Apologies if this should be put in another thread please feel free to much but:

Start of 2010 Start of 2009

1. Halley, Kearney, Sykes 1. Platt, Sykes, Halley
6. Kearney, Sykes, The Beaver 6. Jefferies, Sykes, Beaver
7. Orford 7. Deacon
9. Godwin, L'estange 9. Newton, Godwin
13, Langley, The beaver, Donaldson 13. Langley, Burgess, The beaver

Doesn't look bad to me and is quite pacy in places. Look a bit lighter at loose forward. Just need some strike players off the back of it.

only major weakness is 7 if orford picks up an injury. maybe godwin to fill in at hb in such a situation with l'estrange and langley sharing the hooking role?

If we run out of full backs, we will just have been plain careless!

[size=50Note to Bulliac: in setting the font colour to red, it was the system that used the American spelling, not me![/size

Notwithstanding the Walker situation, if we bring in another player, I would expect it not to be a three-quarter, but a young half-back. Someone who wouldn't immediately expect an automatic first team spot, but who would be a little more prepared to step up than last season's academy halves. Rumours of Gaunt from Leeds, or the possibility of a loan from Wigan as part of the Deacon deal point this way.

good call, hadnt considered that. although part of reason they want deacon was to coach their young halfs which would be difficult if they were on loan over here, so maybe a loan deal which only kicks in if orford is injured.

Just one person mentioned it yesterday - no other corroboration as far as I can see. No names, but from the description I can only assume that they mean Joe Mellor, who probably has Deacon & Leuleuai in front of him for next season.

Why bring in Mellor when we have Kay and Wardle who are the same age in our set up already.

No idea. Just referring to words from someone else yesterday and drawing them out to a conclusion. Would you think Wardle, Kaye - or Addy - would be ready to cover a half-back spot in case of injury?

impression I got from your comments through the season was that you didnt think they were anywhere near ready to step up to SL. Do you think another pre-season is going to make a big difference?

Anythings possible but mellor on loan seems incongruous to both clubs and the player himself.

1.Wigan think really highly of him and he's possibly one the players that Deacon will be expected to coach to replace Leuleuai sooner rather than later.
2. Bulls taking Mellor will not solve their long term aspirations to bring/coach a young player to eventually be contracted.
3. Why would Mellor move from a club where he is tipped to break into the first team next season to one where Orford is contracted for 3 years.

The only possibility is that, as mentioned before, its part of the Deacon deal, though even then I cant see how the pieces could fit.
But Hey! what do I know.

I know little enough about our academy players and next to nothing about Wigan's. The only way it would make sense would have been if one of our halves is expected to be good enough eventually, but not yet, and if Mellor was further developed (RER says he isn't). That way, he could have had first team time with us for a season, which he might not have had at Wigan, and our player(s) might have avoided being thrown in too early.

But this is all just specification based on a single unsubstantiated remark from yesterday.

Is it even physically possible to bring Walker in now?

I must admit, even after the Orford signing, I had heard that Walker was still coming and already under contract for next season

Joe Mellor is no further developed than those 3 Bulls lads.

I reckon if Orford does get injured then Kearney ould move to seven with Sykes at 6, or the other way round. Also Beaver can cover SO aswell.

kearney to hb with sykes/menzies SO maybe. cant see sykes at hb personally. doesnt have the handling skills. in the current squad kearney and godwin are the most likely backup options imo

Fair comment, think we'll be fine if the situation arises. Can't wait for boxing day now!