Peter Thomas On Scrum V
The round-up of what Thomas said was;
* We're always talking to the best in the world, from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the South Sea Islands, whether we're successful in signing the or not remains to be seen.
* We want to be consistently in the top tier and competing with the best year in year out. The Cardiff Blues need to establish themselves as a European force to be reckoned with.
* We're one or two positions away from being up there with the best, recruitment is based on those positions.
* 90% of the current squad are Welsh, and a lot have come through the academies. We want to develop Welsh boys through the academy
* Toulouse make 40% of their income through sponsors alone, the Blues are nowhere near that, but hope to get nearer that figure in the next few seasons as they become able to offer better facilities.
* This team CAN win in Toulouse, the forwards have been magnificent and as long as they play to the best of their ability, there's no reason why they can't.
In the studio afterwards, the pundits said we're looking at getting a Southern Hemisphere fly half as well as potentially 2 flankers, despite most pundits views that tight-head prop, srcum half and fly half remain the positions of most weakness.
The Blues are currently being linked to Aled Brew, Ceri Sweeney and Richard Mustoe, while it's thought only the first name has actually put pen to paper. In terms of Southern Hemispehere players, scrum half Matt Henjak is a name being touted, though he's expected to join former Australia coach Eddie Jones at Saracens. In terms of Thomas' ambition, it's worth remembering that we may well be talking to Dan carter, who is being linked to Europe, but actually getting the man is another thing altogether.
He is quoted on BBC Sport as saying;
"When you get an opportunity to look at the very best players in the world you've got to look at them and I'm telling you we are looking at the very best players in the world. When opportunities arise to fill certain positions from other parts of the world - be it the southern hemisphere - I assure you we are bang in there and seeing if it fits our jigsaw."
I'm sure this will cause a fair bit of debate, look forward to seeing your comments below!
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Quote:cardiffsteve
...he's probably thinking "I can't win with this lot".
Quote:ExiledinStaffs
Also, Dan Carter is never going to leave New Zealand, for 2 reasons: 1. He's NZ's golden boy; 2. He wont be able to play for NZ and he'd be mad to do that at this time in his career. And anyway, why the hell would someone like Dan Carter come to the Blues, when there's at least a dozen more appealing clubs in the Northern hemisphere than us. Lets be realistic.

Quote:cardiffsteve
I feel sorry for Peter Thomas. The constant criticism is that he isn't ambitious enough. He gives an interview in which he talks about signing big players and making cardiff Blues into a big european team and he still gets criticism.
I don't suppose he bothers reading internet message boards but if he does he's probably thinking "I can't win with this lot".

Quote:theArmsPark.co.uk AdminQuote:cardiffsteve
I feel sorry for Peter Thomas. The constant criticism is that he isn't ambitious enough. He gives an interview in which he talks about signing big players and making cardiff Blues into a big european team and he still gets criticism.
I don't suppose he bothers reading internet message boards but if he does he's probably thinking "I can't win with this lot".
Well he can win, he can win if he makes the big name signings and gets the Blues in a state of financial independence.

Quote:theArmsPark.co.uk Admin
Isn't that essentially what i said?
Quote:DRY
Talk is cheap. when PT shows the same ambition as the ospreys then i'll cheer him. the ospreys went out and signed tommy bowe ready for next season. no bother, no false promises, THEY JUST SIGNED HIM !!!!
Quote:larryblues1010Quote:DRY
Talk is cheap. when PT shows the same ambition as the ospreys then i'll cheer him. the ospreys went out and signed tommy bowe ready for next season. no bother, no false promises, THEY JUST SIGNED HIM !!!!
As we have done with Brew and Mustoe

