So what would your team be for 2012 season? theres been alot of talk about who you would start with at half back etc.. so interested to see YOUR preferred line up. Mine would be,

Kearney
Ainscough
Lulia
Purtell
Raynor
Gale
Briggs
Lynch
Lestrange
Kopzack
Whitehead
Elima
Langley

Bench: Diskin, Burgess, Sammut, Scruton

Reserves: Walker, Hargreaves, Donaldson, Olbison, Bateman, Jefferies, Southernwood, Addy, Obrien.

Very tough decisions to be made!

Our squad is still lacking a proven playmaker, a line breaking forward and another half decent centre.

With what we have so far I'd got for

Kearney
Purtell
Lulia
??
Raynor
Briggs
Gale
Lynch
Diskin
Kopczak
Elima
Whitehead
Langley

Sammut
Burgess
L'Estrange
Scruton

I think ainscough should be in the team as is a terrific finisher and has speed and adds alot of threat to our backline. His defence looks to be improving too. Thats why back line should be kearney, ainscough, lulia, purtell, raynor IMO. Still it shows theres alot of competition which can only be good for the team

I like Ainscough and I hope Purtell proves to be a decent centre then Ainy can play on the wing. Unfortunately I have my doubts.

Lulia should sort out one side of defence well at least. Still needs some "ooomph" in the forwards though.

1. Kearney
2. Ainscough
3. Lulia
4. Platt
5. Purtell
6. Briggs
7. Gale
8. Lynch
9. Diskin
10. Hargreaves
11. Elima
12. Whitehead
13. Langley

Bench - L'Estrange, Burgess, Sammut, Scruton

Wheres Ben Jeffries???

He's in the side. What do you mean you can't see him?

1. Kearney
2. Purtell
3. Whitehead
4. Lulia
5. Ainscough
6. Briggs
7. Gale
8. Hargreaves
9. L'Estrange
10. Lynch
11. Elima
12. Langley
13. Addy

14. Diskin
15. Scruton
16. Burgess
17. Sammut

Still not strong enough for top 6, we still need an experianced line breaking second rower/loose and a centre.

Is it just me that thinks Big Putell should be Little Ainys centre?

No I've got him pegged as a centre.

I don't think there's space for a hooker and a half on the bench.

I have a feeling that Diskin won't be back.

Should have real strength in depth next year but this strength in depth seems to have come with mediocrity across the board.

There's no need to have Briggs, Gale, Jefferies, Sammut, Kearney & Southernwood that can all play HB. Having 2 quality HBs with Kearney & 1 young HB as back up would be much better use of the wage bill IMHO.

Though I acknowledge finding two quality HBs is a lot easier said than done I still don't see the reasoning in employing lots of mediocrity.

So far I'd say our squad is still not good enough to make the 8 next year.

I agree.

I think the squad has been improved, particularly in the three quarters, and is probably a couple of places better than this year. That leaves us challenging for 8th. For me thats the realistic level of improvement we'll be looking at year on year unless we get very lucky with some signings.

1. Kearney
2. Ainscough
3. Purtell
4. Lulia
5. Raynor
6. Gale
7. Briggs
8. Kopczak
9. L'Estrange
10. Lynch
11. Elima
12. Whitehead
13. Addy

14. Diskin
15. Burgess
16. Hargreaves
17. Depends what gameplan you want? Another back - Sammut or Ball playing Forward - Addy or Forward - Donaldson/Walker

Sammut hasn't been signed to be not in the squad at all.

Briggs is overrated by some sections of our support. He might develop into a decent SL player but right now I think Sammut is the better player by a fair distance.

Finally someone with sense, Briggs has turned in 3 half decent displays at most IMO it's a toss between him and Gale not both of them in the 17.

Sammut would be starting for me, every time.

Oh sorry. I meant for mine.

Just giving a team what I would put out. If Briggs/Gale is crap in any of the opening 4 games then Sammut starts the next game.

I think there's little argument that we have moved the ball a lot better when he has played which considering our passing across the field has largely been amateur standard, one can understand fans perhaps getting excited about a half who can catch, run and pass more than 5 metres. Early days but I'm keen to see him get more chances and feel the Herbert fixation has been a dumbfounding error.

thats the big question, if Briggs and Gale, where does Sammut fit in? he will not be organiser, that from Potters words seems to be Gale. And now I think even more about it Potters words also seem to indicate that Briggs will be reserve and will play should Sammut be required elsewhere 1, 3 or 4, or 9. whatever, its good to have such a problem!

Sammut is quite versatile which is good but he's a hard man to run off given that he rarely knows what he is going to do before he does it. In some ways he reminds me of Dave Watson who was the same. In such cases these players are better in positions where they have the freedom to do their own thing like fullback. What our backline needs is quality ball coming at them, not sure Sammut can provide that.

A modern SH needs the ability to step and go as well as pass. If all he does is throw it wide (Deacon in his last years) the defence can afford to slide early. Sammut takes the line on and makes defenders hold their ground. Briggs has a nice long pass and a decent kicking game. Ideally you'd be looking for Sammut to suck defenders to the ruck area and Briggs to find Lulia with half a yard to work in.