Quote ="Itchy Arsenal"Farrimond and Smith together in my opinion won’t work. Both are a number 7 and won’t complement each other as they both play the same game. I don’t think currently we have an alternative to French at 6 in the squad other than a relatively unproven Keighran. Having Brierley in the squad would allow Field as another alternative.
Eckersley for a prolonged period at 1 seriously???? I like Eckersley but he isn’t the fleet footed roaming FB that we’ve become accustomed to in last few years and he would reduce our attacking options compared to Field or French. Obviously Brierley isn’t a French or a Field but he does play a similar style of play and has a decent level of pace over the initial 15 or 20 yards.
Brierley replacing Hampshire isn’t an improvement??
I don’t think the Brierley rumour is true due primarily to SC so to a large degree it's probably irrelevant but if it was possible then he’d be a decent signing. I wouldn’t lose any sleep if we didn’t sign him however, if we could fit him within the SC then I’d consider him an astute signing with our current first team squad.'"
I thought the same initially re Farrimond and Smith but was comfortable in admitting i was wrong last year when it happened.
For me a spine of
1. French/Field
6. Farrimond
7. Smith
Is a better backup than
1. Brierley
6. French
7. Smith
Plus it means Farrimond is getting what he needs which is games as first back up.
Would be a pointless and short sighted signing for mine.
