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Quote:Did you see how they gave out a teaser before they announced it? [twitter.com]Optimist
While Lewington has signed for Saracens.
Quote:I'm still hoping for a hat-trick of TBC, JW and JC.Hugo.LI
Hands off!
Quote:Wow, harsh but fair, though some of those claims could be libelous.Optimist
Ha ha. Very good Rawce. I think you'll find the same hidden message if you read the first letter of recent posts on here too!
Quote:Which TylerQuote:I'm still hoping for a hat-trick of TBC, JW and JC.Hugo.LI
Hands off!
Buy two get one free? It worked well for us last time after all.
(Yes, I know is TBC and JC have contracts standing, but surely they have release clauses in the event of relegation)
Quote:by
The chronicle says that KPN and Knight have not received new contracts.
[www.bathchronicle.co.uk]
Tough one, KPN showed some real promise but his scrummaging never seemed to consistently reach a premiership standard, shame IMO as his work around the loose was brilliant. Knight was unlucky to pick up a long injury.
Delmas is an unknown and a real gamble for the club, he looks very slender and tall for a tight head.
Quote:sid the seagull
V pleased re AP.
Didn’t realise he was 35 though. Ok for a TH apparently whereas 31 too old for a winger.
Just saying.
HOP
Quote:Toast and Marmite
The response on here to KPN and Knight is a pleasant contrast to the absolute meltdown on the Bath Facebook page!!
Quote:I believe Paz is Auterac's replacement for next season and Catt's injury cover for this season. Obano, Paz and Catt is a great set of LHs, with Lahiff and maybe an academy product covering the 4th spot. Apologies if I've forgotten someone obvious.jayeatman
Yes there was a bit of hysteria on the FB page.
wrt to TH porps, it's good to see 4 signed and settled. If only the same could be said for every other position on the park.
I'm pleased we retained Perenise but don't really see the logic of bringing in an older French D2 player in preference to KPN, unless they know KPN's prognosis is not good.
As for the other losses, you can't blame people getting emotional about the loss of Banners. Until we see who they get in as replacements for Auterac and Tapuai, I will reserve judgement.
Quote:Rawce
I believe Paz is Auterac's replacement for next season and Catt's injury cover for this season. Obano, Paz and Catt is a great set of LHs, with Lahiff and maybe an academy product covering the 4th spot. Apologies if I've forgotten someone obvious.
Quote:Pie-Half
https://t.co/koiSdMvcmA
Earle's isn't coming to us... Quins doing a major revamp.
Quote:Aside from retaining Kingston....BathBurgerQuote:Pie-Half
https://t.co/koiSdMvcmA
Earle's isn't coming to us... Quins doing a major revamp.
Indeed, couple of astute signings for next season.
Quote:jayeatmanQuote:Rawce
I believe Paz is Auterac's replacement for next season and Catt's injury cover for this season. Obano, Paz and Catt is a great set of LHs, with Lahiff and maybe an academy product covering the 4th spot. Apologies if I've forgotten someone obvious.
I think you're right although I think only having 3 senior LHPs going into next season would be a mistake. Maybe one of the many academy props will the big step up required.
Quote:byQuote:jayeatmanQuote:Rawce
I believe Paz is Auterac's replacement for next season and Catt's injury cover for this season. Obano, Paz and Catt is a great set of LHs, with Lahiff and maybe an academy product covering the 4th spot. Apologies if I've forgotten someone obvious.
I think you're right although I think only having 3 senior LHPs going into next season would be a mistake. Maybe one of the many academy props will the big step up required.
Lahiff can play both sides.
Quote:Rawce
But he doesn’t want to. It’d be nice to have kept KPN and have The Beef as an option for either side but primarily Loose.
Quote:Sirengco
Just seen Bristol are due to announce 9 new signings today... I wonder if anyone in that list will be a missed opportunity for us?
Quote:JimDaffQuote:Sirengco
Just seen Bristol are due to announce 9 new signings today... I wonder if anyone in that list will be a missed opportunity for us?
Who do we think they’ve signed? A few we’ll know like Afoa but are we expecting any surprises?
Quote:Bath Hammer
I suspect we are restraining our expenditure whilst the ground development proceeds. All the indications are that we are very cost conscious compared to other clubs who seem to be splashing the cash & are instead focusing on good value deals.
Quote:shipwrecked
That's a really good point if true of course, question would be what do Bath fans want, shinny stadium or shinny trophies. Silly question really it will be both!
Quote:Which Tyler
This is just an example of the salary cap doing its job, and is paying the price for MFord's desire for a high quality, low manpower squad; and it takes 3 contract seasons to work through and establish a new base-point. This is Todd's second contract season, and quite honestly, the first he's actually making changes.
Of course, if you believe certain posters from certain clubs, we have to actively reduce our salary spend over the course of 3-4 seasons as our small squad was allegedly paid above the salary cap. I didn't believe that at the time, and see no reason to believe it now.
Quote:SubstituteQuote:JimDaffQuote:Sirengco
Just seen Bristol are due to announce 9 new signings today... I wonder if anyone in that list will be a missed opportunity for us?
Who do we think they’ve signed? A few we’ll know like Afoa but are we expecting any surprises?
Up to 13 now apparently...
Quote:dcshQuote:SubstituteQuote:JimDaffQuote:Sirengco
Just seen Bristol are due to announce 9 new signings today... I wonder if anyone in that list will be a missed opportunity for us?
Who do we think they’ve signed? A few we’ll know like Afoa but are we expecting any surprises?
Up to 13 now apparently...
9 according the the Bristol twitter feed. Afoa was the first to be confirmed, Shaun Malton (Exeter hooker) was second.
