Another two squad announcements tomorrow at 9am

They are squad players, not everyone can sit up and make the opposition take notice.

I thought Barber did a very good job in the team and it was no fluke that he kept getting picked in front of the more well known players at points during the season. I thought Eccleston actually did look the part come the end of the season and he reminds me a lot of Lee Paterson. The game against Bradford barring the one mistake he had a blinder. He isnt going to be first choice same as the other two but when you pick up knocks you need players to come in who can fit in and do a good job. Those two can do that.

We could have got away without signing anyone this season, we already have a very good team in place, Marshall just wanted to add some depth in key areas and he has done that.

Greg you have hit the nail on the head they are squad players add to these 3 Pott and Saxty and you have 5 squad players,possibly Richard thinks that what he needs I'm not sure we surprised a few teams at back end of last season this season they will know what to expect I have a feeling our squad will be added to before Christmas by a big name to excite the fans.
The league will be much more open this coming season anything can happen at Leigh Degsy may abdicate if things go wrong and the Jimmy Lowes factor at Bradford could be our advantage would like to see a big fobust centre signed.

Don't think it's about anyone we may sign it's about how much more improvement RM can get out of the players he has.We have 3 centres vying for 2 positions,Tyrer,Heaton,Smeaton and plenty back up...Salty,Eccleston,Saxton etc
IMO we are ok there.

The younger lads will be people who RM thinks can develop in the reserve team 2 of these have already featured in the first team without letting anybody down so there are a number of boxes being ticked with these lads.

gotta trust the gaffers judgement on players and the type of bloke that will thrive in our dressing room. He's been right so far e.g Maneely, Saltonstall signings plus the master-stroke Craven loan. Sure RM will bide his time till somebody of such calibre and availability becomes available, look at the world beaters signing Higham mid season!

Well done to the 5 lads recently signed. UTFAX

Great post.

Exactly, regrettably some people, the ones who bemoan our signings are only thinking about 2016, the board and Richard have a longer term view.
Note, all the contracts seem to be for end 2016, full time 2017?

At the end of 2016 looking to 2017 will be a time to reassess where the club is and then move on again to the next level if they can.
As everyone knows full time is part of the next step and a must at some point if the club is to really be in a place to mount a serious challenge.
Shorter term contracts with existing and incoming players allow for this as the squad would most likely have to be broken up if and when FT happens for a number of reasons.
Some won't want it, some won't be good enough, some will be retiring around that time etc.
Others at the club whether they are in the first team or reserves who could go FT should be motivated to show what they can do and earn a place in the side just as Ben Kaye did for his contract extension.
Before building anything make sure you can afford to build it and get the foundations right first.
It's a flexible approach that the club can afford to keep moving forward one step at a time.

Another three announced this morning, Andy Bracek, Joe Martin, and Ross Divorty. Obviously they will be looking for Martin to progress and push for the first team where as Bracek seemed to end the season as a squad player but as we said before he comes in and will give you 100% and is probably better than a good number of starting players around the league. Divorty has been a main stay of the first team and hopefully with a bit more competition he can come on some more.

Was just thinking what our team/squad looks like for next season and came up with:-

1. Greenwood
2. Sharp
3. Tyrer
4. Heaton
5. Potts
6. Murrell
7. Johnston
8. Ambler
9. Kaye
10. Cahalane
11. Manning
12. Fairbank
13. Grix

Bench Probably looking something like Divorty, Tangata, R. Moore, Mannely

Then the rest of the squad:-
Salty covering 1-5
Martin cover for Full Back
Eccleston cover for wing and centre
Saxton cover for the wings
Smeaton cover for centre and second row
G. Moore cover for the halfs
C. Robinson cover for hooker and half
Bracek cover for Prop and second row
A. Robinson cover for prop and second row
Ed Barber cover for second row

Not looking bad so far. You forget that we had the best FB in the league out for the entire season so that is like signing a new player. We were lacking cover all over the pitch which is a problem that looks like its been addressed. I actually think we are more likely to line up with Moore and Johnston in the halves and with Murrell at 13 early in the season because a lot depends how Grix is recovering. If Grix can get anywhere near the levels he has achieved then we could have the best player in the league in our team which is quite some thought but he is a long way from getting back to that yet. Our pack is very strong with props that can actually do more than 20 minutes which is great and most teams would kill for that.

What a luxury to have with us having our team mainly in place for next season already and now RM can sit and wait to see if any real quality becomes available and have the financial muscle to go out and get that player if he wants ahead of other teams in the league.