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Newcastle Falcons Gallery -


New signings - wish list
Discussion started by Osric , 08 January, 2017 22:47
New signings - wish list
Osric 08 January, 2017 22:47
Within the realms of sustainability and reality, who's on your wish list? For the first time for a number of seasons we can recruit and retain with a degree of certainty.

Re: New signings - wish list
falconsfan07 08 January, 2017 23:17
Love this, I think with bobby Vickers coming to the end of his career with us, an excellent replacement would be Val Rapava Ruskin of Worcester. Brilliant Young prospect and English qualified next year. Pretty good at the breakdown and carrying as well. I think dean could persuade a move with the way we are playing, but he is likely to move to glos or sarries I think.

A Marcus Watson re sign is at the top of my list as well, we need to keep building around local lads and quality like him, it would be guttering if he goes. so very hopeful he stays up north!

I think we could do with a 13 like, the best signing within reality we could get there I believe is Exeter Chiefs Michele campangaro! Gets very little game time but is such a dangerous and exciting player who would go well on our turf, a partnership of JPS and MC is an exciting one.

Ideal hooker replacement for Scotty Lawson would be young harry Thacker who I am baffled is behind George mcguigan at tigers. Unfortunately I think Thacker is off to the warriors for more game time! But I'd love him up here.

Lastly! A hunt down in the Southern Hemisphere for a fly half! If we could persuade him, ihia west of the blues would be an excellent fly half for us, although we would definitely come at a hefty price! And Joel Hodgson is developing really well, and he's a local lad!

Re: New signings - wish list
NorfolkFalcon 08 January, 2017 23:19
*waiting in anticipation for someone to list the usual, most unrealistic players*

In all seriousness, I believe in terms of first team players we need only need one quality player to improve the team in loosehead. As great a club servant Vickers has been and although he has played well this season, we can only expect one more season left in him. Lockwood looked very promising in his couple of appearances. You need a minimum of 3 loose/tighthead props. We have that in tighthead (Welsh, Wilson x2) and I believe there are concerns about Harris' scrummaging.

All other areas are subjective, for example if one of our first team players was to leave we would have to replace them with similar/better quality. Regardless of this, I believe we would improve with better quality competition in certain positions such as fly half (Hodgson is performing great at the moment but I don't feel he has any genuine quality competition), 12 (we would struggle if JPS sustained a mid to long term injury) and 13 (weakness of ours in my opinion, if Harris has an upturn of form like JPS has I would have no problems but if he doesn't we don't have any quality alternatives).

As always we have to recruit well. I'd like us to continue with our usual transfer philosophy on the whole with a few more quality recruits to supplement it (such as DTH).

Re: New signings - wish list
AFalcon24 09 January, 2017 00:01
I definitely think we need another centre ideally a big strong one, also another loosehead prop and another fly half. It also depends who leaves us at the end of the season. smiling smiley

Re: New signings - wish list
nursepete 09 January, 2017 08:09
Harry Thacker is above George McGuigan at Tigers - but injured at the moment, Ethan Waller is moving from Northampton to Worcester (according to Fissler)

For us:
a prop to replace Vickers - agree that Ruskin from Wuss would be a good purchase or Ryan Grant from Glasgow
A big 13 to play alongside JPS and challenge Harris
DTH van der Merwe
Not convinced that we need another hooker - Lawson, Sowrey and Cooper are good enough imho

Re: New signings - wish list
Monkey1 09 January, 2017 08:11
Anyone know if we have any quality players coming up from the Academy who might start to feature next season? I am totally out of touch with academy players at the moment.

Re: New signings - wish list
Geordie 09 January, 2017 09:03
DTH van der Merve has apparently signed...so theres a very good winger / 13

1 x Loosehead
1 x Power centre

I think that's all we need to look at.

We have strength in depth and more importantly so many of them are young and just need gametime.

