Joined: Jun 01 2007 Posts: 12664 Location: Leicestershire.
The Goroka Gene-ius wrote:Ratu signed a 2 year deal when he joined last year, do you envisage him being paid off?
If Hall does sign my one of three things would seem likely to be happening:
1. We're rebalancing the squad, going for more depths in the backs, at the expense of an experienced, non-club trained forward. 2. Colbon is leaving at the end of his contract and Hall would effectively take his spot in the squad. 3. Ratu will be paid off and Hall will take his spot.
We have to consider that next year we can only have 17 players that are not club trained in the top 25 earners - if we want new signings from outside of the club, we need to create spaces.
'Thus I am tormented by my curiosity and humbled by my ignorance.' from History of an Old Bramin, The New York Mirror (A Weekly Journal Devoted to Literature and the Fine Arts), February 16th 1833.
Joined: Sep 18 2005 Posts: 8742 Location: 2017 City of Culture
Mild Rover wrote:2. Colbon is leaving at the end of his contract and Hall would effectively take his spot in the squad.
I'm really concerned about Colbon. When he was out injured there were lots of rumours about him penning a new deal, but its all gone quiet. Given the way Morgan likes the back 3 to take the ball up in our own 20, Colbon is far more use to us than Craig Hall. He drives in like a back rower and always makes good yards.
I hope we retain him, but I'm beginning to think he's gone.
Joined: Sep 01 2006 Posts: 5139 Location: Wall Street
knocker norton wrote:Berrigan has played 3,4,6,7,9 and 13 at a far higher standard then Super League so when injuries kick in his utility is invaluable, that is testament to his ability (though some fans may not appreciate it!)
Going back to the point that Hall hasnt had the opportunity I still believe he has had the chances at Hull to really nail down the centre spot but hasnt taken it. In 2008 Hull moved Yeaman across to right centre for a period mid season to cater for Hall at left centre whether or not he did enough to keep the shirt is debatable but clearly not in the coaches eyes.
By saying Hall is a left centre or bust is kind of saying play him anywhere else and he is a liability. I am not sure a centre in a squad game should have no flexibility position wise.
That said I agree that a confident Craig Hall playing left centre with Fox outside of him COULD be a potentially lethal pairing.
Some players are able to play in a variety of positions and some aren't. IIRC Yeaman when he played right centre was very poor and was swiftly moved back to the left (and that is without trying him on the wing, at f/b and at s/o ). IMO there is too much emphasis on versatility these days and nothing on position specifics, Craig made his name as a left centre and its his preferred position. It therefore seems foolish to judge his ability on postitions that are not suited to him and ones he doesn't feel comfortable playing in.
Motto of the week -
It is the way of the weak to secretly bleat to those in authority rather than fight their own battles.
Joined: Jun 01 2007 Posts: 12664 Location: Leicestershire.
The Goroka Gene-ius wrote:I'm really concerned about Colbon. When he was out injured there were lots of rumours about him penning a new deal, but its all gone quiet. Given the way Morgan likes the back 3 to take the ball up in our own 20, Colbon is far more use to us than Craig Hall. He drives in like a back rower and always makes good yards.
I hope we retain him, but I'm beginning to think he's gone.
My assumption has been that he'd get a couple of games, then it'd be announced after a defeat. We've won every game since he came back, so I'm still hopeful but just starting to be concerned. Webster to the wing, if it happened?
'Thus I am tormented by my curiosity and humbled by my ignorance.' from History of an Old Bramin, The New York Mirror (A Weekly Journal Devoted to Literature and the Fine Arts), February 16th 1833.
Joined: Sep 01 2006 Posts: 5139 Location: Wall Street
The Goroka Gene-ius wrote:I'm really concerned about Colbon. When he was out injured there were lots of rumours about him penning a new deal, but its all gone quiet. Given the way Morgan likes the back 3 to take the ball up in our own 20, Colbon is far more use to us than Craig Hall. He drives in like a back rower and always makes good yards.
I hope we retain him, but I'm beginning to think he's gone.
Colbon will sign.
Although i think he's the least effective of the back three as he tends to get controlled in the tackle more than Fox or Briscoe.
Motto of the week -
It is the way of the weak to secretly bleat to those in authority rather than fight their own battles.
Gordon Gekko wrote:Some players are able to play in a variety of positions and some aren't. IIRC Yeaman when he played right centre was very poor and was swiftly moved back to the left (and that is without trying him on the wing, at f/b and at s/o ). IMO there is too much emphasis on versatility these days and nothing on position specifics, Craig made his name as a left centre and its his preferred position. It therefore seems foolish to judge his ability on postitions that are not suited to him and ones he doesn't feel comfortable playing in.
Yeaman wasnt very poor at right centre and I guess that is my point here. Although he wasnt as good as he is at left centre his whole world didnt collapse when playing in an unfamilar position.
Yeaman also proved quite effective on the left wing as a youngster in 2003 when he first broke into the first team as well IMO.
I agree that players do naturally perform better in their specialist postion and I think a utility tag can actually be a negative thing for some players but it is Craigs lack of confidence when things go wrong that really need improving.
If you are not part of the solution then you are more likely part of the problem...
Joined: Sep 18 2005 Posts: 8742 Location: 2017 City of Culture
Larry Billey wrote:Spot on , unfortunately one of the problems of many modern coaches following the crowd rather than thinking for themselves..
Maybe, rather than "following the crowd" (I'm a member of the crowd and I don't recall seeing any qualified RL coaches following me!) versitility is becoming part of the modern game due to the Salary Cap? With a squad limited to 25 players, clubs can't afford too many specialists these days.
Joined: Jan 21 2009 Posts: 134 Location: SUTTON,EAST HULL OR FLOATING ON THE NORTH SEA
The Goroka Gene-ius wrote:Maybe, rather than "following the crowd" (I'm a member of the crowd and I don't recall seeing any qualified RL coaches following me!) versitility is becoming part of the modern game due to the Salary Cap? With a squad limited to 25 players, clubs can't afford too many specialists these days.
Just a thought.
the same sort of squad size as say Man Utd and i dont ever remember seeing ferdinand up front
Joined: Jun 01 2007 Posts: 12664 Location: Leicestershire.
bigcjlchris wrote:the same sort of squad size as say Man Utd and i dont ever remember seeing ferdinand up front
11-a-side. Man Utd have got 38 players listed as first team squad - fair enough 8 or 9 I've never heard of, but Jonny Evans is number 31. A few of those have played across the backline or adapted to different roles up front. I don't necessarily expect my reserve full back to be able to play prop, but if, like Cockayne, they can cover the 3/4 line and play hooker at a push, that is pretty valuable. Remember too that a lot of 25-man squads are carrying a couple of young developing players who you want to bring on gradually rather than having to stick them in week in, week out as soon as the first choice player in their position is injured.
'Thus I am tormented by my curiosity and humbled by my ignorance.' from History of an Old Bramin, The New York Mirror (A Weekly Journal Devoted to Literature and the Fine Arts), February 16th 1833.
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). IMO there is too much emphasis on versatility these days and nothing on position specifics, Craig made his name as a left centre and its his preferred position. It therefore seems foolish to judge his ability on postitions that are not suited to him and ones he doesn't feel comfortable playing in.
