Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:51 am  

The club have definitely done the right thing knocking Jacks back if they didn't think that he was good enough. I'm surprised that some seem disappointed that we haven't offered him a deal which is strange considering the whole Siejka panic buying saga, unless it's misplaced frustration at being in exactly the same situation as last year. I'd be asking for a few answers if I were Mark Green.

If they had spent a bit of cash bringing in the right player then I think that they would have made that money back with extra season ticket sales.

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:53 am  

Disappointing we've not given him more of a chance. Not sure what people are expecting, he's been here around 3 weeks and some think because he wasn't putting in MOM performances in a game and half of rugby then no point signing him. His flashes showed that there was something there and if we give him a run then he will get better and more confident. He shower more in his 2 games than Siejka did in the whole of last year.

Addy is not the answer, though i've an awful feeling Lowes thinks he is. I'd prefer Thomas at 7. Pretty annoyed and i'm guessing Caprice will also be released as he didn't stand out in his whole 15 minutes game time

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:54 am  

Sensei-Bull wrote:

I'm surprised that some seem disappointed that we haven't offered him a deal which is strange considering the whole Siejka panic buying saga

That's another reason why I'm less bothered about him not being given a deal. The Siejka signing last year was a disaster and a mistake to be learned from!

[Bullseye]

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:57 am  

I’m also surprised and dismayed that we haven’t managed to recruit a half decent scrum half in all this time. It’s been an obvious weakness in the squad since the beginning of last season when O’Brien blew us out.

I understand that potential targets will want top dollar and that the club could well end up having to pay over the odds. Trouble is that situation is the way it is and it’s not going to change. Chances of an bargain coming up are extremely slim.

Choices seem to be:

Pay over the odds for someone that is able to do a job.

Recruit someone not good enough.

Get someone on loan.

Promote a youngster and give them a try.

Carry on with utility players doing the job and hope someone we can afford becomes available.

Seems we’re carrying on with that last option. It strikes me as an unrealistic option as nobody that fits the bill for us will be available at the price we’re prepared to pay. Green has said he won’t go back to the “boom and bust” days and fair enough. That does mean that we won’t be signing proven players as they would require a big investment from him. Better get used to Addy and Thomas playing at scrum half then.

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:10 am  

Bull Mania wrote:

Disappointing we've not given him more of a chance. Not sure what people are expecting, he's been here around 3 weeks and some think because he wasn't putting in MOM performances in a game and half of rugby then no point signing him. His flashes showed that there was something there and if we give him a run then he will get better and more confident. He shower more in his 2 games than Siejka did in the whole of last year.

Addy is not the answer, though i've an awful feeling Lowes thinks he is. I'd prefer Thomas at 7. Pretty annoyed and i'm guessing Caprice will also be released as he didn't stand out in his whole 15 minutes game time

I think 3 weeks training and playing with the team most days should be enough time for a coach to form an opinion on whether he wants the guy in his team or not. I understand the frustration but this goes deeper than whether Jacks is given a deal or not. This should have been sorted well before Jacks was even mentioned.

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:24 am  

Accept some might not be happy with squad but I will not return this club to boom & bust of yesteryear to bring in anyone #givethemachance

Marc Green on Twitter today. It's s sensible stance but it does leave the club open to "Bradford are skint" talk

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:38 am  

roofaldo2 wrote:

Marc Green on Twitter today. It's s sensible stance but it does leave the club open to "Bradford are skint" talk

It's ok for Green to say that but we are only in that situation because of the recruitment policy. Once again we have a large squad where we know that a number of them will not see much 1st team action. We can look at the squad and easily trim a few of those out as surplus to requirements. That money could have been spent on a decent scrum half. That's my issue.

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:59 am  

Sensei-Bull wrote:

It's ok for Green to say that but we are only in that situation because of the recruitment policy. Once again we have a large squad where we know that a number of them will not see much 1st team action. We can look at the squad and easily trim a few of those out as surplus to requirements. That money could have been spent on a decent scrum half. That's my issue.

You can't 'trim' anyone who is contracted for 2016. I suspect those fringe players you want us to get rid of are in that situation. We're in a league where most clubs are part time so can't match our wages, so why should a player agree to leave? They are entitled to stay here and collect the salary we offered them, and unless we pay them out for the rest of their contract, the club's hands are tied.

[Bullseye]

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 11:20 am  

There are a lot of areas in the club that aren’t quite up to speed because of the situation inherited in 2015.

We’re lumbered with a few players I expect we’d like to offload because they were given 2 year deals last year. I suspect they were given those deals because we needed a squad at short notice and had to gamble on a few coming good. As a result we’re left with a few surplus to requirements and have less money to spare.

I expect us to be much better next year when those left from that initial recruitment are just the ones up to the job.

That said we do seem to have a fair few players who don’t seem to figure (Mendieka, Fleming, Baille, Walshaw, Uaisele etc.)

When you look at who we recruited for 2016 we have a lot on 1 year deals which gives us scope to be flexible which you need if you don’t know what league you’re going to be in. Trouble is that some will undoubtedly attract interest from SL clubs who are clearer about what league they’re in.

Re: Jacks & Caprice - Yay or Nay? : Tue Feb 02, 2016 11:37 am  

I am disappointed that Jacks has not been offered a 12 month deal. To me he showed much more potential than Sjieka.
However I do not agree with those who are convinced that Addy cannot do a decent job in the halves. It's not just Lowes that rates him- many current players have singled him out as one of our best players and that view is shared by ex professional commentators.
Many on here have said they like him but not at scrum half. How many teams in the UK and the NRL employ a 3rd prop at number 13? How many employ a " ball playing" number 13? The days of Dave Heron, Ray Batten and Brad Mackay type players seem numbered.
And can anyone on here name a decent number 7 who is likely to be available?