Newcastle Falcons - Pre Season 2014 - USE SEASON THREAD NOW

[Geordie]

First topic message reminder :

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: John Wells
Forwards Coach: John Wells
Defence Coach: Graham Steadman
Attack Coach: Dave Walder
 
Current Squad:
Forwards
Props: Keiron Brookes, Scott Wilson, Rob Vickers , Oliver Tomaszczyk  Eric Fry, James Hallam (On loan to London Scottish)
Hookers: Matt Thompson (On loan Darlington), Scott Lawson, George McGuigan, David Nelson, Rob Hawkins
Second Rows: Scott MacLeod, Dom Barrow, Callum Green, Kane Thompson, Josh Furno, Uili Kolo'ofai, Glen Youngs, Will Witty, Sean Robinson (On Loan to Rotherham)
Back Row: Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Richard Mayhew, Andy Saull, Mark Wilson, Chris York, Dan Temm, Ben Morris (On Loan to Rotherham)
 
Backs
SH's: Warren Fury, Mike Blair, Ruki Tipuna, Andy Davies (On Loan to Rotherham)
Fh's: Rory Clegg, Phil Godman, Craig Willis
Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Jamie Helleur, Adam Powell, Danny Barnes, Gonzalo Tiesi, Andy Tuilagi, Chris Harris (On Loan to Rotherham)Wing: Alex Tuilagi, Noah Cato, Zac Kibirige, Sinoti Sinoti, Sean Brown, Tom Penny, Lee Smith
FB's: Tom Catterick, Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

[Geordie]

If we're relying on him to be our playmaker at 10 its a concern.
WE must get Joel signed.!!!

Mind the boy can tackle! A couple of thumpers in there. Attacks are going to be fearful with him, the tuilagis, Taulava, Helluer etc...

[Driver]

Where you sat gf? Me and pooly are in west stand

[Geordie]

Unfortunately i'm not mate...had a family issue so i've had to miss the game...pretty gutted but cant be helped.

I'm keeping up to date on the Falcons app though. See Exeter just scored.

Hows the game been?

[Driver]

Poopie

[Geordie]

Yeah the stream hasn't been great like.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Awful performance, no real positives past Barrow & Sonoti

[Driver]

Lancaster was there today according to Twitter.

[Geordie]

Really who was he watching do you think? Maybe barrow made an interest

[Driver]

Tom Johnson , Dave Lewis , Luke Cowen Dickie , Henry Slade and Dom Barrow i'd think

[Geordie]

Yeah probably right. Do you think Cowan Dickie could travel in the summer.

[Geordie]

Also i see Crockett is confirmed as leaving, and rumours increase that Shiells is off.

Seems crazy to lose Shiells (if its true) and replace with Fry??  

[Sgt_Pooly]

If Shiells goes we'll need another LH

[Geordie]

Yeah, Vickers and Fry (who cant scrummage anyway) wont be enough.

[Sgt_Pooly]

A few announcements over the next few days.....

A new coach (?), player (Nagle?).

[Sgt_Pooly]

Wells named as head coach, Walder as attack coach

[Jimpy]

Really who was he watching do you think? Maybe barrow made an interest

He was probably there to reassure himself that no matter how wrong he got his selection and tactics, nothing could be this bad.

[Geordie]

Well Jimpy this season hasnt been pretty thats for sure...but one thing thats guarenteed is next year teams will leave KP with Bruises! Regardless of skill levels we're going to be a physical team.

Teams will have to be ready to battle.

[Jimpy]

Well Jimpy this season hasnt been pretty thats for sure...but one thing thats guarenteed is next year teams will leave KP with Bruises! Regardless of skill levels we're going to be a physical team.

Teams will have to be ready to battle.

I don't think Falcons ever rolled over and Kingston Park is known to be a tough(ish) place to go. Going to need a bit of brain to go with the new brawn to be competetive though. Thought Deano might struggle a bit with the team this year, but from a neutral's perspective, they've plumbed some new depths. Depends how up for it Bristol are going to be next season, but i reckon Falcons are going to be there are thereabouts again.

[Sgt_Pooly]

A lot depends on how recruitment goes and if we get the new pitch.

With a few quality additions I think we'll be ok tbh, 3/4th bottom perhaps.

