I suppose so, but one's still here so....

I really hope we aren't using Sykes as centre for a full season

Surely Sykes will be used as a utility player, filling in at half back or in the back line as injuries dictate. Can't see him being first choice anywhere.

Oh dear

After signing a new 3 year deal there's no way he wont be first choice somewhere.

3 year ??? was only a 1 year extention iirc

Correctamundo

it was. sykes is ooc at end of 2010.

We need to sign a centre then. Unless McNamara has huge faith in Crookes.

Apologies...im getting my Naf back liners mixed up - it was Platt with the 3 years...sorry!

Yup. We have Platt till the end of 2011. Good cover imo, but not good as 1st choice.

Sykes & Platt as cover though? Doesn't seem likely.

I can't see Sykes losing the no.3 shirt but i cant see Platt keeping no.1 either.

Macca must realise that Sykes is too much of a liability at centre though.


N0.3 is going to be Sykes, Platt or a new player. I hope for no 3 but i'd rather have Platt there than Sykes then use Sykes as cover for everywhere in the backs.

I'd put Crookes in as first choice, he was definitely no worse than Sykes in the games he played last year. Let's see the club developing the talent from the academy (then we can help get the talent into the academy in the first place *yet another shameless supporters trust plug*).

Platt & Crookes maybe, but a player who has only played SL 3 times ?, shouldn't get a whole season there, it could ruin him.

I'd hope the 1-13 squad numbers (assuming no more signings) would look something like:

1. Halley
2. Sherriffe
3. Crookes
4. Nero
5. Reardon
6. Kearney
7. Deacon
8. Scruton
9. Godwin
10. Lynch
11. Menzies
12. Hall
13. Langley

1.Halley
2.Sheriffe
3.Platt
4.Nero
5.Reardon
6.Kearney
7.Deacon
8.Scruton
9.Godwin
10.Lynch
11.Menzies
12.Hall
13.Langley


I'd like to see alot more of Donno at 13 alternating with Langley next year, then when Menzies lleaves in 2011, I think either Whitehead or Donno will be a regular.

Either Elliott moving straight into 11 shirt or Langley put in at 11 and move Donno to 13. Maybe being a bit hopeful though.

with the signings at the moment I'd go with that line up but hopefully we've still got one or two to come in.

I think Godwin at 9 and starting should be a cert. Godwins best performances for us have come recently when he's been starting, L'Estrange's best performances (and most of them) have come off the bench and he's good at providing impact when he comes on. A no-brainer imo.

That would be fine as long as the boo-boys don't start up every time he catches a ball. Another season of that will drive me bonkers.

Platt can be a good player, and he has proved that. But he will remain a scapegoat unless he plays consistently well for a long time. I don't mind him, he's solid defensively, and -apart from the occasional brain fart- he is quite dangerous with ball in hand.

Does anyone else have the concern that if Hall is starting 2nd rower then we've only Kopczak from the bench for prop?

I'd rather put Langley in the 2nd row and start with Donaldson loose or Langley loose and Olbison or Whitehead alternating second row.

tend to agree with that. and its generally more recoverable if he makes a mistake out wide rather than as last line of defence. I'd like to see platt given a run on the wing personally. maybe alongside crookes giving us the option of dropping sheriffe if his defence doesnt improve. That said I think rikki was left in no mans land a lot of the time with sykes going missing. sheriffes alleged poor defense was a lot less noticeable once platt was playing alongside him at back end of season imo.

Agree with all of that, but I think i'd rather see him given a shot at centre first. I'd be happy to see anything which keeps Sykes out of the 3 shirt though.

If we sign a new prop Hall will play SR. If we sign a SR Hall will play prop, simple as.


I'd rather see us get a prop, and I think we probably will with the talent we have coming through in the back row.

If we get a new prop and Hall goes 2nd row we'd be looking at 4 prop forwards (Kopczak,Lynch,Scruton,+1) with Hall able to play there. I'd like us to play 4 dedicated props so we can rotate them properly but that leaves Crossley to cover injury/loss of form who, unless I missed it, hasn't played a first team game.