Silly Season Transfer Rumours 17/18

First topic message reminder :

Rumours are that I want to move to another company because my boss is an @rse.

And there's something to those rumours, I can assure you.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah ok, I wasn't aware he was fit enough, I just seemed to always see him coming off the bench.

Cole is a better scrunmager and defender so normally starts. Logo comes on when the opposition is tiring and really doesn't want a 20 stone monster running at them and trying to shove them around in the right.

He's not like Fonua, Logo's favourite hobbies include rowing and camping. Lovely bloke, he'll get on famously with the locals up in Newcastle.

king_carlos wrote:I'm sad to see Logo go but it sounds like a similar situation to Goneva whereby Falcons could simply offer a much higher salary than Tigers viewed as value for money. Niki has returned on the investment so far for Falcons IMO and I hope Logo does the same.

He's a top player and a fantastic bloke with the fans.

I would doubt very much that we offer more money, but just a longer contract.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

king_carlos wrote:I'm sad to see Logo go but it sounds like a similar situation to Goneva whereby Falcons could simply offer a much higher salary than Tigers viewed as value for money. Niki has returned on the investment so far for Falcons IMO and I hope Logo does the same.

He's a top player and a fantastic bloke with the fans.

I would doubt very much that we offer more money, but just a longer contract.

Nah you did.

That would make a first Welly!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:That would make a first Welly!

Not really you outbid us for Goneva as well.

These are key players...in other areas Dean has been immensely shrewd and got good players very cheap really...its just a case of bidding high for what you see as essential.

A top TH is in that category now...as Davy Wilson has failed miserably (maybe even go in the summer) and Scotty...well we'll see. Jon Welh does too much work.

Goneva was the same. We needed a big name to highlight where the club are going...but also a genuine top class try scorer...

We have tended to be quite conservative on deals for players over 30 have had bad luck on injuries. Falcons knew the quality of these players and took the punt. Keep them fit and they are quality players.

Dean seems to have a good return on older experienced guys or players who had not achieved potential due to injuries etc.

Players like Latu, Goneva, Scott Macloed , he's managed Scott Lawson, Aly Hogg, and Bobby Vickers superbly and players like Dom Waldouck were useful.

The best has been Calum Green. What a signing that guy has been. Injuries wrecked his tigers hopes, rehabbed went to Leeds and then Dean grabbed him. I honestly cant think of a lock (Itoje, Launchbury included) that I would swap him for. He just fits us so well! And he's leading lineout taker and lineout steals in the league!

We have another signing to announce on Saturday apparently.

Wonder if its Johnny Williams or Tampin the Ealing prop. Is he a loose head?

Doubt you'll be announcing Williams until LI are officially down

Sgt_Pooly wrote:That would make a first Welly!

It really wouldn't.

Deano can say what he was but Falcons are getting up there in terms of spending.

Welly wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:That would make a first Welly!

It really wouldn't.

Deano can say what he was but Falcons are getting up there in terms of spending.

Any evidence of this?

I honestly don't believe we are. I would very surprised if we're not the least or second least playing budget in the league along with Irish. It was mentioned in a recent fans forum that Worcester and Sale had higher budgets, who else would come close?

Tovey from Embra to Crosskeys in the Welsh prem

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Welly wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:That would make a first Welly!

It really wouldn't.

Deano can say what he was but Falcons are getting up there in terms of spending.

Any evidence of this?

I honestly don't believe we are. I would very surprised if we're not the least or second least playing budget in the league along with Irish. It was mentioned in a recent fans forum that Worcester and Sale had higher budgets, who else would come close?

Flood and Mermoz didn't come over from France for the weather. You outbid Tigers and saw off French interest to get Goneva, Sinotti may have been unheard of when he joined but retaining him won't have been cheap.

Despite no big names up front you've kept hold of the best young talent and aren't short on player numbers.

I'd say you were comfortably ahead of LI at the start of the season and there or there abouts with Sale and Wuss.

munkian wrote:Tovey from Embra to Crosskeys in the Welsh prem

Is that serious?

I understand what you're saying but you're just speculating.

Deano and Kurdi have said we're operating on one of the smallest budgets, I don't see why not to believe them. It was mentioned that the game in the USA payed for Flood's wages for the season and we have a very strict wage structure.

You look at our pack and there's no big named players. Welsh was 2/3rd choice at Glasgow when he came in, Cooper was backup at the Sharks. Lockwood, Green, Graham etc all from the championship.

In the backs we have a few bigger names with Mermoz, Flood, Sinoti...but that's it really. Matavesi was playing second fiddle in Wales, the rest are academy.

