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working on those names? id rather be the backs coach next year than the forwards coach. lots of rebuilding to be done upfornt isnt there? although with ben moon, neil clark, sam blythe, brett sturgess and shane kingsland rumoured to be staying then at least we have the front row. need pace in the back row though. if tj stays i'd have him at eight and get richieb at 6. the latter's work rate is still outstanding but the raw pace isnt there any more.

I would tend to agree with you Moorsman - here's my 15 (+ a few extras!)

1. Brett Sturgess - although I enjoy watching Budgie too.
2. Neil Clarke / Sam Blythe
3. John Andress
4. Lewis Stevenson
5. Dan Tuohy / James Hanks - when fit
6. Tom Johnson
7. Andy Miller - given a decent pre season to get fit
8. Tommy Hayes

9. Bolt? Not sure - all 3 have their moments - Bolt deserves a run in the team
10. Gareth Steenson - plenty to improve - so a position we could strengthen
11. Matt Jess
12. Tom Bedford
13. Paul Mckenzie
14. Nic Sesterat
15. Sean Marsden

I would dearly like to see the majority of those names in an Exeter shirt next year.

No place for Matt Cornwell ????.

This is the team my 7 yr old daughter selected....not bad either, and has N. Sestaret in the centres.


1. C. Budgen
2. S Blythe
3. J. Andress
4. L stevenson
5. T Hayes
6. T Johnson
7. Andy Miller
8. R. Baxter
9. K. Barrett
10. G. Steenson / D. Gray - can't decide!
11. P. Mckenzie
12. T. Bedford
13. N. Sestaret
14. M. Jess
15. S. Marsden

Where is Mr Budgen? we needed him at Cov.

I may sound like a broken record but all these great squads that have been chosen, will you all keep Mr Baxter as their captain. He is a great player but maybe the captaincy should go elsewhere. But of course the problem is there are no stand out candidates for the leadership role.
Maybe we will recruit a leader...who knows

I'd start with Marsden at 15 and McKenzie at 13 as the must haves and in their best position. Unfortunately that means you have to put Tom Bedford at 12 rather than 13. Jess and Sestaret are the wingers with Josh gone.
Steenson or Yapp at 10 though that is the position that I think needs filling more than any other if we can get someone from the Prem preferably one of Goucester's spare 10s.
Bolty is the future but CSS is a steady pair of hands if Kevin has gone to Sarries.
Sturgess at 1, Blythe at 2, Moon at 3 if Andress is off.
Then we have problems, without Lewis or Dan we don't have anyone to partner Hanks in the second row because if both Johnson and Cracknell are leaving Richie Baxter has to go to 6 and Tommy Hayes to 8 and he should also be skipper IMO.
We therefore need a 5 of decent quality (Will James?)
Even if Richie Pugh is going to Scarlets 7 is covered by Andy Miller and Alan M as back up.
Cover from Neil Clarke, Budgen, Kingsland, CSS, Alan Miller, Brian Rennie. 20 players. If we are to have 35 I'd ask Stephen Ward and Mark Fats if they have another season in them and keep Luffy if he's fit, but I would let the rest of them go even though that includes a few household names.

So the shopping list is fly half, 3xsecond rows, full back, blind side flanker, utility front row/s, No8 and a couple of utility back 5 scrummagers =33 or 34 players in total. This would leave a budget to bring in permanent/long term replacement cover for injuries or loss of form.

While we're on the subject of players I think part of the burnout is due to having started pre-season too early last year. Surely July 1st is early enough when you have to get through to late April or even early May?

You've at least got your new utility front row.

Will James is not a quality Lock. A few good games but not consistent.

As far as 4 / 5 goes for next year the bigger man like WJ or even our own Chris Bentley will be needed. The Experimental Law Variations are under review as they are experimental.

Looks like the dropping of a maul may well be gone so the big men are back !

They dont come much bigger than Hoani Tui I would imagine he is John Andress replacement,but can play loose or tighthead prop.

Higuys,

Think that lewis is off as well as Andress so will need to re build the forwards am pleased by todays signing although saying they have been following him for 2 years suggests that this was off PDs shopping list. I like the team line ups listed above although I would put Macca in the centres alongside Rennie or Cornwall. And we are still not sure who is staying or going. So for me it is too early to be thinking about line ups.

JA and LS are both going.

My pack with what we know now for next season.

Budgen / Moon
Blythe/ Clarke
Tui / Sturgess

Bentley
Hanks

Tommy Hayes / Richie Baxter

Pigeons

Tom Johnson
Andy Miller

BG4 are you confident that Tom Johnson is staying? If so that would be very good news indeed.

I was told so at the last home game. I was reluctant to post it as I was unable to get it corroborated.

Not sure but was told by a kiwi he was still in contract.

Kiwis have been known to lie and be a bit dim though !

TJ'Father told us a few weeks ago that he was happy here and would be staying. You can tell that when you see him play, he's one of a few who actually bothers. Unless somthing drastic has changed i would be pretty confident he will be here.

Is Marsden staying? I know that he is injured at the moment but IMO he has been one of, if not, the best player of the season

if he does i really hope that richie moves to 6 and tj goes to 8. although i gues with the 5m scrum elv being changed back its less important to have the pace at eight.

if tj stays we will be promoted next year. you heard it here first.

Tom Johnson staying fantastic! player of the season with Sean Marsden keep these 2 and add quality like we did yesterday and we have a chance.

Even though it s a shame Andress is leaving, we are replacing him with a guy who has played in the top 2 club competitions( super 14 and Hieneken cup) played in New Zealand second team, and still young! perhaps on paper could have more potential than Andress

I would'nt put my house on it but I am pretty sure both Tom and Sean have another season of their contract to run.

Tom Johnson staying, great news..........
the stand out player for me this season though chased hard by Lewis S, Sean M and Paul Mc.
Seems to want it more than anyone else on the pitch, which is evidenced by his ability to outrun a defence (newbury game).
Have to agree with Chiefswatcher on him being key to promotion next season.

That really is good news. I also hope Hoani is as good as he could be, remember James Alvis? 20 stones and 6 foot and used to shove other teams around on his own so we've got previous for this sort of player, I hope Hoani's discipline is better than James' was however, when we last won the fair play trophy it was for only getting 3 yellow cards in a season, James received the Trophy on behalf of the club which was ironic as he had collected two of the three yellows!!

If we'd only attracted 3 yellows this season we could well have been on the way up!

Probably need some backs that can tackle next year espcially in that midfield Cormnwall,Bedford,McKenzie not the best in this department

Does anyone know where Cracknell is off to?

Cryptic mention of Will James in Nigel Walrond's report in the WMN - "Former Plymouth Albion and Pirates lock Will James, who was at Clifton Lane, watched Rotherham pretty much dominate the first half". Was he there at Chiefs' invitation, or just holidaying in South Yorkshire?
[www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk]