Grave concerns for 2014

[supercoach]

On what I have witness over the past few weeks,I have real concerns for 2014.I can't see how the acquisition of couple of bench forwards from the dogs and a couple of solid ESL players is going to turn our fortunes around.

Mayer has already said their will be no major signings till 2015,so basically we are heading into 2014 with what we have plus four players who will be solid at best,minus the players that are leaving.Potter will have to work miracles if he is going to get this team off the bottom part of the table.I just can't see what teams will have a weaker playing roster given that the Eels have been very active in the player market.

Young talent needs top elite players around them to flourish,many young talented footballers have amounted to nothing because they have been surrounded by average footballers.Anyway let's hope Iam wrong,but in see 2014 as the year of the spoon

 

[boonboon]

I am in 2 minds , I think clearing out some of these players will actually make us a better side. I don't think we will challenge for the title but I think we will be fighting for the 8.

Our young players will be much better for the experience- tedesco, nofoaluma, Simona, Koroibete, sue, Ava, Buchannan, sironen

We have good props in Galloway, woods, Blair, Taupau will be a good singing plus Ava and jack.

I think sironen will make a real impact in the back row next year and I think Gavet will be a surprise packet in the backhoe next year

Our outside backs for mine will be stronger with the addition of Richards and with Lawrence hopefully getting over his injuries and back to full strength ( my understanding is he is playing with ankle and knee problems this year which will get cleaned up in the offseason).

My big question and the reason we will do well or not are the halves - brooks and whoever partners him be in Anasta, moltzen or someone new but it will be the key to our season

Also if course injuries and mainly the need to keep Robbie fit and on the field is the key one

 

[system]

I think 2014 may reveal exactly how hamstrung we have been by Benji for a few years now.

 

[Newtown]

Mayer definitely should not put all Wests Tigers eggs in the one basket for 2015\. It is so clear that we need at least one, possibly two new class players (besides Taupau and Richards) to settle our ship in 2014 (from the huge storm of 2013) in readiness for 2015.

 

[Andyvee]

I'd be happy if we can at least be competitive, and consistent next year. If they show pride and commitment in their club and supporters, I will be very happy, regardless of where they end up on the table.

 

[Frank_the_tank]

I think 2014 may reveal exactly how hamstrung we have been by Benji for a few years now.

Good point. I'm actually optimistic about 2014\. I think we will better through subtraction alone.

 

[Knuckles]

Wish I could be as confident ….. When you go through an upheaval like this, it takes years to comeback to being a serious force.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

We need to sign a gun, aggressive backrower with size. The problem is there is nobody left on the market worth buying.

 

[tig_prmz]

i want to see consistent improvement next year.

no 50-0 thrashings.

 

[Yossarian]

I think 2014 may reveal exactly how hamstrung we have been by Benji for a few years now.

Have to agree. There's no point try to implement a new structure when one of the most vital cogs just does what he wants to anyway. Marshall is a fantastic talent but he just seems incapable of adapting to new team structures.

 

[Alf_Duguid]

Being an old Magpie, I'm used to running down the bottom of the ladder. The difference being that they tried their guts out and that is the most disappointing thing about this current mob when you see efforts like yesterday

Anyway, I'm optimistic about next year. The winds are a changing and the sideshow known as Bunji won't be a distraction for the young uns

 

[Chadman_s_Ghost]

I want to see what I saw the first season under Sheens.

If you remember, we were coming off the Lamb debacle, a team with no direction, and no apparent desire to improve, had a number of personel changes, and introduced a number of younger players, or guys from lower grades elsewhere looking for a shot. Sheens didn't get instant success, but he got instant results, as his first team played with passion & belief.

Hopefully Potter's ship hasn't sailed, and the young guys coming up, along with Richards, Taupau etc will renew the team's desire next season.

I think the Tigers are 2-3 seasons away from any genuine success. But I suspect we'll see steady improvement over the next couple of years.

Essentially, the Tigers are a team in transition & until the new breed of youngster becomes the settled 1st grader, we'll see struggles on the field.

 

[The_Phantom]

Spoke to both Grant Mayer and Mick Potter at the Tigers function Sat night. Both relayed their thoughts that 2014 maybe top 8, 2015 top 4, and GF in 2015\. I don't think we can expect too much next year.Lets face it we are in a rebuilding phase.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[softlaw]

At least next year we'll be in an actual rebuilding phase rather than simply using the rebuilding excuse like most years from'06 to now.

 

[LaT]

Youth policy with an eye to recruiting in 2015 makes me excited about 2014 and what it might bring.

 

[stevetiger]

I don't think it can be much worse than this year. I think we will have a decent to good forward pack and some great outside backs. To me all we are missing is to see the young halves step up.

I don't want to see Anasta out there though. I just figure we may as well give Brooks and Moses the roles and let them develop.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

I don't think it can be much worse than this year. I think we will have a decent to good forward pack and some great outside backs. To me all we are missing is to see the young halves step up.

I don't want to see Anasta out there though. I just figure we may as well give Brooks and Moses the roles and let them develop.

Read on twitter Moses went off injured same leg anyone know what happened he had quite serious leg before I believe.

 

[system]

I don't think it can be much worse than this year. I think we will have a decent to good forward pack and some great outside backs. To me all we are missing is to see the young halves step up.

I don't want to see Anasta out there though. I just figure we may as well give Brooks and Moses the roles and let them develop.

Read on twitter Moses went off injured same leg anyone know what happened he had quite serious leg before I believe.

He was wearing a shin guard during the game and could see not 100% with leg. When he got injured in a tackle, he tried to walk the injury off. But they did sub him after 5 minutes. After the game he did walk to end of the field and chatted to the fans, so it must not be too serious.. My concerns with him are his defense. He misses alot of tackles!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[supercoach]

Interesting reading all the replys,their seems to be a lot of optimism that 2014 will be a solid year, I cant see it at present,I worry about a lot of things,second year syndrome for some of the young kids and a spine that you could call a work in progress at very best.Brooks is also a worry, I have no doubt he will be a very good footballer in time, but what I have seen of him in the u20s he has not been that class above the rest like Barba and Reynolds were when they were in the 20s. What Iam saying,I dont expect a great deal from him in 2014\. So like this year I expect to see another mis firing 7 and 6 combo

Anyway good to see plenty of optimism out their and maybe its just me being negative nev again

 

[LaT]

Depends on what your expectations are I guess. I am resigned to 2014 being a rebuilding year so I don't expect to make finals barring some exception form from our guys.

I mean really, Wests Tigers have only made finals 3 times. Whats another year as long as its done right? Time to set a foundation, I am happy and excited because thats what I see Mayer and Potter doing.