At the minute with the poor pitch and current squad it'll be us or whoever comes up(hopefully not Bristol).

[Geordie]

We've rolled over several times but yes the critical part has been the brains when we have the ball.

We have missed countless chances to score tries and goofed it up most times.

Hopefully Walder can sort that aspect out having been promoted to attack coach now. We desperately need a top FH aswell.

[Jimpy]

A lot depends on how recruitment goes and if we get the new pitch.

With a few quality additions I think we'll be ok tbh, 3/4th bottom perhaps.

At the minute with the poor pitch and current squad it'll be us or whoever comes up(hopefully not Bristol).

Is the money there for decent recruitment and a new pitch?

I like KP, Falcons were my second team (as my Ex is a Geordie) until Exeter took over upon my divorce...

[Sgt_Pooly]

To be honest I'm not sure how much cash we have.

The pitch is apparently going to happen and the recent signing of Tuilagi points towards funds available. Deano has suggested they'll be some more additions so hopefully they'll be step up.

[Geordie]

There is money available....however thats not Deans way to just splash out.

He wants to develop a team with home grown youngsters, and a couple of key top class players.

I can actually see progress and next season i genuinely belive we will be more competitive.

We have a host of kids who look real prospects...with Scott Wilson, Kibirige and Mcguigan the first wave so to speak coming through, with others likes of exciting winger Sean Brown, Full back Hammersley etc sure to get a few run outs next season.

The captures of Alex Tuilagi, whuilst not in his prime will add to the backs considerably...as will his effect on the training ground. As will others like Sinoti who has been a revelation since he joined.

We just need that link now...a top class 10. At Quins, Dean went against his policy and spent money on Nick Evans, so maybe there is hope   

[aitchw]

Of all positions FHs are in the shortest supply, even half decent ones are rare as hen's teeth. If you've a young good un you have to hang on til they come of age. IIRC Gopperth had a better 1st season away from KP than he'd ever had up there. Don't see him being a good re-signing.

Every season the bottom of the table is matter of small margins where one or two narrow losses turned to narrow wins makes huge differences to the final outcome. I reckon Wuss under Ryan were just that tiny bit worse than Wuss under Hill and the management change failed.

The AP is going to get tighter at the bottom and I expect to see the bottom 4 to be very close going into the final few games rather than the bottom 2. Deano's got to get you guys out of that dogfight then you'll have more credibility in the transfer market.

[Geordie]

Absolutely Aitch...which is why its criminal that we dont seem to be keeping hold of Hodgson...theres something going on there anyway. And the silence coming from KP is deafening.

[aitchw]

Being at the foot of the AP is only a bit better than being at the top of Championship when it comes to hanging on to your young talent. Hope you do hang on to him.

[Fluxy]

Could you reckon we might sign Gareth Anscombe from the Chiefs in the southern hemisphere, he is supposedly leaving New Zealand

[Sgt_Pooly]

I think he's earmarked for Wales Flux

[Geordie]

Thoughts on Josh Furno?

[Cumbrian]

He's an international, he's relatively young and seems like the sort of player we should be going for. Mind you, he seems a little lightweight so we'll have to be careful who he is paired with.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Great signing....another lock?

[Geordie]

Reminds me of young McCleod.

Calum Green is an enforcer coming in, so thats a good combo...then with Barrow, Nagle, McKensie we have some great options...and some can play 6 aswell.

What about a 10 though! I really hope we're not sitting with Godman and Clegg.

[Sgt_Pooly]

It's certainly a quality addition, I'm feeling quite positive. Possibly Nagle not to sign?

[Geordie]

Tomes surely to be released, Nagle and Spencer maybe not signed after all i would say.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Nagle looked average in Saturday, I wouldn't be disappointed

[Geordie]

Forn played at 6 all through the 6nations. Maybe he is the one being brought in at that position.

4 Barrow
5 Green
6 Furno
7 Welch / Saul/ Wade / Wilson
8 Wilson / York / Taulava

We have an interesting set of options, and thats not including the likes of McKensie, McCleod etc

Also with regards to Nagle...if we have a good selection already, why sign him when we have young academy lad Glen Youngs coming through who is looking a good player.

