I don't think anyone can question Agar's sqaud development since he took over. He got rid of some deadwood, made some very good signings and has extended the deals of some key players. This is one area he has done very well in.

What he needs to do now is take us from top 5-8 to the top four.

There are plenty of grounds to question his squad development. I agree he did well with the clearout at the end of the 2009 season but as me and Berrigan's Bitch agreed on earlier, Fitz and O'Meley aside his recruitment record has been mixed. As another poster pointed out he has also left us short in the halves for his entire time in the job while this year he spent a six figure transfer fee on strengthening a position that was nowhere near priority. I would also argue that too much of our quality is concentrated in the forwards, our backline still looks incredibly weak for a team that wants to be challenging for top 4.

In terms of renewals, he has done well to keep Tickle when it looked like he wanted to go and re-signing Yeaman on terms more befitting his ability was a good move. On the negative side there's the resigning of Dowes and Radford (2 years), obviously there was a lack of options after LMS and Fielden turned us down but I don't think you can argue that to be successful squad development.

Do you have trouble reading posts...I have posted that Agars recruitment is good, at no point have I said it was mixe

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Unfortunately for you people only have to scroll to to the top of the page to see you agreeing with me

O'Meeley, Fitz, Long, Turner, Lauaki and Moa have all been good signings and Westerman and Sharp will prove to be aswell imo. Plus we have retained the likes of Tickle, Manu and Yeaman. There are always the odd signing that does not stand out like Dowes but we needed the cover and there was no one else available.

In the two off seasons our squad has been transformed and if we get a halfback and centre for 2012 we will be in really good shape.

That all looks good to me.

Regular readers know I am far from a fan of Agar, but his recruitment has been good, especially in the context of who has been available, has any other team in SL signed someone we wish we had, and if they have, would we have wanted them at the same price?

I'd rather we'd signed a player at the height of their game than Long, but I don't recall their being a long list of available players.

Spont on Paul, couldn't agree more.

who'd have guessed

So lets forget about 2011 then? Or just hope for a miracle and our two halfbacks stay fit. Westerman is a good signing if he gets played in position but with Agars preference of playing a 3rd prop at loose man I am not so sure he will be played there.

Who said that?

We can't recruit a top halfback now as we already have two and we would need to cap space plsu all the players are under contract. This year we have signed two highly rated British players, one a winger which will give us a strike option on both sides of the pitch and the other who is a highly skillfull player that could make the 13 spot his own for many season to come for both club and country. Last year we had a good side and if the halves stay fit (a big if I know) then we can compete with the best sides.

Looking ahead for 2012 we must replace Long, sign another prop and I would like to see a centre come in too.

spot on with everything said

If Berro goes and it is looking more than likely that leaves us in the perfect position to recruit a top class halfback. Westerman also needs to play loose man although like i have said before i doubt he will be the first choice in that position with Agars preference of a 3rd prop.