According to the T&A Macca is happy with his 2009 squad. The deal with Moi Mo has fallen through. So unless something unexpected crops up that's our recruiting done. So more of the same for us next year, mid table at best. This years squad wasn't good enough so we've lost Hape, Harris, Vagana, Feather, Evans, Finnigan and Matt James on loan to Fax. We bring in 4 players and that's supposed to strengthen the squad? One aging superman, one strong young forward and two unproven players. I just don't see any progression. Maybe it's just me?

No comment.

I agree fully with that. The post/pre- season is meant to be the time fans are their most optimistic about the coming season after the announcement of new signings. But this year hasn't had the same effect the major problem area of the squad hasn't been addressed if anything the area has been weakened.

it says alot that article. is he giving the kids a chance and just waiting for the right player which is a good move imo, or is he not bothered at recruitment because he is more interested in the england setup. which one?

It says to me that his job is safe regardless of results next season.

Yes you could be right.

With the current squad Mid table may be the most we can hope for im not convinced our signings are strong enough to even guarantee that, the bulk of our new recruits over the past 2 seasons have come from mediocre clubs if Maccas statement is correct i dotn hold out much hope for next year or the clubs future, sherrife hardly gonna draw the crowds in is he...

downward spiral continues...
Menzies good tutor for the kids to learn from but IMO wont play enough due to age
Scuton--only positive signing
Sherriffe and Worrincy--average at best, but lets not forget the old "their young and they have potential" funny that as quins were happy to release both....bet Saints and Leeds are papping themselves at our back line....sorry i mean laughing their socks off

I usually am.

My problem with this is that Macca didn't seem to have any confidence in the young lads this year. I don't see why that will change, 3 mins at the end of a game does nothing for the players confidence and only puts more pressure on the rest of the squad. Also as I see it we only have 4 props and we send Matt James out on loan. We can't keep using Lynch and Burgess for 60-80 mins a game. They both played a lot of the season injured as did a lot of players in fact. Newton playing injured or not fully fit because Macca seemed reluctant to play Godwin. Deacs is becoming injury prone and we have no cover for him, Jeffries is inconsistant and we have no real cover for him. What's the point of having a big squad if we don't use them all and regularly rotate them? Surely that's the only was we will ever have real competition for places? Use all the players during the first 3/4's of the season which will allow you to pick the best players for the last quarter.

i think it will be an interesting season next year but we will be lucky to make the top 6 with that squad, I wonder what the odds are for the 1st coach to be sacked macca must be worth a punt.

Given the alledged finances of the club and the pay out that would have to be made Macca may be safe.

Has he been told the wage bill needs to be cut?

We won't be able to judge Steve as a coach in 2009, as he was unable to recruit the players he wanted.

We can't comment on his capability until 2010 at the earliest, when the can build the team he wants.

[sizeThought I might as well be the first to say it.[/size

How I see it is, as a Club we have nothing to attract quality players. We can't compete with other clubs on wages, we don't seem to be able to compete for honours any longer, we don't have a big name coach that players would want to learn from. We have also lost the Kiwi connection so we don't even have that to rely on. Cap that off with the poor facilities and what do we have????????

And so it should be. Some people can see the bigger picture