Fantasy Aviva Premiership Season 1 - Homepage

NEWS

Bathite named manager of the year and receives a £20m cash bonus

Fluxy fined £4m following a breach of club discipline. Manager seen wearing women's clothes in the early hours of the morning in Bath city centre, a day before teamsheets named

ps. Assumed it must have been terrible as soon as I saw Andy Powell was MOTM!

Sale were marginally less poor, the back play on show was dire. Banners had a few touches then decided to trip over his own feet with an open field in front of him. Bendy played quite well but made a balls for try

The fact Sale are in a Heineken Cup place at the moment says it all. The only team below them who will be happy with their season is Worcester because they've avoided relegation.

Irish, Glaws, Bath, Wasps and Falcons have had relatively poor seasons. As an Irish fan i'm happy we had a half decent start to the season because our form has been relegation standard since christmas. But it can only get better...

Signed a new FH apparently Oll

Just a warning to those who haven't done tactics yet. I'm not on my laptop until tomorrow morning so you've got a chance until I update the page!

Flux

Mine is same as last week fella. Team and tactics.

Page is updated

Funny to read Chris on the other game about England's best locks Pooly, has he ever played in the forwards - let alone know the difference between locks? lol

Chris has little knowledge of forwards mate, he's slowly getting there but still has issues with props and locks.

Haha okay, I was going to say. Parling is probably our best lock after Lawes!

I don't Botha that highly at all, for all the effort he puts in - he's rather lightweight for the job. Would much prefer Garvey to be blooded than, Botha play.

Botha does a job but probably with you there. Our lineout was poor before Parling got involved but a lot of people just base on a forwards carrying ability rather than his actual primary role.

Parling/Lawes would be interesting combo

It would easily be our best combo. I reckon we needto start looking at specialising the roles of each lock, like SA have done with Bakkies and Matfield over the years.

We have more than capable lineout jumpers in the backrow, I just think we need to look towards have a lineout specialist like Parling, Robson et al and and enforcer alongside them. Alright it might go to pot when our lineout man is injured, but the rest of the boys would be able to fill in whilst they're out.

Of course I am biased Fluxy but I think one lock to watch out for in the future for England is George Kruis.

He started vs LI in place of Botha which is indicative of his ability.

Where is Tindall off to then? Maybe someone in the French Div 2 is thinking about giving him a shot? Or perhaps Worcester?

Would be surprised if he retired.

No one fancy predicting then?

He looks like he has some potential mate, not going to lie.

Just reading about Hargreaves on Planet Rugby (yet another saffa joining you ) and they seem to think that a crocked former England footballer is about to sign for you.

I'm going to try and do predictions tonight

Fluxy Waiting for some other predictions first.

crocket former England footballer? Could you elaborate please?

You have me worried.

Bathite you could sign up Tindall.

They've written his name as Owen hargvreaves the footballer and Alistair the Saffa whom you're signing lol

Nice

I like it
http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7677114,00.html

I think the predictions can be very tough. It's not particularly nice to criticise other sides even it's well warranted.

Admittedly I do it anyway.

I am not too optimistic on beating you Fluxy. It's partly down to your team but partly down to the predictions I just made!

My last 2 games: started hooker, started tighthead,
My match tomorrow: starting loosehead.

Now that's versitilaty!!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Signed a new FH apparently Oll

Smith said "We want an English qualified or Irish player or someone with a younger profile who can grow with our team – because we’re looking at rebuilding.”

Really not many about who fit that criteria. Wouldn't surprise me if Geraghty returned. Smith brought him from Bath in the first place i think and although he left on bad terms that might have been more with Booth and Catt than Smith. Think he is out of contract with Brive as well. Would be a good signing especially with Homer kicking. Or theres the possibility of a young south african 10 but can't remember his name.

Bishop has left/is leaving as defence coach and i think Booth and Catt will follow out the door. Apparently we're losing 15 or so non playing staff. Obviously some will be replaced but it might be this that is stopping us spending the salary cap.

So looks like real change at Irish next season. We can only improve on the post christmas performance of this season.

Boom time for Gloucester

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7678509,00.html

Surprised that they haven't gone for a front five signing or a even a back rower with Stroks and Narraway off, even with Morgan coming in. Really good player, but didn't think that it was the backline that was causing issues.

I know, we desparetly need some new front rowers to support Wood-Dawiduk-Harden!!

I would've thought a tighthead or an enforcing lock would've been high on the wish list.

They should try and tempt Thorn to stay in Europe for one more season IMO

Forwards win the game, backs decide by how much?

Yep, think the injury to Wood and the Brush's fall out with Dawiduk has shown a real lack of depth in the front row. Savage been a great find this year though.

Wish I could say the same about my game this week

Glouc do lack that distinct hard edge and ability to take on teams in the tight, which could win then a lot more games.

Tell him off Pooly!!