Quote:SubstituteQuote:dcshQuote:SubstituteQuote:JimDaffQuote:Sirengco
Just seen Bristol are due to announce 9 new signings today... I wonder if anyone in that list will be a missed opportunity for us?
Who do we think they’ve signed? A few we’ll know like Afoa but are we expecting any surprises?
Up to 13 now apparently...
9 according the the Bristol twitter feed. Afoa was the first to be confirmed, Shaun Malton (Exeter hooker) was second.
Ah, 9 senior and 4 academy players making the step up...
So far John Afoa and Shaun Malton... No, me either.
Quote:JimDaffQuote:SubstituteQuote:dcshQuote:SubstituteQuote:JimDaffQuote:Sirengco
Just seen Bristol are due to announce 9 new signings today... I wonder if anyone in that list will be a missed opportunity for us?
Who do we think they’ve signed? A few we’ll know like Afoa but are we expecting any surprises?
Up to 13 now apparently...
9 according the the Bristol twitter feed. Afoa was the first to be confirmed, Shaun Malton (Exeter hooker) was second.
Ah, 9 senior and 4 academy players making the step up...
So far John Afoa and Shaun Malton... No, me either.
Well that was pretty underwhelming, Afoa, Mulldowny and Thacker are the only ones I think would add anything to our squad... I was expecting some bigger names if I’m honest!
Quote:sirtidychris
Rec solution first over trophies for me. Used to no trophies anyway
Quote:shipwrecked
No research on this but Exeter, Sarries, Wasps all have new stadiums, 1,2,3 in the table, any connection?
Quote:Boldangrey
What does signing all these players for next season do to the current season's squad.
They play their socks off all this season to win promotion and can look forward to a P45.
Quote:exactly. Bristol are likely to need a larger squad than the dozen or so players they'll recruit for the Prem, so a good 2/3 of the squad will expect to stay - hell, a good 2/3 of then squad will already have contracts for next season regardless.gaz59Quote:Boldangrey
What does signing all these players for next season do to the current season's squad.
They play their socks off all this season to win promotion and can look forward to a P45.
The smart ones will keep training and playing their socks off - best chance of being retained as some will and if not then best chance of getting a deal with a decent championship club for next year
Quote:Boldangrey
What does signing all these players for next season do to the current season's squad.
They play their socks off all this season to win promotion and can look forward to a P45.
Quote:No thanks - perma crockedJimDaff
Ben Foden not yet offered a new contract by Saints, could be worth a punt to replace Banners as the utility/old head in the back line...
BBC Sport
Quote:we've got plenty of utility old heads in our backline already - it was part of the problem.JimDaff
Ben Foden not yet offered a new contract by Saints, could be worth a punt to replace Banners as the utility/old head in the back line...
BBC Sport
Quote:by
A few rumours flying around saying that Rohan Janse Van Rensburg could be coming back to the premiership next season on a longer contract, Sale and Gloucester are the two clubs connected with him.
Similarly Nonu is out of contract with Toulon but again Bath are not mentioned, only French clubs are speculated as potentially signing him up, Toulouse, Racing and Montpellier.
Quote:Big DogQuote:by
A few rumours flying around saying that Rohan Janse Van Rensburg could be coming back to the premiership next season on a longer contract, Sale and Gloucester are the two clubs connected with him.
Similarly Nonu is out of contract with Toulon but again Bath are not mentioned, only French clubs are speculated as potentially signing him up, Toulouse, Racing and Montpellier.
I'd love to see RVJ come to the Rec. Been a superb short term signing for Sale thus far scoring 3 tries in 8 appearances or so. A really strong ball carrier but loves to play a good expansive game back at the Lions. Could be a really top 12 options for us with Banahan leaving and Tapuai as well.
Nonu less so despite his reputation and how much I respect him as a player, I feel like signing a 35 year old who's looking more for a pay cheque to finish his career wouldn't be money well spent.
I'd also like to see us linked with Bryce Heem as a replacement on the wing for Banahan. He's a real strong carrier, big guy for a winger and excellent in the air. I was always really impressed with his input when he was at the Chiefs in NZ in a back three that included Damian McKenzie and James Lowe (now at Leinster!)
Quote:OutsideBath
I suspect both Heem and RVJ would be beyond our current budget.
Quote:CoochieCooQuote:OutsideBath
I suspect both Heem and RVJ would be beyond our current budget.
I thought everyone had a budget of £7m are you suggesting that we won't spend up to the cap?
Quote:OutsideBathQuote:CoochieCooQuote:OutsideBath
I suspect both Heem and RVJ would be beyond our current budget.
I thought everyone had a budget of £7m are you suggesting that we won't spend up to the cap?
No I just get the feeling we're too close to the cap limit to afford such players.
Quote:is it 12 or 24 months a player needs to have been outside the Prem to qualify as a big tent?by
I think that's a rather pessimistic view, I believe space in the cap is being made so we are able to be competitive with signing new players over the summer, maybe a lesson learned from the previous summer. Besides we should have a marquee signing available next season, think it goes up from 2 to 3 so someone like RVJ who comes from outside the premiership would be exempt.
Quote:by
Chudley to Bath is a done deal.
Quote:by
Chudley to Bath is a done deal - apparently.
Quote:Bath Hammer
He’s looked good with Exeter but it is easier to shine in such a dynamic side. He may have a harder job with us dependant upon who else we manage to find to plug the gaps.
Quote:DanWiley
12. We have a huge gap at 12.
More the the point though, Exeter seems to be a side that does a few "simple" things very well. We don't seem to be even aiming at that. Ours is a different strategy and it doesn't seem so complete.