10 days to the Cas opening SL fixture. By any standards a pivotal game for the players, the coaches and the fans.

Self evidently, most of us are a bit tentative now about this season and how it will pan out for the Robins.

In early January, I was really excited that the SL was merely a month away. My excitement and optimism have gone into freefall since 17th January. I keep saying it's only preseason and there's all to play for, but can we really address all the weaknesses as a team which we collectively can see, but some key movers and shakers in our organisation perceivably cannot?

On the assumption that feedback on here could filter back to the relevant individuals, what would you prioritise between now and the Cas game to avoid further collateral damage?

You've lost it squire, knee jerkery of the highest order, it could probably be a case for DSM VI when anyone can be bothered to write it.

We need a mobile bruiser of a second row, with nunchucks and a bad ass prop with a SIG Sauer 9 mil.

Win at all costs!! Cas are a team capable of top 6, but still a team that a victory should be looked at being essential. Plus a bit of retribution too as they've beat us badly the last two seasons. That should be motivation enough.
But the players know the fans are less than enamoured about the team right now, so a top performance with energy is required by all us fans without excuses about injury from the players and coach alike.
Keeping them below 20 points would be nice too.

So that's new roles for Graeme Horne and Dane Tilse then.

Turn up, look organised, find some defensive line speed and show total commitment for every tackle, not just some of them.

If the above happens I will be satisfied (and possibly amazed!).

Gerrin to 'em (andemup!)

You're pretty good at home so I reckon you're in with a decent shout of a win.

On-field priorities?

Obviously the right attitude in defence

and

A gameplan that doesn't take Cas on down the middle.

Play to our strengths not theirs!

Different season, same shlt leaving your gob.

WIN at all costs that will do for a start please

knowing rovers there will win lol

Where?

To refer back to my initial post to start this thread, how much does the signing of Samoan Sami address our teams current weaknesses?

Not a lot. Unless of course it stops Graeme Horne from playing centre. Apparently he's played alongside Josh M in the NSW Cup team of the year.

I know we need forwards but if this guy turns out to be has good has Josh M he will do us a job I hope

On field priorities are to keep James Green, he's knocked back contract talks and who can blame him?

Rather than make such broad statement, why not attempt to be a little more precise, knock back tends to imply a refusal to accept someone or something.
What he actually said was.....
"Discussions have begun, but I want to put it on the back-burner for now and get off to a good start in the year," Green told the Mail. "I've got my motivation back now and I'm cracking on with that, and sorting a contract with the club."

If green has a blinding season he is gone.

Know that for certain do you? another glass half empty comment.
You could also apply that sentiment to Kelly, Greenwood, even though he is on a contract, plus probably one or two others.
Of course you can never stop players wanting to move on if they really want to but, I would bet and certainly hope that Rovers tie him up to a long contract so that in the event that he does move on, Rovers at least will get a decent transfer fee for him.
Having said that its up to the club to try their utmost to retain these type of players, otherwise we may as well shut up shop now and resign ourselves forever to mediocrity.
I've followed James Greens progress since he was seventeen years old, in fact a good pal of mine used to coach him when he was first starting out in the game, so I would certainly hope that he is here for the long term and help the club in its ambition to become a force in the game once again.

The problem is we don't give our home grown talent long term contracts, see Taylor and Cox. Green will be offered a two year contract and be one of the lower payed players.

green's still really pizzed about being dropped for wembley so can't see him staying unless chester goes

For me that was a crazy decision to leave him out but as he was sat on the sidelines I bet he was glad he wasn't part of that debacle

Taylor was on a contract thus the reason we got a sizeable transfer fee for him, Cox was released for various reasons, one been his attitude in training I was lead to believe.
The general feeling among many fans including myself was, that Cox was a big unit but as a player seemed to had gone backwards and was never going to reach his true potential, I still stand by those sentiments today.
With regards to Green been one of the lower paid players on a new contract, neither you nor I are privy to his contract details but, one thing I do know is that when Jamie Peacock first came to the club he made it plain that one of his main priorities would be, to get the players he considered to be the long term future of the club signed up on longer term contracts as soon as possible.
We all know Chester made a complete b**lls up of his team selection at Wembley especially with Green, personally I don't think CC is the right man to take the club forward,
I also personally believe his days are numbered barring a miraculous turnaround in performances and I mean consistently good performances, not just the odd good one here and there, but that's another subject for another day.

No, he was devastated at being dropped and is still really, really unhappy about it. Can;t see him staying unless the man responsible leaves

We all become devastated about something or other at certain times in our lives but we get over it, we have to.
Its called moving on.

Indeed, and if moving on includes moving to a better club with a 50% pay rise it makes it that bit easier

Unless your name is Scott Taylor of course.