Putting some pace into the side would be a priority for me. A quick half back with good support play would make a big difference.
As for a centre, unless it was someone world class, I reckon we can make do with what we've got. Sykes and Nero with Crookes to get a chance when possible.
Keep Menzies, and Morrison as long as he agrees to a pay cut. I think that their experience could make a big difference to the talented group of youngsters coming through. Solomona to go because of his large wages, and injury situation.

Do you know how much they'r ebeing paid?



Agreed

A young player from PNG, Tonga. Samoa or Fiji would still have to qualify for a British work permit.

I just meant Morrison taking a cut, I'm guessing Menzies' second year option will already be negotiated as part of his current deal.
I dont know how much he is payed, but with his age and how much time he's been spending on the sidelines, I don't think it would be too harsh for the club to shave a little off his next deal to put towards other, longer term targets.

No they dont, but they are both quality experienced super league , and if the club is serious about Crookes potential (and I've seen enough of him that I think we need to give him a shot if he gets over this injury ok) then that 3 with Platt/Menzies as backups would be ok for next year IMO unless a world class became available for the right money, which is doubful with other top clubs also needing a .

I would rather we spent any available cap money on a top drawer half back or possibly a FB if Platt/Halley dont make that a non option by being consistanly excellent. Halley could be moved to the wing if tadulala is not retained and Platt would be an excellent utility back/competition for FB. We might also need some cap money to spend at prop for an impact prop or replacement for Lynch.

Solomona to be released has to be a no-brainer surely? Menzies to be retained would be a good deal if he keeps up his fitness and form (and I see no reason why he wouldn't - guy is a freak!), and possibly Morrison but I'm very wary of the number of promising kids we supposedly have coming through and we need to make sure they get a fair shout and resigning both our 30+ year old Aussie backrowers might not be the best message for Donaldson and co.

And as for Lynch and Newton, I'm yet to be convinced either of them will be our choice. I could see both going after refusing an offer from us.

Just my random thoughts on the current state of play.

Seems a fair enough summing up to me.

The problem lies with player availability though. There just isn't an abundance of world class talent available (as you'd probably expect)

Is an over-abundance of world class a contradiction in terms?

You know what I mean!!

Indeed. No doubt that's why he did not use the prefix "over..."?

Thats right, especially in the , and both Leeds and Saints (amoungst others) might well be looking for a "world class" next year. So whilst I would like us to sign said "world class" , if we have two good players in Sykes and Nero, adequate cover with Menzies/Platt and a promoising youngster in Crookes who needs game time then our cap money could be better spent elsewhere. (on an abundance of world class half backs?

) Its also why its so important to develop our own talent, and just as importantly give them a chance.

Another problem that [isome [/ifolk overlook when we discuss the make up of the squad is we're not comparing like with like as we dont have the facts about the wage structure. In a limited cap a player should be judged against how much cap space he takes up, for example, resigning Morrison on a huge percentage of the cap=bad deal, resigning Morrison on a reduced percentage of the cap=potentially good deal. Signing Fielden on superstar wages=terrible, signing Fielden on squad back up wages=possibly.

For a change I wasn't taking the p1ss, more thinking aloud. Extending that thought, can you have an abundance of world class?

I suppose it would depend on what is considered a "normal" amount.
e.g. the average number of "world class" centres for the last 10 years has been 5. In 2009, there is 7, therefore there is an abundance!?

that or hyperbole,exageration and a blind ignoring of the facts

From FreeDictionary;

[iworld-class
adj.
1. Ranking among the foremost in the world; of an international standard of excellence; of the highest order: a world-class figure skater.
2. Great, as in importance, concern, or notoriety.

world-class
Adjective
being as good as anyone else in the world in a particular field[/i

I suppose you could have 2 views from that.
1. You are the best available at the time (see Paul Deacon).
2. You have reached a comonly accepted standard of excellence, world-wide (see Sam Burgess).

I see no problem with there being an abundance of anything... the word means


dictionary.com

Which can pretty much be summed up as "there are many more available than are needed".

The other thing you need for this discussion is a definition of 'world class'. Possibly something like - of sufficient quality to have a strong chance of being selected for any of the top international sides irrespective of nationality constraints? (e.g. a French centre who would be good enough to play Origin or for Australia/NZ if he qualified).

Sorry to drag this up from the 1st page of this world class thread, but this links into this mornings T&A piece;

[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/4348258.Jeffries__Deal_me_in_for_2010/Jeffries wants new deal[/url

“[iI’ve not heard anything from Bradford yet but I’m not going to wait around too long. I like to have decisions made sooner rather than later. I’ve told Macca I want to stay though and my manager is on to it. The ball is in their court but hopefully it will get rolling now.” [/i

also interestingly;

"[iJeffries – who is aiming to have his quota status relaxed to aid his bid to stay..." [/i

If he comes off quota in some way that would make his resigning an even easier choice would it not?

definitely. after watching him against huddersfield i didn't think he'd amount to much this year but he's looking good all of a sudden. it can't harm to sign him to another year?

According to my understanding, the answer is yes - but only marginally. He'll still be 'overseas trained' (of which I believe we can have 6, including quota players), but won't be 'quota' (of which we can have 5).

Thus, at the moment I think we have 7 overseas trained players, but of those only Jeffries, Menzies & Morrison are quota. Solomona & Tadulala are Kolpak, Rinaldi is an EU citizen and I think Nero is an EU passport holder.

If he gets off quota then yes, give him another yr, he`s better than sykes etc at s/o..but is he worth a quota spot when theres better out there?

By sound of that he wants to stay and he`s told bradford so for a while and they are leting it drag on..if they really wanted him to sign they would say yes there and then, are they looking at other options or waiting to see if he come off quota then they know where they stand..but id you hang around then other teams could come in for him..ie celtic/hull/hudders.

In SL at the moment there are only 3 SO's who i would suggest are possibly more valuable than BJ (in the short term at least) - Pryce, McGuire & Bosc. None of them are likely to be available (arguable), you are going to have to go overseas to get better.

I'd add Horne - but that's academic as he is, if anything, even less available than the others.

Interesting, though, that Jeffries claims in the article to see himself as a SO, when many have argued that he's a natural scrum half.

I see BJ as a natural SH.
As regards Horne, I'm just not sure what is his best position. He's almost a great player, but he doesn't attack the line like BJ did.

I personally feel that BJ is worth another 2 year deal, he's been one of our best players so far this year. We'd be daft to let Jeffries go but stick with Deacon for another year.

Brdford are not letting it drag on but simply considering their options. He cannot sign for anybody else until later in the season so it seems reasonable that we look around at what may be on offer. There are too many people that immediately want to re-sign anyone that has had two or three good games and forget about his form before.

of those only menzies and rinaldi are full quota. under rules change brought in at back end of last season anyone who joined us before april? 2008 is counted as overseas trained for as long as they stay in superleague. This is change in interpretation which led to us losing evans as we thought he'd count as a full quota spot. menzies joined us after deadline and rinaldi this year.