So far I'd say our squad is still not good enough to make the 8 next year.

I agree.

I think the squad has been improved, particularly in the three quarters, and is probably a couple of places better than this year. That leaves us challenging for 8th. For me thats the realistic level of improvement we'll be looking at year on year unless we get very lucky with some signings.

1. Kearney
2. Ainscough
3. Purtell
4. Lulia
5. Raynor
6. Gale
7. Briggs
8. Kopczak
9. L'Estrange
10. Lynch
11. Elima
12. Whitehead
13. Addy

14. Diskin
15. Burgess
16. Hargreaves
17. Depends what gameplan you want? Another back - Sammut or Ball playing Forward - Addy or Forward - Donaldson/Walker

Sammut hasn't been signed to be not in the squad at all.

Briggs is overrated by some sections of our support. He might develop into a decent SL player but right now I think Sammut is the better player by a fair distance.

Finally someone with sense, Briggs has turned in 3 half decent displays at most IMO it's a toss between him and Gale not both of them in the 17.

Sammut would be starting for me, every time.

Oh sorry. I meant for mine.

Just giving a team what I would put out. If Briggs/Gale is crap in any of the opening 4 games then Sammut starts the next game.

I think there's little argument that we have moved the ball a lot better when he has played which considering our passing across the field has largely been amateur standard, one can understand fans perhaps getting excited about a half who can catch, run and pass more than 5 metres. Early days but I'm keen to see him get more chances and feel the Herbert fixation has been a dumbfounding error.

thats the big question, if Briggs and Gale, where does Sammut fit in? he will not be organiser, that from Potters words seems to be Gale. And now I think even more about it Potters words also seem to indicate that Briggs will be reserve and will play should Sammut be required elsewhere 1, 3 or 4, or 9. whatever, its good to have such a problem!

Sammut is quite versatile which is good but he's a hard man to run off given that he rarely knows what he is going to do before he does it. In some ways he reminds me of Dave Watson who was the same. In such cases these players are better in positions where they have the freedom to do their own thing like fullback. What our backline needs is quality ball coming at them, not sure Sammut can provide that.