41 replies to this topic

[Eddie_Rombo]

Well your going to do aren't you being a rams fan. Would be very strange if you we're looking for batley victories.

In the same way I hope we have another top season and continue to progress. At the same time I hope you lot have a better year, obviously not including our 2 games.

The only strange thing I see is why would anyone want to be a Batley fan!

[Nick07]

Why would anyone want to be a Dewsbury fan? Or a Fev one, or a York one, a Wigan one, or any team at all.

[Eddie_Rombo]

Mind you I bet a lot of your 'fans' get free tickets from voucher's in the local press or from the job centre.

[Nick07]

Ok Eddie. Dewsbury is the best place on earth and the greatest RL side in history. Every other club pales into insignificance and every non-ram fan is clearly unemployed sheer scum. I'm guessing that's what you want to hear.

Your clearly looking for bites and a row. Pretty pointless tbh. But enjoy your afternoon nonetheless in the utopia known as Dewsbury.

Edited by Nick07, 23 September 2012 - 02:29 PM.

[Nick07]

Anyway back to topic...good signings for us.

Bretherton didn't have the impact he did in 2011 but still a solid and consistent back rower, who works hard and tackles well. If he can regain the attacking threat he provided from the previous season then he gives us even more than that.

As for Danny really pleased to see him sign for another year. Hampered by injury this year but still gave his all and didn't let us down, albeit perhaps not as threatening going forward as in previous years.

Hopefully when back to 100% after his op he'll not only give us excellent back up in the centres, but also challenge to be first choice and get back to his very best.

Squad coming along nicely.

[ernieone]

Just to say I am not convinced the team will be improved with the signings so far, hopefully there are negotiations going on with players that will give us some hope for next season but I am not getting over excited so far.

[HaroldShand]

Just to say I am not convinced the team will be improved with the signings so far, hopefully there are negotiations going on with players that will give us some hope for next season but I am not getting over excited so far.

Got to disagree there, Ernie.
Faal is a quality player, and hopefully the strike player - wingman's centre that we missed last season. Lets hope we can keep him fit.
Davies was getting rave reviews at York up until the final few weeks of the season when he was playing with an injury - a York supporting friend of mine tells me he's a terrific prospect and their best forward in 2012.
Flanagan, for mine, is a fair enough swap for Wildie. The latter disappointed me during his loan spell from Wakefield, and I'm sure George is a more than adequate replacement despite his deficiences. At least we know he'll score tries. Rowe has caused us no end of problems in the past and beat us single-handedly at Bramall Lane in 2011. He'll cause some damage coming off the bench for us, I'm sure.
Esders is a very direct runner who was good enough to be getting regular game time in SL a few seasons back. His discipline isn't the greatest I'll admit, but that's something that a good coach can restrict.
I felt last season that when Walker was out injured (lets hope we see him again in 2012), we relied on Walmsley for aggressive yard-making from our pack. When Alex was off the field, our go-forward was hugely limited. In Esders, Davies and Rowe we've immediately snapped up three forwards who will put the oppo on the back foot. If we see Walker again, and get The Beast back for the majority of the season, we're looking good.

[grumpyoldram]

Got to disagree there, Ernie.
Faal is a quality player, and hopefully the strike player - wingman's centre that we missed last season. Lets hope we can keep him fit.
Davies was getting rave reviews at York up until the final few weeks of the season when he was playing with an injury - a York supporting friend of mine tells me he's a terrific prospect and their best forward in 2012.
Flanagan, for mine, is a fair enough swap for Wildie. The latter disappointed me during his loan spell from Wakefield, and I'm sure George is a more than adequate replacement despite his deficiences. At least we know he'll score tries. Rowe has caused us no end of problems in the past and beat us single-handedly at Bramall Lane in 2011. He'll cause some damage coming off the bench for us, I'm sure.
Esders is a very direct runner who was good enough to be getting regular game time in SL a few seasons back. His discipline isn't the greatest I'll admit, but that's something that a good coach can restrict.
I felt last season that when Walker was out injured (lets hope we see him again in 2012), we relied on Walmsley for aggressive yard-making from our pack. When Alex was off the field, our go-forward was hugely limited. In Esders, Davies and Rowe we've immediately snapped up three forwards who will put the oppo on the back foot. If we see Walker again, and get The Beast back for the majority of the season, we're looking good.

I like esders, but I think we played him out of position last year. One on one at centre, he couldn't tackle a bag of chips, but ball in hand near the line he takes a lot of stopping. If the dogs want the best out of him, he should be in the pack and probably coming off the bench. Good signing though. Flanners is the one I'll miss most.

[Piggy's mate]

Just to say I am not convinced the team will be improved with the signings so far, hopefully there are negotiations going on with players that will give us some hope for next season but I am not getting over excited so far.

I think Kear knows the team etc now and seems to have kept the players he wants and signed a few he feels he needs to plug our shortcomings. Looking forward to next season as are JK and Kevin from what they said at the very good presentation evening.

[Sir Jekyll Stocking]

Ok Eddie. Dewsbury is the best place on earth and the greatest RL side in history. Every other club pales into insignificance and every non-ram fan is clearly unemployed sheer scum. I'm guessing that's what you want to hear.

Your clearly looking for bites and a row. Pretty pointless tbh. But enjoy your afternoon nonetheless in the utopia known as Dewsbury.

