Quote: Itchy Arsenal "You obviously have a high level of technical knowledge of the game from your posts and I’ve learned quite a bit about many aspects of play from your posts but your final sentence is one of the reasons why the game is on it’s arris and why my long love of the game is waning.
Please don’t take my post as a personal slur as I genuinely like your inputs and find them very insightful but in that sentence for me you have summed up why the game will never develop any real class outside backs because they are now almost superfluous to the game where any fit athletes can “do a job”'"
I totally agree.
Athletes are now taking over.
The game is now becoming “money ball” where teams generally look for their outside backs to be extra forwards.
The cap also means that if you put together a quality spine you will have to make sacrifices in other positions.
I hope I’m wrong but I wouldn’t be shocked to see
1. French
2. Miski
3. Bibby
4. Thornley
5. Marshall
6. Field
7. Smith
As our starting backs next year.
We look to have significantly improved our middles, with the 2 additions, but unless we add quality to the spine I really think we struggle.
With Hastings going we desperately need to bring someone in.
The apparent lack of planning has created an issue in that we have lots of cap wrapped up in 3 specialist fullbacks hence the strong rumours surrounding Hardaker.
The truth is we only have ourselves to blame for this situation and it goes above just the coach. The leadership at the club have made significant errors in recruitment, retention and succession planning and it is one that will take more than one off season to address.