Youngsters worth watching over the next few seasons:

Hookers: David Nelson, Santiago Socino, Jamie Blamire

Second Rows: Will Witty (Already established), Max Davies, Andrew Davidson,

Back Row: Joshua Chisanga, Calum Chick (Already established), Sebastian Ferreira, Simon Uzokwe

SH: Ruaridh Dawson

FH: Brett Connon, Craig Willis (Possibly being moved to 12)

Centres: Adam Redman, Tom Penny, Ben Stevenson, Craig Willis

Wing: Zac Kibirige (Needs to establish himself), Dan Marshall, Adam Radwan

Re: New signings - wish list
AFalcon24 09 January, 2017 09:39
Yeah I was wondering about our Academy players, it doesn't seem we have many props coming threw I have noticed. Also what happened to big Harry Snowden? I know we are well stocked at lock but he was huge at 6'9 near 20 stone. smiling smiley

Re: New signings - wish list
mannin 09 January, 2017 10:05
Thacker has been behind McGuigan all season. Would've been a great pick-up (as would Waller) but seems like they're both off to Wuss.

Re: New signings - wish list
Geordie 09 January, 2017 10:53
Yeah Snowdon just seems to have disappeared..unless Mark can advise.

They seem to be very Hopeful of Max Davies at lock...and Andrew Davidson is the Scotland U20 lock / 6 who looked very impressive.

Yeah props don't seem to be coming through...though I don't know whats further down. But surely young lads training with Davy Wilson, Jon Welsh etc are only going to benefit.

Im specifically looking to see what happens with Penny and Kibirige. Both had big press and potential yet due to injuries they have stalled a bit.

I want to see them push on this second half of the season...now they are fit.

And Adam Redman looks like a big lad in the centre. Be interesting to see how he goes.

Re: New signings - wish list
digitalsys 09 January, 2017 11:52
Watched Radwan and Big Si at DMP at the weekend.

Radwan won MOTM I believe and he has a lot of pace on him but not bulked up enough yet for the Prem.

Simon didn't seem to have a fantastic game but Darlington rave about him, so maybe it was an off day.

Re: New signings - wish list
Bedlington Lad 09 January, 2017 11:54
I see Liam Williams has joined Sarries - good to see their academy producing more home - grown talent(Sm100)

Re: New signings - wish list
mannin 09 January, 2017 12:15

Re: New signings - wish list
Monkey1 09 January, 2017 12:30
Quote:
GeordieFalcon
DTH van der Merve has apparently signed.....

Has it been mentioned anywhere apart from the Welsh local paper yet? I thought it was still just in the rumour & mutterings stages. Not doubting, just that I don't see much news or hear anything from the club at the mo as rather busy.

Re: New signings - wish list
Bedlington Lad 09 January, 2017 12:33
It was on the Guardian's site today that's where I read it

Re: New signings - wish list
Geordie 09 January, 2017 12:40
Quote:
Monkey1
Quote:
GeordieFalcon
DTH van der Merve has apparently signed.....

Has it been mentioned anywhere apart from the Welsh local paper yet? I thought it was still just in the rumour & mutterings stages. Not doubting, just that I don't see much news or hear anything from the club at the mo as rather busy.

No to be fair it hasn't...

However when the manager publicly says he's going there out of the blue, I thought it was pretty solid.

Re: New signings - wish list
mannin 09 January, 2017 13:54
Scarlets have said he's accepted an English offer and by all accounts, it's us.

Re: New signings - wish list
Geordie 09 January, 2017 14:17
To be fair...having Harris, Penny etc back will be like new signings anyway....

Re: New signings - wish list
Pool_falcon 09 January, 2017 14:28
DTH is a great signing, really happy with this one.

To really get to the next level, I think we need.....

1 x LH - Ruskin would great, as would Waller.
1 x FH - A quality option, is there one? West would work.
1 x CE - Again, I'd take the Italian.

Re: New signings - wish list
Geordie 09 January, 2017 14:43
Hasn't Ruskin already signed for Glos or Saracens or someone though?

He's leaving Wuss at the end of the season im pretty sure.

Lockwood looked the real deal from his few performances. Such a disappointment he got this injury. But LH is somewhere we need to address.

Vickers is getting on, Harris jury is out and Lockwood a long term injury.

Re: New signings - wish list
Monkey1 09 January, 2017 16:04
Ta muchly GF & BL.

