We all knew that 2012 would be the start of a few seasons of transition as a club, to get us back to competing at the top of SL.

I think IMO we're realistically looking at a minimum of three years, during which there will be some tough periods, periods which will help identify those players that either aren't good enough, or don't have the required commitment & attitude to wear the irregular hoops.

Unfortunately, the club can't release 7 or 8 players today (if they could, I'm sure they would). It's going to be a lengthy process of waiting until contracts finish & paying certain players off, as well as there being the right players available to replace them.

All that said, I didn't expect us to be in the top 5 halfway through the season, especially considering the injury problems we've faced. Maybe this early season form has artificially raised our expectations of when we'll be back competing at the top?

Keep the faith in Pearson, Gentle & McRae. They've got a vision of where they want this club to be, and they're less than 12 months into implementing it.

Aspinwall has been a solid signing for us definitely hasn't been a 'poor' signing. O'Carrol aswell hasn't been barring his injury record. So don't agree with your post except for Martin which was just a pointless signing I persume we could of got better than Martin. Even Senior would of been better for a season.

Wasn't McKinnon one of Shergars signings?

O'Carroll has been decent back up (when fit) to our front-line props, O'Meley getting injured has pushed O'Carroll to the fore, his own injuries haven't helped.

Martin I'll give you, but we did need some experience in the backs.

I've been happy with Aspinwall's contribution : Solid and dependable, he's a cheap, stop gap option as cover. Probably due to our previous regimes inability to blood some our younger players.

Wasn`t there a rumour a player that had signed wanted out when he heard Agar had gone?
Maybe it was McKinnon.Obviously just speculation on my part.

IIRC the speculation at the time was that it was McKinnon.