Glaws first choice front 5 is as good as any in the league but my god that Murphy is pants! Must be depressing for Glaws fans watching him tog out. No depth at all. Should be looking to get a back up LH in place and another lock. Think they are well sorted at TH with Harden decent and young Knight coming on

Yeah we only really have Hamilton and Qera who bring that edge to amtches. Need a grizzled 6 (in the Buxton mould) so maybe moving Savage there might work!

Not really concerned about the backs, we have enough talent coming through too! Just seem to be struggling with youngsters in the front row. This is where Somerville was great as he brough Wood on.

Evening lads....

Thoughts on the following:

1. Next season 1/2 point for win rather than 1 (make results closer)

2. Ways to even up league in close season
a- Cash injection (more for lower teams)
b- Draft of players

3. U21 bids, would people prefer a draft of players to save budgets?

4. As English is staying at 4 in team and 8 in squad, how about having to name a number of U21 players in starting lineup (English or foreign)?

Thoughts welcome, this is our league so looking to keep things going and hopefully last as long as Orig AP. I just want to keep things competitve and not make it into an all stars game

1. yes
2. a
3. yes
4. I'd say maybe 2 starting and 2 on bench?

Also happy with my win...think that puts me in 4th too!!

Cheers

Ah let me off i'm a front rower!! I'd say draft

It wasn't....Im thicker than a front rower agghhhh!!!

1. Yes
2. a
3. Yes
4. Not too keen.

I'll update the league table in a minute boys

Kind of annoyed that last week I got bad reviews for playing a weak ten, and this week I address that issue and get a bit of slating nonetheless.

Not quite sure I understand your first point Pooly?

But I like the idea of maybe one or two of the EQ players have to be U21. Or even just two of the side, that way we would have to take risks on some talent, instead of established stars.

I think maybe limiting the bigger teams over the summer to only one or two foriegns and allowing those lower down the league three or four?

Drafts do work, but what group of players would you be able to select? It doesn't seem like there is a generic demograhpic of players you could pick again with out there being some sort level playing field last time. Although we could do one on the Lesser European National teams.

Oi - I was gonna do that!!

Fluxy wrote:Although we could do one on the Lesser European National teams.

England in that yeah?!

Go for it Pull!

I just want see what I have to do to Wasps nect week!

Budgets updated

I don't know if this allowed, but anyone fancy a friendly along side the cup semi's this week?

1. Next season 1/2 point for win rather than 1 (make results closer)

- 1/2 Point. Will see alot more LBPs which is fairer in a lot of cases.

2. Ways to even up league in close season
a- Cash injection (more for lower teams)
b- Draft of players

- A. Better to give cash and leave everyone go out for their own targets then put a player on them. Not keen on lots of drafts as it brings down the foreign player base.

3. U21 bids, would people prefer a draft of players to save budgets?

- U21 bids. With the cash injection shouldnt be a problem but would keep the price to a minimum (unless of course the players are full internationals etc)

4. As English is staying at 4 in team and 8 in squad, how about having to name a number of U21 players in starting lineup (English or foreign)?

- Not a fan of this. In the long run will only help out the sides with the best academies and I say this being Saints manager and having 1 of the best in the country currently. Think the selection rules are fine as they are at the moment.

U21 bids wouldn't allow current Ints Johnny

How would it differ from just purchasing them in foreigns?

Be generally cheaper 3-10m maybe (rough) and wouldn't come off allocation

Ah thought so. Big game in two weeks time for me!

Thats fair enough then Pooly I'd defo go for them over a draft.
Think the biggest problem facing the original aviva going forward is the dwindling foreign player base and drafts definately didnt help that out. I say that as well after benefitting from drafts when I first joined the game

I know mate, I'm not a big fan either really

1. Next season 1/2 point for win rather than 1 (make results closer)
Yeah ok, seems fair enough

2. Ways to even up league in close season
a- Cash injection (more for lower teams)
b- Draft of players
Would prefer cash injection, think it is fairer to the lower teams. If your a big team, you can still get a very good player in a draft like Cronje or Strauss, but if it's cash, you'll struggle to get someone similar in

3. U21 bids, would people prefer a draft of players to save budgets?
Draft is an interesting idea. Bit unsure of the prices for these U21 players anyway.

4. As English is staying at 4 in team and 8 in squad, how about having to name a number of U21 players in starting lineup (English or foreign)?
Think this is a good idea, but will become difficult to keep going, as people will need to keep up to date with academies and there is the potential for poaching and it getting complicated. Maybe think about changing it to a number of homegrown players? That would add value to youngsters for transfers and also replicate real life a bit more as well.

Just my thoughts. Think next season will be much more even anyways, as all the english players and teams will start from scratch and won't have any current form to over or underrate players. Think that this year in the Aviva has been very poor in general as well, which hasn't helped.

If homegrown it's sided to the fact if you have a good academy you'll do better. I was thinking more along the lines the players could also be foreign U21 players.

Just an idea, might bring something similar into Amlin to trial it