It's just this off-season posturing, as if Barrow and Halifax are nailed on certs for the top two with the rest making up the numbers before even a ball has been kicked.

I'm quite enjoying this constantly being written off by you trolls. We'll do our talking on the pitch.

They are not nailed on by any means but they will start as favorites as we will see when the bookies announce the odds. Im not writing you off i fully expect you to make the top 6 and any thing can happen after that, its just that i dont think you have the strength when you compare your team to the Barrow and Widnes ones.

What matters is Widnes are looking long term rather than short, the likes of Halifax and i mean no offence by this have basically abandoned there youth policy for has beens like Stanley Gene. Have a look at our squad we have some excellent youngsters coming through and have a squad which are mainly British players.

We are stronger than last year and will get more out of these players in terms of game time unlike we did last year when we had a regular 6 out for most of the season. For once im glad weve had a low key off season because like Busty said were going to do our talking on the pitch. Mick Cassidy has had them flying over recent weeks and we'll be battle hardened for the start of the season. Another couple of players are still to arrive which will only enhance an already strong squad.

2012 is the aim for us and were well on the way to getting that goal.

Call me single minded but i want to see Fax doing the best they can in whatever league they are in. I really dont care how many Halifax born players are in our team every week because im realistic enough to realise any decent young players are snapped up by other SL clubs in the area and this will continue to do so unless the RFL put a stop to it. I just dont see why we should spend money developing players just to see them snapped up by SL clubs which has happened time and time again.

The whole Franchise system was brought in by the RFL to help us compete with the Aussies on the international stage. Them along with the RFL press thought that teams would suddenly start bringing youngsters through instead of shopping abroad. What they failed to take in to account was Chairman, Coach and fans views on this. As a chairman you want to see your team winning every week, as a coach if your team isnt winning every week then your job is in jepordy, as a fan you want to see your team as high as possible in the league, all that means is that the coaches have to sign the best players available to them at the cheapest price, the best players been foreign players.

I really have no care as to whether Fax make SL or not, personally i would rather be competing at the top of this league than watching us get hammered every week in SL. So as far as that goes im not bothered that we have no youth policy as i want to see the best players we can get playing for Fax. So far our signings have been top notch and im sure they will deliver what they have been brought in to do. Not a single one is English, do i care? Not in the slightest because i will, fingers crossed, be watching my team compete near the top of the league.

So you dont care if Fax make Super League? b[io[/illocks yes you do because if you dont your club will go the same way that the likes of Keighley/Oldham/Doncaster/Rochdale/Widnes have gone. Finance can only go on for so much time in this division and without that ambition which is Super League your fooked.

You dont care that you have a youth setup? shame on you, it is possible to keep top end youth just like we have done with Paddy Flynn and Ben Kavanagh and Mullally. All know we have a good chance of Super League and enjoy the club setup.


Every club should be bringing through good british youngsters to help strengthen then national team, the more choice the better. Shame on you.

You've just summed up pretty much all that is wrong with the game.

In your opinion. Whats the overall view though? I bet its close to mine than it is to yours.

Couldnt care less whether we are in SL or not. I will watch us wherever we are. Im realistic enough to realise we cant sustain a SL club, theres just not the crowds or the income.

Seen many youth players come and go. If SL clubs wanted your players they would take them. Simples. Shame on me? Shame on the majority involved with the game as well then. Club rugby first for me, international second. I watch my team every game home and away, i see England, GB, or whatever they are called about 4 times a year. End of the day if a young player is good enough they will get game time, the problem isnt to do with franchises or anything like that its a lot more simple than that. The Aussies produce far more good players than we do, due to numbers of people playing the game and how they are coached from an early age.

You show a lack of ambition as a fan which is disappointing, Fax need to make the ground work for them when fully finished. Generate more support through the turnsytles and you have derby central on your doorstep.

Never give up!

As for putting club before country well i do the same but it doesnt mean i dont want to see the national team do well, Im english after all and would love to see Widnes born and bred lads in the English side just like Richard Myler.

Let's hope your club chairman and coach don't share this view...

In actual fact, we are regularly beating SL clubs to sign local youth players. They know they are signing for a club with high ambitions and a realistic opportunity of competing in Super League.

HTH

Bet they do. They want to see the best team we can get on the field. You think any Chairmaan or Coach in SL is more interested with the international game than the club game.

<Edit Double post>

I'm having a real problem with this new board.

No, but the RFL seem to be. Therefore, if you want a licence, so should Halifax. Or they should, and make an effort to bring through their own youngsters. It’s not like you can’t produce them there if you want to.

In other words, you can wave goodbye to a licence for 2012, and with that, probably for as long as this awful licence system exists.

There is also no guarantee that you’ll win anything next year either. I’m sure that Matt the Mouth thinks his side are a county mile better than everyone else, but look at what happened the last time he thought that – he won NOWT!

I think you're oversimplifying the issue now to suit your own argument.

What it all boils down to is lack of ambition. Your chairman is obviously lying when he talks about Super League aspirations if he thinks the same as you.

Here's a thing i'd be proud of a Widnes side full of Britihs and local youngsters playig there hearts out and finishing 3rd 4th in the table.

Could you say the same for Halifax now? As it's as likely!

Mate fax seem to always have an answer, sometimes not worth your breath.

J20 the licence process means criteria as states, such as youth,attendances,stadium.Three ticks already above fax.All we need to do is support our club and bring a friend along next year.

Back to the original topic.

I thought Ostick was being lined up by Saints last season
hence his refusal to take a contract.

Potter was quoted in the media as being interested in a Widnes Forward.

Watching him on Sky his game seemed to go to bits particularly
towards the end.

Has he quit the pro game or has he been picked up by anybody?

Rochdale?

Yep signed for Rochdale.

As already confirmed, Rochdale.Rumour has it, a deal at a "significant " other club collasped at the last minute. Glad to hear the lad has'nt quit the game as originally posted, he's got the ability and the once the application is tweaked a little he'll do alright.

Anobody know whether Simm is still involved anywhere?

Simm has gone to France to play for Carcassone