Deano said in the last fans meeting that we took a gamble offering longer contracts for players over 30 but not huge salaries (Goneva, DTH, Logo??).

Bit of research....I found this for the 15/16 season:

Bath - 10.8 (57.1)
Exeter - 8.6 (50.6)
Glos - 9.4 (61.5)
Quins - 11.6 (59.2)
Leic - 11.1 (57.8)
L.Irish - 7.6 (75.8)
Newc - 6.9 (75.8)
Saints - 9.6 (57.8)
Sale - 5.0 (71.4)
Sarans - 10.2 (64.6)
Wasps - 17.4 (56.3)
Worc - 9.6 (98.0)

I assume this all the staff rather than just the playing staff as the salary cap is around 9m or so with the marquee players etc I think.

mckay1402 wrote:

munkian wrote:Tovey from Embra to Crosskeys in the Welsh prem

Is that serious?  

Yupp, so he'd be semi-professional.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/16171975.Former_Dragons_ace_Tovey_to_make_sensational_return_to_Wales_with_Cross_Keys/

And if by magic, Mick Hogan has just been interviewed and brought up this very topic:

"Only London Irish spend less than Newcastle on players, making Richards’ achievement in transforming the club into serious play-off contenders all the more impressive."

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/30097/newcastle-falcons-flying-high-again/

Sorry to keep harping on but I was sure I hadn't made it up!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Bit of research....I found this for the 15/16 season:

Bath - 10.8 (57.1)
Exeter - 8.6 (50.6)
Glos - 9.4 (61.5)
Quins - 11.6 (59.2)
Leic - 11.1 (57.8)
L.Irish - 7.6 (75.8)
Newc - 6.9 (75.8)
Saints - 9.6 (57.8)
Sale - 5.0 (71.4)
Sarans - 10.2 (64.6)
Wasps - 17.4 (56.3)
Worc - 9.6 (98.0)

I assume this all the staff rather than just the playing staff as the salary cap is around 9m or so with the marquee players etc I think.

Looks familiar.

Going by the Companies House records Falcons for Y?E June 2016 had a total wage bill of £6.9m for 103 playing and coaching staff and 8 admin staff. (Note Falcons are late in Filing their 2017 accounts so will face a fine from Companies House)

For the record Leicester for teh same period (went up for 2017) had a total bill of £11.0m covering 103 playing and coaching staff and 78 admin staff.


Falcons have operated on one of the lowest budgets - but at the same time they have offered more better deals to teh guys taken from us (more or same money for a longer contract). It woudl be disingenuous to suggest Falcons only shop in the bargain basement, but true there are no massive earners.

Richard Cockerill extends his Edinburgh deal by another 2 years.

Not a surprise - his family love it there and he is clearly what the club needed.

George Carlin wrote:Richard Cockerill extends his Edinburgh deal by another 2 years.

Not a surprise - his family love it there and he is clearly what the club needed.

He committed fully to the role up there from day one and it's paid dividends all round. Lovely place and I'm not surprised his family are enjoying it. Makes sense all round to secure him on a longer deal, he's given Edinburgh back their spine.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:And if by magic, Mick Hogan has just been interviewed and brought up this very topic:

"Only London Irish spend less than Newcastle on players, making Richards’ achievement in transforming the club into serious play-off contenders all the more impressive."

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/30097/newcastle-falcons-flying-high-again/

Sorry to keep harping on but I was sure I hadn't made it up!

And I don't think we'll be seeing Mermoz again...I think he'll be away in the summer.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Bit of research....I found this for the 15/16 season:

Bath - 10.8 (57.1)
Exeter - 8.6 (50.6)
Glos - 9.4 (61.5)
Quins - 11.6 (59.2)
Leic - 11.1 (57.8)
L.Irish - 7.6 (75.8)
Newc - 6.9 (75.8)
Saints - 9.6 (57.8)
Sale - 5.0 (71.4)
Sarans - 10.2 (64.6)
Wasps - 17.4 (56.3)
Worc - 9.6 (98.0)

I assume this all the staff rather than just the playing staff as the salary cap is around 9m or so with the marquee players etc I think.

Frak me Quins over spend! A lot of that is relative to the surrounds though, players expect more being in London with the relative cost of living being far higher.

George Mcguigan confirmed back to Falcons

Not sure about that one!

Happy enough with that one frees a good chunk of cap up and I rate Mahoney coming up through the academy. Kerr also looks interesting.

McGugian is a good player just with injuries hasn't happened for him.

