMO)
Toa Kohe Love
Brett Robinson
Tim Hartley
John Duffy
In
Jon Goddard (could still sign with Halifax though)
Jamie I'anson (Oldham prop, young tough front rower)
Ste Pickersgill (on loan but Wire already have great backup)
Jon Grayshon (Will be released by Quins)
Nick Youngquest (Speedy Gateshead Fullback)
Luke Branighan (Gateshead Half back with good hands and speed)
Menzies Yere (PNG Sheffield centre)
To be honest, I wouldn't disagree with any of your 'outs' apart from Gannon. I was never a Gannon fan last year, but this year, IMO he has shown that if he has other decent forwards around him he can be a force to be reckoned with. The problem last year and half of this year is that he has been pretty much left to carry the whole pack by himself with little support.
IMO the squad would probably need further 'outs' than what you've said, at the end of the day out of the 9 players you suggest should leave, only Toa and Gannon have been regular starters. The fact we've so up and down this year, maybe we need to look more closely at the players who are actually playing week in, week out? Also do you think by releasing those 9 and bringing in those 7 we'd still be under the salary cap? I think both Ostick and Strong are u21 so don't count and Mills and Robinson have been on loan so their wages would have not been on our cap either. You think Toa, Gannon, Duffy, Patto and Hartley add up to the same wages as Youngquest, Yere, Branighan etc etc?
To be honest, I couldn't believe it earlier in the season when we basically had no props and it was announced we were up to the salary cap limit. There must be some massive earners at the club and it makes you wonder if they are actually worth it. Might it be better to get rid of the top earners to spread the talent a bit better? I wonder what % of the cap Webbo and Smith take up between them? Many used to rate Smithy as the best no9 outside SL and with Webbo is probably are highest earner - with players like Peckywicz, Henderson, Ellis, Beswick, Gleeson - is Smithy really worth that much? Same goes for Webbo - good player, but is he worth the money?
I know we probably don't want to make wholesale changes again, but I think its 50/50 as to whether we just need small improvements or whether we need more drastic measures - might all depend on how the players goes between now and the end of the season.
