Adam Henry is overseas/non-fed trained.

Swap Walker for Donaldson and I'd agree with that, pretty much. Although I suspect FC may take a similar approach to that of Tony Smith and bring Carvell off the bench either side of half time.

thanks y'all for the feedback. I did have an inkling about Nathan, checked the Official Bulls Website where he is still listed as Academy, doubted it but comforted myself with the knowledge that you guys would provide the proof. so 10/10 Mat.

Bullcharge and Nothus yes thats what we want, debate about the starting 17 whatever squad we end up with. 10/10 mates.

Fully, not meant to be the full dogs Bull ocks info that SB provides, but yes you've guessed it: 10/10 for pointing that out.

Mat youve missed the latest report that Walker is very nearly fit, but nonetheless 10/10 for the fitness report.

wow, after all that maybe I should change my avatar to Victor Mellowdrew. Mind you, nobody of late quoting spurious statistics.

so as well as the starting 17 game, does anybody else want to play the:

Forecast the best new player game? - please give a substitute in case your first choice exits stage left. Anybody who has read any of my posts (apart from being very sad) will know I am going for Henry by a nose in front of Carvell
Forecast the most improved injured player game? previous winners Scrutton and Langley, my guess Gale but theres one or two others out there awaiting your votes ( subs also required my sub being Sidlow)
Forecast the Best homegrown player game? possibly the toughest category to call, Donaldson has the incentive and the skill, Addy the current form and skill, O'Brien the skill and competition from a competitive and skillful Nathan Conroy to push him along, etc etc

over and out, just seen a post saying that women aged 40+ are keen to see me, I've been living in hope for so long and now it

As this is a "friendly" game there will not be a starting 17.
Our starting line up may be limited only to the number of fit bodies

Mustn't we have 8 academy products in our 1st team squad? If so I expect Conroy to get a squad number.

He will do, as they've mentioned in a couple of articles recently that Diskin & O'Brien are expected to be the main choice hookers this year, with Conroy as the backup to get him some experience. He's clearly expected to play a few games this year in the same way that O'Brien has the last couple of seasons.

Be great to see Nathan get a few games this season.Know him well from his West Bowling days,smashing lad.From a young age you got the impression he would do well.

edited to move Walker to back row. If all the squad have his attitude, I am optimistic... for 12th position. next edit I will add FC as he should be there too.

I think that squad's quite respectable considering. OK, it's light on numbers at prop and size/experience around the ruck BUT

3 halves for the first time in living memory
4 genuine, experienced, good quality props - not bulked up second rows, kids or utter dross. Again first time in at least 7 years
The first squad in a generation not to have Platt or Sykes in it.
A respectable looking backline although we need Henry to be a livewire.

I know there's really no point in saying it but there really is the bare bones of a handy side here with 3/4 additions. One look at the balance tells you just how atrociously this club was managed in the past.

You don't remember Robbie/Henry/Deacs?! Come on. If we don't have our memories, we won't have very much at all!!

I agree with most of that, but I think our backline is our weakest place at the moment. Kear is a very underrated player and Kearney when on form can be one of the best fullbacks in the league. Jamie Foster similarly, when on form, can be excellent, but he does seem to disappear a bit when his centre isn't doing anything for him. The rest I think are either a poor quality (Purtell), unproven/gambles (Henry / George), or kids (Wood / potentially Saltonstall).
It looks to me like we need the likes of Foster, Henry and Purtell to shine to make our back line look any good. I certainly think we still have the problem of having centres who will run the ball in hard, but don't have a tendency to put a winger away. Unless Henry turns out to be a sensation of course.

Hooker is also somewhere that's going to depend a lot on how well O'Brien steps up, as to how much we miss Heath.

The halves and the rest of the forwards though, as the squads stands, I agree, I'm very happy with.

Robbie/Henry/Deacs have forgot Robbie/Henry/Deacs. Come on that was at least 2 (Bradford fans) lives ago.

There's also Blythe in the right centre who's a genuinely good player. I grant you it's hit and miss but far from the worst we've seen.

What about Jeffries/Gale/Sammut in 2012?

Agree we need Henry to be a successful signing. Hopefully he'll be more like Lulia than Platt/Sykes.

A lot rests on O'Brien this year too.

Blythe I thought about, but it's not completely clear where he'll play. With more options in the centres, Blythe may end up in the second row (which he's played a bit of for us already). If he does play centre, I agree, he's a good player. But he probably falls into that category of the strong running centre that will make hard yards and power over from near the line, but won't necessarily create space and put a winger away.

Injuries will probably dictate where Blythe plays. I suppose we should be grateful for his versatility.
I'm thinking that FC is more likely to start with Purtell in the centres, if only to try and get his money's worth.

That was my thinking too. Purtell and Henry are likely to be our first choice centres, at least at first. I wouldn't be surprised to see Blythe in the second row, especially with Winterstein no longer an option. I think that may be his best position anyway.

I thought Blythe looked good in the second row in the few games I got to see. What swap him into the second row and Addy to loose from the previous team sheet. Think that would also take pressure off O'Brien with Addy at loose rather than Chev.

I'd forgot Gale was even there.

A common complaint!

Would be happier with addy at loose and Donno in the 2nd just to give us the option and on other kicking game.

Can't Henry also play at 6 sure I heard this elsewhere?

Yeah he's played in the halves before, not sure how many times or how successful he was though.
But with Gale, Sammut, Gaskell, Addy and even Kearney all capable of playing there, I'd say we'd have to be in some serious trouble injury wise before we see Henry at 6.

Agree with above I doubt we'll need to utilise Henry as a halfback. And if Purtell is selected at centre I would still want Blythe in the 17 - he runs the ball very hard.

They said the same about Ah Van when he first turned up over here.

Kearney, Kear, Blythe, Henry, Foster, Gaskell, Sammut, Scruton, Diskin, Carvell, Ferguson, Walker, Addy is what I would choose.


I think it will be more like this though.

Kearney, Kear, Blythe, Henry, Foster, Gaskell, Gale, Scruton, Disk in, Manese, Ferguson, Olbison, Walker