For me I would like to see an experienced backrow foward, we only have 3 at the moment and are relying on the young kids who only have a couple of first team games bewteen them, I also think we could do with a player in the Fitz mould, who works hard, that would give us a good mix in the backrow.

Not a brilliant player but someone like Ferguson or Fulton.

If Chris Green, Liam Cunningham, Liam Kent, Laurence Pearce and Ben Crooks can't get game time because we sign Liam ing Fulton I'd cry.

Trouble is Sheldon must names that get mentioned you laugh them off, can't all be superstars.

I never said they can Paul, I'd rather bring the young lads through.

Gentle has already made it abundantly clear he will.

Well, we still have a quota spot, and looking at our squad we should have a decent wage left. Who we going for?

A right centre or a second-rower?

Probably Gareth Thomas at this rate

Very average who's really just a number . Thought these signings were a thing of the past . Got to give the kid a chance though but surely we can't be that close to the cap that we had to get rid of obst first cos he must be coming cheapish at this stage . Am I right in thinking he plays wing as well or have I got him mixed up with someone else ?

He did.

Anyone on here name Aspinwall?

No? There's a surprise

No one thought we were that desperate

Exactly!

Did we need another backrower - YES
Did we get one - YES
Are there lots of quality backrowers available to pick and choose - NO

Who do you suggest we signed? He really is not as poor as some of you are making him out to be. Give him a chance to show what he can do for us before you start with the usual doom and gloom.

Rather have kept washbrook

The thing is though lots of people were expecting Pearson to wave the cheque book and sign some real quality after his initial statements when he took over ala warrington when in fact it looks more like we're raiding the piggy bank. Gentles coaching may make a massive diffeence this year or maybe it wont, who knows, but squad wise it just looks like weve gone sideways. My optimism has been well and truly nuked!

Indeed and/or Burnett if you are just looking for cover.

Dowes is a better prop than Aspinwall is a second row, and Hull are short of a prop imho.

If there is a lack of quality players out there and if we had little room to manouvre within the cap, AP should have chosen his words much more carefully when he talked about quality additions to the squad and about exciting the fans.

The Aspinwall and Martin signings, IMO, are far from "exciting" and they're certainly not "quality additions".

I also agree with Seb that our squad has gone sideways and any improvement now can only come from Gentle himself.

My optimism, in the space of two months, has gone through the ceiling, only to then fall back down onto the floor in a heap.

I think Aspinwall will surprise fans, not anywhere near as bad as people think.

I agree and its only a one year deal is it not?? So there could be something in the pipeline for the 2013 season...who knows???

I don't think anyone is saying that him or Tony Martin are bad Paul. They're just very average signings that do not come close to what most fans were hoping for.

Just another underwhelming signing.

Where does the salary cap come from for a 2013 signing, whether it's in the pipeline or not?

I can't imagine that the salaries of Martin + Aspinwall are going to get us a marquee signing for 2013. The rest of our squad will be more or less in place for the 2013 season. If Moa or O'Meley leave, their replacements will probably cost just as much anyway.

The same is true for Tony Martin.

There's just a disconnect between the sensible strategy and ambitious rhetoric. Which is strange, because Pearson seems a pretty shrewd guy.