Point of order, Nick.
I think you meant to refer to the ewetopia known as Dewsbury.

[ernieone]

Sorry but it does not get me too excited signing players from Oldham, Dewsbury, York and Doncaster + signing back on some of the players from last season that at best gave indifferent performances.
I will be as fully committed to the cause as ever but will not expect to improve on the end of season results of the last three seasons :-(

I hope I am proved massively wrong though :-)

[Pride & Heritage]

Like you Ernie, I'm not too convinced so far, although I am pleased by Rowe and Faal's signings. However, I wasn't overly impressed pre-season last year when we signed Potts, Hirst and Applegarth. To be fair Hirst has exceeded my expectations and Applegarth and Potts have been two of the best players in the division in there respective positions, I certainly can't think of anyone in our division I'd rather have in there place.

We were desperately short in the centres last season, so Faal can only be a good move. I can't say I have ever been Walton's biggest fan in the centres, he's great with ball in hand, but he's better suited to the 2nd row imo, as there is more cover if he misses his man. In the centre's he's too exposed, as was best witnessed at Sheffield away in the league game where he conceded 3 tries.

I've always liked Rowe, he always seems to play well when I've seen him, but whether he's good enough to replace Walmsley, only time will tell I guess. One thing is for sure, we need a number of new quality players if we going to move forward,

One thing that is puzzling though, It has been deafeningly quiet regarding SL academy players so far. I am under the impression (but could be wrong) that all of the 2nd team/academies are all being dis-banded next season? So far though, I haven't seen many of them being snapped up. I'm not too familiar with the academies, but surely the likes of Leeds in particular, but also Wakefield, Castleford and Huddersfield all must have a good number of young lads looking to put themselves in the shop window in the Championship next season. Another Aaron Murphy or Jermaine McGillvary wouldn't go amiss.

Edited by Pride & Heritage, 24 September 2012 - 04:13 PM.

[distantdog]

I disagree. It's not as simple as just hoovering up big names that teams above us don't want. As previously said, Applegarth and Potts did not come from big names, and neither did Walmesley. It's a matter of finding the best individuals who will fit into our team and make them better. I have always liked Esders so am happy with that, as I am with Rowe as long as he can be brought back to full fitness. Not sure about Flanagan rather than Wildie, but Wildie was always going to return to Wakefield anyway.
At the risk of sounding like a Fearherstone supporter, I trust JK to get the right man to make us better this year.

Edited by distantdog, 24 September 2012 - 05:50 PM.

[Chairman LMAO]

Personally, I think the announcements so far are very solid. Greenwood, Faal and Rowe have always caused us bother in opposition shirts, so glad to have them on our side this season.

I suspect that JK is covering all positions with multi-faceted players and who are able to step up the intensity of training they do. A lot of the guys we are signing can cover several positions.

[HaroldShand]

I disagree. It's not as simple as just hoovering up big names that teams above us don't want. As previously said, Applegarth and Potts did not come from big names, and neither did Walmesley. It's a matter of finding the best individuals who will fit into our team and make them better. I have always liked Esders so am happy with that, as I am with Rowe as long as he can be brought back to full fitness. Not sure about Flanagan rather than Wildie, but Wildie was always going to return to Wakefield anyway.
At the risk of sounding like a Fearherstone supporter, I trust JK to get the right man to make us better this year.

Wildie was a massive disappointment for me, dd. I was led to believe that we'd be getting a bit of an acting halfback dynamo with a decent amount of SL experience behind him. In all honesty, he was solid but not spectacular whatsoever.

[M Hopkins]

I totally agree with you there. Wildie was average IMO. He didn't add anything special to the team anyway.

[Phil Stone]

I disagree. It's not as simple as just hoovering up big names that teams above us don't want. As previously said, Applegarth and Potts did not come from big names, and neither did Walmesley. It's a matter of finding the best individuals who will fit into our team and make them better. I have always liked Esders so am happy with that, as I am with Rowe as long as he can be brought back to full fitness. Not sure about Flanagan rather than Wildie, but Wildie was always going to return to Wakefield anyway.
At the risk of sounding like a Fearherstone supporter, I trust JK to get the right man to make us better this year.

Agree with what you're saying. The risk of bringing in a player simply because he isn't wanted elsewhere is that he will disrupt the team ethic and be signed just for the sake of it. Kear will know what he needs and will select accordingly.

[grumpyoldram]

Sorry but it does not get me too excited signing players from Oldham, Dewsbury, York and Doncaster + signing back on some of the players from last season that at best gave indifferent performances.
I will be as fully committed to the cause as ever but will not expect to improve on the end of season results of the last three seasons :-(

I hope I am proved massively wrong though :-)

Are you a relative of mine - it's not dad is it ? ........

[Keep The Faith]

let's see who else comes.. i think john will have sat down after last season with the players and showed them wrongs but hopefully he gets it right again 2013.

[buford t justice]

Id imagine there'll be a few more new faces to come, and JK will then whittle them down as he did early on this season. Think the difference this time is he knows our strengths from last year, and needs to blend in the new recruits to hopefully improve us in certain areas.

Another winger, half back, backrower /loose forward and 2 or maybe 3 props needed IMO for us to have the strength in depth needed for a campaign with a lot more games next season.