[Geordie]

See on the rumours of done deals are:

Grant Shiells to Bath
Joel Hodgson to Saints

[Sgt_Pooly]

Yea seen that, it would be a loss but something I could stomach if it means a new 10

[Ozzy3213]

Furno will be a great signing for you.

[Driver]

Put my house on Taulava being starting 8 come the first game. Finished the season well with Worcester and a better carrier than Mark Wilson.

[B91212]

Joel Hodgson to Saints

Never seen him play. The only things I know about him are what I've read on here, that he's pretty talented but can be got at which impacts his game significantly? No offense to Hodgson but after Lamb (and to a lesser extent Geraghty) I'm a little concerned with a 10 who maybe struggles with game control.

I was kind of hoping Saints would be going for McHeathcote at Bath to challenge Myler for next year.

By the way,just to add to Ozzy's post I too think Furno is a good signing, he seemed more than decent at lock and 6 in the 6N. Looks like you will have a strong pack and powerful backs for next year. May not be pretty but could be effective, think the trip up to the North East will be a tougher proposition come September.

[B91212]

Joel Hodgson to Saints

Never seen him play. The only things I know about him are what I've read on here, that he's pretty talented but can be got at which impacts his game significantly? No offense to Hodgson but after Lamb (and to a lesser extent Geraghty) I'm a little concerned with a 10 who maybe struggles with game control.

I was kind of hoping Saints would be going for McHeathcote at Bath to challenge Myler for next year.

By the way,just to add to Ozzy's post I too think Furno is a good signing, he seemed more than decent at lock and 6 in the 6N. Looks like you will have a strong pack and powerful backs for next year. May not be pretty but could be effective, think the trip up to the North East will be a tougher proposition come September.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Tommy Allen rumoured to be new 10???

[Sgt_Pooly]

If correct, that would more than likely finish recruiting bar a possible LH, so:

1. Vickers
2. Hawkins
3. Brookes
4. Barrow
5. Furno
6. Green
7. Welch
8. Tualava

(7 EQ from the pack is impressive)

9. Blair
10. Allen
11. Sonoti
12. Socino
13. Tiesi
14. Tuilagi
15. Tait

(1 EQ in the backs not so impressive, although Powell will be close)

[Ozzy3213]

Is it 13 EQ in the matchday 23 you have to average across the season to get the payment? What would your bench look like?

[Sgt_Pooly]

I guess it could be tweaked Pete but the general bench would more than likely look like this:

16. McGuigan
17. Fry
18. Wilson (EQ)
19. Green (EQ)
20. Wilson (EQ)
21. Riki T (EQ)
22. Clegg (EQ)
23. Powell (EQ)

That would be as good as it would get at this stage of recruitment which is 14/23. Lawson, MacLeod, McKenzie as NEQ could be brought into the pack on rotation. We don't have many EQ centres so that's an area we struggle bar Powell.

[Ozzy3213]

We have some similar issues mate, although the other way round. Plenty of EQ in the backs, not so much in the pack, although the additions of Cox, Guest and Narraway will help there.

[George Carlin]

Tommy Allen rumoured to be new 10???

That would be an astute purchase Pooly, because he's still young and as part of the Perpignan fire sale shouldn't be too expensive.

He still hasn't had the Make-Up Sex with a lot of Scots fans for choosing to play for Italy instead of Scotland, mind you.

[Geordie]

I think Dean will continue his rotations and selection policy so we should be absolutely fine for EQ players.

Dont forget the academy lads are all a year older training with the seniors so will get chances...like Hammersley at FB.
Kibirige will play his games as im sure Alex Tuilagi will managed properly.

Add in Powell, Sean Brown (who looks electric on the wing) Andy Davies at SH, we should be fine.

I have also been talking to some Leeds fans and they say Green is your real deal hardcore enforcer. Not a 6. So he will defo start at 4/5.

Id Say it'll be something like:

1 Vickers
2 Lawson
3 Brookes
4 C.Green
5 Barrow
6 Furno
7 Saull / Welch
8 Taulava

9 Blair
10 ??

11 Tuilagi / Kibirige (Rotating)
12 Socino
13 Powell
14 Sinotti
15 Tait

And theres a serious physical edge beginning to show...

[Driver]

Tait wins player of the year with McGuigan claiming young player.

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