Re: New signings - wish list
Falc Dancer 09 January, 2017 18:24
Outside Centre
Fly Half
Loosehead - Will Lockwood come back as strong? Bobby can't go on forever
Tighthead - where's Scotty Wilson gone again?
Back row - how bad is Hoggys injury? Will he be back next season?

Re: New signings - wish list
Running Rugby 09 January, 2017 18:56
Pretty much agree with everyone else and the positions mentioned.

Loosehead - back up/replacement needed for Vickers, although Lockwood looked really good when he played so maybe a younger prop with the potential to come through would be a better option.

Tighthead - Get Scotty Wilson fit and on the pitch, and we should be OK.

Hooker - Scott Lawson has been one of our best players this season, but he is getting on a bit. Sowrey looks really good from what I have seen of him, and we also have Kyle Cooper (by the way does anyone know when he will be fit?), some good academy options in Nelson and Socino to come through, so nothing needed there in my opinion.

Second row is probably one of our strongest positions, with plenty of options, and some decent academy prospects, so nothing needed there.

Back Row - Same as above. Must get Latu fit and firing.

Scrum Half - Strengthening needed here in my opinion, Takalua has the shirt nailed down, but Micky Young is not good enough. Would have a serious look at someone like Kieran Marmion from Connact.

Fly Half - Quality competition needed here. Joel has been playing really well lately and has made me eat my words quite a bit, but after him, the depth is a bit poor to be honest. Delany has shown this season that his best days maybe behind him. Catterick has been unlucky with injury, but may look elsewhere for some much needed game time (contract up at the end of the season), and Willis seems to be on his way to becoming a 12.

Centres - A position of weakness for me. Socino has the 12 shirt nailed down, but no quality depth if he is injured, so a quality 12.

Outside centre is the big one for me. Campagnaro is an excellent shout, and has always been a player I have admired, and is suffering from lack of game time at Exeter so maybe worth an enquiry at least, but some top quality is needed here, and should be a priority for Richards.

Wings - Pretty much set on the wings, with Goneva, Sinoti, and Watson (whom all the stops should be pulled out to keep), and with a certain Daniel Tailliferrer Hauman van der Merwe coming in (which is a quality signing), then we should be OK, especially with Kibirige, Radwan and Marshall waiting in the wings.

Fullback - Pretty OK, but I would like to see another body in to provide some competition for Hammers and Tait.

So to sum up, would like to see -
A young loosehead
A quality scrum half to push Takalua
A quality fly half to push Hodgson
Competition for Socino at 12
and
A top quality Outside centre



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2017 19:09 by Running Rugby.

Re: New signings - wish list
Falc Dancer 09 January, 2017 19:05
Almost forgot Powell
Will he come back? If not inside centre required also to provide competition for JPS

Re: New signings - wish list
ColinCharvis8 09 January, 2017 20:02
I'd love to see another all carrier in the backrow, Josh Strauss' contract is up end of the season... he'd be a great addition

Re: New signings - wish list
mannin 10 January, 2017 10:45
Why is the jury out on Harris? Has anyone seen much of him?

Re: New signings - wish list
Geordie 10 January, 2017 11:12
Well the fact Harris has been here for about 2 years and only played in the last few games...hence the jury is still out.

He may be a revelation...he may not. Only time will tell and more games...

Re: New signings - wish list
CSGG 10 January, 2017 12:21
We need a sprinkling of real quality if we want to kick on next season.

To lift the old cliche, there are a number of players coming back who will feel like new signings next season in Hammersley, Kibirdge, Sinoti, Harris, Penny, Powell, Latu, Lockwood, Wilson, Cooper although many of the above will hopefully play much sooner.

No hiding from the fact that a great deal of our signings haven't been up to it this season.

Re: New signings - wish list
mannin 10 January, 2017 12:28
I bet Cooper doesn't come cheap and has had no game time at all.

Re: New signings - wish list
falconsfan07 10 January, 2017 14:07
Well Val Rapava Ruskin has signed for Gloucester. Leaving a sinking ship.

Guttered, bet he doesn't come cheap mind.

