@watersider said in [Signing Suggestions & Rumours](/post/1493259) said:
Hodgson will be 32 but his game has never been about speed. Many players, even Farah, depend a lot on speed and so couldn't play to the same level when they got older. Others who play with craft sometimes even get better at this age. You can't just say he's 32 so he's rubbish.
Examples:
Cameron Smith played another excellent five years after turning 32.
Cooper Cronk was another who seemed to get better.
Cliffy Lyons was another, Jason Smith also played well in his mid 30s.
Ben Kennedy helped change the culture of Manly when he joined them in his early 30s.
Luke Lewis was in great form throughout his 30s.
Alfie Langer too.
Hodgson is the exact sort of player who should be able to maintain good form for at least a couple years. His game is quality passing, good direction, competitiveness and craft. I think he's a great player for us to have a go on. If it doesn't work out I don't see it being that big a deal. Hate the negativity around every move we make.
If he didn't work out it would be a disaster.
Eg. Game 3 next year - he does his ACL again,
Oh! no problem put Liddle in there, unfortunately we let him go, because we put faith in an old man.
Not to worry we can bring up Simpkin, unfortunately he won't be ready for another 2 years if ever.
Now your talking - we can play the Peach.
Oh! God, unfortunately I can see this happening.
Yeah, if he gets a season ending injury he'll obviously not be very valuable to us. I think we're talking about whether he can still play or not.
If we're ruling out any player who can potentially get injured, or has had injuries in the past, we're going to struggle.
Also, we haven't even signed him and you're assuming we've not only signed him but also releasing Liddle and forecasting this all being a bad move because he's going to get an ACL early next year.
The Forum in it's majority has him signed. sealed and delivered as they do with most players that someone says "he'd be good" only to get raked off when the club don't get the player.
I am advocating NOT signing him, not moving Liddle on, letting Simpkin stay in reserves to learn his craft hopefully, I have not seen the potential a lot have seen apparently.
However to go, with eyes wide open to sign a cotcase is not my idea of good recruitment. DH is a crucial spot to be missing someone because of injury (if it happens). I am not talking about a player getting injured - I am talking about a player that is 32 and has had 3 ACL injuries.
Posters on here have spent most of the season applauding the fact that we are not now a club that is signing players seeking a retirement fund or are injury prone - obviously thay make exceptions when it suits them.