TPN is top notch.
Youngs is the heart of the club
Kerr promising prosect
Mahoney Very promising player and very physical.
Happy with that crop.

Despite what Pooly (I think) said at the time he was never even close to challenging Youngs and with Taf at Leicester now he's only really needed in the 23 for injuries/rotation. More disappointed by the loss of Thacker tbh.

Agree with you Welly about the promising youngsters but they may have to step up sooner than intended with both hookers being the wrong side of 30 and Tom's personal situation. Bateman's ability to cover the entire front row could be vital.

TPN and Tom Youngs are currently good AP level hookers. That's about it. The other two have potential but no experience. If one can reliably sort the lineout they should be the regular starter. I think the squad balance was actually better at the start of the season but I look forward to the young lads stepping up.

Fuzzy, Bateman was a terrible hooker. His career has been transformed by Stanko and the permanent move to prop.

Similar situation to Brookes I guess, just not been a good fit for the club. He'll get firing again up here, he suits our style. No idea how Youngs has kept the spot so long with those darts...but all credit to him, they obviously see something.

Brookes had a terrible attitude and by all accounts we were glad to see the back of him. Getting injured and putting in stones if weight because you've spent all day in Nandos or playing computer games instead of your rehab exercises doesn't tend to go down well.

There's a cafe in Leicester that actually changed their breakfast eating challenge title to include Brookes name because he liked to come in and eat it. He just didn't act like a professional rugby player and needed to be sent back home in disgrace to get the point.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/422518/American-man-eats-ridiculous-amount-of-food-in-a-Leicester-cafe/amp

Excuse the newspaper.

McGuigan is a likeable player who just hasn't had the games or form to secure a regular first team spot. I saw he was still representing the club in visiting the Leicester Hospital Children's Ward the other week.

McGugian was unlucky injuries at key times for him didn't help as said Brookes was just plan arrogant and lazy.

Must mean we're losing one.

Lawson - Retiring maybe?
Sowery - Off as he's not getting any gamtime
Socino - Just signed a new contract
Cooper - First choice.
Blamire - Youngster coming through (England age group player)

Mcguigan now added...

Jimmy Stevens joining Tigers again done deal.

Welly wrote: Jimmy Stevens joining Tigers again done deal.

Yeah what a quality signing, definite improvement in the two guys we've frozen out.

Bit of very average squad filler. I'd prefer to just back the young lads.

Also about 150 thousand + cheaper on the whole.

Welly wrote: Also about 150 thousand + cheaper on the whole.

TPN plus Stevens is probably as much if not slightly more than Thacker and McGuigan. I'd still back the youngsters over Stevens.

Nope they are not actually.

Clubs are having to think about the likely extended A league now.
You will need 3 hookers in the match day squad ready and fit and 2 in the A league squad.

TPN, Youngs - First 2
Mahoney, Kerr - 2 promising players
Stevens - Cheap signing, won't throw toys out the pram if not playing first team and won't stand in the way of Kerr and Mahoney.

i can see a few clubs that might make more similar signings as i wouldn't be surprised if the league strats trying to fine teams that don't put up a team next season.

Rumours abound that Evan Olmstead is a free agent (out of contract) as his pal DTH Van der Merve has tweeted about it following Evans cracking performance on Friday.

If its true...its an odd one (though he's barely played this season and we are top heavy with locks) He's a cracking lock who is equally good at 6. He'd be a good signing for any prem team.

He'd be an ideal signing for one of the lower clubs like Saints or Quins

I see Folau is being rumoured to Sale. Imagine if you'd have said 4 years ago that Sale would have JOC and Folau in their backline.....two of the best backs in world rugby.

Id be trying to keep Olmstead though and get rid of that big Fijian lump who hasn't even played a game!

I have just mentioned on the unoffy though,Evan has barely played and we have a few locks who are EQ and England age group players and Andrew Davison the scot as well who may well take up some gametime...so Evan is not required...

North will announce signing for the Ospreys shortly apparently.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:He'd be an ideal signing for one of the lower clubs like Saints or Quins

I see Hanpin, Tanpin what ever hes called the prop at Ealing is definitely not moving.

Next link, Bath Prop Kane Palma-Newport

GeordieFalcon wrote:Next link, Bath Prop Kane Palma-Newport

He is definitely leaving us. Not a bad prop as a third choice

Dragon's centre Pat Howard is off to Ealing

After the links to Folau, Sale are apparently looking at Olding

They must fancy a bit of controversy next season

I'd have thought they'd have went for RJVR, he was a star for them when here.