Re: New signings - wish list
davidten 10 January, 2017 15:32
GeordieFalcon, I think you might find Adam Redman has been released by the falcons.

Re: New signings - wish list
AFalcon24 11 January, 2017 10:50
I see Tim Swinson has signed a new contract at Glasgow, a player I would of welcomed back but then we are well stocked at lock. smiling smiley

Re: New signings - wish list
Geordie 11 January, 2017 13:58
Quote:
davidten
GeordieFalcon, I think you might find Adam Redman has been released by the falcons.
Ah right sorry I hadn't seen anything on that.

Re: New signings - wish list
Geordie 11 January, 2017 14:08
Quote:
AFalcon23
I see Tim Swinson has signed a new contract at Glasgow, a player I would of welcomed back but then we are well stocked at lock. smiling smiley

Yeah im not sure I would now. We have a quality stable of locks now...all at different stages....

Established:
Calum Green - Experienced, old trooper
Evan OLmstead - Quality international player
Sean Robinson - Quality premiership performer last season, back from injury
Will Witty - Young, improving monster who will soon become the powerhouse in the falcons engine room.

Fringe:
Nick Civetta
Mo Botha
Glen Youngs

Academy / Development Squad:
Max Davies
Josh Williams
Andrew Davidson - The very impressive Scotland U20 player

Re: New signings - wish list
sour 13 January, 2017 13:23
Talking of SHs...Ruan Piennar is being moved on from Ulster.....🙊

Campagnaro would be an excellent option for us I think, his game would fit in with our game plan.

Agree we need a loose head (or two).

DTH is a cracker.

Re: New signings - wish list
Falc Dancer 13 January, 2017 13:26
Pienaar is top draw and I would expect the big French cheque book to come out

Re: New signings - wish list
AFalcon24 13 January, 2017 13:29
I believe Pienaar has signed with Montpellier. smiling smiley

Re: New signings - wish list
ColinCharvis8 14 January, 2017 19:23
On transfer news supposedly TRP has some revelations tomorrow, not sure if any will be falcons related but could be an interesting read...

Half expecting Watson to Wasps to be confirmed sooner rather than later, other rumours ive heard are; Jason Woodward to Quinn's, Paul Hill to Sale and Nev Edwards is set to leave Sale with Worcester and Bristol looking the most likely...

Always liked the look of Edwards ever since I seen him at KP in the 7s, could have been an interesting option for us.

Another player that caught my eye recently was Ed Jackson at the Dragons, speaking to a few of their fans he's been a revelation for them in the Pro12 this year... could be a good addition to our back row, he does love a carry!

I've had the pleasure of attending a few Carnegie games this year through work and there are a few players who have caught by eye:-
Lewis Boyce - Yorks prop, plays like a backrow
Ryan Burrows - Yorks 8, by far the best no8 in the championship for a number of years and could be the perfect foil for Hogg. Such a dynamic carrier, can't believe a Prem side hasn't signed him up
Alex Gray - Yorks centre and our former blindside flanker, I was very disappointed when he left for Irish and now he looks a completely different player from the one which left. When fit he offers so much
Joe Ford - Yorks 10 could be good backup for 10 & 15, looks more Farrel-esque with his kicking than his brother and certainly offers more than Delany
Chris Elder - Welsh 11/13 reminds me so much off Visser
Tyson Lewis - Dons 11 very strong and fast, really improved this year
Dean Adamson - Bedford wing and a silky runner, been in the tries of late
Grant Shiells - Scottish looshead and our former loosehead getting consistent gametime down south and when I saw him caused real problems at scrum time
Marlen Walker - Cornish loosehead and a big Maori ball carrier

I'm hopeful our scouts have been checking some of these lads out, this years standard in the Championship is much improved since our stint their



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 14/01/2017 20:16 by ColinCharvis8.

Re: New signings - wish list
AFalcon24 14 January, 2017 20:50
I heard from TRP a few weeks ago or so that a few Premiership teams are after Lewis Boyce. smiling smiley

Re: New signings - wish list
ColinCharvis8 14 January, 2017 20:57
He could be a great addition to our Loosehead stocks


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