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Quote: Albion "I have just been on redvee and reading a thread about next season's best 1-17.

I've seen people say that they are really excited about the squad next season and that they are 'drooling' over some of the 1-17s that have been posted.

I'm not one to be too negative (we did dominate SL last season...) but I think there are still some outstanding issues that need to be addressed by KC. The points below aren't in any particular order, but I'm going from 1-17 in my thinking

1) pushing Lomax all the way for his place. Last year nobody thought Wellens was a threat for lomax's shirt, but another year of injuries have left some lingering question marks over our incumbent no.1... I think the idea is to slowly shift Wellens focus to the coaching side as the season wears on as it is (though I said that this season)

2) percival has to start on the right for me and I think Jones is very underrated as a centre, and works very well on the left, complimenting Swift ... But Turner won't miss out and is still ahead of both in the pecking order. If and when Lomax plays though I wouldn't mind seeing Turner play a support role, poking through holes in the middle, running on forwards shoulders whilst offering another pair of hands in a sticky situation (aka play the traditional fulback role from another position) - I'd guess that solution is to carry him on at 13, but then that raises questions about Wilkin etc etc.

3) I don't have question marks over Walsh's fitness, sometimes tragedies happen. Questions still remain if he'll be fit for the season openers, but assuming he's not (and even if he is, it'll probably be worthwhile giving him a full off season belatedly) I imagine the easiest solution is Wilkin stepping into the role, with Hewitt hopefully playing a few "lesser" games next to Burns, who should be a good mentor and protector on the pitch.

4) I was a big doubter at the start of the season about using Walmsley or Masoe as a starter, but as with a lot of Browns peculiar tactics, I was made to eat humble pie. Hopefully we'll get more minutes from both next year with full off seasons for both, but I think Masoe edges it for me over Walmsley because he can have an aggressive streak when he wants (see the grand final). I wouldn't want to see Richards as a 4th choice prop in full rotation as I think he needs a few more years, so I'm still hoping there's another prop joining us. He will make a great 5th choice though for rotating and keeping people fresh.

5) a lot has been made about losing Soliola/ Manu - but one of the losses is negated by a bench spot being recovered by an interchange hooker being reintroduced. It means we'll play in a slightly different way next year, but limits the impact of the 2 losses. Vea will be a very good signing imo but only time will tell. LMS starts slow, but so did Manu (I'd of dropped him after cas away if he hadn't of been injured, he was very poor), so whilst it's frustrating, I don't think it changes us much, and should make the transition to back row permanently. I like Thompson playing the role he did in the second row, and so that would be my starting 3 (LMS and Thompson starting Vea off the bench). That leaves Flanaghan Greenwood and Savelio in rotation. (With Wilkin/Turner in the 13 role)

6) I'm hoping Hewitt will burst into life at the start of next year, and I think its a make or break year for Walker, so I'm hopeful he can step up. Don't know beyond there? Maybe the elusive Charnock may even be seen!

if I had to select a squad of 25 only at the moment it would be:
1. Lomax 2. Makinson 3. Percival 4. Jones 5. Swift 6. Burns 7. Walsh 8. Amor 9. Roby 10. Masoe 11. LMS 12. Thompson 13. Turner 14. Hohaia 15. Vea 16. Walmsley 17. Richards 18. Wellens 19. Dawson 20. Gardner 21. Hewitt 22. Walker 23. Flanaghan 24. Wilkin 25. Hand

Hopefully another prop will come in though, and it will leave us with a decent amount of depth outside the 25 as well with the likes of Greenwood and Savelio unlucky to miss out...